Cataract Surgery

[MikePA]

I was interested in having LASIK done in order to eliminate my need for glasses and contacts. Last week, I met with the LASIK coordinator as well as the eye surgeon. I am farsighted and have astigmatism, which I knew. However, because of the degree of farsightedness, particularly in my left eye, I am not a good candidate for LASIK. The doctor said I was borderline and he would not do the surgery.

When he was doing the brief exam, he noticed the early beginnings of cataracts. Nothing major and nothing to worry about...now. But, he said I'd be a good candidate (because of my age) for lens replacement, which would accomplish the same thing as LASIK. Many replacement lenses are good for reading as well as intermediate and distance vision (kind of like a bi-focal contact lens), so no need for reading glasses. They mentioned this kind of lens might make more sense since I'm at the end of the age range where reading glasses are needed. Starting in your early 40s, your eyes lose the ability to focus for reading. This deterioration continues until the early 50s then stabilizes. Then cataracts start to appear.

They recommended getting it done now, when I'm young (relatively speaking) instead of waiting for them to get worse in 10 - 15 years. So, I'm scheduled for a full exam at the end of June and they said they might replace the lens in the non-dominant eye that day, and do the other one about 1 week later.

Any TBNers have cataract surgery? If so, how'd it go? What type of lens did they install?

My doctor uses crystalens, ReZoom and ReStore lenses. Since I have not had my full exam, my doctor has not made a recommendation, but I've been reading up on all the options and thought I'd check with all of you for your experiences. I did a search and there were a few old threads, so I thought I'd check for more recent experiences.

 

[scott_vt]

I was interested in having LASIK done in order to eliminate my need for glasses and contacts. Last week, I met with the LASIK coordinator as well as the eye surgeon. I am farsighted and have astigmatism, which I knew. However, because of the degree of farsightedness, particularly in my left eye, I am not a good candidate for LASIK. The doctor said I was borderline and he would not do the surgery.

When he was doing the brief exam, he noticed the early beginnings of cataracts. Nothing major and nothing to worry about...now. But, he said I'd be a good candidate (because of my age) for lens replacement, which would accomplish the same thing as LASIK. Many replacement lenses are good for reading as well as intermediate and distance vision (kind of like a bi-focal contact lens), so no need for reading glasses. They mentioned this kind of lens might make more sense since I'm at the end of the age range where reading glasses are needed. Starting in your early 40s, your eyes lose the ability to focus for reading. This deterioration continues until the early 50s then stabilizes. Then cataracts start to appear.

They recommended getting it done now, when I'm young (relatively speaking) instead of waiting for them to get worse in 10 - 15 years. So, I'm scheduled for a full exam at the end of June and they said they might replace the lens in the non-dominant eye that day, and do the other one about 1 week later.

Any TBNers have cataract surgery? If so, how'd it go? What type of lens did they install?

My doctor uses crystalens, ReZoom and ReStore lenses. Since I have not had my full exam, my doctor has not made a recommendation, but I've been reading up on all the options and thought I'd check with all of you for your experiences. I did a search and there were a few old threads, so I thought I'd check for more recent experiences.

Mornin Mike,
My mother had cataract surgery about 7 years ago at age 75. She had one eye done at a time, same day in and out with no pain at all ! Prior to surgery she had two pair of glasses, reading and distance. After surgery, one pair of bifocals and that was it. She had greatly improved vision and felt that all colors were much brighter and vivid. All things considered, she had an excellent experience and would reccomend it to anyone with similar condition !

 

[riptides]

Well, I'd wait until the cataract start to impede your vision. Then do the lense replacement. Did they really give you a 10-15 year possible timeframe? That sounds like a long time. You get a second opinion? From a different practice?

I'd never mess with something that works, especially the eyes.

-Mike Z.

 

[RoyJackson]

I had a lens replacement last year. The procedure took about 30 minutes from start to finish. There was no option on this, this vision was really clouded.
You will have several visits both before and after the procedure.

It ended up my far vision with my non-dominant eye (which had the replacement) was better then my dominant eye. This can be a bit disorienting.

I'll need the dominant (left eye) done soon. Frankly, the dominant eye's vision has really deteriorated since the procedure. I was told my dominant eye also had a small cataract when I had the exam for the "bad" eye, but replacement wasn't necessary at that time. I think that was a mistake, BTW.

