Doc suggested that I contact an opthamalagist about the removal of my cataract. Anyone here ever had the procedure? What all was involved and was it worth it?
Eye exam
- Thread starter Fox Mike
- Start date
Yep, both eyes. Glad I did it. You lose your vision slowly especially night vision but get it back all at once. You will be amazed. I am more comfortable driving
,especially motorcycles at night.
,especially motorcycles at night.
Frank when it's all over it's a real blessing. You decide if you want distance of, close up vision and you get your choice. You will be able to see again. I was shocked how much difference it made.
bogus bill
Hunter
Does the operation hurt? Do they put you out? Just yesterday I got my eyes examined and was told I have cataract`s but I guess they aren't bad yet but will eventually have to take care of it. I never could stand anyone messing with my eyes even to put eyedrops in.
pete44ru
Hunter
.
ILO just removing my cataracts, I opted for Lasik Surgery, where one eye at a time ( a few ekks apart) got the lens removed and a new (plastic ?) lens slid in it's place.
I had both mine done almost 10 years ago.
The entire procedure(s) were painless, done while I was awake (local anesthesia), then each eye treated in turn with special eyedrops for a few days, until the lens opening healed.
I occasionally get a dry eye, which a few drops of artificial tears takes care of.
There were no other after effects. (YMMV, of course)
I didn't realize much change when the 1st eye was done, but after my 2nd eye was done, I was amazed at my new vision clarity & color perception - homes near mine that I had long thought to be painted a creamy ivory color turned out to be a BRILLIANT white !
The other colors (blues, reds, greens, etc, etc) also turned vibrant.
The other plus was that instead of bi-focals, I now only need reading glasses - and those only for reading in dim light or fine/small print.
I can now see perfectly, near & far, w/o glasses.
IIRC, the procedures cost about $600 per eye, but if you've been certified as needing cataract replacement, Medicare and/or insurance may absorb most of the cost. (YMMV here too)
.
ILO just removing my cataracts, I opted for Lasik Surgery, where one eye at a time ( a few ekks apart) got the lens removed and a new (plastic ?) lens slid in it's place.
I had both mine done almost 10 years ago.
The entire procedure(s) were painless, done while I was awake (local anesthesia), then each eye treated in turn with special eyedrops for a few days, until the lens opening healed.
I occasionally get a dry eye, which a few drops of artificial tears takes care of.
There were no other after effects. (YMMV, of course)
I didn't realize much change when the 1st eye was done, but after my 2nd eye was done, I was amazed at my new vision clarity & color perception - homes near mine that I had long thought to be painted a creamy ivory color turned out to be a BRILLIANT white !
The other colors (blues, reds, greens, etc, etc) also turned vibrant.
The other plus was that instead of bi-focals, I now only need reading glasses - and those only for reading in dim light or fine/small print.
I can now see perfectly, near & far, w/o glasses.
IIRC, the procedures cost about $600 per eye, but if you've been certified as needing cataract replacement, Medicare and/or insurance may absorb most of the cost. (YMMV here too)
.
bogus bill
Hunter
Thanks. I still get the chills thinking about it though.
blackhawknj
Buckeye
- Joined
- Apr 22, 2010
- Messages
- 1,945
It's worth it. My brother had his removed in 1976, more of a procedure back then, I gather advances in technology have made it much easier for all concerned.
Wifie Had both of her eyes done No big deal.
She chose to have far vision and were reading glasses.
She chose to have far vision and were reading glasses.
I've had both done, one at a time,and about three-four years ago. It made a big difference, except at night. I still get the star pattern around headlights and street lights, and with brights coming at me it almost blinds me. They have you doing a few things leading up, eye drops and sometimes lid wipes, then special drops for a week or ten days. The procedure is relatively painless, more just discomfort. Takes about an hour start to finish, and they did put me under for it. The paperwork was worse that the surgery. If you catch it early enough they can make far and near sighted corrections so you don't need any glasses, if you have that condition. If you are advanced, they ask if you want to see up close better or far away. I opted for up close due to work and computer use but passed diver's license test with no problems without any visual aids. The only problem that happens in about 10% of the patients, a cloudiness can develop under the lens in a month to 6 months. You have to go back in and they flush it out and you're done. I can't remember what they say causes it but both my wife and I had it after the second eye was done.
I'm not an ophthalmologist so anything I say can't be held against me, your results may vary.
Mine was Lasik -- Is it worth it --- hell Yes!
I'm not an ophthalmologist so anything I say can't be held against me, your results may vary.
Mine was Lasik -- Is it worth it --- hell Yes!
BROKENBEAR
Single-Sixer
- Joined
- Jun 25, 2016
- Messages
- 161
I don't know yet.... but I will the 30th of this month the first eye then 2 weeks the second
Bear
Bear
Pat-inCO
Hawkeye
I was apprehensive until one night I took a trip to the post office. On the
way back I had to concentrate on the bumper of the guy in front of me; I
could not see beyond that.
