Cataract surgery

[old2soon]

      I just Know I am Not the only old fart here on our board. Anybody here had cataract surgery? My eye Doc this A M after extensive peering into my old tired peepers determined it would be the best course of action. I've already contacted my V A Clinic here and it is in the works but no hard dates yet. And I also confirmed there Is here in Missouri a 6 month grace period on experation date of my drivers license. I like my eye Doc as he shot straight from the hip no B S just the Facts. Gittin old ain't fer wimps I'm here ta tell ya!  Good bad indifferent whip it on me!  As always T I A. RIDE SAFE.

[Wizzard]

I had it. Paid extra for intraocular surgery and had new artificial lenses put in. I now have 20/20 vision and will have the rest of my life. It worked so well the wife had it done. Expensive but worth it to me. No more cheater glasses

[Willow]

Best thing you could have done for improved eyesight.

[bassman]

Had it done a couple of years ago after "putting it off" for several years because I was "skeered".  I HATE anything to do with my eyes.  Can't even put eyedrops in without a major effort.  Anyway, after having the surgery I learned it was the best thing I could have done and should have had the procedure done LONG ago.
Biggest and most immediate difference I noted was how bright white the toilet and bathtub was in our house.  The cataract had been slowly turning everything I saw a yellowish color  and I just took it for granted it was normal.  What a shock seeing the difference.  I opted for the mono version lenses and only need "cheaters" for close up and reading.  Everything else at distance is 20/20.  I had a few floater type thingies develop about a year after the surgery but the doctor said they were totally normal and he zapped them out in less than 30 seconds per eye and all is good.

Highly recommend the procedure.

Good luck!

[f6john]

I had both eyes done last year. I guess I went the cheap route. I have 20-20 vision but still need readers.

[..]

Do not skimp on the Post op. eye drop regimen.

[scooperhsd]

I haven't had such surgery (but if I live long enough, it is likely that I will). From what I have been told from relatives who went through this, they corresponded with every other persons response in this thread.

[old2soon]

Do not skimp on the Post op. eye drop regimen.

                My eye Doc HAMMERED on this very point. Googled cataract surgery and seems should be easy peasy. But as per usual queries to our collective always seem to get decent responses to most medical questions. And guessin here the surgery should help my close in stuff too! RIDE SAFE.

[Bret SD]

Both my parents had it and said it was the best thing they could've done, my 82 yo mother has much better eyesight than I do, unfortunately my father left us recently , but he was happy with it also.

[csj]

After our California trip last January, my girl went in to get one eye done, then the other. The drops regimen was followed to a T. She now sees better at distance than I do. Still needs readers for up close. No option offered for no readers.

[Rams]

Had Cataract done a few months ago.
I was shocked at how easy it was and then when I looked in the mirror, I was reminded of how good looking I used to be. 

Rams   

[John Schmidt]

I recall my dad, now gone for 22yrs., declared he would never have anyone cutting on his eyes. He would go on and on about it until finally his eyesight got so bad he could no longer read so he took his docs advice and had one done. Said he figured they would screw it up so he'd still have one eye. He got it done, came home all enthused as to how slick the procedure was and fussed at mom..."why didn't you insist on me doing this years ago." She just threw up her hands and walked away. Less than a month later he went and got the other eye done. As the doting, loving son...I never let him live it down. 

As for myself, my right eye has some cloudiness which I assume is what my eye dr. told me a few short years back....my annual exam showed some mild yellowing in both but more so in the right. I was thrilled with the lasic surgery I had done at age 59, making it 24 yrs. ago. I still have good vision in the left eye but the right is showing some loss which I'm certain is from a developing cataract. Since moving to Wisconsin, I haven't looked for a good dr. for an exam so it has been over 2 yrs. since the last one. Guess I should get with the program before things get out of control.

[scooperhsd]

The ONE thing they hammered on when we were diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes - get that annual eye exam, even if you don't need a new prescription (or the change is so tiny it's not worth it). So far - so good. Our eye doctor in NC could see in my wife's eyes well before she got her diagnosis.

