topic Re: Now Cataracts..... At 62.... in Wellness

Now Cataracts..... At 62....

SeaMaiden — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:10:49 GMT

I went in for my eye exam as I do every two years for my gas permeable hard contact lenses and my glasses. I was diagnosed with cataracts! ☹️ Just two years ago during my last exam I had none. So these are fast growing.

I have noticed little things lately with my vision....dimness, bright light bothered me.....sometimes one eye would seem fuzzy and blurry....it would go away....I just attributed it to my eyes being dry or tired. Nothing real dramatic, just little things

So, I am having the cataract surgery in September. I have worn hard contact lenses for over 45 years, since 10th grade. Never wore the soft. Very few people now wear the hard lenses...I am from the old school. They have been wonderful. Never had a problem ever. Now I have to stop wearing the hard lenses So in 4 weeks or so ,when I have surgery, my eyes are in their natural state. The HARD contacts actually change the shape of your eyes. Your eye conforms to the hard lense, where with soft lenses the soft lense confirms to your eye. It will be interesting to see as my eyes adjust to not having the hard lense and how my vision REALLY is without correction. I am VERY nearsighted. My eye doctor said after a couple weeks he will fit me with free temporary soft lenses to get me by until my surgery. My eyeglasses will have to do for now....and within a week I am sure they will not work well either.

So so all of this was a bit overwhelming. Just did not expect it. I could put the surgery off, but, I figure why put it off? With surgery I will have 20 20 vision without contacts! To wake up and see the world in the morning with clear vision and not have to contacts in my eyes EVERYDAY.. sounds wonderful to me. I do not mind having reading glasses as I am use to them anyway with the contacts.

So, just sharing. I am sure many of you have had the surgery. Share if you wish. If anyone has had the hard contact lenses like me and had to ween off of them before surgery you could tell me your story.

Thanks for listening!🙂

Re: Now Cataracts..... At 62....

hoosieroriginal — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:26:17 GMT

Last time I went to eye dr (quite a while ago I'm afraid to say) I had the start of cataracts. I make sure I wear sunglasses everytime I'm outside. My sister always wore sunglasses and warned me - I never listened - wish I had.

Re: Now Cataracts..... At 62....

2blonde — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:27:23 GMT

@SeaMaiden Hey, welcome to the club! I was diagnosed with the start of cataracts 4-1/2 years ago when I was 64. I just had the surgery this last June, and I feel like a new woman! No reading glasses, no distance glasses......nothing needed except for really tiny stuff. I did pay the extra big bucks to get the multi-focal premium lenses (Symfony). My medical ins. paid 90% for the actual surgeries, but they don't cover the premium lenses, only the standard junky ones. That part cost me $3,000 per eye, but I don't regret it.

After the first eye was done, I could see 20/20 the very next day when he checked me. I now see such bright whites and bright colors........I had no idea what I had lost. Like you, the bright sun was blinding me, and I always felt like the lights in my house were getting dimmer. After the first eye, I literally couldn't wait for the second one to be done two weeks later.

I was totally awake through the whole thing, which I highly recommend, as there was no drug hangover. I just got up and walked out to my sister waiting in the car. I wore dark glasses that day because the sun was too bright at first, but I took a ride on my bike only a couple hours after the surgery. Enjoy your new eyes!

Re: Now Cataracts..... At 62....

granddi — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:32:11 GMT

The longer you can leave your hard (gas perm) lenses off the more predictable your outcome Rx will be. Even soft lens wearers should leave off lenses for the prescribed amout of time.

If you can get ORIGINAL eye reading from years ago this will help to get your post-op Rx accurate.

Re: Now Cataracts..... At 62....

SeaMaiden — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:32:38 GMT

@hoosieroriginal wrote:
Last time I went to eye dr (quite a while ago I'm afraid to say) I had the start of cataracts. I make sure I wear sunglasses everytime I'm outside. My sister always wore sunglasses and warned me - I never listened - wish I had.

@hoosieroriginal I have worn sunglasses all the time...even cloudy days. For years and years. That makes little difference. My eye doctor said it is just a part of aging, like when your closeup vision goes in your 40's.

Re: Now Cataracts..... At 62....

SeaMaiden — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:37:07 GMT

@2blonde ThankYou for sharing! I understand that the insurance will not cover the lense that lets you see close up with out readers. THE BETTER LENSE. Good for you getting that one! I will have . to decide if I can afford it. I am so use to readers now, I do not think needing them after surgery will get big deal.....but I need to think about that more.

