Cataracts, Retina Tears and Other Concerns

About a month ago (November 2015) or so, I suddenly realised it was not by spectacle lens which were dirty. Looking out doors, I saw a black smear on my left eye. It appeared like a dead mosquito lying in my field vision. A few days later, I say similar smears in my right eye vision. There were more of them. My worries started. What were these?

So, I went to the hospital without delay. Fortunately, I met my friend's daughter who works in the Ophthalmology Department at Universiti Hospital.  The first appointment did not give me clear ideas of what these smears were. I was told that I had cataracts. The right eye had 15% more floaters compared to my left eye.

So, coming home, I went to You-tube to understand better what are floaters and what are the flashes that I got as well.

Last week and today morning I went to see my eye doctor again to allay my fears as the flashes were of some concern.

After checking my eyes, she came to the conclusion that the flashes was more to do with my vitreous humour. The vitreous on my right eyes is totally detached from the optic nerve while for the the left eye, it is semi detached. There was no indication of any retina tear which are holes in the retina. Thank God for that!

The symptoms of a retina tear are as follows:

-Increase int the multitude of floaters...like a swarm of flies
-Increased frequency in flashes
-Dark shades covering the eyes from the sides.

Once these are experienced, its time to go back to the doctor to plug the holes with a laser.

As for floaters and flashes occasioned by cataracts and vitreous humour, it's best to ignore it. By doing so, the mind  will also 'learn' to ignore it and life goes on.

I will be seeing my doctor in May 2016.

Meeting up with Dr. Chan Lean Heng on 6 September 2015

Left to Right: Standing - Yau Kok, Bala, Ken, Saik Tat and Heng. Sitting- Saras, Rani, Swee Pin, Lean Heng and Jenny

Our good friend, T Bala. organised a special dinner get-together for us  to meet up with Lean Heng who was running a workshop for LGBT in KL. It was held at the Chinese restaurant in new town with a a quaint Italian name. I will put in the name of the restaurant later.

The following 10 friends attended:

T. Bala
Mrs Bala-Mdm Saraswathy
Lee Saik Tat
Selvarani
Kenneth
Yau Kok
Lean Heng
Swee Pin
Jenny
Heng

Here are some photographs of the function.

From left: Bala, Swee Pin, Saik Tat and Lean Heng

It was the first time that I have met up with Lean Heng since 1975-a hiatus of 40 years.

Saras,  Ken,  and Bala

She has retired from lecturing in USM and is now doing community work.

Yau Kok, Jenny and  Rani

My Home Tuition Class for F5 Students.

The Trio-Tutor and Students

I have two students that did SPM this year.

Tan Kein Ru was my student since Std 4. Then, I was teaching in the DUMC church on a voluntary basis at the Excel English Class. Thought there for a year.Subsequently, her mother enrolled her for my home tuition class. Substantively, she has been with me for 7 years.

With Kein Ru

Yeo Boon Chie joined my class as a revision student for 3 months.

With Boon Chie

I do hope they will do well. Keeping my fingers crossed that they will excel in the 1119 English Paper.

Dropping by to see Father on 28 November 2015

Besides attending the function to meet up with Jerry, Rosely and the rest of the gang, my son Jonathan and me went and visited my father.

My father was glad to see us and so was Bo Kiak, my sister in law.

I brought some medicine, calendars for Bo Kiak as well as adult pampers and plastic bed protectors that will be comfortable for father when he lies on the sheet at night.

We left for home at 6 pm.

Here are some photos and a video on this  occasion.

Father explaining to me that he has difficulty speaking

I spoke to father about having more soup food and bread in the evenings

First MHS Lunch at Cititel Cafe on 7 October 2015

The ladies had their little secret topics, I am sure...

From left to right: Heng,Yakob, Penny Devahi, Fang Lan, Mr. Teh, Aktar and Dato' Sohan

Sohan and Aktar in animated conversation

We had a luncheon for our Form 6 classmates at the Cititel Cafe in Midvalley City on 7 October 2015.

We were fortunate to have Devahi and husband, Aktar, Fang Lan and husband, Mr Teh, Penny Yeo, Dato' Sohan Singh and Yakob. Imagine meeting some of our friends after some 45 years hiatus.

We shared the old times and promised to meet again sometime soon. We all had a wonderful time. We had a good time talking about the things  that had happened to us since 1971.Most of us have retired. Devahi and Aktar are still in legal practice while Dato' Sohan runs a successful real estate business and timber consultancy. I informed them that I was doing a little  English tuition while Yakob is doing some part-time consultancy as well.

Here are some of the photos and a video of that meeting.

MHS Lunch Gathering for Jerry and Rosely

It has been 45 years that I have not seen some of those 9 people who were to attend lunch that day (28 November 2015 at the Holiday Inn Es-sence Restaurant) in Melaka.

I met Eddie Chia at the lobby, He was the first to arrive before me. We remembered each other,thanks to those photos posted on our MHS Whatsapp. Then we met Rosely and Jerry. Again, no surprise as we have seen their family photographs before they set out out for Malaysia from Sydney. Next to arrive was Yoke Eng. I could not place her at first but she still looked as  pretty as she was 45 years. Had a husky voice due to an infectious throat affliction. Then came Joo Lian. Choon Seng could not remember me and mistook me for Yakob. Eugene came next. He hasn't change much.

We went up to the restaurant. Pulled  three tables together and started to talk more, as usual bringing the oh-so distant past into the present. After taking our food, conversation as usual raged on.

Then, came Matishwar Kaur. Also little changed from the past. The last to arrive was Yakob, after having being caught in a traffic jam at Melaka Jaya.

We sat, took photographs, and traded little romantic secrets of yesteryear. Sad to note that Tan Lay Seng and Foo Kok Choong passed on.

We also discuss a specific day next year to have a bigger group for lunch or dinner. The best location would be Malacca.

We broke off at 4 pm after shaking hands or hugging each other.

Here are some photos of the occasion.

Full 10 Friends who attended the Function. Left to Right: Standing:  Matishwar, Eugene, Eddie, Rosely, Jerry
Seated: left to right: Yoke Eng, Joo Lian, Choon Seng, Yakob and Heng

Before the arrival of Matishwar and Yakob

Connie passes on

Well, I must post about this hardy woman that cross path with me during the last three years.

A very down to earth lady, Connie was unmarried.

She does odd jobs and was quick to seize upon nay opportunities to make money or to get a free lunch or two.

I was told just two days ago that She passed on, on September 7th, 2015 of cervix cancer.

An affable lady, she was undoubtedly ambitious and has even invested in a house. It is fully paid and rented out in Taman Medan in the vicinity of Kg. Dato Harun.

I chanced upon Connie at some company AGMs possibly in 2012.

She was bery enterprising an operated proxy-ship to get door gifts from acquaintances.