Please Tell Me About Your Cataracts Removal Experience

[jlundeen]

Local anesthetic... so do they inject your eyeball or something? Also, were there limitations on air travel post-surgery?

I am calling my eye doctor first thing on Monday. I have a cataract in my left eye. In early July the eye doc said it was almost in the field of vision and would probably need to be dealt with in the next year. Well... I've noticed it getting harder and harder to see clearly (some fuzzy spots in my otherwise good/corrected vision) and I have had 3 optic migraines in the past 2 weeks (I can't remember the last time I had one). Definitely time to call the eye doc again, but thought I'd check here first to see what DISsers' experiences with cataract surgery were like!

If I remember correctly, I think they used drops to numb the eye, then, maybe other means of numbing, but no feeling of anything. I just remember the colors I could see as they worked on my eye... I think they use something that holds you eye open, but probably keep putting in "tears" that also washes away any blood or anything like that... I do remember when they were done, and I was in recovery everything was a bit pink, so I'm assuming that was a little blood. No pain or discomfort at all.

I didn't have any plans for traveling so don't remember anything about restrictions... but this was a couple years ago, so best to ask.

 

[Micca]

Also, were there limitations on air travel post-surgery?

There's a regimen of post-op eye drops, it'd be a hassle to try to keep that up while traveling. I want to say it was a week--maybe 10 days of eye drops. The other issue is that they do one eye at a time, so for a few weeks you'd have excellent vision in one eye while the other eye is still compromised. You can wear a patch, or if you wear glasses they can remove the lens on the side of the first surgery. You could travel, but it would be an inconvenience for sure.

The surgery was no big deal, mostly just a very bright light shining in your eye. Whatever else they did, never saw it or felt anything.
They gave me something that they said was mixed with a spoonful of Sprite. It chilled me out and I think blanked out my memory. They roofied me!

Good luck, it would be awesome to have relief from the headaches and have improved vision.

 

[leebee]

There's a regimen of post-op eye drops, it'd be a hassle to try to keep that up while traveling. I want to say it was a week--maybe 10 days of eye drops. The other issue is that they do one eye at a time, so for a few weeks you'd have excellent vision in one eye while the other eye is still compromised. You can wear a patch, or if you wear glasses they can remove the lens on the side of the first surgery. You could travel, but it would be an inconvenience for sure.

The surgery was no big deal, mostly just a very bright light shining in your eye. Whatever else they did, never saw it or felt anything.
They gave me something that they said was mixed with a spoonful of Sprite. It chilled me out and I think blanked out my memory. They roofied me!

Good luck, it would be awesome to have relief from the headaches and have improved vision.

I have two trips planned (one in Nov, one in Jan) so would have to work around this, I guess. I didn't think about the eye drops, i was thinking more about pressure changes with air travel.

The optic migraines aren't at all painful, but they distort my vision with spots and bright squiggly lines. The spotted vision is more disturbing, for sure. They haven't said there's evidence of cataract in my right eye, just my left. I guess they'll change my lens prescription so each eye gets the correct correction.

 

[Dan Murphy]

I have my surgeries scheduled for end of September and end of October.

 

[willowsnn3]

I had both eyes done this summer. Left in June, right in July. My doctor won't do any earlier than 4 weeks apart. Anesthesia was thru an IV. Not sure what it was but relaxed me completely.
My doctor requires his patients to come in to his office the very next day after surgery & then again one week later to make sure there is no pressure build up & then a final visit after a month. So the only thing about air travel I would worry about would be the pressure change. But check with your doctor for his advice.
The hardest part for me was remembering to not bend over & pick things up over 5lbs.

 

[Miffy]

I have my surgeries scheduled for end of September and end of October.

Hey, Dan, I'm having eye #1 done tomorrow and #2 two weeks later. Here's to good health, smooth sailing, and improved eyesight to both of us.

Many thanks to all the posters on this thread. Reading it has been very encouraging, although I admit I'm still terrified. I keep looking at the clock and thinking that by this time tomorrow, it'll probably be over.

