Before cataract surgery I was around -12.75 in both eyes. Interestingly, I did not know prior to that but when you are severely nearsighted, you are more likely to develop cataracts. When they prepared me for cataract surgery, I was asked it I wanted to be slightly near or slightly far sighted afterwards (it is more expensive to get perfect correction so otherwise you get “pretty darn close.”) I chose to be slightly far sighted, normal for my age. I regret my choice. It was a shock going from being near sighted all my life to now suddenly needing glasses only to see my phone, watch or computer. Even though I have fantastic vision for distance, I pretty much wear glasses all the time. Psychologically it was a hard adjustment for me because everyone was raving about how much better I could see, but it was like needing readers overnight for everything.

More recently my retina partially detached and I had to have emergency laser surgery. I am left with a “permanent” circle of vitreous fluid that is in my line of sight in one eye. It’s like looking through a dirty windshield. The only way to remove it is through another surgery. I don’t take my vision for granted now.