Cataract Surgery

[Leith]

I'm having cataract surgery this month. The right eye was Monday and the left eye will be done in a couple weeks.

I've been through worse, but this was not pleasant. First of all, I get weird about my eyes. I can't touch my eyeballs. It happened once, it didn't hurt, but it made me shudder. I've never considered contacts because of that. Second was the animated video of what the operation actually was. Super shudder there.

The worst part was no water for 6 hours before surgery. Since I always have ice water next to me, this was really hard. No coffee? No problem. No food. Easy. No water?! Aww, hell no!

I was not knocked out for the surgery, but I was sedated and sat there with a death grip on the arm rest until it was over.

When I got home, I was amazed at how bright white the walls, sinks, toilets, in my house were! I still am. I now live in a bright and airy house that had been rather beige and dreary for years. I like it!

Even more amazing was how well my right eye could see. I've worn glasses since 10th grade and I've always been nearsighted. Now it's hard to see up close but distances are so clear it's hard to believe. The astigmatism that I've had is now cleared up: the "on" light is just one little dot of light, not the gaudy 3/4 circle necklace it used to be. A single line is just that: a single line.

I don't struggle with computer fonts like I used to. For example, it used to be that "tall" and "tail" looked the same, now they really are different.

My left eye will be done in a couple weeks. One more round of reaching 20 times for water that isn't there. And one more time of grabbing the arm rest willing myself not to move.

Anybody else have their own experiences of going through cataract surgery? Let me know!

[Karadeniz]

1. Mine was easy peasy, but i remember the brightness. Congratulations and

I'm sure the next one will go just as well!!!! I forgot something! After quite a time, things began look a bit dingy. You won't like the solution, but I promise you it's NOTHING!!!!! They punch some teeny tiny holes in the lens with, I think, a laser. Completely painless!!!! If they decide down the road that it's time for that procedure, go for it!!!!!!!!

[onecaliberal]

2. Just left eye, but it was easy. (I wear contacts) restored my vision to 20/20 in that eye.

I now only wear a contact in the right eye.

[Silent Type]

3. Had mine about 8 years ago. I was extremely nearsighted. After both eyes I saw my feet in the shower

Last edited Thu Jun 13, 2024, 06:45 PM - Edit history (1)

for the first time in my life. I can wake up in night and not reach for my glasses. I can walk in the rain without my glasses fogging, etc.

I do wear glasses, but could get by without them except for reading. Hope your second eye goes well.

[Siwsan]

4. I woke up before the procedure was completed.

And who was the surgeon upset with? Not the anesthesiologist. ME!!!!

Of course I couldn't feel anything but, damn. I already have severe anxiety, especially about anything related to medical ANYTHING. Hearing him LOUDLY say 'DON'T MOVE YOUR EYE.' was terrifying.

Other than that, it was easy. I got enhanced lenses that give me 20/20 vision without glasses. Before the procedure I was very nearsighted and would have needed bifocals. I was sick and tired of wearing glasses so I paid for the upgrade. No regrets.

[snowybirdie]

5. So glad I did it

Amazing how much brighter the world is. Wore glasses since I was 13. No more! Easy recovery and life is normal. My only problem was several years later when scar tissue formed and they needed to fix that in the doc's office with more laser. You'll be glad you did! BTW, hubby opted for regular surgery totally paid by Medicare. I opted for $4000 extra latest laser surgery. No difference in recovery or outcomes.

[wryter2000]

6. I got both eyes done at once

They gave me sunglass goggles when it was over and told me not to take them off until I woke up the next morning. I woke up to a different world. I'm still marveling at how wonderful my vision is.

You may want to buy over-the-counter reading glasses. That'll take care of the difficulty in reading.

I also get freaked about things getting near my eyes. But I did just fine in the surgery with the sedation. It was the greatest thing I've done for the least amount of grief.

[multigraincracker]

7. Thanks for your post.

I see the doc again on the 25th again to see if I’m ready for it.
Had been told i still need to wait. The more I think about it the less I’m ready for it.
I suffer from serious floaters from emergency surgery I had about 10 years ago for a torn retina. A week later I was back in for second one that was extremely painful and left me with the floaters.
So it’s complicated. I now have to read with my right eye close, but I can still see. Not nearly as well as I’d like to.

[oswaldactedalone]

8. Thanks for this discussion.

I’m having one in July, the other in August. Hopeful that it helps and is an easy recovery.

[Leith]

9. My recovery was a breeze!

And quite enjoyable. Colors are brighter. Even though I had the "basic" type, my vision has improved.