BTW, I opted for the eye drops that're just one drop, once a day. They weren't covered by insurance, but I didn't want the hassle of two different eye drops multiple times a day.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Hey, Dan, I'm having eye #1 done tomorrow and #2 two weeks later. Here's to good health, smooth sailing, and improved eyesight to both of us.

Thanks, Miffy, and my very best for you also. I'm sure we'll both do well and see things in a new light. Best wishes, a prayer for you.

 

[Micca]

I'm having eye #1 done tomorrow and #2 two weeks later. Here's to good health, smooth sailing, and improved eyesight to both of us.

Many thanks to all the posters on this thread. Reading it has been very encouraging, although I admit I'm still terrified. I keep looking at the clock and thinking that by this time tomorrow, it'll probably be over.

All the best Miffy, you'll do great.! I don't know if it's common, but I was a bit euphoric post-op, that was unexpected!

 

[goofyernmost]

Hey, Dan, I'm having eye #1 done tomorrow and #2 two weeks later. Here's to good health, smooth sailing, and improved eyesight to both of us.

Many thanks to all the posters on this thread. Reading it has been very encouraging, although I admit I'm still terrified. I keep looking at the clock and thinking that by this time tomorrow, it'll probably be over.

BTW, I opted for the eye drops that're just one drop, once a day. They weren't covered by insurance, but I didn't want the hassle of two different eye drops multiple times a day.

Everything should be ok, but do be careful. After my first Cataract surgery, in spite of using those drops religiously, I got an infection in my eye. It isn't real common but it does happen and delays not only the healing but is quite painful as well. My advice, not that it was asked for, is just don't take any unnecessary short cuts. The rewards of a successful surgery is unbelievable and so worth it, but safeguard against some of the unexpected things that can happen. My second eye went smoothly, with no problems. Ask you doctor why they prefer the different drops more times a day, because that is what they normally prescribe.

 

[Miffy]

Everything should be ok, but do be careful. After my first Cataract surgery, in spite of using those drops religiously, I got an infection in my eye. It isn't real common but it does happen and delays not only the healing but is quite painful as well. My advice, not that it was asked for, is just don't take any unnecessary short cuts. The rewards of a successful surgery is unbelievable and so worth it, but safeguard against some of the unexpected things that can happen. My second eye went smoothly, with no problems. Ask you doctor why they prefer the different drops more times a day, because that is what they normally prescribe.

Are you saying that you used the once-a-day drops and that's why you got an infection? My doctor didn't say he preferred either but that people get the different drops more times a day because insurance covers them.

Also, if the drops aren't the reason you got an infection, do you know why you did?

Of course now I'm even more freaked out than I was before.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Of course now I'm even more freaked out than I was before

's Miffy.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I had both of mine done within the last 6 months. The hardest part for me was that after the first one, it was almost 3 months before I had the second eye done; and since I was extremely nearsighted, I had one good eye and one "bad" eye, so I was "lopsided"! But I had a trip planned in between, my doctor didn't want me to leave town for a month after surgery (in case there were issues), so it ended up being longer than usual between eyes. Although they didn't sedate me, they did give me valium so I was somewhat relaxed. The biggest problem was arguing with DH about whether I should go for traditional Medicare-paid surgery, or get laser-assisted surgery. Right now, I'm not used to having reading glasses, so I keep forgetting them all the time. Hopefully I'll get used to it-otherwise it's going to be a pair in every room, in the car, on the back porch, etc. Otherwise, it wasn't a problem.

 

[Dan Murphy]

The biggest problem was arguing with DH about whether I should go for traditional Medicare-paid surgery, or get laser-assisted surgery.

What is the difference, Dorothy? I'll probably find out later this week with my pre-surgery visit with the opthamologist surgeon.

 

[Simba's Mom]

What is the difference, Dorothy? I'll probably find out later this week with my pre-surgery visit with the opthamologist surgeon.

