Cataract Surgery

[OzPiper]

I had my 1st cataract surgery 48 hours ago.
What a totally painless procedure.

Done with light sedation, so I was in a half-conscious state during the proceedure.
At one point I asked if they were about to start. Only to be told they were all done.
I was allowed to leave (with my wife) after a cup of coffee and a light breakfast.

One of the nurses asked me prior to the procedure what I was looking forward to with the surgery.
My reply was to have an unlined forehead as I had lines from having to squint constantly because of the cataract

I remember being told by an old codger many, many years ago that he wasn’t allowed to sit up and had to pee lying down for 24hrs post-op
Grateful for the huge advances since.

One thing I have noticed - the vision in the operated eye seems so much brighter. And having a slight blue-ish tinge.
Best described as the difference between the light from a “normal” white fluorescent tube (slight yellow tinge) to a “daylight” tube (blue-ish tinge)

Looking forward to having the other eye done soon.

 

[kcghost]

Cataract surgery is the way to go if you need.

 

[Zack Miller]

Had mine done years ago. Threw away my Readers. I’m Hawkeye again.

 

[OzPiper]

Cataract surgery is the way to go if you need.

I was surprised at the rate it progressed.
Had my eyes checked, and new glasses prescribed 18 months ago.
Noticed the deterioration in one eye @9 months ago and it went downhill rapidly
The other eye is stable, but I’ve decided to get that done soon, as it is only a matter of time before it becomes due

 

[huntertrw]

OzPiper:

Welcome to the club! I had worn glasses since the seventh grade and was both near- and far-sighted, with astigmatism on top of that. I had my right eye done last year and it is corrected for distance vision. Somehow my brain reconciles the blurry vision in my left eye so that my total distance vision is 20/20. It was simply remarkable to be able to see far away without glasses after more than 50 years!

This fall I hope to have my left eye done (its cataract has to be sufficiently advanced for insurance to pay for it) and it will be corrected for close vision. Again, my brain will reconcile the images from both eyes.

Interestingly, I still find myself occasionally reaching to push up the glasses I no longer wear. Old habits die hard...

 

[AroEnglish]

I can't wait until I get cataract surgery but being in my mid-30s, it'll be a while. I'm not a good candidate for laser eye surgery and the optometrist suggest I purse a correction when I have cataract surgery. Maybe in 30 years...

 

[OzPiper]

Just a quick update:
Went for my 1 week post-op check yesterday. Vision now back to 6/7.5 !

Very happy with that result.
Not so happy when I was told ”NO SMOKING” for another fortnight (to allow the cornea to heal fully)

 

[troutface]

Have had both eyes done and it's wonderful. If your surgeon didn't mention it, you may in the coming years develop what is called a secondary cataract. Sometimes cells will start to grow on the capsule that holds your lens and cloud your vision. It is fixed with a painless YAG laser treatment that takes all of a minute or two. No sedation, just a few numbing eye drops. The laser burns a hole in the capsule allowing the light to once again reach your retina unimpeded. It's a one time deal and you're good to go.

 

[OzPiper]

Have had both eyes done and it's wonderful.

Yes, currently in the process of booking in surgery on my other eye.
My surgeon was recommended by 2 ophthalmologist mates Independantly.
In the words of one “I‘d go to her - she is really anal”
Which suits me fine.
I suspect that’s the reason for the interdiction on smoking for 3 weeks post-op

 

[Ahi Ka]

Good stuff Ray. Hopefully this helps with reading hallmarks

 

[troutface]

In the words of one “I‘d go to her - she is really anal”

My optometrist recommended my surgeon for the very same reason. I wasn't about to argue. Sounded like the kind of person I wanted slicing into my eyeballs.

 

[OzPiper]

Good stuff Ray. Hopefully this helps with reading hallmarks

I was really struggling these past few months

 

[bullet08]

A cousin of mine Is a cornea specialist. He suggested bunch of laser surgeries. My wife and my sister along with few of my relatives had it by him for free.

Anyone who touched my eyes won't be able to hold any tobacco products for their life. I don't trust people. Specially doctors and that includes my relatives.

 

[OzPiper]

A cousin of mine Is a cornea specialist. He suggested bunch of laser surgeries. My wife and my sister along with few of my relatives had it by him for free.

Anyone who touched my eyes won't be able to hold any tobacco products for their life. I don't trust people.

Many years ago (>25) one of my ophthalmologist mates left for the US to check out some machines for resurfacing corneas.
He returned without buying any.

When I asked him “why not ?”, his reply was “Ray, in almost every case, you can get almost perfect sight with glasses. If someone has a stuffed up corneal surgery, they are facing a corneal transplant with a 10% risk of failure”

Hopefully success rates have improved significantly since then.