North of Mouse
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Mar 31, 2011
Has anyone had this done? It's $1,000 extra per eye, but supposed to be much safer than regular surgery. I'm scheduled each Thursday the next two weeks.
My surgeon basically said everyone will need it eventually, should they live long enough. UV exposure causes an opaqueness to the lens that’s impossible to prevent. I had mine done at an unusually young age (and could have had it done much sooner) because my cataracts were congenital and present from birth.Thanks for replies! My surgeon said the recovery time/results are basically the same for laser or traditional (scalpel) surgery, but he prefers laser as it's much safer for the patient. Good enough for me! We only have two eyes, so I'm gladly paying the extra 1K for each eye.
I'm nervous, but know more than half the population has had/will need, cataract surgery by age 80. It has been done millions of times.
My surgeon basically said everyone will need it eventually, should they live long enough. UV exposure causes an opaqueness to the lens that’s impossible to prevent. I had mine done at an unusually young age (and could have had it done much sooner) because my cataracts were congenital and present from birth.
The one thing they didn’t tell me (or explain well enough for me to understand) is that the artificial lense implants would obliterate my near vision. “You will probably need reading glasses” doesn’t come close to telling the story. I went from being severely myopic to being unable to see anything but white fog at 12”. I’m in expensive progressive tri-focals with a separate pair to cope with computer work. It’s been life-altering and although necessary, I’m not sure I would have had the guts to go through it if I’d known what I was in for.
Is it actually called LASER cataract surgery.. Or is it technically not a laser?
My surgeon (who is co-owner of a facility that specializes in the laser option) said about the only difference is cost and the laser is more for "show" lol.
There is no difference in recovery etc.
Just so you know my surgeon works at one of the top eye hospitals in the United States. But to each their own. You are the one that asked if it's worth the cost. I was just giving my personal experience reply.I definitely don't agree it's for show only, and after researching a lot about it would steer clear of a surgeon that said that - but it's to each their own - no laughing matter with my eyes!
Just so you know my surgeon works at one of the top eye hospitals in the United States. But to each their own. You are the one that asked if it's worth the cost. I was just giving my personal experience reply.
If you have already done the research and feel it's better then there was no need to even come on here.
If you have done the research then you know the only difference is the surgeon uses a laser to make the incision vs a traditional tool and that is about it.
@longboard55, really can't say what other areas/surgeons are recommending. I can only comment on what is being recommended here by our surgeon, and what I have researched online.