topic Re: First Cataract surgery in Wellness

First Cataract surgery

Patriot3 — Fri, 17 May 2019 13:00:16 GMT

I had my first cataract surgery yesterday. The other eye is next week. It wasn't bad at all. My eye is taking a long time for the dilation to get back to normal. I go back today for follow up. I can drive myself. Not bad for 80 yrs old.

I don't wear glasses, but I have mono vision. A lens was put in, so sure hope I retain my mono vision as it was, just clearer

Re: First Cataract surgery

teainlondon — Fri, 17 May 2019 13:07:39 GMT

I am going to have to have this done. I am 75 years old. How do they do it? I watched a U Tube video and the person was awake! The eye was held open with a claw-looking device. I don't think I could do that. How long does it take?

Congratulations on being so brave; I am not. I'm a sissy when it comes to doctors.

Pray all goes well with your second procedure.

tea

Re: First Cataract surgery

OKPrincess — Fri, 17 May 2019 13:18:18 GMT

DH had both eyes done —first in January and the second in February.

He was pleasantly surprised about how smoothly the procedures were done and quickly. He said the prepping was the longest part.

Im glad everything went better than anticipated. The unknown is always the hardest.

Re: First Cataract surgery

Meowingkitty — Fri, 17 May 2019 13:34:24 GMT

@teainlondon wrote:
I am going to have to have this done. I am 75 years old. How do they do it? I watched a U Tube video and the person was awake! The eye was held open with a claw-looking device. I don't think I could do that. How long does it take?

Congratulations on being so brave; I am not. I'm a sissy when it comes to doctors.

Pray all goes well with your second procedure.

tea

I wasn’t awake for either of mine. I don’t think I could do that either. They put you slightly under but I did wake up during the second surgery but all I saw was a bright light and went back under. Apparently that is common for the second surgery because you are calmer the second time around. It takes about 10-15 minutes if not less. The surgery itself is easy and it’s great not to need glasses again after wearing them for 50 years.

Re: First Cataract surgery

Patriot3 — Fri, 17 May 2019 14:21:42 GMT

@teainlondon wrote:
I am going to have to have this done. I am 75 years old. How do they do it? I watched a U Tube video and the person was awake! The eye was held open with a claw-looking device. I don't think I could do that. How long does it take?

Congratulations on being so brave; I am not. I'm a sissy when it comes to doctors.

Pray all goes well with your second procedure.

tea

@teainlondon I was the same as you. Scared to death. I put it off for a couple of years. Seemed like no matter what anyone said how easy it was, I was still skeptical. The pre-op takes the longest! But they are very thorough, careful and asssuring.

You are not awake! What they used for me was Versed. My nurse daughter, who works in Surg Intensive Care, said Versed is very mild and it is. The actual surgery only takes 5-10 min. They even give you a snack of your choice of drink and cookies after. At least they did where I went.

I am anxious to hear what the Dr says today when I go back as to how I'm doing. I think age has a lot to do w/it.

I feel for you, because I was so scared, too. Please don't worry. It will just shoot up your BP! Thinking of you........God Bless! Let me know!

Re: First Cataract surgery

fthunt — Fri, 17 May 2019 15:02:43 GMT

The biggest motivator to get the surgery done is when you can no longer drive yourself - have to ask others to get your groceries - drive you to dentist - doctor - take your pet to the vet. Suddenly you realize you can't live that way and your fear evaporates.

Re: First Cataract surgery

IMW — Fri, 17 May 2019 15:06:44 GMT

Great! Your positive attitude is terrific and I’m sure helped with the entire process. Good for you. Wishing you clear vision and good health ahead.

Re: First Cataract surgery

depglass — Fri, 17 May 2019 15:28:44 GMT

I've had Versed for a few procedures, sometimes you go out and sometimes you don't. But it takes away all anxiety, you are so calm you won't believe it. I had them re-position a pacemaker wire into my heart that had come loose, that was about 45 minutes and I was completely OK and conscious. Then another doctor asked me if I wanted Versed for sinus surgery and I opted for general anesthesia instead. Somehow that scraping and cutting didn't sound so fun, plus they intubate you. In retrospect I probably would have been just fine with the Versed.

Re: First Cataract surgery

SeaMaiden — Fri, 17 May 2019 18:28:25 GMT

@teainlondon wrote:
I am going to have to have this done. I am 75 years old. How do they do it? I watched a U Tube video and the person was awake! The eye was held open with a claw-looking device. I don't think I could do that. How long does it take?