The most striking thing is how clear your vision is after a lens replacement. Colors that were dull become rather brilliant. As an illustration, if I close my right eye (replaced lens), the white background on this LCD monitor is dull...almost a cream color. When I use my right eye only, the white is vivid.

So Mike...I'd say go for the replacements. I'd also say get both done as close together (in time) as you can.

 

[MikePA]

Did they really give you a 10-15 year possible timeframe?

That was an estimate based on the fact that most people do not get cataracts until they are in their 60s and 70s. I am in my early 50s.

You get a second opinion? From a different practice?

I have not. Based upon information from co-workers who have had this doctor perform LASIK plus the fact other doctors send this guy their hard cases.

I'd never mess with something that works, especially the eyes.

This is what I am struggling with. Do it now before there's a big issue and I'm relatively young (and employed with health insurance) or wait until there's a problem and I'm older with Medicare.

 

[dmccarty]

This is what I am struggling with. Do it now before there's a big issue and I'm relatively young (and employed with health insurance) or wait until there's a problem and I'm older with Medicare.

And I think that will be the heart of your decision. Sounds like you have asked the right questions and gotten the answers. But in this case there is no way to know the right answer. You just have to make a decision and not look back.

This weekend I took down a tree. It took me 2 hours to cut down the tree. Now the tree was leaning into another tree so much of the two hours was pondering what to do. Just cut the leaning tree and hope it would fall? Or cut the holding tree and then cut the leaner? The holding tree looked like when it fell it might get even more hung up in the leaning tree or worse get hung up in more trees. Certainly cutting down the holding tree and then the leaning tree would be twice as much work....

After looking at this problem off and on for two years. It got down to you got to do something. It ain't getting down looking and thinking. So I hooked up a chain, a tow strap, and a come along to pull the leaner away from the holder. Made the cut. The tree did not fall. But a few cranks on the come along and the tree come along.


I made the right decision. Whew.

We have had to make some of these types of calls with family health issues. You have to work with imperfect information about things that can go one way or the other. No absolutes. Not right or wrong decisions but a direction to go.

The bottom line is to do everything you can think of to gather information. Ask if there is anything else you can do that would help make a decision. Any more questions to ask? People to see? What are the pros and cons of waiting or doing it now. Make a decision. And then don't look back. Don't second guess. Just move on.

Just be able to say that "I made the best decision with the information that I had at the time." Its really the best anyone can do...

Later,
DanWhoHasToUseReadingGlassesAlongWithContacts....

Dang Eye Doc told me my eyes would start to go at 40. He was right....

 

[RobS]

Mike, my mom had lens replacement for cateracts last year. She's an avid tennis player and wore glasses all her life. Because of the glasses, she had always had trouble with periferal vision. After the lens replacement, she sees nearly perfectly, crystal clear and good periferal. She has one eye set for distance and one for close and no longer needs reading glasses either. She couldn't be happier!

I'd love to have Lasik but can't justify the cost. I joked with her that if I had cateracts, I'd get what I want with insurance coverage. Sad, but true.

 

[Tom_H]

Which ever way you decide to go, Mike, good luck.

 

[riptides]

This is what I am struggling with. Do it now before there's a big issue and I'm relatively young (and employed with health insurance) or wait until there's a problem and I'm older with Medicare.

Trust me I know. No one knows what the future holds. Maybe some magic eye drop for a cure all, maybe same old, same old.

Get comfortable with the doctors, get all opinions, and go with your gut instinct. The medical profession has done wonders for eye care. That is a great thing.

Best of luck! Fingers crossed for you.

-Mike Z.

 

[AlanB]

dmccarty, great post.

Pretty much sums it up.

I keep looking at the Lasik, but currently am operating on the idea that it is getting better and more refined every year, so the longer I can wait, the better I feel it will come out.

Mike, good luck whichever way you decide to go. I do not think there is a "right" nor "wrong" choice, more a best with the info at hand choice. I think you are doing everything you can. I would see another well respected doc. I know the person that had the bad Lasik (and I am sure there is the bad Corneal deal out there as well) sometimes we get thinking there is only a one in a million chance, but I can tell you, it suck's when you are the one that made that statistic.

I can certainly understand the insurance angle as well, and think that would swing me towards it while I had it available.