Cataract Surgery

   / Cataract Surgery #11  
I had the laser surgery done in 1994. I had it done a I played hockey and broomball mainly and couldn't keep my glasses clear from sweating (that would usually start when I was in the dressing room getting my gear on). When I had the surgery they removed the top layer of skin on your eye and then corrected the lense. The skin would grow back over in a matter of hours but it was quite irritable for a few days. Not sure what they do now, but I know it is less irritable though. It is amazing what they can do and I had 20-18 vision after the surgery. I'm in your shoes now as my in close vision is deteriorating to the point I will need glasses to read soon. I've never regretted for a moment about having it done though. It cost me $4200 cad back then for both eyes and I had astigmatism as well but just on the borderline of not being able to do it.

Steve
 
   / Cataract Surgery
  • Thread Starter
#12  
These days for LASIK, they cut a hinged flap on the covering of the eye, fold it out of the way, laser, fold the flap back and that's it.

While I didn't talk to a lot of people, all of them, even the ones who had complications (that were later resolved) said they'd do LASIK again and regretted not doing it sooner, even though our vision coverage doesn't cover all that much of the cost, so it's still a good piece of change out of pocket.

They also appreciated that this doctor was very conservative in who he'd treat and didn't mind turning people down for LASIK, as he did me.

Dan's post describes me pretty well. Get all the info you can, make a decision and move on. Cataracts don't get better. I will know more after my full exam next month.
 
   / Cataract Surgery #13  
I had cataract surgery on my left eye 3 yrs ago at age 58. I was having to have new glasses about every 6-8 months. My opthamologist said it was basically my decision on when. Delaying would not damage my eye. It was simply a matter of when I got tired of replacing my glasses so often. My insurance would not pay for the crystalens, so I had the basic lens replacement. Crystalens would have been something like $3000 out of my pocket for the one eye. The basic lens clears up the cloudy vision, but does not correct the nearsightedness that was already there. I have had glasses since I was 14. Vision is better but I still need glasses. And as mentioned, the brightness of colors is amazing.
Prep time took far longer than the procedure itself. All total I was probably not there longer than 2 hours. He gave me a pain prescription, but I never had it filled. Never had any pain.
He said I was starting to show signs of cataract in my right eye, but has not really started to bother me yet. But will probably have to do something in a few years.
 
   / Cataract Surgery #14  
I have two stories to relay... your experiences and situation may differ.

My dad, age 89, had bad cataracts in both eyes... couldn't see worth a damm... doctor told him about the surgery and its risks and possible outcomes.. dad was reluctant but went agreed to have an eye done. I argued with the doctor.. doctor wanted to do the worst eye first. I wanted to do the best eye first. Doctor won, did worst eye, dad still can't see ... removing the cataract disclosed macular degeneration, so the situation is hopeless and will only get worse. Doctor reminded dad he had said "there can be numerous reasons for your vision difficulties and we won't know exactly until we do the cataract surgery, but I know that as a minimum you need the cataract removed to get improved sight." Dad now thinks the doctor was a shyster, did nothing and pocketed the money. More importantly, he refuses to have the cataract in his better eye worked on... so, now at age 94 he says pass the potatoes when rice is on the table... sees colors and lumps, can't read without extreme magnification and always carries a flashlight everywhere he goes, day and night, to light up his visual space.

I still believe that a better choice would have been to do the better eye first.

Myself, I've been diagnosed with the beginnings of cataracts, both eyes, but still have what I consider good vision although corrected with trifocal glasses. I, too, was recommended to have a lens replacement in the near term.

I researched the same 3 lens options you have... and also discovered that some people are doing different focal lengths for each eye with success. I also focused on the side effects that are reported.

Two problems were identified... selecting a focal length.... some people discovered that what they got wasn't right for their life style and still had to carry glasses for some activities.

More importantly, for night driving, people reported halos and glare problems.. and my recollection seems to be that it was a significant percentage of people... some said that they "got used to it" after a while.

Anyway, I did a LOT of reading on the net.. discovered that there are numerous discussion groups, etc. where experiences and scientific study results are reported. My net was that people who were having vision difficulties that were ALREADY impairing their lifestyle were the happiest and reported best results. Others who were in the initial stages of problems seemd to be more negative about the ressults for them and complications from it.

My final decision was that my research led me to understand that this area of vision improvement has GREATLY improved in the last 10 years and that huge strides are still occuring. Thus, I decided to wait for a later date since I am now corrected to 20-20 with glasses and the cataracts are just beginning. I am the driver for two family members as well as my parents, age 91 and 94. If I get a problem, things go south really fast.

