Posted on 10/09/2021 10:50:50 AM PDT by brianr10
So, I am finally going to have cataracts removed as th blurry vision has become too annoying. What has been your experience with this operation? Did you get the hard or the vision correcting lenses? Was it painful?
The psychological barrier may be a little high, after all, the surgeon is cutting your eyeball open. But the eye itself has no pain sensors, and the cut is made with a laser beam. The old natural lens is burned loose, and the artificial lens (which can be crafted to give near-perfect vision) is inserted and sort of spot-welded in place with a small shot from a laser (again), then the cut is sealed shut with a sort of biological glue. The surgeon will only do one eye at a time, so there will be a follow-up, two weeks to a month later, for the other eye. Meanwhile, if you formerly wore glasses, the eyeglass lens on the side where the correction was made is removed. Do not try any kind of exertion, such as lifting or hard physical exercise, as the tissue within the eye must form a stronger bonding-in of the new lens. The surgery is done on an out-patient basis, you get up and go as soon as the anesthesia wears off. Beware, your distance perception is going to be affected for a while, but the visual center soon adapts to the new conditions. Do not try to drive and watch little TV or computer screen at first, but after a week, should no longer be a problem.
Long-range problem that may develop - the inside of the new artificial lens may develop a cloudiness, but this is quickly and easily treated by the eye doctor with a quick blast of - laser light. There may be “floaters” inside the eyeball, but these soon clear up entirely.
You can see clearly now...
Bkmk
Thanks, great thread as I’m going to need both eyes done fairly soon. Very informative.
My doctor used a tiny needle or scalpel. But it was painless, with a quick recovery.
Then a device (the same device which made the cut? I'm not sure) uses ultrasound to liquify the lens and vacuum it out.
Then another device unrolls the new lens, like a carpet.
This new lens only comes in 1/2 diopters, it's not custom crafted (unless things have changed) which mean you might not get perfect correction. But close to.
Same with me. Both done about 6 months apart. Didn’t remember anything of first, but the second I remember every tug, push and pull.
Piece of cake. HIGHLY recommend. Vision correcting lenses, readers only if my eyes get tired.
Everything in is HD mode now and no more starbursts at night with on-coming headlights.
JUST DO IT!
Vison correction. No pain except at one point in the procedure on one eye, follow the instructions. Did the astigmatism correction in one - a lot more exepensive, and folks seem to have more trouble with those. I’d urge careful thought on those. I do notice the floaters a lot more. The doctor did complain when I flinched during the procedure when he poked my eye, and turned up the gas to knock me out for the rest of the procedure. Other eye he got the anesthesia right.
Use someone who runs an assembly line and does a lot of them.
In 2014 — two of the best days of my life. Since (at least) fourth grade I was at 20/400. Coming home from first cataract surgery, not only could I see leaves on trees ... I could see TREES! My husband said I cried, but I don’t remember that.
One tip that helped me a lot is that between the first and second surgeries it’ll be a problem. You can wear glasses with the lens popped out of the already-fixed eye. It helps, but isn’t good enough. That distance between the glasses lens and the eye is awkward and causes headaches. (It did for me.)
I still had my contact lenses, so would put one lens in the eye that hadn’t hadn’t had surgery already. Perfect! You can get along fine for a couple weeks that way.
Not the inside of the new artificial lens, but the eye sack that held the old lens.
Mom had it done last year both eyes a short time apart and had the expensive version. I told her beforehand not to scrimp on her eyes and get the best one so she did. A few days of discomfort and used eyed drops. Seems to have worked great. She’s 83.
She’s 20 20
My brother had me take him in for surgery then drove himself in the next day for a checkup. I think his hardest part was not eating breakfast.
I live in Houston. Dr. Sanders performed surgery on my right eye. The left is pending. I opted for laser procedure as opposed to scalpel. My insurance does not cover the laser portion, but it was worth it and not forbidding price-wise ($2,200 in all). The procedure itself went very smoothly and now I am sighted again, Hallelujah! But then again, Dr. Sanders and all of his personnel and the people at the UH Eye Surgery Center are the best. Only now I realize I had not been living prior, I just existed. It’s day and night (pun intended). But it’s just my personal experience. I cannot vouch safe for everybody else. All y’all, keep safe and God Bless!
Well...had my long time ago injured eye done 3 years ago. So, mine was a little special. (Got hit in eye with a softball in 20s). Anyhoo....the worst part was the idiot anesthesiologist who didn’t have me sedated correctly, so when they gave me the shot right under my eye, I very firmly, loudly said (wanting to scream, but there were patients in little curtained rooms around me) THAT IS THE WORST PAIN I’VE EVER EXPERIENCED!!! The doc immediately looked to the anesthesiologist, who he knew had obviously screwed up, and it was adjusted...the next shot I did not feel. Results of the surgery for me are mixed. I’ve had some swelling, etc. that had to have special drops which changed the shape of my eye slightly, etc. But for a person with no pre-existing problems it should be okay. Good luck.
The $7,000 I spent out of pocket was well worth it since it changed my life, especially for sports. I had been wearing glasses since I was 4 years old and the astigmatism in my left eye was about 200/20 and the right eye was only a bit better.
Due to the astigmatism, I was never a candidate for lasik surgery so I was talked into the new lenses.
I can see near, I can see far, I can see everywhere except my computer screen where I need reading glasses. No big deal
Don't cut yourself short just because of the money, it ain't worth it............
As to the lens, I am not sure if it is hard or vision correcting, since I was practically blind in my right eye. The Good Doctor recommended monofocal. But they make their recommendations based on all kinds of measurements and analyses. Not digging them out of their noses :-). One thing I am sure of is The hills are alive with the sound of music again. Good luck!
I had cataract surgery just over a year ago, the very second they started allowing elective surgeries again. I had multi focal lenses implanted. It was the BEST decision I’ve ever made, next to marrying my husband. Zero regrets.
Surgery takes 10-15 minutes. My eyes were done a week apart. There was little to no pain. It was just a little different. I did have a very minor headache the first day, maybe 2, which Advil took care of. I think my brain was just rewiring what it was seeing.
I had 20/30 vision the day after surgery, and it was 20/20 within a few weeks. I highly recommend getting this done, the sooner the better. If you have any specific questions, I’m happy to answer. I couldn’t be more pleased with my eyes now.
I don’t even need cheap readers for close up work, and I sew. Sometimes threads can disappear but I’m pretty good even without cheap readers.
No more glasses for me! I’m so very, very happy with my “new” eyes!
Just make sure the surgeon doesn’t leave his fingerprints on the lenses that he puts into your eyes........
You sound like me. I teased the doctor and asked if I could have binocular eyes as a bonus. Wouldn’t that be cool?
I’ve never driven one.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.