Over the past month Jack has had surgery on both of his eyes. The right eye had the beginning of a cataract, so the ophthalmologist that was recommended to us suggested that this would be a good time to have surgery to replace the lenses in Jack's eyes. After doing a bit of research, we realized that having the surgeries here would be a wise choice economically and logistically. The school gave Jack time off and the Hungarian health care system paid for everything except for the actual lenses which were a tenth of the cost of having it done in the U.S. The doctor assured us that the ultrasound technique that he would use was equally effective as laser surgery and as safe. Jack went to the pharmacy a few days before each surgery to pick up the new lens that would be put into his eye.
When we arrived at the hospital, Jack was put in a room with four chairs and four cupboards. He was greeted by nurse Eva, and then instructed using hand gestures-- because she didn't speak English-- where to put his clothes. He put a hospital gown over his "pajamas" that he was instructed to bring (shorts and t-shirt). There were only men in this prep room (along with wives who stepped out whenever a patient had to get changed).
About an hour before the surgery Eva began putting drops in Jack's eye to dilate it and numb it.
When it was time for the surgery, Laci came and whisked Jack away in a basic "wheelchair". He was very efficient and moved each patient around as if there was a fire. He also didn't speak English but it didn't matter; he knew where he was going and that was all that mattered.
The doctor's English was very good and he gave Jack a play by play during the whole surgery.
"I am now making some small incisions... Now I'm cutting your lens into four pieces...now your eye is empty...your new lens is on the table...now I am folding your new lens and putting it into your ocular chamber...now I am rotating it and hooking it in place...and now you should be able to see."
The actual surgery took a total of 20 minutes. Jack returned to the prep room, which was now the recovery room, with a big patch over his eye that had a plastic mold underneath to protect his eye.
He was told to return to the Dr. office 24 hours later; at that time Jack had the patch taken off and then took an eye test. For the next four weeks eye anti-biotic eye drops have to be put in the recovering eye. Dr. Vamosi said that the surgery was a complete success!
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