topic Re: Cataract surgery anyone? in Wellness

Cataract surgery anyone?

sarahpanda — Sun, 04 Aug 2024 17:17:18 GMT

My eye dr. recently told me I needed to get my cataracts off soon - but I'm having to postpone it at this time because of DH sickness. Have you had your cataracts taken off? Are they different types of cataract surgery? I'm not ready to move forward on that quite yet - but probably will be soon, just thought I'd ask QVC community what you know about it. TIA

Re: Cataract surgery anyone?

I am still oxox — Sun, 04 Aug 2024 17:29:25 GMT

I had very early cataracts about 35 and surgery was a chore, this was close to 30 years ago. Things have gotten much easier in the years since

Re: Cataract surgery anyone?

Winkk — Sun, 04 Aug 2024 17:33:30 GMT

I've had both eyes done two weeks apart. I was very nervous, but it was easy. I had it done at the eye doctor's surgical center. Sat in a chair similar to a dentist chair, they gave me something to put me lala land but I could here everyone talking.

As soon as they stopped the IV was was wide awake. Went home in about an hour. Went back to work the next day. However, because of the fluorescent lights I needed sunglasses.

A lot of eye drops before and after. This was in 2010 so things have probably changed. It was well worth it.

Good luck.

Re: Cataract surgery anyone?

Meowingkitty — Sun, 04 Aug 2024 17:38:40 GMT

Easiest surgery I've ever had. My vision was worse than 20/800. They actually stopped telling me how bad I was. Could not manage without glasses. I got the best lenses I could get and now I'm 20/15. Do not need glasses of any type and that includes readers. I can read pretty much the smallest print. The only glasses I wear now are sun glasses. Done over 3 week apart. The hardest part for me was those three weeks when only one eye was perfect and the other really really bad. It was tough using glasses with only one lens. I couldn't believe how colorful everything was.

Re: Cataract surgery anyone?

RetRN — Sun, 04 Aug 2024 17:41:51 GMT

Had both eyes done at the surgery center 2 years ago one week apart. Left wearing an eye patch and headed to a restaurant for breakfast shortly after.

I did develop secondary cataracts however and had to have another procedure done.

I never had any pain whatsoever which kind of surprised me as I really didn't know what to expect.

Re: Cataract surgery anyone?

KittySoftPaws — Sun, 04 Aug 2024 17:53:45 GMT

@sarahpanda Don't worry, just make sure you choose a good Ophthalmologist. We will all get them at some point. I work in eye care and have worked for an Ophthalmologist for almost 30 years. He did 5-6 cataract surgeries every Wed. at the Hospital next door to our Office for years until he retired. He was fabulous and believe it or not, it's a pretty simple procedure for them to do. There were little if any issues that we ever saw. Those that were, were minor and not due to the Doctor's proficiency. And, depending on the strength of one's eyewear prescription prior to the surgery, many of our patient's only needed reading glasses after surgery. The rest had a much weaker and a less dependent rx. You will also see brighter colors as the internal lens clouded and yellowed colors. So there are many advantages.

Re: Cataract surgery anyone?

InStitches49 — Sun, 04 Aug 2024 17:53:58 GMT

I just had cataract surgery last November at a well-known facility in the Nashville area. I was very nervous especially the first time. I had the doctor who started this facility do the surgery. It took more time to prepare me for the surgery than the actual surgery. I chose the laser surgery which has better results and quicker recovery. There was two weeks between the eyes, and my right eye (worse one) was done first. You have drops to put in before surgery and afterwards. You wear a patch over the operated eye when you leave that day and at night for a week. My distance vision is great, and I only use reading glasses when needed which is particularly at night. It's a lot better now than when my husband had it done about ten years ago. Hope that helps you!

Re: Cataract surgery anyone?

nycalady — Sun, 04 Aug 2024 18:10:05 GMT

@sarahpanda had both eyes done a week apart last year, there are options as far as laser vs cutting & having near & far sightedness corrected, the surgery itself is not a big deal at all, you'll be on eye drops several times a day for a month - fantastic results, highly recommend

Re: Cataract surgery anyone?

Love my grandkids — Sun, 04 Aug 2024 18:10:19 GMT

@sarahpanda There are tons of post, past and present, about this. I'm sure you'll get lots of responses.

I had this surgery 10 years ago. No problem.

Re: Cataract surgery anyone?

RedTop — Sun, 04 Aug 2024 19:05:57 GMT

My husband just had both eyes done in July at a local surgery center; in and out within about 1 1/2 hrs. The day before surgery he used a steroid eye drop and an antibiotic eye drop 4x a day; that continued up until his recheck 7-10 days later, at which time he stopped one drop and reduced the other to 2x a day until it was gone. He rechecks next week and will receive his prescription to take to the VA for new glasses. His ordeal was much simpler than my mothers about 5 years ago, with the same provider. All you need is a driver on surgery day, maybe recheck day, depending on your vision.

Re: Cataract surgery anyone?