Congratulations on being so brave; I am not. I'm a sissy when it comes to doctors.

Pray all goes well with your second procedure.

tea

@teainlondon I had both eyes done last January. I had the same concerns as you about seeing that claw looking device as you said it! I was awake the entire procedure, they offer you downers to calm you if you want them. I do not take any kind of drug so I turned that down. I am sure many people op to take the drugs.

They numb your eye and actually put your eye to sleep.... you feel and see NOTHING out of the eye being worked on for a short period of time. ( Thus why they do one eye at a time on different days.

Your eye wakes up in about 45 minutes to an hour... but takes time to adjust what it is seeing... really a trip! It reminded me of being on a magical mystery tour if you ever have been their as a young adult..... maybe too much information ..... anyway, I see better than 20 20 out of both eyes where before surgery I was so near sighted I had 20/400 legally blind without correction eyes.

I had the toric lense put into each eye which corrected my vision... no more glasses or contacts that I had worn my whole life.... except for close up reading glasses.... and I see SO MUCH clearer without the cataracts blocking my light. It really is amazing how good I see now.

Re: First Cataract surgery

sophiamarie — Fri, 17 May 2019 17:20:40 GMT

@teainlondon wrote:
I am going to have to have this done. I am 75 years old. How do they do it? I watched a U Tube video and the person was awake! The eye was held open with a claw-looking device. I don't think I could do that. How long does it take?

Congratulations on being so brave; I am not. I'm a sissy when it comes to doctors.

Pray all goes well with your second procedure.

tea

@teainlondon Hi - not to worry. I was "out like a light".... Didn't hear a thing until the doctor said "all done beautiful"...... He gave me "VERSED" Ask your doctor about it. I just remember being wheeled into a room and the next thing was "all done.......

I had my eyes done one week apart. Could have driven myself home too. Follow-up the next day. No problem. Easy as pie.

I wouldn't have it done any other way. No reason for them "not" to put you out. JMO

Re: First Cataract surgery

HLP — Fri, 17 May 2019 18:28:27 GMT

@teainlondon wrote:
I am going to have to have this done. I am 75 years old. How do they do it? I watched a U Tube video and the person was awake! The eye was held open with a claw-looking device. I don't think I could do that. How long does it take?

Congratulations on being so brave; I am not. I'm a sissy when it comes to doctors.

Pray all goes well with your second procedure.

tea

I had laser surgery, because I have a stigmatism. The whole procedure is a piece of cake, stop worring about it, and it only takes a few minutes, and you won't even know what they are doing ,till it's over. You'll be surprised, don't get upset over it.

Re: First Cataract surgery

Tyak — Fri, 17 May 2019 18:38:24 GMT

@teainlondon wrote:
I am going to have to have this done. I am 75 years old. How do they do it? I watched a U Tube video and the person was awake! The eye was held open with a claw-looking device. I don't think I could do that. How long does it take?

Congratulations on being so brave; I am not. I'm a sissy when it comes to doctors.

Pray all goes well with your second procedure.

tea

Yes, you're awake, the doctor will be talking to you but you won't feel a thing. Your eye will be so numbed up from the drops they put in before surgery, it will be totally painless.

Re: First Cataract surgery

sophiamarie — Fri, 17 May 2019 19:06:21 GMT

@Tyak wrote:
@teainlondon wrote:
I am going to have to have this done. I am 75 years old. How do they do it? I watched a U Tube video and the person was awake! The eye was held open with a claw-looking device. I don't think I could do that. How long does it take?

Congratulations on being so brave; I am not. I'm a sissy when it comes to doctors.

Pray all goes well with your second procedure.

tea

Yes, you're awake, the doctor will be talking to you but you won't feel a thing. Your eye will be so numbed up from the drops they put in before surgery, it will be totally painless.

@teainlondon: Please don't let anyone scare you into thinking that everyone is "awake".... NOT SO.......Read all these posts and you'll see that it's up to the doctor and the method he uses.

Speak to him "before" your surgery. Ask him why he doesn't give you "Versed"....I would like to know his reasoning. If you are not satisfied, then ask your PCP to recommend another Ophthalmologist. I don't "get" why certain posters are so adamant about telling you "yes, you're awake"........ NOT SO......... Do your homework. This kind of advice can/will only scare someone else going through the same thing you are. JMO

Re: First Cataract surgery

Sooner — Fri, 17 May 2019 19:30:20 GMT

I am the biggest chicken in the world. I hate having anything done to me, even a blood test.

