topic Re: Cataract Laser Surgery in Wellness

Cataract Laser Surgery

Ducchey — Wed, 22 Jan 2014 07:24:19 GMT

My Doctor recommends that I have laser surgery for the removal of my cataract. I would like to hear from anyone that has had this procedure. What was your experience like? Would you recommend laser surgery for cataract removal? Was the procedure uncomfortable? Your advise would be greatly appreciated.

Re: Cataract Laser Surgery

gidgetgh — Wed, 22 Jan 2014 13:26:53 GMT

What a timely question.

My husband just had cataract laser surgery on his right eye on Monday. He was SO not looking forward to doing this and he did great with the surgery and we had his first follow up yesterday morning with our regular eye doctor and he said that there was just a little swelling, which is totally normal for 24 hours post op.

The actual procedure took 5-6 minutes, from what his surgeon told us the week we scheduled his surgery.

My husband had an IV and they put the sedation in it. He wasn't totally under, but well sedated. I asked him if it hurt and he said no- that at one point he felt a tugging, like a bandaid coming off, but no pain.

He had no pain, discomfort or irritation Monday night or last night.

They gave us 3 different drops for him to take. The first two you start 3 days prior to the surgery. 1 is once per day. The other is 4 times a day. Once he had the surgery, they added a 3rd drop, which he uses twice a day for 3 weeks.

They gave us a plastic shield to put over his eye when he sleeps. That's worked great the last two nights. He has to use that at night for 7 days.

Best part of all is that when we saw our regular eye doctor yesterday morning, just 24 hours after the surgery, the vision in his right eye had already greatly improved.

So, we're very pleased so far and I'm so relieved that it's over for him. His other eye isn't quite ready yet.

What part of the country do you live in? We're in Atlanta and used Omni Eye Services.

Re: Cataract Laser Surgery

Ducchey — Wed, 22 Jan 2014 18:44:05 GMT

Thank you so much for your response. I'm really not looking forward to having this done but it helps to hear from people that have had this surgery. The part that concerns me is that I will be only sedated but my doctor says I won't feel anything nor will I care about what is happening. Hope he is right! I live in the Memphis area and my doctor is with Eye Specialty Group.

Re: Cataract Laser Surgery

gidgetgh — Wed, 22 Jan 2014 23:12:01 GMT

My husband was a little loopy from the sedation when they finished. I mean, he was fine and could walk and make sense, but you could tell he'd been given something. It wore off very quickly. By the time we got home it had worn off. You will need someone to drive you home. He said the medicine made him very relaxed but he was conscious.

Re: Cataract Laser Surgery

LolaMontez — Wed, 22 Jan 2014 23:47:04 GMT

On 1/22/2014 gidgetgoeshawaiian said:
What a timely question.

My husband just had cataract laser surgery on his right eye on Monday. He was SO not looking forward to doing this and he did great with the surgery and we had his first follow up yesterday morning with our regular eye doctor and he said that there was just a little swelling, which is totally normal for 24 hours post op.

The actual procedure took 5-6 minutes, from what his surgeon told us the week we scheduled his surgery.

My husband had an IV and they put the sedation in it. He wasn't totally under, but well sedated. I asked him if it hurt and he said no- that at one point he felt a tugging, like a bandaid coming off, but no pain.

He had no pain, discomfort or irritation Monday night or last night.

They gave us 3 different drops for him to take. The first two you start 3 days prior to the surgery. 1 is once per day. The other is 4 times a day. Once he had the surgery, they added a 3rd drop, which he uses twice a day for 3 weeks.

They gave us a plastic shield to put over his eye when he sleeps. That's worked great the last two nights. He has to use that at night for 7 days.

Best part of all is that when we saw our regular eye doctor yesterday morning, just 24 hours after the surgery, the vision in his right eye had already greatly improved.

So, we're very pleased so far and I'm so relieved that it's over for him. His other eye isn't quite ready yet.

What part of the country do you live in? We're in Atlanta and used Omni Eye Services.

My husband had surgery for two very bad cataracts, one in each eye. He also had his surgery done by Omni, but in Maryland. He experienced very much the same as above. Some discomfort for a few days and the constant putting in of eye drops over several days, but in the end, he's delighted with the results and doesn't even need glasses for reading except for small print and he just uses drugstore glasses for that. I am sure you will be pleased with the results. It's a very quick procedure and will be over in no time. You'll be glad you did it. Good Luck to you!

Re: Cataract Laser Surgery

Ducchey — Thu, 23 Jan 2014 00:46:29 GMT

Thanks Gidget & Lola for the encouragement!!

Re: Cataract Laser Surgery

sarpy — Thu, 23 Jan 2014 00:49:51 GMT

It's a piece of cake as they say. Get it done.

Re: Cataract Laser Surgery

Carmie — Thu, 23 Jan 2014 05:08:27 GMT

I have had catatact surgery on my right eye only. The worse part was a pre-surgical jitters.

I was awake during surgery and it was no problem. I had a new lens inserted to correct my vision. I was so surprised on how bright and sharp colors were afterwards....I was missing out on a lot.

I had a doctor's appt the next day for a check up...and then went to work the same day. I did have to use 3 different kinds of drops for about a week.

Just do it, the benefits are wonderful and the procedure is easy and painless.