[vanagon40]

Both eyes 13 years ago (January 2008). I was only 49 at the time.

It was a miracle cure and I still have perfect vision.

Only downside was I had a lot more gray hair after the surgery.

[Pete]

Get it done, the improvement was definitely worth it.

Just one suggestion, follow the directions on drops and activity exactly as prescribed, and you should have no difficulty.

[..]

My first eye I was a bit wary. I've never liked people messing about near my eyes. I've worn glasses since I was 9 years old and had an accident necessitating their use.

Anyway I'm on the wheelie bed being taken to surgery and I recall very clearly making loud WHEEEEE! noises as we went around the corridor bends.

Second eye I "woke up" during the procedure and asked the Doc if her had ever seen Clockwork Orange and especially the scene where Alex has his eyes forced open. He told me to shut up and that's all I remember.

I had both surgeries done when school was out so could easily take care of the drop regimen.

Phone alarm was invaluable for the needed intervals.

The clarity of colors post procedure was obvious.

[cookiedough]

yah, get it done if needed should be fine.  My dad had to have it done in his mid 60's and 1st appt. cancelled because he was sick and coughing a lot so went thru all that driving him up to find out he could NOT hold still so make sure you are not sick or coughing will NOT work and have to reschedule. 

surgery went well for the next 10 years of his life.     Wife and my eye dr. said eventually hoping 10-15 years from now we will need bifocals for up close and far away as well but not now.  we have almost same  prescription with her eyes slightly worse for seeing far away all is blurry.  I would not hesitate at that time if we both make it another hopefully 10+ years to get cataract surgery done to not have to wear glasses at all.

[Robert]

Had 80/20 in one eye could not even pass the drivers test, had it done now 20/15 and 20/20. No big deal to do it but get the adjustable lens and dont worry you will be fine. Like some have said the measuring of the eye before being done is very important and will determine the results. The surgery takes all of 15 minutes or so and you are awake but they give you something so you don't care a bit. Best thing you will do and its great to see without glasses.

Some lens are adjustable but you have to ask for it and it may cost more. Only one of my eyes had a problem and my other was ok. They kept saying to me that I was young to have a problem. The adjustable lens has more of a range like a lens on a good camera. Most have no problem with distance but close up there may be a slight problem. I had it done over 20 years ago and right from the start had great vision.

I too was worried about messing with my eyes and the thought of someone having something sharp in your eye is definitely not something we want. I have spent years training myself not to have sharp things around my eyes and now I had to let someone do something that seemed so unnatural. I can tell you the worry is far worse than the truth of the procedure.

 I got in there and was laying on the table and praying and they gave me a shot and all I remember is seeing them doing it and and it looked similar to having a drop of water in your eye. I was laying there and they said it was done and I remember being shocked thinking when are they going to do it. 

I would not have had the use of one of my eyes and every day I am thankful that I got it done since reading directions and even fine print is a breeze.


Dont worry just get it done. 


Its funny because we don't know the difference in seeing the world through a different lens. The eye that was done sees things a little less yellow than the other eye.

[Valker]

So, this sounds wonderful, but which procedure are you talking about? Is this just cataract surgery, LASIK, or something else?

[0leman]

My wife went thru cataract surgery several months ago.  It wasn't a smooth as it should have been due to her have Lasik surgery done on both eyes 25 years ago.   The eye doc wasn't happy with the first lens she put in, so put in another one.   Wife can see better.  she only had to have one done at this time. 

I was told I would need the operation soon 8 years ago during a eye examine.  Recent eye examine eye doc said no problems yet.   Keeping fingers crossed.

[old2soon]

So, this sounds wonderful, but which procedure are you talking about? Is this just cataract surgery, LASIK, or something else?