I got a valium when I came in,so the prep for the surgery wasn't even bad. I talked to the people in the OR before they started, heard a lot of what was going on, saw nothing, felt nothing and was amazed when it was over.

The second was just as smooth. If you are a nervous Nellie, ask if they will give you a valium when you get there.

But I am here to tell you that from what I experienced, do not worry about it!

Re: First Cataract surgery

LTT1 — Fri, 17 May 2019 19:45:24 GMT

@Patriot3 @Sooner @sophiamarie @sophiamarie @HLP

DH had this on both eyes and is nearly done with the eye drops!

I don’t want to watch on YouTube and I don’t want to know the specifics! Can’t handle!

DH was totally out the first time.

I’m better with that...being totally out.

Good luck to anyone getting cataract removal! It will be a breeze!

Re: First Cataract surgery

sophiamarie — Fri, 17 May 2019 20:03:37 GMT

@LTT1 Hi - I will NEVER watch anything on Youtube that pertains to a procedure that I am going to have.... I'll watch other things that have nothing to do with me - such as things that go on in third world countries, etc..... but nothing that I will be going through.

Things that are on Youtube are not professional - posted by regular people - most of whom don't know what they are doing, etc. Some are done to purposely scare the bajeebers out of those who haven't a clue to start with, etc.....

If you don't have a medical background, stay off Youtube - it's not for the faint of heart.

One of my neighbors cancelled a very serious surgery because of something she watched on Youtube. Nobody, not even her doctor, could change her mind. She passed away less than three months later. The whole thing could have been avoided, had she listened to her doctor, had the surgery, followed up with the aftercare, etc..... I will never forget what she went through - so unnecessary......

Stay away from Youtube before your procedure....Everyone is different. What happens to one, doesn't mean it happens to everyone......

Re: First Cataract surgery

LTT1 — Fri, 17 May 2019 20:47:56 GMT

@sophiamarie

I’m glad you now know better...I’m sorry you lost your friend.😰

Re: First Cataract surgery

sophiamarie — Fri, 17 May 2019 23:22:51 GMT

@LTT1 wrote:
@sophiamarie

I’m glad you now know better...I’m sorry you lost your friend.😰

@LTT1 I can't quite remember what exactly happened with her. Had to do with MRSA or Sepsis or both?? I do know that it was something that could have been avoided had she gone ahead with her procedure... But....... she watched something that scared the heck out of her (probably something that wasn't sterile or something like that) so she never went back and got it checked out.

I didn't know her that well - and this is third hand info - but I do remember it was because of what she saw on Youtube.......

Re: First Cataract surgery

Mothertrucker — Sat, 18 May 2019 00:18:10 GMT

@sophiamarie wrote:
@Tyak wrote:
@teainlondon wrote:
I am going to have to have this done. I am 75 years old. How do they do it? I watched a U Tube video and the person was awake! The eye was held open with a claw-looking device. I don't think I could do that. How long does it take?

Congratulations on being so brave; I am not. I'm a sissy when it comes to doctors.

Pray all goes well with your second procedure.

tea

Yes, you're awake, the doctor will be talking to you but you won't feel a thing. Your eye will be so numbed up from the drops they put in before surgery, it will be totally painless.

@teainlondon: Please don't let anyone scare you into thinking that everyone is "awake".... NOT SO.......Read all these posts and you'll see that it's up to the doctor and the method he uses.

Speak to him "before" your surgery. Ask him why he doesn't give you "Versed"....I would like to know his reasoning. If you are not satisfied, then ask your PCP to recommend another Ophthalmologist. I don't "get" why certain posters are so adamant about telling you "yes, you're awake"........ NOT SO......... Do your homework. This kind of advice can/will only scare someone else going through the same thing you are. JMO

I was not under general anestheisa which is what is probably what people mean by "awake"-, awake vs being under general anesthesia- I was in some kind of twilight sleep, probably Versed...believe me. you are not laying, WIDE awake, while they are removing and replacing the lens of your eye!

Re: First Cataract surgery

AuntG — Sat, 18 May 2019 01:51:11 GMT

Those words 'twilight sleep' accurately describe what my DH will experience with his upcoming cataract surgery. He's not at all concerned.