Cataract surgery

[leebee]

I am having cataract surgery in early December. I'll have the left eye done on 12/4 and the right eye the following week, on 12/11. The surgeon says my distance vision will be greatly improved ("you won't remember ever having vision this good") but I'll still need glasses for near vision. I have some concerns about the two post-op periods.

I'm trying to wrap my head around how I'll be able to see during the week between the two surgeries. I'll still need my glasses for my right eye, but what do I do about the left eye? If I take the lens out of my current glasses, I won't be able to see very well, close up. Should I just wear an eye patch and "see" out of my right eye? I also tend to get dizzy/motion sickness/vertigo very easily- it's always an issue when I have a lens prescription change- so I'm worried about that being a problem during the in-between week, too. My last concern is what happens after the second eye is done. I know it takes several weeks for the eyes to "settle down" but how do I see during that time period? No glasses, distance should be OK, and get readers/cheaters from Walmart for near-vision? If anyone has experiences to share, I'd love to hear them.

 

[Mrs.Milo]

I had cataract surgery 9/2023, second eye 2 weeks later due to a holiday Monday. Don’t know if all surgeries are the same, but when I woke up next morning, still blurry, but by next morning pretty clear. Amazing to watch tv without glasses. Still wearing glasses to read, but my vision was really all one eye since I had lazy eye. My brother in law did the “remove a lens for one eye” thing, so don’t know about that. And at my first check up I got a generic 2X for readers, still works great 2 years later. Good luck, it is amazing!

 

[Disneypeach]

I was severely nearsighted when I had my cataract surgeries. Eye sight was so much better even one hour after surgery. It took about 24 hours each time for the dilation to go back to normal. I had 2 weeks between surgeries so I thought I’ll just remove the lens for the first eye from my regular glasses. Didn’t work, made me dizzy. My eye doc told me that eventually my brain would get used to that but by that time I’d be having my second eye done. . So I just didn’t wear my glasses and my corrected eye took on the main viewing effort. Not great but not a big deal either.
I love not having to wear glasses to drive or watch tv…do need reading glasses but that’s fine. Get cheap ones from Costco or Walmart.

Wish you the best for your surgery!

 

[Threehearts]

I was told that I will need cataract surgery within a year. Right now I wear trifocal contact lenses so I rarely wear glasses. I been wearing these exact contacts for 15 years and I love not needing glasses.
I now have a glare issue at night due to cataracts, hence the surgery. My question is- what do people do after cataract surgery if they need to wear reading glasses but their job makes that difficult? I work in a professional kitchen and the rare times when I have had to wear glasses for a day, I could barely see out of them at times when prepping hot foods.

Thanks for any tips or suggestions.

 

[mrsstats79]

My husband had special lenses put in. The cost alot of money but he does not need glasses for distance or reading. You can look into that.

 

[goofyernmost]

I am having cataract surgery in early December. I'll have the left eye done on 12/4 and the right eye the following week, on 12/11. The surgeon says my distance vision will be greatly improved ("you won't remember ever having vision this good") but I'll still need glasses for near vision. I have some concerns about the two post-op periods.

I'm trying to wrap my head around how I'll be able to see during the week between the two surgeries. I'll still need my glasses for my right eye, but what do I do about the left eye? If I take the lens out of my current glasses, I won't be able to see very well, close up. Should I just wear an eye patch and "see" out of my right eye? I also tend to get dizzy/motion sickness/vertigo very easily- it's always an issue when I have a lens prescription change- so I'm worried about that being a problem during the in-between week, too. My last concern is what happens after the second eye is done. I know it takes several weeks for the eyes to "settle down" but how do I see during that time period? No glasses, distance should be OK, and get readers/cheaters from Walmart for near-vision? If anyone has experiences to share, I'd love to hear them.

