Cataract surgery

PeggyC said:

mtierney, how are you and your husband doing? 

I hesitate dumping on this thread or Joan's caretaker thread, but it has been a stressful few months. My latest issue is on the senior thread. Thanks for your good thoughts.

mtierney said:

PeggyC said:

mtierney, how are you and your husband doing? 

I hesitate dumping on this thread or Joan's caretaker thread, but it has been a stressful few months. My latest issue is on the senior thread. Thanks for your good thoughts.

So I see. I hope the medical team work their magic and that things improve for both of you. 

Help! Went to pre op visit at eye doc in preparation for my 8/10 cataract surgery (postponed from 6/1) today and need more info.

I Have something called astigmatism, and learned today that I had an option to have a Toric IOL which would correct this condition. This is not covered by insurance and runs about $1K. If I just go for a Medicare covered basic mono lens, I would still need glasses, and my vision would be very blurry when the glasses are off.

This Toric lens should correct distance vision but I still would need reading glasses.

Appreciate any experiences and feed back. I am beginning to get nervous! I read the fine print on the paper work I signed today about surgery risks!  

Smartest thing I did- went to a distant dr for a second opinion.  Make it absolutely clear that you are there for just that! a second opinion... this doc will not be performing any surgery.  Second opinion dr concurred w/ my sense that I don't need right away... can wait up to a few years.

$1,000 may seem like a lot but IMHO good results are worth a lot more.

I know my cataract is there and it has been "watched" for more than 6 years by two different eye docs. 

Does anyone have a chart or plan for the eye drop routine which begins on Sunday? Four different drops multiple times of day!  i can't believe I will be able to follow the requirements and I hate putting drops in as it is. 

my mom got a chart when she left the hospital.

Steve said:

my mom got a chart when she left the hospital.

That would be great! So far, all I have is a list of drugs and times each has to be applied.

Good luck.  She's incredibly pleased with the results (no glasses/contacts needed for the first time in probably 40 years.

What's the upside for waiting for surgery? Do the new lenses have a shelf life? Is lens replacement more challenging the second time around?

I was told that doctors wait until the "cataract is "ripe"   before recommending a replacement lens.

I personally think the real reason is to avoid health insurance payments for multiple replacements.

The lens needs to harden to a certain thickness before it can be removed easily. It's the difference between the softer vitreous of your eyeball and your fingernails.

That's helpful. Thanks. 

Mtierney, don't let the fine print about possible problems scare you. Yes, it is very intimidating, but it is there mostly to cover their butts in the event that something does go wrong, but the odds are astronomically in your favor. The percentage of people who have bad problems is tiny. 

(Problem with fine print and something like this is that you can't read the fine print!) 

(Oh alright. I'll go to bed!!!!  It's 2am after all)   

Joanne, from your mouth to God's ear!

   >< 

the surgery took place on 8/10 and it went smoothly and, thanks be to God, successfully.! The sedation given was light, but completely effective! I could hear conversation in the operating room, but felt no pain or discomfort at all.  

The arduous part, for me, has been the eye drop program -- three drugs multiple times a day before surgery and for the next several weeks.

But the result is 20/30 vision in the eye. My left eye, which also has a cataract, seems to "see" via the clear right eye.

Won't be able to get new glasses for five weeks. 

If you have been putting off cataract surgery, go for it!

update: the other eye is scheduled for 9/14! I am actually looking forward to it!  

: ) !!

Yay!!!   

Great news!  

mtierney said:

update: the other eye is scheduled for 9/14! I am actually looking forward to it! "> 

Love it. Enjoy the newfound clarity of vision.   

I'm so glad everyone's optimism for you proved to be true.

Had the other eye done today-- it was as easy an experience as I had had before!

: )

So now what is life like for you with clarity in two eyes and no pain?

totally amazing

Did you have a Toric IOL? I too had a pretty good astigmatism and paid the $ to fix it. Sure glad I did.

Update since last May. All is super, two things.

Sun glasses. I was never a sun glass type of person, now I have a pair all the time. Even indoors I sometimes find the light too bright and need a pair with a light shade. I call it my new look.

And eye weep. Every morning I have to wash the 'crust' out of my eyes. I am told that it is quite normal and not a problem. Cool water rinse and all is good.

Yes, I had the Toric lens . I am just 5 days out from the second procedure and just four weeks from the first, so I am in that intense eye drop phase yes, bright light is tough and shades a must. But the clarity is amazing

Ahh the drops. I remember those and the fact that it took a very long time for my eye dialation to close back down.

One other thought, I lift packages daily and bend over a lot. My Dr. told me to slow down and let others take the load. Even tying my shoes was a kneel operation and not a bend over task. Keep the pressure off the eyes because you do not have stitches if you went laser.