A cataract is a clouding that develops in the crystalline lens of the eye or in its envelope, varying in degree from slight to complete opacity and obstructing the passage of light. Early in the development of age-related cataract the power of the lens may be increased, causing near-sightedness (myopia), and the gradual yellowing and opacification of the lens may reduce the perception of blue colours. Cataracts typically progress slowly to cause vision loss and are potentially blinding if untreated.Wikipedia
For the past month my room happened to be right next door to the temporary Eye clinic. Seeing my shipmates leading the blind hand in hand, around the halls by my room, to and from surgery peeked my interest a little more each day. Finally, this past week I asked if I could help during my time off and they gladly agreed.
I started the day off washing the humble faces of a line of patients waiting for cataract surgery. As I placed the warm toilette on their faces, I felt my heart slowly soften more and more with each stroke around their tender closed eyes, nose, and mouth. They truly have the most beautiful faces; broad contours and many weathered wrinkles from years of hard work under the hot sun. All the things that were on my mind, slipped away as I got to share in this really special and intimate moment with them, today is the day they will regain their sight :)
Next I started 1 out of 5 rounds of eye drops to dilate and prepare the cataract for surgery, waiting 5 minutes between each set. Then it was time to lead them side by side down the long hospital corridor, pray with them, and hand them off to the OR. I loved leading them to and fro, many of these tiny African mamas- I must say it feels good to be around so many women that are actually MY height! There is something really tender and humbling in them trusting & leaning on you to direct them where they need to go.
It is a fast procedure, only taking about 10 minutes. The patients are awake, given a local numbing injection straight into the eye!! The doctor makes a tiny incision into the cornea, loosens the cataract enough to slide it out, and then places their new synthetic lens inside. No stitches required. (My roommate came on my bed the othernight all excited to show me what was in her napkin...yes..a cataract, looking exactly like a hard, brown, tiny scap. ha.this is what happens when you live with 5 nurses ;)
After surgery they get a patch placed over their eye until the following morning. I felt like I had gotten to know these patients a bit over the day I spent with them before and during surgery, that I'd really like to be their when their patches came of the next morning. The patients are discharged the same day and return the next morning to our Hospitality center off ship in town.
I woke up early to head to the Hositality center and see my baby Odilion before the eye patients came (yes, he and mom are doing well and just by holding him I can tell he is gaining weight and growing in length!) As the eye patients came we lead them into the tent where we started to remove their patches. I could feel their anticipation grow as I started to remove tape piece by tape piece. As I lifted the cotton patch underneath I waited with eagerness to see what they would do as they try to open their eyelids and test out the new eye! One women got out of her chairand started singing and dancing, another stood up and thanked God, others sat in silence almost seeming out of awe with a gentle smirk. I then cleaned their eyes with some saline to remove the gunk that had collected around the eye the previous night and send them off to the next station to a series of vision tests. Many improved several rows on the eye chart. They will all under go one more outpatient procedure in a few weeks called YAG, that pierces another hole through the new lens to prevent any possible second cataracts from returning.
One last little story for you.. a few weeks ago I was headed to the craft market when I ran into 4 blind people in a row on the sidewalk. I carry slips of paper in my purse that say in French where our eye clinics are for a free surgical screening. I handed them to the children of the blind parents they were leading (Many children can't go to school because it is their job to lead their parents around all day) Onlookers thought I was handing out money and started to come near. My friends told me it was time to go, ha. but I saw one more lady by herself closely touching the wall as she walked along. She had bilateral cataracts and a very distant look in her eyes. I couldn't really speak a word to her, I just placed the information paper in her hand and curled her fingers around it and said a quick prayer someone would be able to read it to her....
fast forward about 3 weeks when I walked in that day to wash the faces of the line of patients waiting for cataract surgery...and she was sitting their with her distictive face and distant gaze. A rush of emotion came over me and I almost started crying. It felt like the exact little piece of encouragment I needed from God, saying "Steph, those little actions everyday matter".
... so when I took of her eye patch the next morning, I was especially full of anticipation, as she sat their muttering to herself like the day before something I still have no idea of what she was saying. I tracked along with her eyes and pulled the doctor and a translator over to take a look at her. Before she was only able to see light and darkness. Now ,although she can't see the exact details of my face, she can tell how many finger we were holding up and make out forms and shapes in front of her. It was one of those moments I can only cherish and try to explain. Its why I'm here.
This field of medicine has always in particular really fascinated me and I felt like I really learned a lot more about it this week. Giving sight to the blind is something words can't describe, its more like a beautiful picture that speaks a thousand words at once. Another reason why working here is not work at all, it is a PRIVILEDGE that i really feel lucky to be a part of. I'm hoping to volunteer with them about 4 hours a week now until I leave.