The retina of my left eye got messed up a couple decades ago. The point of focus is pinched and it makes reading nearly impossible for that eye, but my peripheral vision is good. Therefore, the surgery on that side will be a bit less successful. I've learned to live with it.

And, yes, the floater issue has improved.

[SarahD]

10. Not too bad for me.

They woke me up for the last part and blinded me with super bright light.

[keithbvadu2]

11. Cataracts part 1

Cataracts part 1

I watched Patty's right eye cataract surgery on 17 Dec. 2013
(I had both of mine done earlier this year.) They had a small viewing room slightly above the operating room and a window to look in. Couldn't see a thing; too many people around the table. Instead, they had it on a flat screen tv. A giant eyeball with some clamps holding the eyelids open. It had to be the same view the doctor was seeing.
They cut two tiny slits at the bottom and left side of the eye. The LPN said about point two millimeters (maybe it was two mm). Then they put a metal probe in there (sometimes two) with a rounded tip.
Then they smooshed around the organic lens and broke it up into pieces. It had covered the whole eye. They inserted a small (everything is small) hollow tip in there and vacuumed out the pieces of lens until the eye was clear of debris.
Then they inserted a flat, wide probe that had the new synthetic lens. It looked like a vacuum cleaner wand that's wide and thin.
The synthetic lens was folded over like a tortilla shell folded into the center from both left and right.
As soon as it was pushed out of the wand, it started to unfold into a circle.
The doctor used the rounded tip probe to guide it into place and help it unfold.
It does not cover the entire eye like the organic lens did.
He said the pressure of the eye holds it in place.
When I had mine done, the doctor said he put one in that had a focal point of about an arm's reach.
It doesn't take long at all. Some say eight to fifteen minutes.
My first one didn't take long but the second one seemed to drag and I was impatient/anxious for it to be over with. Don't know what made me feel that way.
They numb your eye with some drops and liquids.
One of them burns. You're not too keen on that one.
My anesthesiologist said that they gave me about two beers worth of anesthetic but I couldn't even notice it.
The patient cannot see diddly.
You cannot feel what they are doing and all you see are some bright lights looking down at you.
The place Patty went to did about 33 or 35 cataract surgeries that day. Big bucks for the partners that day.
Plus she had a laser procedure to help fix/lessen astigmatism. That did not take very long either.
She said it gave a little burn feeling in the eye.
It also gave a $1,400 burn feeling in the wallet.
The 'even better' laser procedure would have cost $3,900.
The laser was optional so Medicare does not cover it, of course.
She can tell that her vision is better and the astigmatism is better for the right eye.
Might or might not have the left eye done in six months or so.
.
We get touchy and protective about someone fiddling with our eyes.
.
Just plain FANTASTIC, AWESOME, INCREDIBLE that they can do such things and it's now routine.

[keithbvadu2]

12. Cataracts part 2

Cataracts part 2

patty's second cataract surgery

done on thursday may 08.

came out fine, maybe even better than the first.

she noticed a tremendous improvement the next day.

i watched this one also.
the doctor had to work a little harder on this one.
the cataract was a bit more developed and tougher to break up than the first.

i learned a new tidbit of knowledge about the operation.
the doctor is barefoot.
he sits on a special stool which does not look so special,,, after all, a stool is just something to sit on, right?

the stool has foot pedals. At least two pedals for water and suction and probably a third pedal to push the new, synthetic lens out of the wand into the eye.

he has to use his hands/fingers to control/position the various probes into and around the eye under the outer layer.
if he had to use his thumb or other fingers to control water and suction, the action of the finger movement would also cause the probe to wander.
NOT a place you want a lot of uncontrolled movement!

she says it still came out great and is now only wearing glasses for up-close reading.
she was seeing 20/20 out of the left eye the day after surgery.

this time, she did not have the laser surgery for the astigmatism.
that would have been out of pocket, just like last time.

when she declined the extra laser surgery, the heavy guns sales pressure kicked in.
not quite called foolish but leaning towards it and 'you really should have it done'.

will get an eye exam in about a month for a real prescription but doesn't look like it will be very strong.

coming out great so far!
.
(added later) ---- it seems that the second eye was a little bit tougher because she did not
have the laser treatment done.

[keithbvadu2]

13. Cataracts part 3

Cataracts part 3

Cataract surgery several years later.

