I asked my doctor when ... she said, "you'll know when", and I did.
I had just “standard” cataract surgery (no laser) and it was a piece of cake. I’m able to go completely without glasses, except for the smallest of print. I can watch TV, use the computer, cell phone, etc.
Good luck.
Had my first cataract surgery (left eye) at 53. Second one three years later. I remember my Mom telling me “There’s nothing to it!”
She was right! LOL
Worst part about it was the prep. LOTS of eye drops beforehand, then just prior to the surgery they put this goop on your eye. Yuck!
You have to be awake during the surgery. They can’t put you under because your eyes would wander. But they give you good drugs intravenously, so basically you don’t care. Even though you don’t feel it (you’re totally numbed up), you can actually see the instrument coming into your field of vision. “Whoa! There’s a thingy coming across! Cool!”
Surgeon uses a high-frequency device to liquidate the lens inside the capsule, then sucks it out like a yolk from inside an egg. Then, the replacement lens, which is rolled-up like a map, is inserted. It unfurls itself inside the lens capsule and plants itself. Procedure takes place, I dunno, 30 minutes or more?
All outpatient. You go home and rest. Couple weeks later, you go back to have the stitches removed (yeah, there are stitches). But, you’re numbed up, so again, you don’t feel anything.
Like my Mom said, “Nothing to it!”
Best part about it? The artificial lens corrected my vision. I used to be horribly nearsighted. I’m now 20/20 in one eye, and near 20/20 in the other.
First surgery was 11 years ago, and I’m doing fine!
My husband just had the laser procedure for a cataract, it was completely clouded. I got to watch the entire procedure from a little booth with a technician explaining everything to me.
It was quite interesting to watch and very fast. They do a lot of these, they’ve got it down.
It was very easy on him, and believe me, he is not exactly a trooper about these things.
Back in the old days, cataract surgery was a big deal, done in the hospital. But, with laser, everything has changed.
Hubby’s vision has improved dramatically. He’s very happy he had it done.
Good luck with your procedure.
Get a second opinion. My doctor advised me never to get the operation too early.
Hub had one on the 10th in his right eye, will have the second on the 24th. Doing beautifully. Surgery was a snap. He just can’t bend over or lift anything over 10 pounds for a few weeks. Highly recommend..........;)
Keep it simple — mechanical not laser. Get a second opinion. Keep it simple. I went from “legally blind” to 20/20 in both eyes in a 10-minute procedure. Have to use reading glasses, but absolutely worth it.
This is not a vanity surgery and yet the doctor is treating it like one.
Just finished my sequence 2 weeks ago in Batangas. About $800 cash per eye, had an EXCELLENT surgery experience, local anesthesia only, rapid recovery and expert followup.
I’m now 20/20 for the first time in at least 65 years, and only need reading glasses for my old eyes.
The only caveat I might add is that I have read (probably here on F.R.) in the last two months, that they are developing eye drops that can dissolve cataracts. Too late for me, but maybe not for you???
You’ll be fine, and you will enjoy the result very much.
I’ve got severely advanced cataracts in both eyes. Since about June of last year, they’ve deteriorated so badly that I’m now pretty much functionally blind. I can just barely make out the text on FR (at maximum enlargement), so I’m still here posting.
As one of the afflicted, I’ll share what I’ve learned about the condition, and hopefully give you some helpful feed back.
Your opthamologist sounds a bit pushy. I suggest getting a second opinion, as to the severity of your condition.
The prices he quoted you are for the low grade fixed lenses - not the better grade ‘accommodating’ lenses.
If you can still safely drive, you probably have time left before you absolutely must have the surgery.
i haven’t tried MSM, but I did use a product called Can-C eye drops that actually slowed down the deterioration process, and made my eyes feel wonderful. Unfortunately, my cataracts were much too advanced for Can-C to reverse the process.
Cataract surgery has the highest rate of success of any type of surgery known. It’s in the high nineties.
If you elect to get the surgery, go the extra distance and get the ‘accommodating’ lenses. They will give you some limited ability to focus, where the standard fixed lenses do not.
