OT: Cataract surgery? UPDATE Dad had sergery, still blurry

[zumbergc]

Update in post #13

You budget board people are the best about all kind of info.

So here is the OT question: Cateract sergery. My dad has to have sergery done around x-mas. What does he need to know. I'm just starting to research this topic. I didn't realize you have to wear bi-focals after the sergery.

Well, I'm off to more reading. Anyone have info to share would be great. Is there any down time associated w. it?

Thanks for the help.
Connie

 

[JacobsMommy11002]

You budget board people are the best about all kind of info.

So here is the OT question: Cateract sergery. My dad has to have sergery done around x-mas. What does he need to know. I'm just starting to research this topic. I didn't realize you have to wear bi-focals after the sergery.

Well, I'm off to more reading. Anyone have info to share would be great. Is there any down time associated w. it?

Thanks for the help.
Connie

I can try to answer any questions you may have...I am an RN in an ophthalmic surgery center. Generally, there is no down time. It is a very quick recovery. Many people go back to work the very next day. Granted, there can be complications with any surgery, but they don't happen often with cataracts. Different doctors will place different limitations on their patients. Some limit lifting for 2 weeks, others don't. Some require you to wear a patch, others don't Also, not everyone needs to wear bifocals. Many people only need reading glasses after surgery, as it corrects many vision deficits.

Feel free to contact me with any questions you may have.

 

[Crazoo]

My mom had it awhile back, very quick recovery.. day surgery..

Hope everything goes smoothly

 

[joha]

I can try to answer any questions you may have...I am an RN in an ophthalmic surgery center. Generally, there is no down time. It is a very quick recovery. Many people go back to work the very next day. Granted, there can be complications with any surgery, but they don't happen often with cataracts. Different doctors will place different limitations on their patients. Some limit lifting for 2 weeks, others don't. Some require you to wear a patch, others don't Also, not everyone needs to wear bifocals. Many people only need reading glasses after surgery, as it corrects many vision deficits.

Feel free to contact me with any questions you may have.

I'm also an RN with previous experience in opthalmology. I second what JacobsMimmy said, very quick recovery, low rate of complications, and different sets of limitations. The anesthesia is usually IV sedation and local anesthetic to the eye. Quick surgery, done as an outpatient.

Funny my name is also Johanna.

 

[daughtersrus]

My daughter had cataract surgery when she was 2yo. Unfortunately, she was one of those that had complications. She developed a life-threatening post op strep-pneumococcal infection. Of course this is very rare but being that your dad will be having surgery in winter, it is something to watch for.

The other thing is to be sure to wait several weeks between surgeries if your dad has bilateral cataracts. You need to give some time to the first one to heal and make sure it's infection free before having the second surgery. Again, this is something that our doctor did not do.

All of this being said, my dad had bilateral cataracts removed this summer and everything was fine. It only took him a short while to adjust to the implant. He now has glasses just for reading. The hardest part for him was leaving the shield on and trying to get all of the drops in on schedule.

Best of luck!

 

[SSDonut]

My mom had both eyes done this summer (at different times). The procedure itself was quick/easy and there were no complications.

My one piece of advice, though: Make a chart for the eye drops. There were 3 different kinds and the frequency of administration changed before surgery and then the day off surgery and then after the first post-op visit.

You wouldn't think it would be difficult to keep track of, but especially the day of surgery when your giving 1 eye drop every 2 hours. one every 4 hours, and one every 6 hours, it's amazing how quickly you can start to lose track of what you've done and what you still have to do. I made a simple table/calendar in Word with check boxes so when the drops were given they could be checked off. It really kept me from wracking my brain trying to keep track of it all.

Good luck!

 

[jocotter]

I'm glad to find this thread since I have to have cataract surgery in November or December. I am going for my consultation at the first of November. I'm 56, which seems young for it, but I can't see anything anymore out of one of my eyes and the other is starting cloud, too. I am very nearsighted and they say that my vision will be tons better afterwards, which I'm happy about. It's just that I'm such a big chicken about the dentist, that I'm really anxious about being awake and lying down like that, etc. I hope it's not as scary and painful as I am imagining.

