Cataract Surgery

[Pinnie]

I just found out that I am in need of Cataract Surgery and was wondering if anyone would share their experiences with it. Is it done under a local or general anesthesia? What is the recovery time and how soon can I return to work?

I will be making an appointment with the surgeon this week to get things rolling and also wondered what the cost would be. I am a teacher and my insurance will NOT cover this procedure.

pinnie

 

[nativetxn]

I haven't had this surgery, yet. My mother had it though. It was done under "local" anesthesia, special drops. She couldn't have worked that day but returned to work about 3 days later. If you have it done on Friday, you might be back to work by Monday.

Katholyn

 

[marlasmom]

I had it in both eyes and it made an amazing difference. The anesthesia really did sort of put me out and I didn't feel anything. The second time I had it in the am and went to a school play that night. Piece of cake.

 

[Pinnie]

Thanks for your replies!

pinnie

 

[minniecarousel]

My Mom had both her eyes done (at different times - not both at the same time ) She had a local - but doesn't remember any of it! I would think that missing just a few days of work would probably do it. You'll need a one week post-op visit - probably will need sunglasses for outside and you'll need to put in several different eye drops several times a day.

Not sure of the cost, since her insurance covered it.

Good luck.

 

[Serena]

My grandma has something done and she was totally happy about it.

I'm sorry I don't know much more than that. She was pretty old and didn't say much about it.

 

[Antonia]

I'm a nurse who has gotten MANY people ready for their cataract surgery. Usually you get an IV first and then the nurse puts a variety of eye drops in your eye for dilation. Some places use a small - and I mean minute - sponge soaked in eye drops that just lays in your lower lid in lieu of the eye drops.

You lay there while your eye dilates - about 30 minutes to an hour. Then the nurse anesthetist will give you some IV sedation. You may still talk, but you won't care about anything and probably won't remember anything. By then you'll be in the OR.

The procedure is usually about 30 minutes or less for one eye. Afterwards, the anesthesia wears off fast and you're able to get up off the stretcher, sit in a chair and eat and drink right away, and in about 30 minutes to an hour you are on your way home.

Usually, you put in eye drops as directed and see the doctor the next morning.

My patients always said it was a piece of cake. The women said it was easier than a mammogram. I don't know about cost. I never knew anyone whose insurance wasn't paying.