topic Cataract Surgery Coming- Advice Welcome in Community Chat

Cataract Surgery Coming- Advice Welcome

JoyFilled Warrior — Wed, 08 Nov 2023 19:24:40 GMT

Hi @Forum Folks

I currently have about 15% vision, combined, in the two eyes.

I took myself off the Road, weeks ago. Thank goodness for me, & the other drivers!

I even need help crossing the street, which Id never know if the neighborhood teen hadnt noticed, shocked, & tell me, a car had come right up on me, but stopped.

Any advice most welcome Before, During, or After Cataract Surgery.

The worst eye at the end of this month. Second eye in December. Like, when can i expect to see!

I can watch, or accompany any Surgery, but .. Brain & Eye. And of course, it's on my own eyes.

I dont even know what "Twilight Anesthesia" is, or what to expect.

Or directions before, during, after Surgery, (cause, of course, I cant read them). heh.

Thanks in Advance, (TIA) for any help, advice expections..

Re: Cataract Surgery Coming- Advice Welcome

Winkk — Wed, 08 Nov 2023 19:26:03 GMT

My advice is to follow your doctor's orders. I've had both eyes done and it turned out great.

Good luck.

Re: Cataract Surgery Coming- Advice Welcome

Shelbelle — Wed, 08 Nov 2023 19:27:40 GMT

I had 2 in the last 8 months, piece of cake, no sedation just numbing of the eye. No pain, no side effects, easy, peasy and I can see very clearly now, no glasses needed. If you want some tranquiizlers they can put them in an IV, but I passed, so I was fully awake, only takes 30 minutes or less. I elected for the 3 in 1 compounded drops so I only had one bottle to work with after. I drove next day and wore eye makeup in a couple of days. Didnt sleep on the surgical eye for 2 weeks after.

Re: Cataract Surgery Coming- Advice Welcome

Tinkrbl44 — Wed, 08 Nov 2023 19:35:55 GMT

@JoyFilled Warrior

The surgeries were easier than I expected, about 8 weeks apart.

What really surprised me was that both surgeries had a zero dollar co-pay, but the eye drops cost me $135 .... and I usually pay nothing for prescriptions!

I checked the EOBs, but I STILL don't understand how I can pay nothing for two surgeries and $135 for eye drops!

Go figure.

Re: Cataract Surgery Coming- Advice Welcome

occasionalrain — Wed, 08 Nov 2023 19:38:29 GMT

@JoyFilled Warrior

You will get more responses if you post in the Wellness Forum. I hate anything medical so I can understand your concern.

Re: Cataract Surgery Coming- Advice Welcome

Shelbelle — Wed, 08 Nov 2023 19:38:35 GMT

The hospital where I went provides the drops for free but it is 3 bottles, which I felt could become complicated, so I opted for one and done compounded drops sent in the mail to me from a pharmacy in Montana, $40 each time and well worth it.

Re: Cataract Surgery Coming- Advice Welcome

Tinkrbl44 — Wed, 08 Nov 2023 19:46:52 GMT

@Shelbelle wrote:
The hospital where I went provides the drops for free but it is 3 bottles, which I felt could become complicated, so I opted for one and done compounded drops sent in the mail to me from a pharmacy in Montana, $40 each time and well worth it.

@Shelbelle

THAT would have been a great option .... I had a legal pad to record what time I put in which of the 3 drops over several days ... it was a bit of a PITA.

Re: Cataract Surgery Coming- Advice Welcome

Carmie — Wed, 08 Nov 2023 19:48:37 GMT

I had cataract surgery on my right eye over 20 years ago. I had the left eye done weeks ago.

This procedure is pain free..except for the pinch of the IV needle..very small. The anethesia won't knock you out, but kinda makes you not really care what happening. You're conscious, but not really feeling anything.

I came home after the procedure and could see right away. I got right on my iPad....no eye patch....have to be careful while sleeping that you do not rub your eye.

Just follow instructions. The eye drops must be used after surgery, which is PIA, but that. Is about it.

Re: Cataract Surgery Coming- Advice Welcome

patbz — Wed, 08 Nov 2023 19:52:41 GMT

When I had cateract surgery several years ago my surgeon used intraoccular drops during surgery so no need for any drops afterwards. I did have floaters for a couple of days ( quickly went away).

Re: Cataract Surgery Coming- Advice Welcome

Pecky — Wed, 08 Nov 2023 19:57:50 GMT

I had catarct surgery in April. They did my left eye first and one week later the right. I also had toric lenses put in so I didn't need contacts anymore. I was mildly sedated. It was super easy, no pain and I now have eagle vision as my eye doctor says. I did have floaters for a few weeks in one eye but went away.

Re: Cataract Surgery Coming- Advice Welcome

cody2 — Wed, 08 Nov 2023 19:58:50 GMT

I have white coat fear as bad as any kid. I am not proud of that! Both of my cataract surgeries were painless and easy with good results. I had a light sedative before the process. You will do great. It is miraculous what they can do with eye surgeries now. Come back and share your experience after it has been completed. ETA...the worst part for me was trying to keep track of those dang eyedrops!