In my opinion, I could find no combination of lens, focal length, reduced dry eye risk, halo/glare risk, etc. that presented me with a risk/benefit ratio that I wanted to proceed with.

Although my eyes are currently not great, I've worn glasses since 4th grade and know how to deal with them. I had hoped to find a way to toss the glasses in all circumstances, avoid the sweat and fog up problems and only need to wear sunglasses. For me, the technology is ALMOST there, but not quite.
 
   / Cataract Surgery #15  
Well heres my 2 cents............

I had a lense replaced in my right eye when I was 44 (I'm now 48) due to a total cataract claiming my vision. I was fairly young for this procedure, but I've learned to expect this with my poor eyesight (blind in one eye - poor in the other). I've worn glasses since I was 4 years old; eye patches; lazy eye; myopic; astigmatism; etc... seen many experts.......

The procedure truly was quite simple. A small incision, insert a tool, sonically vibrate and suction the old lense, insert a new lense. Seeing better than ever ( a relative term).....though I must now wear contacts and bifocal glasses at the same time in order to see at my best. Believe me, wearing glasses is nothing! I'd gladly do it just to see the wife and kids everyday.

Do the surgery - only if a second doctor with nothing to gain confirms the cataract - and once you have mapped the progression of the occlusion over a period of time (to verify the projected timeframe for you). And also note that some cataracts can be corrected with lasers to "wipe" the lense clean (mine was formed on the inside of the lense so no laser for me). Also be aware that macular degeneration is a risk at any age, but surgery can expose it or trigger it (once again, my version of winning the lottery is speaking from experience).
 
   / Cataract Surgery #16  
A few observations from 15 years in the medical field as a Bio-Med Engineer.

Not to be negative and having seen first hand thousands of success stories on the job... We are doing things now as routine procedures that 10 years ago did not exist.

One of the most touching stories I recall was of an elderly man that was forced to move into a retirement community due to his failing eyesight... two weeks after his surgery he was able to return to his home of 50 years and drive again.

That being said, all medical procedures carry risk. The safe bet is to view any surgery from the basis of medical necessity. Very few medical plans cover the optional lenses. Two of the best professions in regards to vision coverage are Airline Pilots and Law Enforcement... for the rest of us ordinary citizens the expense can easily add several thousand dollars per eye.

Two questions to ask your Doctor are: 1. Will postponing treatment result in permanent/irreversible damage and 2. Can this procedure be repeated or is it a one shot deal.

Often good candidates are individuals whose vision has stabilized.
 
   / Cataract Surgery #17  
Champy Since your down to one eye, were you able to see after the procedure? Or were you covered?

texasjohn They are working on newer treatments for macular degeneration now. Some people are actually leveling off and making improvements, from what I hear. So there is hope.

-Mike Z.
 
   / Cataract Surgery #18  
I had both eyes done over the past winter at age 68. My ophthamologist first mentioned that I was showing signs of cataracts about a year ago. Within six months they were well delveloped. He did my worst eye first and six weeks later did the other eye. The plastic implants have corrective lenses that give me near 20/20 vision for distant objects but I require reading glasses. I have a pair of bifocals for working on the computer - the reading glasses are OK for seeing things within 18 inches like the keyboard but not items further away like the monitor screen. The lenses cost C$450 each and the computer exam cost another C$250. But I also had to get new glasses, another C$500.

The most difficult aspect was between surgeries when one eye was good for distance but not close up and the other eye was vice-versa. What I ended up doing was taking the lens for my corrected eye out of my glasses.

Overall, it was a worthwhile process.
 
   / Cataract Surgery #19  
mike an allan

I had lasik done back in 2003 and I am pleased with results.
The doctor I went to stressed that some people over 45 will need reading glasses even after surgury. I was one that would. I got bi focal safety glasses for work no rx in top and reading in bottom. and it works for me.
Driving and hunting, swiming ect with out glasses it has been well worth it.

tom
 
   / Cataract Surgery #20  
My extra two cents worth, from everything I've read and heard about the halo's and stars being a side effect is that at least fifty percent of the population have these anyway even before the surgery. My wife and both daughter's have this experience now and they've never have anything done to their eyes. It's just something you adapt to. I didn't have it before or after the surgery, i do get the stars sometimes when i feel tired driving at night, I guess I got lucky?

Steve
 

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