Kachina624 — Sun, 04 Aug 2024 19:19:33 GMT

@sarahpanda. There was a thread on the subject last week. Look under "Wellness".

https://community.qvc.com/t5/Among-Friends/CATARACTS-ON-MY-EYES-TOO/td-p/8535773#M706415

Re: Cataract surgery anyone?

spumoni99 — Sun, 04 Aug 2024 19:17:15 GMT

My husband had both eyes done at the same time about 18 months ago. The hardest part was all of the eye drops before and after. I had to drive him home of course.

Re: Cataract surgery anyone?

rockygems123 — Sun, 04 Aug 2024 20:10:08 GMT

@Meowingkitty wrote:
Easiest surgery I've ever had. My vision was worse than 20/800. They actually stopped telling me how bad I was. Could not manage without glasses. I got the best lenses I could get and now I'm 20/15. Do not need glasses of any type and that includes readers. I can read pretty much the smallest print. The only glasses I wear now are sun glasses. Done over 3 week apart. The hardest part for me was those three weeks when only one eye was perfect and the other really really bad. It was tough using glasses with only one lens. I couldn't believe how colorful everything was.

@Meowingkitty

Did you need readers before surgery or just had the need for long distance glasses?

Re: Cataract surgery anyone?

Carmie — Mon, 05 Aug 2024 00:08:02 GMT

Oh, it's an easy and painless surgery. I had my right eye done over 20 years ago. After my doctor's appointment the next day to okay me, I drove to work right after and my job was 100% computer and paperwork.

I had the left eye done last year. It was just as easy. I came home and got right on my iPad..

The worse part is the eye drops you need to apply a few times a day for about two weeks afterwards.

My husband just had both eyes done this spring. He was scared and kept putting it off. After it was done, he was so happy and admitted he was scared for nothing.

Go for it. You will be pleased with the results.

I also had YAG surgery about a year after cataract surgery on my left eye. Easy too. This is done if your vision is cloudy after cataract surgery.

My right eye has had LASIX and a retinal repair too. I am no stranger to eye surgery. It seems scary, but it isn't painful. Well, the retinal repair wasn't fun, I admit.

Re: Cataract surgery anyone?

Shelbelle — Sun, 04 Aug 2024 20:26:39 GMT

There is a dfferent thread here from last Thurs in the Among Friends forum on the same topic posted by Shanus, lots of very informative replies there, please check it out.

Re: Cataract surgery anyone?

shoesnbags — Sun, 04 Aug 2024 20:30:03 GMT

@KittySoftPaws wrote:
@sarahpanda Don't worry, just make sure you choose a good Ophthalmologist. We will all get them at some point. I work in eye care and have worked for an Ophthalmologist for almost 30 years. He did 5-6 cataract surgeries every Wed. at the Hospital next door to our Office for years until he retired. He was fabulous and believe it or not, it's a pretty simple procedure for them to do. There were little if any issues that we ever saw. Those that were, were minor and not due to the Doctor's proficiency. And, depending on the strength of one's eyewear prescription prior to the surgery, many of our patient's only needed reading glasses after surgery. The rest had a much weaker and a less dependent rx. You will also see brighter colors as the internal lens clouded and yellowed colors. So there are many advantages.

@KittySoftPaws

My husband developed double vision as a result of his cataract surgery. It was permanent, and if we had known that was going to happen he might not have opted for cataract surgery. He just traded one problem for another. Did you ever see this happen in the years you worked with the eye doctor?

Re: Cataract surgery anyone?

YanksFan — Sun, 04 Aug 2024 20:40:14 GMT

I had it last October to correct vision. The new types of replacement lenses available is amazing. I opted for light adjustable lenses. After surgery I was able to have several "tune ups" on my eyes to obtain the best vision possible. The surgery and recovery was very easy. With light adjustable lenses you have to wear dark glasses all the time until the final "lock in" of your vision. It was well worth the extra time and inconvenience of wearing the glasses to get the exact vision I wanted. No more distance or readers for me. Good luck with your surgery.

Re: Cataract surgery anyone?

KittySoftPaws — Sun, 04 Aug 2024 21:03:04 GMT

@shoesnbags No, I don't recall ever hearing about that. There can always be mistakes made by Doctor's, or Patient complications that can arise from any type of surgery. I'm so sorry that happened.

Re: Cataract surgery anyone?

shoesnbags — Sun, 04 Aug 2024 21:13:47 GMT

@KittySoftPaws wrote:
@shoesnbags No, I don't recall ever hearing about that. There can always be mistakes made by Doctor's, or Patient complications that can arise from any type of surgery. I'm so sorry that happened.

@KittySoftPaws

I googled it and read that the cause of this side effect is unknown, but not thought to be a result of doctor error. The original doctor just shuttled us off to a specialist who had no thoughts on why this happens occasionally. But it definitely will be on my mind if I ever need cataract surgery.

Re: Cataract surgery anyone?

Tinkrbl44 — Sun, 04 Aug 2024 21:49:42 GMT

@sarahpanda

I got the surgeries, about 3 weeks apart, and didn't pay extra for lenses inserted at the time. Didn't need them.

The one odd thing was my insurance coverage .... both surgeries, with anesthesia, had a ZERO dollar copay. Paid nothing and even got the parking validated.

However .... the EYE DROPS had a $130 copay, and I NEVER pay anything for prescriptions.

Still haven't figured that one out ........