              As a guess after consultation with the Doctor that is actually going to perform the operation I should have more information on the How and the What. BUT with all the protocols cuz of the chinee cooties might could be awhile. Just for me have to wait and see.  RIDE SAFE.

[Oss]

Doc told me years ago I have a catàract in my good left eye
Dad lost his sight after his and frankly I have been putting it off
  But I know I have to go do it soon have had retinopathy and laser in that eye 30 yrs ago. Glare at night is bad

[Feuerstein]

I just wanted to "laser" my eyes since there was a promotion "25% off", but the diagnosis showed "cataract on both eyes".
I was offered $ 12.500 (CHF 11.500)for tri-focal lenses, where you can get rid of your glasses completely for the remaining lifetime.
A second offer was approx. $ 8.000 (CHF 7.000) against an offer from Turkey, being $ 6.000.
Finally I decided to accept the $ 8'000 offer just next door.
Two operations of approx. 90 minutes (femto fako laser surgery) done a year ago, and I can now see like a hawk. Eyedrop management was "piece of cake". 
Between the two operations I still wore my glasses with one lens off, and so I discovered the
difference in color, i.e. yellowish through the glasses and bright colors on the "fixed" eye.
I would do it again, for sure, and I one wants to get rid of the glasses, consider a bi- or try-focal lens; the trifocal can create so called halos...
BTW: within a year I got 3 replacements: two teeth, two lenses and one hip joint...

[Rams]

Speaking of such things, I got a message today that said Speaker Pelosi was suing the doctor and hospital that had done a recent surgery on her husband.

She claimed they had caused her husband to lose all interest in having sex with her.

The hospital responded that all they had done was cataract surgery.   

Rams   

[Jess from VA]

That's pretty good.  I may use it.   

[G-Man]

Been wearing glasses since 3-years-old.  Contact lenses (hard, soft, astigmatic, gas permeable) since 15-years old.  In my 40's I wore contact lenses with glasses OVER them for night driving.  When I turned 50, I needed another set for reading to go OVER the contact lenses.  Then, a few years ago I developed a cataract.  Had an intraocular lenses put in both eyes and had keratotomy done at the same time by laser.  the laser even made the incisions for the new lenses.  (You can see the whole procedure on youtube)

I now wear glasses for reading and driving at night only.  No contact lenses.  I can actually walk around a whole day without any correction, in or over my eyes. 

I HIGHLY recommend it !

[doubletee]

My doctor has been encouraging me to get mine done for over a year. Problem is that I wear rigid, gas permeable contacts, and they reshape the eye. So, I have to go without them for at least 30 days before the cataract surgeon will even see me for consultation.

To say I can't see very well using my glasses is an understatement. Eye Dr. said we could transition to soft contact lenses after a couple of weeks of wearing glasses, but it all sounds like a colossal PITA for about 2 months, minimum. Can't put it off forever, because my vision keeps getting worse.

One of these days. One of these days, Alice......

[scooperhsd]

My doctor has been encouraging me to get mine done for over a year. Problem is that I wear rigid, gas permeable contacts, and they reshape the eye. So, I have to go without them for at least 30 days before the cataract surgeon will even see me for consultation.

To say I can't see very well using my glasses is an understatement. Eye Dr. said we could transition to soft contact lenses after a couple of weeks of wearing glasses, but it all sounds like a colossal PITA for about 2 months, minimum. Can't put it off forever, because my vision keeps getting worse.

One of these days. One of these days, Alice......

I think, once you have it done, that you will say "why didn't I have this done sooner" ?

I'm sure my day is coming, but last summer's eye exam had just the starting stain. I have worn glasses since age 11, started wearing bifocals at 45. Bifocals were another shock - it took time to get used to progressives. I couldn't stand soft contacts (it felt like there was a big grain in my eyes). I have superb night vision - once you correct - its so good that I can drive without headlights on a clear full moon night - conversely - I need sunglasses sooner than almost anyone else. I don't expect the sunglasses to go away once the cataract is taken care.