I'm still not too sure! At my pre-surgery visit, they showed me 2 videos, one of the "traditional" style, and one with the laser, which is supposedly more precise cutting and takes less time (10-15 minutes as opposed to 20 minutes-yeah, big difference ) And I think with the laser assisted one you're more likely to not need glasses afterwards, except for Dollar Store readers. Or maybe it's just something by the doctors around here-I'm not sure we're medically very "up to date"

 

[Miffy]

I'm still not too sure! At my pre-surgery visit, they showed me 2 videos, one of the "traditional" style, and one with the laser, which is supposedly more precise cutting and takes less time (10-15 minutes as opposed to 20 minutes-yeah, big difference ) And I think with the laser assisted one you're more likely to not need glasses afterwards, except for Dollar Store readers. Or maybe it's just something by the doctors around here-I'm not sure we're medically very "up to date"

From everything I've read, there's no difference in outcome between the two methods--laser or scalpel. I can't imagine that there's any difference in a need for glasses afterward--that seems to be dependent on your eyes (astigmatism, etc.) and the type of lens you get (regular, toric, or multifocal), not the type of surgery performed.

But of course I'm not an expert so I could be wrong!

 

[dizneegirl]

Right now, I'm not used to having reading glasses, so I keep forgetting them all the time. Hopefully I'll get used to it-otherwise it's going to be a pair in every room, in the car, on the back porch, etc.

Haven't had cataract surgery, but since I turned 50, I've needed readers. Honestly, it was easier to get a bunch of pairs from Dollar Tree, and just have them where I normally use them... by the couch, the bed, my desk, in my purse, in the glove box of both cars... I constantly forget until I try to read something!

 

[Dan Murphy]

I'm still not too sure! At my pre-surgery visit, they showed me 2 videos, one of the "traditional" style, and one with the laser, which is supposedly more precise cutting and takes less time (10-15 minutes as opposed to 20 minutes-yeah, big difference ) And I think with the laser assisted one you're more likely to not need glasses afterwards, except for Dollar Store readers. Or maybe it's just something by the doctors around here-I'm not sure we're medically very "up to date"

From everything I've read, there's no difference in outcome between the two methods--laser or scalpel. I can't imagine that there's any difference in a need for glasses afterward--that seems to be dependent on your eyes (astigmatism, etc.) and the type of lens you get (regular, toric, or multifocal), not the type of surgery performed.

But of course I'm not an expert so I could be wrong!

Thank you Dorothy and Miffy. Much appreciated. Again, best wishes, Miffy.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Hope all is going well today, Miffy. I'm sure it is.

 

[goofyernmost]

Are you saying that you used the once-a-day drops and that's why you got an infection? My doctor didn't say he preferred either but that people get the different drops more times a day because insurance covers them.

Also, if the drops aren't the reason you got an infection, do you know why you did?

Of course now I'm even more freaked out than I was before.

No, I'm saying that even using the three times a day, I still got an infection that I would be reticent to just go with one. That is all. It might be just as likely one way of the other. Just be careful about what you eyes get touched by or near. Trust me, you do not want an eye infection. Just ask you Doctor about why they want you to use the three times a day instead of the one once a day. They might have a good reason and if you still want to go with the later, then just be careful about touching you eyelids or anywhere around you eyes at all.

 

[goofyernmost]

From everything I've read, there's no difference in outcome between the two methods--laser or scalpel. I can't imagine that there's any difference in a need for glasses afterward--that seems to be dependent on your eyes (astigmatism, etc.) and the type of lens you get (regular, toric, or multifocal), not the type of surgery performed.

But of course I'm not an expert so I could be wrong!

My wife had terrible vision. For as long as I had known her she had an awfully hard time finding her glasses without memorizing where she left them. Sadly my daughters both got her vision. After she had cataract surgery she no longer required glasses except for reading. My vision was not awful in fact it was always just below the line were I required them for driving. Even when I had mine done my vision returned to 20/20. Due to a different problem one eye is still 20/20 and the other is 20/30. The process is nothing to be nervous about. Either one is painless and usually gives clear vision quickly and you will not believe how much brighter colors are.