One about me and the wonders of science. Yesterday I let someone cut two holes in my eyes. It did not hurt and I am glad I had it done.
It's like this. My mum had glaucoma and when I showed an uppish pressure at Specsavers a while back they had to refer me to the hospital.
And now I have new drainage holes that will stop me going blind. Well effectively. 'Cos the glaucoma I had was called narrow angle and could/would have closed up the light entry if pressure got too high. Which glaucoma means it would/could.
So they do an iridotomy with a laser gun which this charming eastern lady fired at my eye. A lot. But it did not hurt. It scared OK but without rational cause! They give various unguents to make it possible and painless. Eventually the tiny bursts of laser light get through the iris and you feel a kind of tug in the middle of your head. Weird but harmless. And that's it. The higher pressure eye took a bit more: "I am just going to widen the hole" she said casually and I quaked but it was OK.
Apparently it does not heal up and if I start to get any problem as the glaucoma worsens in later life they can make the holes bigger.
What a wonder science is. And hopefully, as they treat more and more, they will save the NHS and the welfare state billions. Virtuous circle. But Cameron and co note - it takes investment in research and development and equipment and training to get this far. Think on chaps, think on.
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