It's been my experience that everyone reacts a little bit different. I personally had a couple issues but normally within two days your vision is clear and the difference in colors, sharpness and clarity is amazing. I have to have readers for close up and I still have pretty sharp vision for distance but because of an astigmatism and I continue to wear glasses simply for the convenience of not having to carry readers with me. My glasses are trifocals but it is ever so minor a correction.

My Mother was 86 when she had her last one taken care of and went to a Casino the next day with her vision perfectly clear. And that was over 20 years ago. I had a very long gap between procedures and I can tell you that you will not need to do anything about the healing eye. Heck, you have a good chance of having perfect vision within a day but either way you won't really have any problem. The old gray matter tends to adjust things for you. I'm not sure what you mean by time to settle down. If the eye is giving you problems they simply will not do the second one a week later. They will put if off until you other eye recovers.

 

[Ning Ning]

I am having cataract surgery in early December. I'll have the left eye done on 12/4 and the right eye the following week, on 12/11. The surgeon says my distance vision will be greatly improved ("you won't remember ever having vision this good") but I'll still need glasses for near vision. I have some concerns about the two post-op periods.

I'm trying to wrap my head around how I'll be able to see during the week between the two surgeries. I'll still need my glasses for my right eye, but what do I do about the left eye? If I take the lens out of my current glasses, I won't be able to see very well, close up. Should I just wear an eye patch and "see" out of my right eye? I also tend to get dizzy/motion sickness/vertigo very easily- it's always an issue when I have a lens prescription change- so I'm worried about that being a problem during the in-between week, too. My last concern is what happens after the second eye is done. I know it takes several weeks for the eyes to "settle down" but how do I see during that time period? No glasses, distance should be OK, and get readers/cheaters from Walmart for near-vision? If anyone has experiences to share, I'd love to hear them.

That's what I did last year. First eye on 12/10 and the second on 12/17. And I had the same issue with focusing on improving my distance vision. So, I mainly walked around and watched television with no glasses, then just closed my corrected eye and used my glasses when I wanted to look at my phone. Until my last follow-up appointment in January, where my regular eye doctor got my new prescription, I just wore readers. Go to Dollar Tree - they're a lot cheaper than Walmart and work just as well.

Because I want to keep my distance vision as non-dependent on glasses as possible, I have four pairs of readers in varying strengths around the house. I'm currently wearing my prescription progressive lens glasses right now because I went shopping earlier today and didn't feel like pulling the readers off while walking through the aisles, then putting them on again each time I wanted to read a label.

Just be ready for how sharp everything looks and how bright the colors will be! Having my house already decorated for Christmas at the time, the reds looked so much more brilliant. You'll see a difference the day after each surgery. Good luck!

 

[leebee]

My Mother was 86 when she had her last one taken care of and went to a Casino the next day with her vision perfectly clear. And that was over 20 years ago. I had a very long gap between procedures and I can tell you that you will not need to do anything about the healing eye. Heck, you have a good chance of having perfect vision within a day but either way you won't really have any problem. The old gray matter tends to adjust things for you. I'm not sure what you mean by time to settle down. If the eye is giving you problems they simply will not do the second one a week later. They will put if off until you other eye recovers.

Rather than prescribing multiple eye drop applications, my surgeon leaves an antibiotic "sachet" in the eye (that's how his assistant described it), so that drops aren't necessary. They said studies show faster/better healing. However, he said I could expect to have somewhat blurry vision for a few days after the surgery.

 

[goofyernmost]

Rather than prescribing multiple eye drop applications, my surgeon leaves an antibiotic "sachet" in the eye (that's how his assistant described it), so that drops aren't necessary. They said studies show faster/better healing. However, he said I could expect to have somewhat blurry vision for a few days after the surgery.

I didn't mind the eye drops, but I drove myself to the hospital and home both times. I'm not sure they wanted me to do that, but I could see everything with my other eye and it was not a problem for me at all. I'm sure things have changed since had mine done about 10 years ago.