I had mine done one at a time, which was not necessary. My main
complaint is the eye drops afterword. Mine were for a month and they are
a figurative pain in the (guess which extremity). Not difficult and no way
painful, just the annoyance of drops, drops, drops, drops.
Once they were past the drops phase I did a test to see how much my
vision had improved. At night, which WAS terrifying, is no longer any
problem. In the house, I can see well enough that at times I forget to put
my glasses on (this from a guy that has worn glasses for fifty years).
Talk with your doctor and see what he/she recommends. That's most
likely a good starting point.
way back I had to concentrate on the bumper of the guy in front of me; I
could not see beyond that.
I had mine done one at a time, which was not necessary. My main
complaint is the eye drops afterword. Mine were for a month and they are
a figurative pain in the (guess which extremity). Not difficult and no way
painful, just the annoyance of drops, drops, drops, drops.
Once they were past the drops phase I did a test to see how much my
vision had improved. At night, which WAS terrifying, is no longer any
problem. In the house, I can see well enough that at times I forget to put
my glasses on (this from a guy that has worn glasses for fifty years).
Talk with your doctor and see what he/she recommends. That's most
likely a good starting point.
powder smoke
Hawkeye
Eye surgery is serious business, do one at a time cuts the risk in half.
Heck if something goes wrong at least you still have something. ps
Heck if something goes wrong at least you still have something. ps
caryc
Hawkeye
Don't let powder smoke scare you. I had both my eyes done and it was the best thing to ever happen to me. I wore bifocals for like 25 years and now wear no glasses at all.
The procedure was completely painless. It's a local anesthetic and I was awake during the surgery. It takes less than ten minutes and I felt nothing at all. All I remember was a red light moving around. He did the second eye a week later.
The recovery is nothing, just having to use eye drops from three different little bottles every four hours. That was kind of a PIA since I had to put the drops in myself. But other than that it's a piece of cake.
Do not be apprehensive at all. It's a good thing. Look forward to it. I was eager to get that second eye done.
The procedure was completely painless. It's a local anesthetic and I was awake during the surgery. It takes less than ten minutes and I felt nothing at all. All I remember was a red light moving around. He did the second eye a week later.
The recovery is nothing, just having to use eye drops from three different little bottles every four hours. That was kind of a PIA since I had to put the drops in myself. But other than that it's a piece of cake.
Do not be apprehensive at all. It's a good thing. Look forward to it. I was eager to get that second eye done.
bogus bill
Hunter
Thanks for giving me a glimmer of hope. I will try the new glass`s about a week from now. I know its coming. I heard everyone gets cataracts if you live long enough.
caryc
Hawkeye
bogus bill said:
After 25 years of wearing glasses, my eye doctor finally said new glasses are not going to help you. You need cataract surgery. He wouldn't even give me a new prescription for glasses.
bogus bill
Hunter
This young eye doctor wasn't real communicative. I got the exam, ordered the glass`s and that was it. I did expect more out of him. It was at a Costco store. We shall see how it go`s. Thanks. My prescription did change he said.
Colonialgirl
Hawkeye
I had cataract surgery done on BOTH eyes at the VA , Done one at a time. I don't need glasses to drive, lights at night no longer have "Halo's". I do have to wear glasses to read because I have an "irregular shaped astigmatism" and they could not correct that. Without glasses, everything is clear and sharp, watch tv with no problems. I've always had that astigmatism and wore glasses to correct it as I got older.
GET'R done FoxMike
GET'R done FoxMike
caryc
Hawkeye
bogus bill said:
Yeah, everyone gets cataracts. Trouble is that you can't see them. :mrgreen:
Only your eye doctor knows for sure.
Ka6otm
Blackhawk
- Joined
- Dec 21, 2002
- Messages
- 753
The people I know that got to the point they needed cataract surgery said they were pretty aware of having cataracts. Evidently white colors aren't really bright white any more and more like washed out or yellowish or something along those lines.
There are other symptoms also.
The Costco doctors should tell you if you have cataracts and tell you to go to an Ophthalmologist for a more thorough exam. I know my doctor at Sam's Club did, but she also said they were nowhere near the point where an operation was indicated.
There are other symptoms also.
The Costco doctors should tell you if you have cataracts and tell you to go to an Ophthalmologist for a more thorough exam. I know my doctor at Sam's Club did, but she also said they were nowhere near the point where an operation was indicated.
caryc
Hawkeye
I was at the point where I had to have all the drapes closed in the room to watch TV or the screen would be all washed out. The light on your cataracts really washes out all color. Are the colors better on your TV set after it gets dark outside?
I am with Kaiser so the optometrist made an appointment with the Kaiser Ophthalmologist after refusing to give me new glasses. And, of course, the ophthalmologist recommended cataract surgery right away. The ophthalmologist will do all the testing on your eyesight and tell you what your options are. He is actually figuring out the strength of the new lenses that will go into your eyes.