Re: Cataract Laser Surgery

Ducchey — Thu, 23 Jan 2014 05:10:12 GMT

Thanks as well Sarpy for the encouragement. I'm going to ""get'er"" done!

Re: Cataract Laser Surgery

Ducchey — Thu, 23 Jan 2014 05:13:02 GMT

Thanks Carmie. You guys are great with all your encouragement!

Re: Cataract Laser Surgery

susan kay — Thu, 23 Jan 2014 15:00:09 GMT

I had a similar experience to Carmie. Absolutely no pain at all. When I took off the patch from the first surgery (several hours after the surgery), I was shocked at what I could see. I went to work the next day. Had the second one done several weeks later. Absolutely the best thing that I've done. I can see when I wake up.....I can see things that had been blurry to me for so long.....and very rarely even need reading glasses. I had always thought that you had to hit a certain age before you had cataracts. Not true. People in their 40s get cataracts!!

Re: Cataract Laser Surgery

susan kay — Thu, 23 Jan 2014 15:04:02 GMT

I would highly recommend having someone do the surgery that specializes in cataract surgery!

Re: Cataract Laser Surgery

Peoplearenuts — Thu, 23 Jan 2014 15:08:14 GMT

I have had both eyes done with laser and the implants. It is the best thing I have ever done. No more glasses (except for the dollar store readers) for the first time in 50 years. I have never seen this well in my life. The only drawback - now I can really see how dirty my house is!!!

Re: Cataract Laser Surgery

StylishLady — Thu, 23 Jan 2014 15:11:10 GMT

Had mine done a couple years ago. Said good bye to contact lenses too. An amazing procedure.

Re: Cataract Laser Surgery

Trix — Thu, 23 Jan 2014 16:05:29 GMT

On 1/21/2014 Ducchey said: My Doctor recommends that I have laser surgery for the removal of my cataract. I would like to hear from anyone that has had this procedure. What was your experience like? Would you recommend laser surgery for cataract removal? Was the procedure uncomfortable? Your advise would be greatly appreciated.

I've had cataracts removed from both eyes. The surgery was a go home in a few hours type of procedure. I had to use some drops post surgery and wear sunglasses outside at all times for a few weeks. I had no post surgery problems and discomfort was minimal. I can't think of a single reason for you to be nervous about-- or put off having cataract surgery.

Because I'm nearsighted I got the vision implants which made it possible for me to see clearly without glasses. I had worn glasses since the age of 4 and my nearsightedness is the degree where you can't see your bedside clock without putting glasses on. I feel liberated from having to wear glasses at all times. I could never wear contacts because of Sjogren's.

Re: Cataract Laser Surgery

Kachina624 — Fri, 24 Jan 2014 09:12:30 GMT

I had cataract surgery on one eye in the morning and kept a dental appointment in the afternoon. Nothing to it.

Re: Cataract Laser Surgery

anniebear — Sat, 25 Jan 2014 01:20:30 GMT

Just had cataract removal...one eye in mid December, the second eye a couple of weeks ago. I too was sort of freaked at the thought of any kind of surgery without being completely sedated. I needed the surgery. I had bad cataracts in both eyes and the very real potential of issues with glaucoma if I didn't have them taken out. But the thought of someone completely removing my eye's natural lens and replacing it with an artificial lens was every bit as scary as glaucoma. After all, the first eye that was done was the one that had always worked the best and what if something went wrong???? And surgery after having been given only "something to relax you" just sounded wrong!

I did it anyway and it was amazing! Apparently cataract surgery (by someone who specializes in cataract surgery and who has an excellent reputation re the results) has become a very routine outpatient procedure. I was given something to relax me, but there were also IV meds given that produce something called "conscious sedation". I remember a little of the surgery but certainly not all of it and there was no pain at all. No pain during the surgery, no pain after the surgery, no pain at all unless you count the pain of ripping out a couple of hairs that stuck to the tape holding the eye shield in place! And I wasn't even "goofy" feeling after...at least no more goofy than I usually am! I did take a nap once we got home, but after being awake a lot of the night before worrying, I was tired! Had to sign a pre-op paper that I wouldn't drive or sign important legal documents for 24 hours after due to having had the IV meds, and had to wear the eye protector and had to be careful to not bend over or sleep on the surgery side for the same time period. Also was to not lift anything heavy for a week. My interpretation of all that was, "BONUS! I don't have to do the laundry for a week!!!"

And I can now see better than I've ever seen, and I don't need to wear my glasses to read or for everyday activities. Colors are more vivid, no more cloudy vision, I don't need to put things under a light to read them, my world is a brighter place than I thought! I've worn glasses since I was in kindergarten, and this is a major improvement. I do have some difficulties focusing at a distance of about 10 feet, but past that is good and closer than that is good. I don't exactly know why I have good close and distant vision now since I received a single focus lens, but I'm not complaining. I may get some glasses for watching tv across the room, but I can't think of anything else I'd need them for.

I hope you consider having the surgery. I'm sure I was just as worried as you are, but it truly was the best thing I could have done for my vision and a truly miraculous procedure from start to finish!

Re: Cataract Laser Surgery

Ducchey — Sat, 25 Jan 2014 07:15:47 GMT

Thank you everyone for taking the time to answer my post. I really appreciate your encouragement. I am definitely having the surgery. I do feel much better now that I know what to expect.