 

[tvguy]

Those are questions I have too. But here, they do the surgeries 5 weeks apart. Well, one medical group does both eyes at the same time. I was supposed to have mine done in May (right eye, my bad eye) and June,(left eye) but I had a pteryiguim on my left eye, and there was a six MONTH wait to get to see the cornea specialist, and finally had that removed 5 weeks ago. Now I have to wait until February to get evaluated again to get back on the waiting list.
Everyone I know gets the "free" basic lenses. The first Doctor I was referred to was really pushing the $2,500 an eye extra cost toric lenses, or the $5,000 and eye light adjustable lenses. He did not want to do my pteryiguim surgery, so I am switching to the Doctor who did that surgery for my cataract surgery since he knows my eyes. Not sure what he will say. My primary eye doctor is not a fan of toric lenses due to glare at night. Any one get those lenses. The light adjustable ones seem like a hassle, you have to wear special sunglasses for weeks and go in every week until they fine tune the lenses.

 

[Threehearts]

My husband had special lenses put in. The cost alot of money but he does not need glasses for distance or reading. You can look into that.

Thank you so much. I will absolutely speak to the eye surgeon about that.

 

[SueInBoston]

I was told that I will need cataract surgery within a year. Right now I wear trifocal contact lenses so I rarely wear glasses. I been wearing these exact contacts for 15 years and I love not needing glasses.
I now have a glare issue at night due to cataracts, hence the surgery. My question is- what do people do after cataract surgery if they need to wear reading glasses but their job makes that difficult? I work in a professional kitchen and the rare times when I have had to wear glasses for a day, I could barely see out of them at times when prepping hot foods.

Thanks for any tips or suggestions.

I wore bifocal contact lenses for years before my cataract surgery and I was having trouble adjusting to readers after surgery. A friend recommended using one low level "reading" contact and my eyes have adapted well to that method. I think my brain uses my right eye to see distance and my left eye to read. I work on a computer all day so I will also use reading glasses at work and when I'm reading. But I can see price labels and menus without needing readers.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I went to Dollar Tree for readers, which wasn't bad, but then I discovered "bifocal" reading glasses" at amazon, which feel so much more comfortable, and no more big bulky piece of plastic between near and far vision. Unfortunately I'm not computer savvy enough to link, but go there and look for Yogo Vision brand for $16.99 for 3 pair. Not as cheap as Dollar Tree, but I love them. I feel for you during that 1 week, but it's not too bad. Besides, my 1 week became 3 months between eyes!

 

[MICKIMINI]

I had one done quite a few years ago and it was easy. With an implanted lense (for distance) I had good vision in 24 hours or so. I would pick up an eye patch and a pair or readers from $ store just in case. It will be a bit awkward, but by the second day you will know if want the patch, readers or take a lense out of your regular glasses. In a couple weeks you will be okay!

Good luck!!

 

[leebee]

I went to Dollar Tree for readers, which wasn't bad, but then I discovered "bifocal" reading glasses" at amazon, which feel so much more comfortable, and no more big bulky piece of plastic between near and far vision. Unfortunately I'm not computer savvy enough to link, but go there and look for Yogo Vision brand for $16.99 for 3 pair. Not as cheap as Dollar Tree, but I love them. I feel for you during that 1 week, but it's not too bad. Besides, my 1 week became 3 months between eyes!

How did you know what magnification you'd need? Did you test out readers at Dollar Tree before the surgery?

 

[Debbie Jean]

My cataract surgery was absolutely transformative. Vision from the time I was 6 years old was 20/220+, so coke bottle lenses. Distance vision after is cataract surgery is close to 20/20. I do use readers… my doctor measured and suggested 2.50 lenses which work perfectly.

Mine were done a week apart. During that time I think I just popped a lense out of my prescription glasses and used an eye patch. I took the time off from work which was vision intensive and I wasn’t driving. Having near perfect vision even in one eye was just mind boggling to me…. it was only a week so not a big deal.

BTW, not everyone can have upgraded lenses. Because I have had glaucoma for many years I was not a candidate. Not a big deal. My ophthalmologist is a rock star!