Cataracts and other visual concerns!

[ArlyA]

There seems to be a wide variety of diagnoses as to weather you need it or not. The same eye doc I've happily used for years told me "you don't need it yet. While I can't remotely weld anymore, sometimes need to shut one eye to read a road sign now. Have added lights everywhere so as to see things etc, etc.

 

[ponytug]

Wow! Having to close one eye to read a highway sign seems to me more than bit beyond "you don't need it yet".

Some doctors don't hear very well; a patient tells them that their life is significantly impaired and the answer is per an organizational guideline. Grrr. In fact, double Grrr! Sometimes, I want to say "Hello? Are you actually listening to yourself and hearing me?" I have fired more than a few doctors for not listening to and caring for their patients. I loathe doctors who practice by box checking. Drives me nuts. Remember the old joke? "What do you call the person who graduates last in their class in medical school?" "Doctor..."

In this day and age, patients often come in with more insights about their issues than the doctors have, and many MDs have a hard time relinquishing their role as a God whose word is not to be questioned. Times are changing, but not fast enough for me.

All the best,

Peter

 

[ArlyA]

Wow! Having to close one eye to read a highway sign seems to me more than bit beyond "you don't need it yet".

Some doctors don't hear very well; a patient tells them that their life is significantly impaired and the answer is per an organizational guideline. Grrr. In fact, double Grrr! Sometimes, I want to say "Hello? Are you actually listening to yourself and hearing me?" I have fired more than a few doctors for not listening to and caring for their patients. I loathe doctors who practice by box checking. Drives me nuts. Remember the old joke? "What do you call the person who graduates last in their class in medical school?" "Doctor..."

In this day and age, patients often come in with more insights about their issues than the doctors have, and many MDs have a hard time relinquishing their role as a God whose word is not to be questioned. Times are changing, but not fast enough for me.

I was warned by my ophthalmologist that my eye doc was "old school" (quoting her) and not likely to approve of it. She was right! She's actually not at all old, but I'd guess the school she attended had a different approach to replacements.

 

[rgr33]

Haven’t read all the entries here, but just a heads up on lens choices.
My wife chose a distance lens for one eye and a reading lens for the other. Now she can’t see very well at either close or far

I chose distance lenses, and am very happy with the results, although I have reading glasses spread all over the place, house, car, barn garage, always need to read that fine print on something.

 

[ArlyA]

Haven’t read all the entries here, but just a heads up on lens choices.
My wife chose a distance lens for one eye and a reading lens for the other. Now she can’t see very well at either close or far

I chose distance lenses, and am very happy with the results, although I have reading glasses spread all over the place, house, car, barn garage, always need to read that fine print on something.

I was kinda thinking the same thing. Reading glasses are cheap.

 

[dfkrug]

The approach I am going with is to correct to similar nearsitedness that I had and will retain in my right eye. My left will will not be operated on. Since I have worn glasses since the 1960s, and usually wear sunglasses outside, I don't gain the ability to go without glasses.

I have had progressive lenses for many years, but read up close at night with no glasses. Should be the same as before. We will see.

 

[workinonit]

I just had my right eye done Wednesday. We targeted my distant vision. My left eye hasn't progressed to the point to need surgery yet. I played golf yesterday and I can see the ball again. Pretty happy with what I had done.

 

[deserteagle71]

Haven’t read all the entries here, but just a heads up on lens choices.
My wife chose a distance lens for one eye and a reading lens for the other. Now she can’t see very well at either close or far

I chose distance lenses, and am very happy with the results, although I have reading glasses spread all over the place, house, car, barn garage, always need to read that fine print on something.

My eye doc told me that some brains adapt easily to having one eye corrected for distance and the other for reading. But some don't, and I was afraid my brain would never get used to have my eyes done that way so I opted for good distance vision. 3 years now, and I'm very happy with the results.

And yes, I too have reading glasses stashed everywhere!

 

[IXLR8]

My wife (68) has cataracts in both eyes, she just had her worst eye done a few days ago. She has been using glasses since she was 13, been using contacts since she was 22. She has been using a distance lens in one eye and reading in the other since she got contacts. That is what she is doing with her replacement lens's. They gave her dilating drops to start taking 1 hr before her surgery. They gave her numbing and antibiotic drops to start taking the day before. She was told to be there by 0800, they took her in at 0810 and I was taking her home at 0945. She said she was awake for the entire procedure, which would freak me out. The doc talked with her the entire time and had her move her eye around during the procedure. They opened the doors at 0615 and when they took her in, the nurse said that she would be number 12 that morning. They had 4 surgery rooms and 3 docs working.
She is so excited to be able to see as well as she can now, she reports colors are more vivid and defined. She can now read what is on the TV from her couch. She is looking forward to getting the other eye done in 2 weeks. She is also having trouble getting use to the idea when she gets up in the morning, she doesn't need find her glasses or put in contacts anymore.