Re: Now Cataracts..... At 62....

SeaMaiden — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:38:49 GMT

@granddi wrote:
The longer you can leave your hard (gas perm) lenses off the more predictable your outcome Rx will be. Even soft lens wearers should leave off lenses for the prescribed amout of time.

If you can get ORIGINAL eye reading from years ago this will help to get your post-op Rx accurate.

@granddiI am hoping a month and a half will be enough time. Thanks for sharing the info!

Re: Now Cataracts..... At 62....

Kachina624 — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:39:46 GMT

Ive had cataract surgery on both eyes and didn't come out of it with 20/20 vision. In fact I need to make an appointment for an exam as my vision has gone downhill the past couple of years.

The surgery itself is a piece of cake. The worst part is having to use drops afterwards for a couple of weeks. I had surgery in the morning and kept a dentist appointment in the afternoon. Figured I might as well ruin the WHOLE day.

Re: Now Cataracts..... At 62....

I am still oxox — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:45:26 GMT

I had some sort of an anaomoly with my eyes I had my first cataract surgery at 38 and the second at 43.

Re: Now Cataracts..... At 62....

chlema — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 21:01:18 GMT

@SeaMaiden Wow. I will be having the surgery in November and sadly am not in a position to afford the big bucks lenses and will have to suffer with the standard junky ones. Never heard them called junky before :-(. My friend had the standard ones implanted last year and she can see just fine, no glasses needed - and she is 91 years old. Guess I have to choose between the junk or blindness.

Re: Now Cataracts..... At 62....

viva923 — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 21:04:40 GMT

I had cateracts in my early 50's. Not known as to why so early. Family gentics??? Medication I take daily ???

I had my cateracts removed in 2003-2004. The heal time for me was quite long almost 6 months without glasses, couldn't drive or do close work. The eye drops that you must use before and after these are a MUST to help healing.

I wear deep dark sun glasses everytime I go outside now.

Just make sure you have a good reputable doctor. this I did nothave. I was like a bouncing ball . the doctor that did the surg bailed the same week the surg was done. I was passed around and around trying to see me to make sure I was healing.that was plain awful healing.

I was seeing optomitrists instead of opthamoligists which I should have been seeing.

I am doing OK now, can see excellent, bright lights bother me but I am clear. I still have to wear regular glasses.

Re: Now Cataracts..... At 62....

Perkup — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 21:52:36 GMT

Don't go into the surgery expecting to come out with 20/20 vision without glasses. I just turned 83 last weekend. My surgery was two years ago, and I am very nearsighted by nature. My doctor assured me that I would probably continue to need glasses. Son in law is also an eye surgeon and he tells me that most people of advanced age will require glasses after surgery if you required correction before. You may be one of the lucky ones. I wish you luck.

Re: Now Cataracts..... At 62....

Carmie — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 21:52:48 GMT

I had cataract surgery on my right eye only. The surgery is easy. I was back to work the next day.

Unfortunally, I still need a corrective lens on that eye as I have other eye problems caused by lasik surgery.

best of luck to you.

Re: Now Cataracts..... At 62....

kitty60 — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 21:57:28 GMT

I have no idea why you would call them "junky lenses." DH just had his done a few weeks ago. His options were blade or laser for type of surgery. Or a lens chosen for near or far or the multifocal. Yes to go laser or multifocal it is more expensive but we were told blade vs laser really no difference, they do one more fitting after the first cut may have a slightly better outcome and he advised against the multifocal lens. I would never upgrade to this especially with the chance of halos. Medicare pays for the blade and regular lens. Although he chose laser and paid the difference he stayed with the standard lens. I have many friends who have used blade and the standard lens, now at 20/20. Most chose to have the distance vision corrected and stick with readers.

Re: Now Cataracts..... At 62....

SeaMaiden — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 23:25:23 GMT

@chlema wrote:
@SeaMaiden Wow. I will be having the surgery in November and sadly am not in a position to afford the big bucks lenses and will have to suffer with the standard junky ones. Never heard them called junky before :-(. My friend had the standard ones implanted last year and she can see just fine, no glasses needed - and she is 91 years old. Guess I have to choose between the junk or blindness.

@chlema. ThankYou for sharing I suppose a better way to put it would be THE ROLLS ROYCE of lenses....Vs standard lenses. I am with you... I have been using readers for 10 years with my hard contact lenses. I think I can handle using them after surgery. The plus is that I will no longer need contacts! That is not JUNK to me!