Sometimes the artificial lens will develop a haze over it after several years.
It does not happen to everyone.
You can see but not focus.
My right eye had that happen about 5 years afterwards.
The left eye seemed fine. Key word; seemed.
The optometrist could see the haze and after a while it got bad enough that she recommended laser treatment.
The laser treatment is done by a doctor specially trained in the laser.
They dilate your eyes and really, really examine them.
They put a lens about ¾ of an inch deep on your eyeball with some sticky goop.
They hold your head very still and you look into the laser machine.
You see four quadrants of red.
Then she zaps your eye a multitude of times and she keeps zapping until she feels it is done.
She is looking at your eyeball all the while.
Sometimes you feel the zap and sometimes not.
It feels a little bit like a static electric shock when you grab the doorknob.
Not painful but noticeable.
My right eye took 39 zaps. I did not feel any of them.
The left eye took 50 zaps and I felt most of them.
Driving home each time, the eyesight was worthless in that eye.
You might see some floaters for a while.

The left eye seemed fine. Or so I thought.
The optometrist and the laser doctor both were amazed that I was claiming how well the left eye worked. It was not fine. It was just much less bad. It focused pretty well but was deteriorating at a slower rate.
It took about 8 to 10 hours for the right eye to work ok and I could easily tell the improvement.
The right eye was so much better that I could then tell that the left was not up to snuff.

Two weeks later, she did the left eye.
There is no set number of zaps.
It is her judgement call as she is doing it.
They thought the left eye would take less hits because it was not as bad as the right.
Actually it took more hits than the right and it did not take as long afterwards to clear up the vision. Next day – left eye good but not as good as the right yet.

Patty’s first eye hazed over in fewer years than mine. It took 55 hits with the laser.
Her other eye is not so bad so it might be six months or more before they do laser on it.

Supposedly it does not happen again.

It is so gradual that it gets pretty bad before you really notice it.

[Leith]

15. I had the laser surgery to repair my retina

First the gel to keep my eye lubricated, then a conical instrument placed on my eyeball. Stare at the light in the center while a series of quick flashes danced around it.

It took everything I had to not say "Your biological and technological distinctiveness will be added to our own. Resistance is futile."

Unfortunately, not everyone is a Star Trek fan. I didn't say it because it seemed to be at the level of telling a dentist to cheer up because he looks down in the mouth.

[AllaN01Bear]

14. i was for mine .

[Hekate]

16. Mine is this summer. I'm very much looking fwd to getting it done, but w some nervousness

TY to all of you for sharing!

[ailsagirl]

17. I'm scheduled for it-- will find out when tomorrow

I've heard nothing but kudos from those who have had the surgery-- they didn't realize how bad their vision was before--I just want to get it over with so I can see again.

[Wounded Bear]

19. Yeah, the loss of visual acuity sneaks up on you...

Good luck!

[ailsagirl]

22. You too--thank you

[Wounded Bear]

18. Did mine several years ago. It went fairly well for me...

It was done at the VA and they did the whole surgery prep, including strip down and use a gown and laid me on a gurney to take me into surgery. Protocol, I guess.

Anyway, I share your discomfort with anybody doing anything close to my eyes and face. Have always been reactive to that. Was nervous about that, but I gutted it out. Didn't put me under, so I was conscious the whole time. Weird.

The first one was the easiest. No real pain. The second one was a bit harder, as in more difficult because the lens had calcified more then the first. I remember how the removal process sounded much like a dental drill, another one of my reactive senses.

I remember my amazement with the improvement in color registration. I was near-sighted all of my life, wore glasses since 3d grade. Just had a follow-up exam for my diabetic condition. 20/20 vision holding well. I do use readers, but cheap ones from the local store work just fine for that.

One of the best things I've ever done. I know not everybody has such a positive success story as I do, including my brother and his GF. He still wears glasses, but both had astigmatic conditions that I didn't.

Cataract sugery is one of if not the most common surgeries performed. Sounds like your first one went well, wishing you the best for the other eye.

[bif]

20. Thank you all for the reassurance!

I'm getting mine done this summer and am extremely nervous about it. I know several people who've had it done and it was a breeze for them. I think I'll just ask to be heavily sedated!

[ProfessorGAC]

21. Two Of My Golf Buddies Had It

They are nothing but pleased with the result. Even the guy who had to have one eye done twice. But, he was 20/160 with glasses in that eye, before the surgery.
They say it's like night & days well inside a week.
I haven't had any eye issues, so this is as close as I get to experience.

[Emile]

23. I had my right eye done 18 years ago and the left eye done three months ago.

Cataract surgery is nothing, you won't feel anything. Make sure you do the eye drops as ordered by doctor.

Going back for lasik eye surgery here in two weeks to get rid of a floater in right eye.

[Paladin]

24. I got the work done on both my eyes last year. Love the results.

The surgery was not as difficult as I imagined it would be. Highly recommended.