Re: Cataract Surgery Coming- Advice Welcome

JoyFilled Warrior — Wed, 08 Nov 2023 20:06:28 GMT

Another former Cataract Surgery patient mentioned something about not lifting more than 5 lbs? Not sure for how long. If this is true, I'll have to make plans, ex

My "Sweetie" kitty is an "abundant" 20 lbs, let alone the bag of Cat Food, & her box of Fresh New Litter.

Any one heard abt this?

Re: Cataract Surgery Coming- Advice Welcome

Shelbelle — Wed, 08 Nov 2023 20:10:55 GMT

@Tinkrbl44 wrote:
@Shelbelle wrote:
The hospital where I went provides the drops for free but it is 3 bottles, which I felt could become complicated, so I opted for one and done compounded drops sent in the mail to me from a pharmacy in Montana, $40 each time and well worth it.

@Shelbelle

THAT would have been a great option .... I had a legal pad to record what time I put in which of the 3 drops over several days ... it was a bit of a PITA.

It was great, my eye doc told me there are 2 pharmacies in the country that compound eye drops, one in Miami, other in Montana, they sent me the bottle in the mail and charged me 40 each time, worth every penny. I knew using 3 bottles over a months time would drive me totally crazy.

Re: Cataract Surgery Coming- Advice Welcome

Carmie — Wed, 08 Nov 2023 20:11:53 GMT

@JoyFilled Warrior I was told no heavy lifting and no swimming or hot tub for a week.

Re: Cataract Surgery Coming- Advice Welcome

AZfem — Wed, 08 Nov 2023 20:14:28 GMT

Have had both eyes done. The first went well. They had me come in the next day, took the bandages off & I could see!

With the second eye, after removing bandages, i was completely blind! They thought the retina may have detached so was rushed to a retina dr. Retina dr. determined there was bleeding in the eye & that's what the "cloud" was obstructing my vision. We watched the eye a couple weeks & the cloud came & went. Retina dr.was preparing to do surgery but it started clearing up on its own & eventually went away. Took over a month to clear up.

Don't want to scare you but people need to be aware there can be problems & its not always simple.

Re: Cataract Surgery Coming- Advice Welcome

Dragonflyveb — Wed, 08 Nov 2023 20:16:34 GMT

Hi,

I just finished my eye drops from my cataract surgery yesterday.

I am just amazed at how much whiter everything is now. I kept thinking the sky was overcast but it was really bright blue!

I had both eyes done one week apart. I also had my vision and astigmatism corrected as long as I was there. They gave me some meds under the tongue to relax and inserted an IV. Got taken to surgery suite, and it was a real light show when the surgeon removed the lens. (Perfectly normal to happen). Then I got wheeled into a diffent room and that's when I was out with Versed for the vision correction.

Woke up, drank something, and was wheeled out. The first day or two, my vision was kinda blurry, but that cleared up quickly. No pain whatsoever. Everybody is different, but they told me fuzzy vision is normal the first day or so.

The hardest part for me was doing without my contacts before the surgery, then wearing glasses with only one lens after the first surgery.

The surgery center gave me a paper with boxes to check each day for doing the drops. One week for 3 drops, then 3 weeks for 2 drops. They gave me the drops, just one bottle per eye.

My vision is now 20/20 for the first time in probably 65 years! Best thing I ever did, and I was terrified I wouldn't be able to see. But the surgery is so common and has a huge success rate.

Best of luck on your surgery. Just do what the eye surgeon tells you to do and you should be fine! It's a whole new world!

dragonfly

Re: Cataract Surgery Coming- Advice Welcome

spumoni99 — Wed, 08 Nov 2023 20:26:03 GMT

@JoyFilled Warrior My husband just had both eyes done at the same time, about 6 weeks ago. He had no issues and could see okay right away. He was also told not to lift over 10 pounds for a week, I had to remind him not to pick up our grandson when he was over.

Re: Cataract Surgery Coming- Advice Welcome

Shelbelle — Wed, 08 Nov 2023 20:33:01 GMT

Very unusual to have both done at same time, I have not heard of that before.

Re: Cataract Surgery Coming- Advice Welcome

turtle52 — Wed, 08 Nov 2023 21:11:57 GMT

DH and I each have small cataracts in both eyes. We are both 71. We are not ready for surgery yet and we are both terrified. My question is: did you have laser surgery or the traditional knife surgery? No one has discussed this yet. Thanks for your replies.

Re: Cataract Surgery Coming- Advice Welcome

KLm — Wed, 08 Nov 2023 21:31:27 GMT

Thank you to all who have posted for the information. I have growing cataracts that will eventually require surgery I guess. But I had RK 30 some years ago and am concerned about the procedure because of it. I have not discussed with doctor but I will.