topic Re: Cataract surgery in Wellness

Cataract surgery

halfpint1 — Fri, 13 Jan 2017 01:20:00 GMT

Can some who had this surgery tell me about it please. How many times a day did you have to have drops put in your eyes. And for how long? have an appointment this month and want to know ahead of time. I had an eye exam a few months ago but the tech said my eye wasn't that bad yet but now my sight is horrible. She didn't say I will get you appointment with the surgeon if you want. After another exam I felt she should have automatically got me an exam. I just want to know

Re: Cataract surgery

halfpint1 — Fri, 13 Jan 2017 01:21:42 GMT

Re: Cataract surgery

halfpint1 — Fri, 13 Jan 2017 01:25:10 GMT

I have already made a mistake in clicking but would still apprecialte a do that.nswers. I have been told laser is better but the surgeon doesn't

Re: Cataract surgery

Mi47 — Fri, 13 Jan 2017 01:40:06 GMT

Had surgery last year. Since I'm on Medicare there were certain parameters that had to be met to have surgery.

surgery lasted about 20 minutes. You will need a driver. My surgeon placed medication in eye during surgery that eliminated the daily eye drops. With the Meds your vision will be a little cloudy for a few days but so worth it not to have to do the daily drops. I detest eye drops. I had the other eye two weeks later. Very easy surgery. So happy I was able to get it done.

good luck.

Re: Cataract surgery

bowlicious — Fri, 13 Jan 2017 01:46:17 GMT

My husband had cataract surgery and he put drops in about 4 times a day right after surgery.There were 3-4 different kinds of drops taken 10 to fifteen minutes a part. The amount of drops got less as time went on. He put drops in his eyes for about a month after surgery.

Re: Cataract surgery

SXMGirl — Fri, 13 Jan 2017 01:53:38 GMT

Last summer, I had cataract surgery on both eyes--two weeks apart, You will have three types of drops that you will start about two weeks ahead of time and you will have a chart telling you how many times a day for each. The meds are a little expensive, but your surgeon's office should have coupons for you.

On the day of the surgery, make sure that you have someone to drive you home. Your surgeon will ask if you want valium. If you do, you will not feel a thing. I had heavy doses both times. It did not make me sick.

When you get home, you will continue with the drops as per the surgeon's recommendation. The next day, you will return to your surgeon so that the surgery can be checked.

In about a month, you will see your regular eye doctor so that your eyes can be checked. This is important because you might have to continue with the drops (I did).

I was very nervous about having anyone work on my eyes. I had no problems and I don't think most people do today. It is a very common surgery. Just make sure that your surgeon is highly recommended.

Re: Cataract surgery

Carmie — Fri, 13 Jan 2017 02:42:13 GMT

I have only had cataract surgery on my right eye. It was easy. I had three different types of drops that I put in a few times a day for about 7-10 days. I wore an eye cup and patch on my eye after surgery until the next morning.

I was back to work the next day after my follow-up visit.

Re: Cataract surgery

CinNC — Fri, 13 Jan 2017 03:55:58 GMT

Sounds like everyone has had a slightly different experience w/drops. I had both eyes done in August, 2 weeks apart. Follow-up appt w/the doctor the next morning after surgery.

I had 3 different kinds of drops that had to be put in either 1 or 2 minutes apart done 3-4 times a day starting after surgery. It was about 2-3 weeks before I finished the drops. It was no big deal if I wanted to spread the sets of drops out over the entire day, or do them all in the morning or afternoon.

Needed a driver after surgery due to the anesthesia. Spent more time waiting around in surgery for prep (nurse administering drops) than in the actual surgery itself.

Re: Cataract surgery

noodleann — Fri, 13 Jan 2017 04:17:47 GMT

I had both eyes done, a month apart, in the fall of 2015. Despite having no sedation at my request, I was required to have a driver and someone "with me" for 24 hours afterward, go figure.

I had three different drops and a timetable for them, and an additional drop was added because I had some problems having to do with my own eye issues, not the surgery. Note that some drops might need to be shaken, and if there's an order to applying them, it may be to keep one of them from stinging as much. (Some people don't experience stinging--I did, but it was no big deal.)

One thing I wished they'd told me was how long I might have dry eye as the corneas healed. I'd never had dry eye and didn't know it was so unpleasant. Everything healed eventually, and the dry eye abated, with only occasional bad times now. I swear by Systane's Ultra drops, their Balance drops when my eyes really act up, and their nighttime gel in a tube (not the gel drops in the bottle). The Vaseline-type ointment is also effective and available in other brands and generics, but the Systane nighttime gel is neater and I find it as effective. Dry eye needs more than artificial tears, and Systane worked well for me. YMMV.

Please ask your doctor and be guided by what he or she tells you to do, both before and after surgery. Be aware that the guidelines you're given might not advise against eye makeup after surgery (mine didn't), but you probably shouldn't use it. I tossed out the mascara I was using pre-surgery and used a fresh tube when I started using it again.

Good luck!

Re: Cataract surgery

Sooner — Fri, 13 Jan 2017 15:01:13 GMT

If you think you are getting cataracts, PLEASE start seeing your eye doctor because they do need to measure your eyes before the cataracts get too bad.

If you are older, please have regular appointments with an ophthalmologist not just an optometrist who fits you for glasses.

Re: Cataract surgery

sophiamarie — Sat, 14 Jan 2017 03:08:47 GMT

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.

Re: Cataract surgery

poppinfresh — Sat, 14 Jan 2017 03:32:15 GMT

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.

Re: Cataract surgery

kismet — Sat, 14 Jan 2017 04:47:14 GMT

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.

Re: Cataract surgery

Stray — Sat, 14 Jan 2017 13:19:24 GMT

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...,

Re: Cataract surgery

Elom — Sat, 14 Jan 2017 14:30:52 GMT

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.