Cataract Surgery? Anyone had it?

CaptainMike · #1 (**permalink**) 02-12-2008, 01:08 PM

Just got back from the Opthomolgist and though my retinas are swell (Yay!), I'll be needing cataract surgery in both eyes within the next 5 years (2-3) was his estimate. Anyone had it done recently? If so what type(of surgery) and how did it work out for you?
Thanks!
Mike

xMenace · #2 (**permalink**) 02-12-2008, 02:16 PM

No, but I know a few that have had it. They all said it was a very easy surgery and the results were amazing. You can watch them on youtube if you have the stomach for it.

Alice · #3 (**permalink**) 02-12-2008, 05:05 PM

I have very early, tiny signs of cataracts down the road. My opthalmologist said they weren't related to diabetes...just to watch in the future...he said many years from now...by that time they will be doing "drive-by" cataract removals!

My grandmother had the old-fashioned surgery when she was in her 90's and did fine. She continued quilting until she died at age 98...I should be so lucky!

sparrow1 · #4 (**permalink**) 02-12-2008, 05:19 PM

I had both eyes done a week apart a couple of years ago. It took 15 mins per eye and was painless with a local freezing. As I lay back in the chair and was pampered with foot rests and blankets, I said "Can you do a manicure while you are at it?" I said the doctor should open a cataract and day spa. I have always been very short-sighted and now I can see so far in the distance it is amazing. Another miracle of modern science. I chose to have the flexible lens inserted.

Best thing that ever happened to me. And yes it was the diabetes that caused such an early onset (although I was 63 at the time).

Mich · #5 (**permalink**) 02-12-2008, 05:42 PM

I had cateract surgery on my right eye done by a specialist. I was awake and lying down. I was in an out-patient operating room at the hospital. They gave me some drops to numb my eye, then a sedative i.v. It was very short. The sedative made me not care a bit what they were doing.

When finished, they gave me the sedative antidote and I got off the table myself and into the wheelchair. I felt so normal that I felt ridiculous being wheeled off. A big plastic eye protector was taped over my eye. I went home in about 15 minutes. He said I had to sleep in the eye protector but tears and itchy tape bothered me, so I took it off. The next morning I could see colors amazingly bright (my old eye is like looking though a piece of yellow glass) and drove myself to the Doctor for the check up.

Short, sweet and only mildly irritating--my eye felt "scratchy" for a day or so, soothed by eye drops.

Sounds dreadful, but turned out to be a piece of cake in my opinion.

Mich

lisa821 · #6 (**permalink**) 02-12-2008, 08:46 PM

I had a cataract removed in my right eye a few years ago, something like 12 years ago I think, before I wore an insulin pump. It was done through outpatient surgery and I was outta there within a couple of hours. I was awake during the whole procedure; what's called a "block" was done on the eye to numb it and I couldn't see anything with that eye while they worked on it. (Sounds like they do a much simpler numbing procedure now.) My doctor put in a corrective lens implant to replace the old cataract-ridden lens. In that particular eye I use it for close to medium range vision, while I use my left eye (with a regular contact lens) for distance vision. It works really well this way.

The only weird thing is the type of lens implant he put in--I have this weird cat eye effect in that eye; when light hits the lens a certain way it kind of glows. It's really fun to freak people out with.

It's a pretty basic procedure nowadays, and you'll be amazed at how beautiful colors look after it's done. You'll see what you've been missing!

~Lisa

CaptainMike · #7 (**permalink**) 02-13-2008, 01:01 PM

Thanks for the replies everyone!! I guess this is something I won't postpone. My vision is still pretty good, though I do not drive at night if I can avoid it at all, that's the only time the 'haze' really bugs me. The doc said I'm one of the youngest people he's ever seen them in (41), but it's something I'll only need to do once.

hagenet · #8 (**permalink**) 06-11-2008, 12:24 PM

I was 46 when I had to have both eyes done. Quick and simple operation, I was near-sighted before but now I'm far sighted and need readers but dont need to wear glasses anymore.

birdyland · #9 (**permalink**) 06-11-2008, 01:43 PM

My husband had congenital cataracts removed in his early 20s with lens replacement. He couldn't be happier.

My aunt recently had both of her eyes done in her late 60s. She paid extra for the more advanced lens and also couldn't be happier. She focuses a lot faster than my hubby can.

Good luck!

Jules49 · #10 (**permalink**) 06-12-2008, 11:22 PM

I had both eyes done in June of 2006. I would guess he did probably 40 or 50 that morning. Most all of the eye surgeries are done at the location I had my cataracts removed. I was put on a bed and may have had the surgery done on that same bed. My face was covered except for the eye he was doing. Had he not told me his name I would never have known. Had to be back early the next morning before they removed the the plastic gaurd on eye and cleaned it up. Wore that gaurd several days, I think. Would have to ask my daughter. She carried me. They will let your family watch if she wanted to. She did not.

pdxdennisj · #11 (**permalink**) 06-13-2008, 06:19 AM

I had cataract surgery on both eyes (about two months apart) some 18 years ago. It was not the surface type of cataracts, but rather the interior, clear globe behind the iris, that was replaced with fixed plastic globes. It was the whole nine yards - surgeon, nurses, anesthesiologist, etc. As I recall, I was awake mostly,bu unable to move. They would not do the operations until my vision was severely impaired. All is good now, though I do sometmes use glasses for reading.

Nita · #12 (**permalink**) 07-06-2008, 04:18 AM

I know I will eventually have to have cataract surgery but not yet. My husband will have it soon and being retired Medicare will pay for it. He was offered two choices for lens and the best one (flexible) is 2500.00 per eye. That would be 5000.00 for the pair which we don't have. Is that a norm?

I think he has made up his mind to get the basic jobs but do so wish he could have the best. This may sound morbid but he says at age 76 he doesn't know how much longer he will live.

Nita

jazzbo · #13 (**permalink**) 07-06-2008, 05:25 AM

CaptainMike,
I had both eyes done early this year. I'm 52. They put me "out" for about 5 minutes and then I was awake during the surgery. My night vision and halos were getting bad. I can see GREAT now! There are a lot of lens implant options. Google them -- IOL (intraocular lens). I only need glasses for reading now but then I needed them before. I've worn glasses since I was five. No pain, home in a couple hours and back to work in two days. Another plus -- cool sunglasses! No clip ons for me! Colors are no longer muted, too. Piece of cake!

Jazzbo

SCC · #14 (**permalink**) 08-03-2008, 05:57 AM

I've had cataracts for a long time (type 1 diabetic for 42 years) and finally they are bad enough to remove. I will have the surgery in the next few months (after golf season!). How long is the wait before you can exercise again? How long did you wait between doing the first and second eye?

steamfan261 · #15 (**permalink**) 08-03-2008, 06:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SCC

I've had cataracts for a long time (type 1 diabetic for 42 years) and finally they are bad enough to remove. I will have the surgery in the next few months (after golf season!). How long is the wait before you can exercise again? How long did you wait between doing the first and second eye?

I was allowed to exercise after 48 hours. I waited about 9 weeks between the two eyes. Exceedingly glad I had it done.