All that only takes one visit with him. The next time you see him he will be doing the surgery. I think it was less than ten days for me.
I am with Kaiser so the optometrist made an appointment with the Kaiser Ophthalmologist after refusing to give me new glasses. And, of course, the ophthalmologist recommended cataract surgery right away. The ophthalmologist will do all the testing on your eyesight and tell you what your options are. He is actually figuring out the strength of the new lenses that will go into your eyes.
All that only takes one visit with him. The next time you see him he will be doing the surgery. I think it was less than ten days for me.
toysoldier
Hunter
Search for "cataract surgery," and you'll find this topic was covered two years ago. It will probably come up again in a couple of years.
As a surgical technologist (scrub tech) for over 40 years, I have seen cataract surgery change a whole lot. And as a patient who had cataract surgery on both eyes, I can assure you it is a big nothing. You mention not liking drops, so you may have a little different opinion, as preparation involves a series of drops. I had my right eye done first, then two weeks later the left. Since I was very nearsighted, the most difficult thing was dealing with different pictures from each eye. I tried wearing an eyepatch,and removing one lens from my glasses. I was very happy to have the second eye done.
It was mentioned that a cloudiness could develop after the procedure. This is called a "secondary cataract" and is caused by the opacification of a lens membrane deliberately left behind. Treatment is a few painless zaps with a laser in the office.
If you want more information, shoot me a PM, and I will send you my phone # so we can chat. On this subject, I will not hesitate to claim to be the most knowledgeable person on this forum---unless there's an ophthalmologist among the membership.
As a surgical technologist (scrub tech) for over 40 years, I have seen cataract surgery change a whole lot. And as a patient who had cataract surgery on both eyes, I can assure you it is a big nothing. You mention not liking drops, so you may have a little different opinion, as preparation involves a series of drops. I had my right eye done first, then two weeks later the left. Since I was very nearsighted, the most difficult thing was dealing with different pictures from each eye. I tried wearing an eyepatch,and removing one lens from my glasses. I was very happy to have the second eye done.
It was mentioned that a cloudiness could develop after the procedure. This is called a "secondary cataract" and is caused by the opacification of a lens membrane deliberately left behind. Treatment is a few painless zaps with a laser in the office.
If you want more information, shoot me a PM, and I will send you my phone # so we can chat. On this subject, I will not hesitate to claim to be the most knowledgeable person on this forum---unless there's an ophthalmologist among the membership.
OP
Thanks for all the positive input. I WILL "GET'R done" as Pam suggested. I however will wait till the results of Linda's exam at the ophthalmologist come back. Her problem is much worse than mine. I can still drive at night and do not get halos. . .yet. I just can't see much without my glasses. Everything, without glasses over my left eye, is ////// angled that way.
RSIno1
Hunter
My wife had/did the same. They offered here bifocal lens at nearly $500 per eye. She opted for the free standard ones and bought a $5 set of reading glasses at the drug store.Wyandot Jim said:
caryc
Hawkeye
RSIno1 said:
My doctor talked about bifocal lenses before my surgery. He gave me the choice but said he didn't recommend them because they really didn't work that well.
Cataract surgery is the most common surgery performed in the world, I believe, and even the most inexperienced ophthalmologist is capable of doing this simple procedure. My only caution is to possibly question the surgeon beforehand and ask him/her if they are certain that the problem is a cataract. I say this because of what happened to me. I had been having some blurring issues that could not seem to be corrected by glasses, and my then ophthalmologist said that I had early stage cataracts that must be the source of the problem. Despite being fairly young, I agreed to go through cataract surgery in both eyes over a few week period and while the surgery itself was literally at most a minor inconvenience, the problem was not at all resolved (but it did allow me to go from "Coke bottle" type eyeglasses down to a very minor prescription where I can actually get by in most things without glasses at all). It turns out that my problem was not cataracts, but a corneal problem called Fuch's Dystrophy, an inherited progressive condition that I was later told was almost unimaginable that the ophthalmologist did not correctly diagnose it. At the time Fuch's was untreatable, but a number of years later a surgical solution has been found that actually cures the condition (I am happy to say), but regardless, I had gone through the earlier cataract surgery unnecessarily. So while it is unlikely, but not impossible, that you have Fuch's Dystrophy or another corneal condition, its worth asking the doctor if he or she is really sure that the problem is a cataract and not possibly something else.
toysoldier
Hunter
vito said:
Correct/incorrect.
It is the most common surgery, and while the procedure is simpler and faster than it was years ago, it requires extreme care, control, and patience. I have seen surgeons who could get it done, and surgeons who performed elegantly. Big difference.
If an ophthalmologist cannot do quality cataract removal he or she probably should not be practicing medicine. This is the "bread and butter" procedure for this specialty. I would insist that the individual be Board Certified. Not an absolute guarantee that the surgeon is good, but there is reason to be cautious if the surgeon is not.