There is a new lens out which is supposed to correct both distance and intermediate vision (basically, stuff at arms length, like the typical placement of a computer screen). I was told that early reports from patients have been very favorable, and many people don't need any glasses at all after surgery. (I suspect these are people who don't read very much ....) However, about 25 percent of people will still need reading glasses even with the new lens, and you will still need magnifying glasses for any real detail work, or reading fine print. There is also a higher risk of haloing, which is usually not too bad but is still noticeable. These lenses were new enough, as of two years ago, that my insurance didn't cover them. Since I don't mind glasses, I opted to save $3,000 per eye and get the standard lens. If price were no object, I might have chosen differently, but I didn't want to spend $6,000 with a 25 percent chance of needing reading glasses anyhow.
If you go with the distance lens, the imponderable is whether you will still need correction for intermediate vision. Assuming you have no other eye issues, you should have close to perfect distance vision, but be blurred at the range of the dashboard of your car or your computer screen. (You will definitely need correction at closer ranges.) In my case, my vision is perfect from the windshield of my car on out. The dashboard is slightly blurred; I don't need correction to drive, but I do slip on my bifocal (intermediate and near vision) reading glasses to read text on the informational panels (e.g., picking out a radio station or a name on the Bluetooth phone list.) I'm constantly taking my glasses on and off in the grocery store; I need to have them on to read most labels, but they blur distance vision as I'm scanning down the aisle or across the store. It's not a big deal. Mainly, I'm accumulating experiential data for my nest trip to the optometrist; clearly I need a somewhat different mix on my bifocals. I wear the glasses on a chain around my neck and consider myself a fashion icon for the mature set.
Your doctor should explain all of this thoroughly, and his office should review your insurance and let you know exactly what your out of pocket expense will be.
The procedure is painless. You will be under a twilight anesthetic, which means you are semi-conscious through the procedure. I can sort of recall hearing the surgical team's conversations as well as quite a light show going on inside my eyeball. A quirk of twilight anesthesia, however, is that you will not remember much of anything. For example, I remember the light show, and I remember hearing talking, but I cannot remember a single word of the conversation.
Just finished having both done and I’m 73. I had an astigmatism. I have Medicare and Tricare for Life. There were two choices. Regular covered by insurance and I would need reading glasses the rest of my life or pay $3000 to get Toric lenses. I wish I had paid the money. The other problem was the month between the first and second eye. Very difficult to function.
I had it on both eyes just over a year ago. I went from 20/400 in both eyes to 20/20 and 20/25.
I am in my 60’s, but still a little young for surgery, but I was told it was because diabetics can need it sooner. A friend of mine also had the surgery because of steroid use for asthma. If you need it, you need it.
I am still working. It got so bad, I couldn’t see contrasting print on our documents and my contacts couldn’t correct my vision, just a few months after getting a new script. I was a bit hesitant, but my work life was suffering. Best thing I ever did. It is amazing to go through life now w/o contacts or glasses!
I went to my university hospital and it it done by a surgeon who does this all the time, not by some fly by night guy. My insurance covered all but about $4-600, and my flex plan covered that.
Tough it out. Get used to seeing yellow light and being blinded at night. You’re too young and will be considered a sissy if you have it done now. /s/s/s/s/
Oh, I seriously luv my FReeper FRiends. THANK YOU all so much for sharing experience, wisdom, and knowledge. I realize this is not a huge event; God willing and thank God most of us will live long enough to enjoy cataracts :/ . The aging process ain’t what it used to be, eh? :)
I’ve got SO much to read and reflect on. And to the FReeper who said “Free Republic is getting old” I say , “Well yeah, but aren’t we so much better”? I mean, look who we got elected, eh?
MAGA
Multi vision implants can be good but it’s touch and go to get the prescription perfect so I would go with mono-vision and use reading glasses if I had to do it again...
If you don’t take the standard lens it costs more. I am having the first eye done on June 4,th. It’s outpatient surgery so my copay is $275 and about $180 for the eye drops. Then $40 copays for 2 office visits. I am only getting the standard lens which corrects distance vision. I have no problem wearing glasses for reading. My neighbor said his wife got the upgrades and it was around $7000.
I had both eyes done last year. Multi-focus lenses. No issues, and it’s wonderful to not wear glasses (except for reading) for the first time since I was 8. I’m early fifties.
You won’t regret getting your eyesight back.
IIRC, Medicare will cover about 80 of certain costs.
5.56mm