Yesterday, I finally had cataract surgery on my right eye. I chose the Shinto option with priest and musicians. It involved a lot of chanting, incantations with the accompaniment of strident sanshin and shakahachi music. This option is a little more expensive and is not covered by the health service. However traditional medicine is always the best, especially in Japan. Kind Tomomi san took me to the clinic and generally held my hand; explaining what was going on and scolding me for being a wimp.
In fact the operating theatre is super modern. The surgery itself is not much fun but thankfully pain free. There is a a microscope and ultra sound device pointed directly at your eye. The eyelids are held back, as in Clockwork Orange, to stop you blinking against the very bright light. The surgeon does stuff but I am not sure what. Then it is over.
I pass a restless night and go back to the clinic this morning. The dressings are removed and I am a little disappointed that my eyesight seems much the same, I was expecting a revelation. Maybe it will improve. I am given lots of drops and told to come back tomorrow.
Same again next week for the left eye. I might dispense with the Shinto option.
The Quiet Ripple Defines The Pond 
Love the idea of a Shinto pre-op ritual. Glad that it seems to have gone well so far. Eliane had lots of drops and instructions on how to clean and treat her eyes after her cataract ops – she’s still doing them some weeks later, including a special device to wear over them during a treatment action some 3 times a day. Her vision was improved after the ops but she also needed to get new glasses for reading and distance as the ops had cleared her vision but not altered her basic eyesight situation.
Good luck with the next one!