Re: Now Cataracts..... At 62....

SeaMaiden — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 23:30:11 GMT

@Perkup wrote:
Don't go into the surgery expecting to come out with 20/20 vision without glasses. I just turned 83 last weekend. My surgery was two years ago, and I am very nearsighted by nature. My doctor assured me that I would probably continue to need glasses. Son in law is also an eye surgeon and he tells me that most people of advanced age will require glasses after surgery if you required correction before. You may be one of the lucky ones. I wish you luck.

@Perkup ThankYou for sharing that.

Re: Now Cataracts..... At 62....

hckynut — Wed, 09 Aug 2017 00:39:29 GMT

@SeaMaiden

Had both eyes done not that many years ago. Chose Muti-focal for my left eye, and Mono-focal for my right eye. Doctor told me going that route I would not need cheaters(readers), or ant glasses at all.

Had to do some financial juggling, but the $1700 I paid for the Multi-focal, at this point has almost paid for itself. I no longer need to get new Tri-focals every couple years, and they do not give those things away.

I wanted to not have to depend on any glasses when I was told that it could be done. Now I can read very small print without having to always wear the Tri-focals, or make sure I have my cheaters with me at all times. Worth every penny for me.

hckynut(john)

Re: Now Cataracts..... At 62....

Sooner — Wed, 09 Aug 2017 01:21:57 GMT

@hoosieroriginal wrote:
Last time I went to eye dr (quite a while ago I'm afraid to say) I had the start of cataracts. I make sure I wear sunglasses everytime I'm outside. My sister always wore sunglasses and warned me - I never listened - wish I had.

Don't worry. My dad NEVER wore sunglasses and farmed. I never stepped out of the house without them. We had cataract surgery at the same age.

Re: Now Cataracts..... At 62....

Sooner — Wed, 09 Aug 2017 01:26:27 GMT

@SeaMaiden wrote:
@chlema wrote:
@SeaMaiden Wow. I will be having the surgery in November and sadly am not in a position to afford the big bucks lenses and will have to suffer with the standard junky ones. Never heard them called junky before :-(. My friend had the standard ones implanted last year and she can see just fine, no glasses needed - and she is 91 years old. Guess I have to choose between the junk or blindness.
@chlema. ThankYou for sharing I suppose a better way to put it would be THE ROLLS ROYCE of lenses....Vs standard lenses. I am with you... I have been using readers for 10 years with my hard contact lenses. I think I can handle using them after surgery. The plus is that I will no longer need contacts! That is not JUNK to me!

For a friend of mine, the ROLLS ROYCE of lenses turned out to be a real pain and her vision wasn't really correct as well as it would have been with standard distance vision. Not every doctor is a big advocate of these. Many factors to consider. Check on the success rate and the variables before you make a decision.

Re: Now Cataracts..... At 62....

Silver Lining — Wed, 09 Aug 2017 02:32:20 GMT

@Sooner wrote:
@SeaMaiden wrote:
@chlema wrote:
@SeaMaiden Wow. I will be having the surgery in November and sadly am not in a position to afford the big bucks lenses and will have to suffer with the standard junky ones. Never heard them called junky before :-(. My friend had the standard ones implanted last year and she can see just fine, no glasses needed - and she is 91 years old. Guess I have to choose between the junk or blindness.
@chlema. ThankYou for sharing I suppose a better way to put it would be THE ROLLS ROYCE of lenses....Vs standard lenses. I am with you... I have been using readers for 10 years with my hard contact lenses. I think I can handle using them after surgery. The plus is that I will no longer need contacts! That is not JUNK to me!
For a friend of mine, the ROLLS ROYCE of lenses turned out to be a real pain and her vision wasn't really correct as well as it would have been with standard distance vision. Not every doctor is a big advocate of these. Many factors to consider. Check on the success rate and the variables before you make a decision.

You are 100% correct. Many opthalmologists do not recommend them and advise some patients to avoid them. I was willing and able to pay whatever it took to have the best vision possible. I was far-sighted and have an astigmatism in one eye which made it more and more difficult to "see up close" in general and read without glasses or contacts. My doctor used the standard lenses in both of my eyes. They are not "junk" and it is an incorrect and totally inappropriate remark. My surgery was done two years ago. My "worst" eye was done first. Immediate crisp, clear vision and the same for my other eye which was "fixed" one week later. I can read the tiniest print, no glasses or "readers" needed.