Cataract surgery...what was your experience?

[BoomerD]

is that because you can see or the valium has you feeling GOOD?

No valium this time. Some IV drugs...one was in the same class (benzo) as valium, one was ketamine, don't remember what the 3rd one was...but, yeah, I can sort of see out of that eye finally. (they use a thick gel-type of numbing agent...about like vaseline.) That's finally starting to clear. Things are still kind of fuzzy, but getting better. Still wearing the wonky plastic eye shield to prevent me from unconsciously rubbing the eye. I can remove that tomorrow morning.
I'm actually on the computer WITHOUT my glasses for the first time since the mid-90s. It's not quite perfect...but damned good.

 

[BoomerD]

Damn...I've worn glasses for about 35 years. It's weird as hell NOT to have to wear them except to read. I knew my "current" prescription wasn't right for me any more...it's been 5 years since I got these, but since the surgery, anything more than 3-4 feet...everything is blurry with them. Take them off...VOILA! I can SEE!
I go in in about 4 weeks for a new eye exam to get fitted for readers. (still have some astigmatism) I REALLY hope I can ditch the bifocals...and more so, hope I can buy the cheapo readers at Costco instead of having to have actual prescription glasses.

 

[bjp1201]

Need cataract surgery in both eyes. I have astigmatism and am both presbyopic and myopic. So, automatically have to have a more expensive surgery to handle the astigmatism. Plus, doc said he only wants to do laser, which also rules out the 'basic' surgery & Medicare coverage.

Thinking of multi-focal lenses, in order to avoid readers. However, the doc said ideally I should have my dominate eye done first for the distance view, even if it isn't as bad as my other eye. Something to do with getting the best distance determined first before doing second eye for close up vision.

I now want to ask if I get both eyes done for distance vision, if I could then wear a contact lens in one eye to correct for close up. (I used to wear monovision contacts and adapted easily to that.) This way I could get both eyes done for 'best distance' enabling me to do the worst eye first - and, later get tested for a contact lens for just one eye to accommodate close up.

Has anyone taken this approach?

Second question - how many of you had to have a health work up beforehand? I don't have a primary doctor and have never been diagnosed with any particular health condition, and it doesn't seem like I need to have any sort of work up done in advance.

This whole thing is still freaking me out in terms of surgery in general.
Third question - how do you get over being freaked out before the surgery(ies)? I've read and read and read about eye cataract surgery and that has not helped one bit.

Thanks for reading this long post.

 

[pcgeek11]

Need cataract surgery in both eyes. I have astigmatism and am both presbyopic and myopic. So, automatically have to have a more expensive surgery to handle the astigmatism. Plus, doc said he only wants to do laser, which also rules out the 'basic' surgery & Medicare coverage.

Thinking of multi-focal lenses, in order to avoid readers. However, the doc said ideally I should have my dominate eye done first for the distance view, even if it isn't as bad as my other eye. Something to do with getting the best distance determined first before doing second eye for close up vision.

I now want to ask if I get both eyes done for distance vision, if I could then wear a contact lens in one eye to correct for close up. (I used to wear monovision contacts and adapted easily to that.) This way I could get both eyes done for 'best distance' enabling me to do the worst eye first - and, later get tested for a contact lens for just one eye to accommodate close up.

Has anyone taken this approach?

Second question - how many of you had to have a health work up beforehand? I don't have a primary doctor and have never been diagnosed with any particular health condition, and it doesn't seem like I need to have any sort of work up done in advance.

This whole thing is still freaking me out in terms of surgery in general.
Third question - how do you get over being freaked out before the surgery(ies)? I've read and read and read about eye cataract surgery and that has not helped one bit.

Thanks for reading this long post.

In my early 60's when I had it done. To start I was stressed about surgery in my eyes too. They gave me a mild sedative to calm me down before hand and I never gave it a second thought. If you want to get freaked out watch a full knee replacement video. Those are fun...

I had my right eye set for medium distance and two weeks later my left eye set for closer and it works out great. He also did some laser work on one eye to correct the astigmatism.

No health workup was needed before surgery.

I did have to pay for the vision correction lenses over the plain jane one size fits all lenses. Cost me about 4K out of pocket after insurance paid their share. Well worth the extra money as I don't wear glasses or contacts now the only exception being very small print like on medicine bottles etc...

 

[Pohemi]

I go in in about 4 weeks for a new eye exam to get fitted for readers. (still have some astigmatism) I REALLY hope I can ditch the bifocals...and more so, hope I can buy the cheapo readers at Costco instead of having to have actual prescription glasses.

Look at progressive readers, I think mine have worked really well for my needs. They're not for further distance of course, but they're great for everything from small font printed material on the desk in front of me, to a display a few feet away. I use to have regular readers and they were either good for one or the other, but not both. These cover all near-distances up to maybe 5 ft.

This whole thing is still freaking me out in terms of surgery in general.
Third question - how do you get over being freaked out before the surgery(ies)? I've read and read and read about eye cataract surgery and that has not helped one bit.

I dealt with over a year of having injections directly in my eye(s), and then surgery on my left eye after a major hemorrhage and retinal detachment. After all of that, I admittedly still got a bit nervous before the cataract surgery on my one good eye (right). It's still surgery, and it's on your eye. I'd say it's normal to be nervous or anxious beforehand.

For what it's worth, Cataract surgery is the most common eye surgery, and 3.7 million are performed every year in the US alone.

 

[highland145]

@pcgeek11 eff you're old.

😀😀

 

[pcgeek11]

@pcgeek11 eff you're old.

😀😀

The only good thing is I know I'm gonna live to be 68.
All these youngsters don't.