Wellness

[sophiamarie]

Halfpint:  There is no criteria for cataract surgery.  If your sight is "horrible" then your ophthalmologist will remove the cataracts.  

I have never seen such stories as these upthread.  So much drama.

I had both eyes done, two weeks apart.  I was given "Versed".  Look it up.  One minute you're talking and the next, you are hearing your doctor say "everything is finished, come and see me tomorrow".....   Nobody asked me if I wanted Valium either.  If you are nervous, ask for it but it depends on what they give you for sedation.

I had a patch over my eye, which he told me to remove the same evening.  The next day, my vision was perfect.  NOT a few days later.  

The drops are prescribed and you are told when to use them.  It's a little bit of an inconvenience, but well worth it.

You really need to call the office of your eye specialist and speak to the girl who takes care of this and she'll explain what "he" will do.  He will also tell you that he will put an IOL (intra-ocular lens) in your eye.  Probably for distance.  Then, you might just need reading glasses from the Dollar Store, depending on how your vision is.

FWIT - An "Optometrist" is an eye doctor, who examines eyes and writes prescriptions.  An "Optician" fits you for glasses.  

[poppinfresh]

I just had cataract surgery last tuesday on my left eye. Surgery took about 10 minutes, they gave me iv sedation that made me not care, but awake enough to hear what they were saying. After surgery I went back to the recoup place, they brought me some coffee, I put my sweatshirt on and my hubby and I headed home. What took the longest was getting checked in and answering all of their questions a bazillion times. Name, date of birth, what were they doing. I had to use 2 kinds of drops 4 times a day for 7 days, and then one of the drops twice a day for another 7 days. My eye was not patched, but needed sunglasses for the ride home. I will admit it was a bit uncomfortable that afternoon, but by the next day I was fine. and within a couple of days the site in my left eye was better than it has been for years. Everything was so much brighter and clearer. I will be going in again on Jan 31st to have my right eye done. I can't tell you what a difference it makes and you will be so glad you did it. The hardest part for me was, I couldn't wear eye make up for 7 days, lol.

I might add that I am someone who hates anone or anything getting close to my eyes and it turned out to be nothing at all.

[kismet]

I had both eyes done, one about 8 years ago and one about a year and a half.  I wanted my second eye done after the first one but it didn't qualify for insurance.  At the time of the first eye I still had insurance through an employer.  The second was done under Medicare.  From the time I wanted the second eye done to having it done my vision got a lot worse.  Had I had it done years ago I would of had 40 vision is that eye.  I assume taking medication 5 years for another health problem affected my vision cause when I had the eye done it was 20/80.  Don't wait too long cause that's vision I lost.  I do need to have laser on the second eye and will have that soon.  Had to have it on the first eye also.  It happens so it's such a fast procedure it's over in minutes.  My vision may be better once the glare is taken out.  I had an appointment for the laser procedure just before Christmas but then got an infection and cancelled.  Will have it done soon.

The surgery is very easy and for me I think having to use the drops was harder.  I had 3 or 4 drops I had to use several times a day.  Keeping on schedule and being out and not home was hard.  I had no discomfort in the eye at all after surgery.  Nothing covering the eye either.  I did use my sunglasses on the way home because it was very sunny.  I was given an eye cover to use at night so I didn't hit my eye.  Just goes on with tape and take it off in the morning.  That wasn't a problem either.  I had dry eyes before the surgery and use lubricating eye drops as needed.  I like Refresh Optive. 

[Stray]

I feel everyone over 40 should be seen by an ophthalmologist at least yearly as they screen for pathology not just acuity and glasses.  I believe insurance companies do pay for one visit every 1-2 years.  There are often no symptoms for glaucoma and other eye conditions

I had both eyes done....one eye was very bad and the other had an early cataract.  I asked him if the second eye had to mature...he laughed and said that isn't how it was done.  They are removed at the time of diagnosis.  Mine were done within a month of each other.  I did have an eye patch which he removed in his office (same building as OR) before I went home and he examined my eye, gave me drops with instructions and dark glasses I wore for a week.  I had employer insurance at the time.

The surgery itself was scheduled in NYC at 7 am and I was home in NJ by 10:00 am....I wasn't asked about sedation and talked to the doctor and he to me throughout the surgeries and I felt no discomfort.  

I dont recall how long I used the drops but it didn't seem long or inconvenient.  

I wish all surgery was as easy with such great results, my vision remains 20/20, I saw colors more vividly and I don't wear glasses any longer...,

[Elom]

I had cataract surgery a few months ago. I put one drop 4 times a day counting down  one each week. The surgery was quick, I didn't even need relaxer, they just numbed eye.

i did have lazer plus lens replacement since I have astigmatisms and that I had to cover.

i now see without glasses and only need readers.