 

[jls886]

My grandmother just had one of her eyes done. It all went really well! The only thing that surprised us, and that we had not been warned about, is that she had to choose which type of lens she wanted...far or near. So, she had to decide really quickly which she wanted. Otherwise, she had no problems.

 

[bumbershoot]

My daughter had cataract surgery when she was 2yo. Unfortunately, she was one of those that had complications. She developed a life-threatening post op strep-pneumococcal infection.

My cousin has congenital cataracts on her dad's side...he has them, she has them, and was the child that was the guinea pig for all of the knowledge that is out there now! Poor kid didn't even get to have laser surgeries... It was a 25% chance that she would pass it, and she just had her second baby, and both of them got it. So her son has already had a few surgeries, and they've scheduled her baby for surgeries (unlike when my cousin was tiny, they now have a strong wait-and-see philosophy, or at least the terrific pediatric eye surgeons at Shands in Gainesville do, and they've waited and now it's time)...her baby is, hmm...6 months old now? But they gotta do it before it gets more complicated.

Anyway, they've never had complications, but I know they are aware each time that there's the possibility, and I'm so sorry that your babe was one who had complications! I hope she's doing better now!



To the OP, sorry for the topic-veering I just did. Despite my cousin, I have NO knowledge about cataracts in adults, all my knowledge, what there is of it, is based solely on congenital cataracts.

 

[zumbergc]

Thanks for the tips about cateracts. Right now its just the one eye that has a cateract in it. I think my dad is waiting for a few days off at christmas to get it done, plus he is really nervous about the procedure. You know its your eyes and you need them to see, you never know who is going to be the ones with problems, and the ones that turn out ok.

Thanks for the tips about eye drops. A chart sounds like a great idea, actually even better for my mom who currently takes a ton of meds.

Connie

 

[nanadeb]

I had cataract surgery 4 years ago on one eye. You don't feel a thing with the local anesthetic and your eye blurs so you don't see the surgeon coming at your eye. Afterwards, it's no more pain than having slightly gritty eyes.
You wear the eye shield at night so you don't accidentally rub your eye in your sleep, don't do any lifting for a while, and don't sleep on the same side as the eye worked on. The implanted lens has these little filaments that need to be steadied in your eye by having tissue anchor them, so you don't want to put strain on the eye for awhile.
I chose the far sighted lens because it is easier to wear reading glasses. I would rather be far sighted than near sighted.
Make sure he invests in a good pair of sunglasses to keep the glare and the UV rays down.
Christmas is such a nice time to get your vision back. I had gone for several months thinking that all the rooms in my house needed painting and that the colors of everything seemed a bit off. Everything seemed so bright and beautiful when I got the cataract removed. I didn't need to paint anything after all!

 

[zumbergc]

Another question:
My dad works in a manufacturing environment. I'm not sure how dirty it is, they work on the welding of the car frames w/ automated robots, he does the maintenance on the robots.

For those who work in the dr offices, do you know how long he would recommended he be out of work, so the dirt at work wouldn't affect his eyes recovering.

Someone mentioned weight restrictions on lifting heavy things. Anyone know what that weight limit is?


Thanks again.
Connie

 

[zumbergc]

Dad had his cateract sergery today, left eye, worst one.
He has an astigmatism, so he got the toric len put in.

He had the sergery arond 10am this morning, and his eye is sill dialated, and things are still blurry. He can't focus on anything, or read anything far away?
They were suppose to set the distance for focusing far away .

Is this normal. Does he just hav to wait another day, wait til the eye isn't dialated anymore, and he might be able to actually focus with the fixed eye?

If someone has some more info on this it would be greatly appreciated
Dad is frustrated, and well so it frustrates me too.

He goes back on thurs for the follow up appointment.

