Please Tell Me About Your Cataracts Removal Experience

[Simba's Mom]

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!

I read that too. And truthfully, I was going to go with the traditional one. But DH had done the "laser assisted" and wanted me to also. He usually lets me decide, but he went to my pre surgery appointment. Didn't really know about the glasses for sure, and frankly, having worn glasses since I was 7, and bifocals for about 20 years, this isn't always an advantage.
I also had to go back the day after the surgery just for a check-up-using eye drops so much was probably the only inconvenience.

 

[Miffy]

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.

Just to be clear, my eye doctor offered me both choices and had absolutely zero preference for one over the other.

To update: I had my right eye done yesterday. Unfortunately, somehow my cornea got scratched, so now I'm dealing with that. And, no I did not touch my eye or let anything anywhere near it. The patch thing was on it all day. The scratch occurred in the hospital. The eye surgeon isn't sure how it happened but is confident it will be resolved soon. In the meanwhile, my vision is still blurred, so fingers crossed there. Until my vision in this eye resolves, I'm not going to have the left eye done since I can't risk having my vision impaired in both eyes at the same time. I guess this explains why they do only one eye at a time.

I'll report back with future outcomes. Just block me if you'd rather not hear. I mean, I'm not sure I'd want to hear about this.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Thanks for the update, Miffy. That scratch will come along, you'll be ready for your second eye in no time. Good to see you were able to type out your post above, good sign.

Going for my pre-surgery visit today, explanation, measurements, etc. Surgery scheduled early Monday.

 

[Micca]

Aww Miffy I’m sorry about the scratch. Follow the doc’s advice and I’m sure you’ll be fine.

 

[Miffy]

Thanks for the update, Miffy. That scratch will come along, you'll be ready for your second eye in no time. Good to see you were able to type out your post above, good sign.

Going for my pre-surgery visit today, explanation, measurements, etc. Surgery scheduled early Monday.

Best of luck to you, too, Dan.

BTW, I'm able to type out my posts because my left eye is totally fine. If I were depending on my right eye--the one that was operated on--I wouldn't be able to even read the DIS.

I would like to reassure you, though, that the surgery itself is pretty much nothing. There's zero pain or discomfort, and it goes very quickly. It's the pre-op prep and the waiting, waiting, waiting that's time-consuming and often very boring.

 

[Miffy]

Aww Miffy I’m sorry about the scratch. Follow the doc’s advice and I’m sure you’ll be fine.

Thank you, @Micca. I had a scratched cornea many years ago and I do know that it eventually goes away. I'd like sooner rather than later for this one!

 

[Dan Murphy]

Best of luck to you, too, Dan.

Thank you, Miffy.

 

[goofyernmost]

Just to be clear, my eye doctor offered me both choices and had absolutely zero preference for one over the other.

To update: I had my right eye done yesterday. Unfortunately, somehow my cornea got scratched, so now I'm dealing with that. And, no I did not touch my eye or let anything anywhere near it. The patch thing was on it all day. The scratch occurred in the hospital. The eye surgeon isn't sure how it happened but is confident it will be resolved soon. In the meanwhile, my vision is still blurred, so fingers crossed there. Until my vision in this eye resolves, I'm not going to have the left eye done since I can't risk having my vision impaired in both eyes at the same time. I guess this explains why they do only one eye at a time.

I'll report back with future outcomes. Just block me if you'd rather not hear. I mean, I'm not sure I'd want to hear about this.

Hear about it? I've lived it, but all came out well in the end. It's a bit frustrating, but just stay patient it will get better.

I have one question about the eye drops. If there is no difference between those two regiments, why even offer the two choices? Why not just offer the simpler one and not make a stressful situation more stressful? I'm having a hard time trying to figure out why there needs to be a choice.

Anyway, experience tells me that it may take a little time, but it all works out in the end. In spite of the few problems I had, I would do it all again because the end result is so worth it.

 

[goofyernmost]

Thanks for the update, Miffy. That scratch will come along, you'll be ready for your second eye in no time. Good to see you were able to type out your post above, good sign.

Going for my pre-surgery visit today, explanation, measurements, etc. Surgery scheduled early Monday.

Good luck Dan. Seeing clearly is like a whole new exciting experience. More or less like getting a new set of eyes. The big difference, other than the brighter colors, was that my night vision was so much better.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Best of luck to you, too, Dan.

Good luck Dan

Thank you, both.

I'm off to get my first new lens in about an hour. Second one next month. Main thing right now is I'm thirsty as heck, no water allowed, ha.

 

[sheilafri]

Haven’t needed it yet myself but drove my best friend to her surgeries. She said it was easy-peasy. Only took a couple hours each time. I did help her back to the car by letting her hold my arm. She took eye drops many times a day for about a month after. She never complained about pain but the first eye remained blurry for longer than she thought but it has cleared up. She is surprised by how much more vibrant colors are since the surgeries.

 

[Micca]

Good luck Dan! Please let us know how you’re doing!

 

[Miffy]

Thinking about you this morning, Dan, and wishing you the best.

 

[Dive Bar Casanova]

When I was a kid and up until recently it was major surgery. Now quite modern and much improved no where near as drastic.
All the best Dan.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Good luck Dan! Please let us know how you’re doing!

Thinking about you this morning, Dan, and wishing you the best.

All the best Dan.

Thank you all again. Home now, all went well. Procedure was about 15 minutes I guess, the versed had me in twilight. The preop took about an hour or so, like getting ready for a 'regular' operation, which it is I guess. I go to the doctor tomorrow morning for him to check it and then wait for the end of next month for the other eye. I ate well with Marie after the procedure, could not eat of drink anything from last night until after we left.

Thanks again guys.

 

[Micca]

@Dan Murphy How many fingers am I holding up????????????

 

[Dan Murphy]

@Dan Murphy How many fingers am I holding up????????????

Right now, Ron, a bit blurry one. Though some may refer to it as a thrum, not a finger.

 

[leebee]

@Dan Murphy Glad to hear it went well! In fact, it's encouraging to read about so many positive experiences. My mother did not have a good outcome, so it's made me super-anxious to consider cataract surgery, even though my eye doc says "sometime within the year..." for me. I hope you continue to do well, and have a good experience with the other eye, too!

 

[bobbiwoz]

I have not read through this, I will. I will tell about DH’s experience earlier this year. He is 79, and had both eyes done two or three weeks apart. His was a resounding success!

He had worn glasses since grade school! He no longer needs glasses for everyday living, and actually passed the NJ eye exam for driving, so his license no longer says “wears glasses.”

He uses reading glasses now. It’s amazing how different he looks without glasses. He’s very happy. He did not pay for any special lenses, he took what they gave!

As far as eye drops, I think I put them in his eyes every day twice for two or three weeks, then every day once for a week. The little bottles had enough in them, I was surprised.

 

[Dive Bar Casanova]

My mother in law, a famous MGM star of the 30's and 40' had the surgery. They gutted her eyeballs removed the cataracts and put them back together. I remember even thinking back then why a better method hasn't been perfected.
It's all good now and finally.