 

[dfkrug]

Well, I had my right eye done on Thursday. Today, Friday, I see real improvement. Bright and sharp are the images, better than my other eye. Feels fine, too. Wow.

I arrived a little before 6AM, and was the first of 12 patients that day (one doctor). I was aware of the procedure, but felt nothing. Not even the eyelid clamps. I saw light anomalies as the operation progressed. The doc did not speak or ask me to do anything. I did not really feel the happy juice they gave me (some tranquilizer plus Fentanyl).

My follow-up appt with the doc was the same day, in the afternoon. So I stayed at the hospital for that. Got home by 3:30.

I had to call in some favors to get rides to/from the hospital, as I recently became a widower. Tough to ask any friend to give you a ride at 5AM.

Now, I just gotta take about a thousand eye drops (steroid, anti-biotic, and NSAID).

My cost was $160 for the basic lens (Medicare with Part C).

(Arly, you are gonna love this.)

 

[ArlyA]

I picked up 4 bottles of eye drops today. Gee whiz its getting closer.

 

[ArlyA]

Da drops. Pre surgery and post.

 

[dfkrug]

1 week post-op now.

Eye feels pretty normal. For others who are considering this procedure, the first day post-op was a bit uncomfortable, but not as bad as when you get something in your eye. Eyedrops 4x/day (times 3) is a bother, but only the Prednisolone burns a bit.

Waiting a month for the lens to stabilize requires a long wait before I can get new prescription for my clear and tinted glasses. So I can not experience the full benefit of my nice new lens until then.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

Yesterday was my 6-month follow-up with a complete exam. Future exams will be annually. The right eye is 20/20 from 20 inches to infinity. The left eye is 20/25 from 10 to 16 inches as it was before cataract surgery. I did order a basic pair of glasses so I am 20/20 at distance should my right eye need patching for any reason, etc.

I should have had the cataract surgery several years earlier I now understand in hindsight.

 

[QRTRHRS]

When I had both of my eyes done, I opted to see distance after wearing glasses since 5th grade. I paid what Medicare did not to have progressive safety lenses put into my frames. Clear on top, reading lenses on the bottom. Good for reading or working when I need eye protection.

Back before my cataract surgery when I was working in quality control, my supervisor used to tell people that I could find fly dung in a bottle of pepper. One thing that I miss about those days is if I get some kind of foreign object in an eye, I cannot see it. All that I can do is to try to flush it out.

 

[ArlyA]

My 1st eye surgery is Monday so drops in it have started today.

 

[dfkrug]

My 1st eye surgery is Monday so drops in it have started today.

Interesting prep variation doc-to-doc and region-to-region.

No drops prescribed in advance for me, here, at Kaiser Santa Clara, CA. They do ask that you wash your eyelids with baby shampoo.

Wonder what they require in other countries....

Good luck.

 

[IXLR8]

My wifes eye drops started 24 hrs before surgery and she has another 3 weeks of them. Eyes were done 2 weeks apart. After 2 weeks since her cataract surgery, she still reaches for her glasses every morning, glasses that she no longer needs.

 

[ArlyA]

I got a couple bottles of prednisolone for post surgery which I assume is for both eyes.

 

[Norm W]

"Old timers" will catch up with many of us. In my case it was Fuchs dystrophy. The cells on the inside of the cornea are supposed to keep the water content of the cornea in check. You are supposed to have a life time supply of these "Sucker" cells.. I evidentially died about 30 years ago. You wake up and it looks as though you are looking through a rain splattered windshield. The cells in the cornea have swollen up with water. A high salt eye drop, will help for a while, but not for long. I opted for a DESEK, at least that is I think how it's spelled. The endothelial cells of a donor cornea are sliced from the back of the donor cornea and rolled up like a taco. They are then inserted, after removing the dead "Sucker" cells, through an incision against the inside of your cornea. You spend the next 24 hours flat on your back with an air bubble holding the graft in place. Because the anti rejection medication causes cataracts you receive plastic lenses at the same time. I had both eyes done about ten years ago. I should have had it done sooner and probably would have, if I had known how much the improvement would be.