TIA
Connie

 

[JacobsMommy11002]

We tell our patients to expect their vision to be blurry for atleast a day or two...for some people it is longer. The dilation may last that long as well. Some doctors use medications, either Miostat or Miochol, to help the pupil return to its normal size. Others use nothing. If your dads doctor did use one of these medications, he may notice he has dimmer vision that normal for 1-3 nights. So if your dad had one of these meds, he needs to be aware of his surroundings when he gets up at night. But remember, that too is normal. Also, the type of anesthesia has an impact on vision. Patients who have a topical anesthetic tend to have clearer vision sooner than those who have a block anesthetic. The reason being the second type blocks the optic nerve, while the first just numbs things up. That too is entirely up to the surgeons preference.

I wouldn't worry. Again, blurry vision is perfectly normal for a few days to even a week. I am surprised his doctor or nurse didn't mention that...they should have. to you and your dad. Its hard when our parents have surgery. Sounds like you are trying really hard to take care of him. If you have any more questions, let me know!

 

[mamalle]

He had the sergery arond 10am this morning, and his eye is sill dialated, and things are still blurry. He can't focus on anything, or read anything far away?
They were suppose to set the distance for focusing far away .

it can be dilated for awhile maybe until tomorrow. Please be careful having him walk up and down the stairs and/or off the curb since his perception can be off. Things maybe blurry for a couple of days. everyone is different on their recovery time from cataract surgery. Use the drops as instructed and bring everything to the office tomorrow for his recheck.the urgent things to be concerned about are- severe headache or pain unrelieved by tylenol, persistant nausea or vomiting or a sudden loss of vision. this could mean the pressure is up and you need to call the doctor immediately-. Blurry vision, double vision, floaters and seeing things with a red tint are normal. No heavy lifting or bending over. do not rub the eye and if he has a eye shield wear it to bed and at naps so he doesnt dislodge the implant. as far as the toric lense- I had thought you were not supposed to read or use the computer till cleared by the doctor. Do you have his discharge instructions? we write everything out since sometimes it can be confusing at discharge time.. Hope he is feeling better soon.

 

[JacobsMommy11002]

if he has a eye shield wear it to bed and at naps so he doesnt dislodge the implant. as far as the toric lense- I had thought you were not supposed to read or use the computer till cleared by the doctor. Do you have his discharge instructions? QUOTE]


I agree with everything but the above. We have six different doctors in our practice, and only one requires his patients to wear a shield to bed. So if your dad doesn't have one, don't freak out. His doctor may not mandate it.

As far as the toric...we tell our patients to take it easy with reading with the crystalens, but I don't believe we place any restrictions on patients with toric lenses?

 

[zumbergc]

we didn't get any discharge instructions reguarding not reading w/ the toric lens.

We did get the eye guard,which he has been wearing when napping.

Good to hear it may take a couple of days to get the vision back to normal.
I'm sure hoping its sooner than later, but to hear its normal is reassurig.

Were in a single level place, only a couple of stairs getting into or out of the house so, moving around at night, no steps. is a good things.

He had a anestegia, they said it was lighter than the twilight stuff ( i had asked if it was like the twilight stuff since I had that before) so maybe that can affect his sight too.

Thanks for your speedy responses.

Connie

 

[mamalle]

every doctor is different that is why I said that about looking at their discharge instructions. even with a little versed people have a hard time recalling what was said in pacu to them. We have quite a few doctors and everyone is not the same on what can and cannot be done after surgery. I have had several times two patients sitting side by side after surgery and one is demanding a eye shield when the other has one one.. It just depends on what your doctor recommends after surgery. If you do have a eye shield for him use it as instructed. some like it for security more than anything or in the shower. as far as the toric and crystal lens- that again depends on the doctor. Ours are pretty strict with some of these new lens.. best of luck to your dad. the 1st 24 hours are usually the hardest. Im sure tomorrow he will start to feel back to normal.

 

[dolce]

can take a day or even up to a week or two for the vision to clear up. you have to keep in consideration the amount of swelling an eye could have, thats why its important for him to use his drops. toric lens is good because it will eliminate the astigmatism, however he will most likely need reading glasses. there is a new lens (restor) that corrects both distance and near and leaves you glasses free.

 

[heartbeeps]

Connie,
what's the latest with your dad? hoping he's doing better vision wise?!