topic Re: Cataract Surgery...Reporting in in Community Chat

Cataract Surgery...Reporting in

Lindsays Grandma — Thu, 02 Oct 2014 23:21:58 GMT

This was quite an experience..I felt like I was in an outer space movie. I have had numerous surgeries, some were hours long so of course I was completely asleep and others were short but still completely asleep. I usually can feel myself going out, not this time. I remember asking myself why I wasn't falling asleep and the next thing I remember I was hearing voices and seeing images out of the corner of my right eye and feeling nothing. Everything went well and the first time I looked in a mirror that time I thought I was in a horror movie. I had this black patch with small holes over a lot of guaze being held on with tape.

Tuesday, 9/29 I had a post op appointment and when I sat down the doctor told me I could remove the patch which surprised me and when I askd him if he really wanted me to do that he said, "Of course, I don't want to be the bad guy." Well, that tape was really stuck on tight and when I started to pull it off he said, "See what I mean" and we both laughed. He looked at the eye through one of many machines they have, all looked good and he pointed to several lines and asked me to tell him what I saw and he was very pleased at how well I did.

I do have some swelling and bruising on my cheek which he said was to be expected considering how bad my catarqact was, Prior to surgery I was putting two different drops in the eye four times a day which has been elevated to six times a day. No lifting anything more than twenty pounds, no leaning over, bend at the knes to pick anything up and sleep only on the right side and I'm a left side sleeper but you gotta do what you gotta do. Oh, I have to put a patch on the eye when I'm sleeping, he provided the patch and tape. It will be quite some time before he does the right eye which is fine with me.

I read all the the posts again from my previous thread and thanks to all of you wonderful posters for your good wishes and kind thoughts.

Re: Cataract Surgery...Reporting in

LyndaGee — Thu, 02 Oct 2014 23:26:02 GMT

Glad you're doing well, LG!

Re: Cataract Surgery...Reporting in

ShowMe — Thu, 02 Oct 2014 23:33:12 GMT

Oh my.....sounds like you have my eye doctor doing your surgery. That is what they did with me....... But, really it wasn't bad at all. Wait till you look at clothing and see the actual color of the things you have been wearing........

Re: Cataract Surgery...Reporting in

MESPal — Fri, 03 Oct 2014 01:27:19 GMT

Glad you're doing well!!

I was diagnosed last Thurs. with ""very bad cataracts in both eyes"". I have to have surgery at the beginning of Dec. 2 weeks apart. I was completely surprised by this. I just thought my eyes were getting worse and I needed a new glasses prescription.

Re: Cataract Surgery...Reporting in

Lindsays Grandma — Fri, 03 Oct 2014 02:24:02 GMT

On 10/2/2014 MESPal said:
Glad you're doing well!!

I was diagnosed last Thurs. with ""very bad cataracts in both eyes"". I have to have surgery at the beginning of Dec. 2 weeks apart. I was completely surprised by this. I just thought my eyes were getting worse and I needed a new glasses prescription.

That is exactly what happened to me. It was getting harder and harder to read so I figured I needed new reading glasses. Was I ever surprised when I was told about the cataracts. The Optometrist had samples and he showed me what mine looked like...the left one was totally clouded over. If yours are very bad why are they waiting until December to do the surgery?

Re: Cataract Surgery...Reporting in

kivah — Fri, 03 Oct 2014 02:33:40 GMT

I'm almost 74 yrs old and hope I don't have to deal with cataracts. I hate anyone coming near my eyes. The good part is that people's vision becomes so much clearer and they don't need contacts or glasses. Relax and don't do too much work.

Re: Cataract Surgery...Reporting in

ShowMe — Fri, 03 Oct 2014 02:37:10 GMT

On 10/2/2014 kivah said:
I'm almost 74 yrs old and hope I don't have to deal with cataracts. I hate anyone coming near my eyes. The good part is that people's vision becomes so much clearer and they don't need contacts or glasses. Relax and don't do too much work.

I had both of my eyes operated on about 10 years ago (when I was 64 yrs. old), and I still need to wear my glasses all the time......trifocals.......in fact, I recently had my left eye lens changed in my glasses......and yes, I had the lens implants when I had the surgery....

Re: Cataract Surgery...Reporting in

pattypeep — Fri, 03 Oct 2014 03:09:48 GMT

Very happy that all went well for your surgery. God bless.

Re: Cataract Surgery...Reporting in

Lindsays Grandma — Fri, 03 Oct 2014 08:21:26 GMT

On 10/2/2014 kivah said:
I'm almost 74 yrs old and hope I don't have to deal with cataracts. I hate anyone coming near my eyes. The good part is that people's vision becomes so much clearer and they don't need contacts or glasses. Relax and don't do too much work.

I have been told that the need for cataract surgery starts in the sixties. My Optometrist said I should have had mine done at least five years ago and I am way past the sixties. Who knows, everyone is different. You will be very lucky if you don't need the surgery, good luck to you.

Re: Cataract Surgery...Reporting in

Giordan — Fri, 03 Oct 2014 15:19:48 GMT

So happy to hear the great news. Wishing you all the best.

Re: Cataract Surgery...Reporting in

hennypenny — Fri, 03 Oct 2014 16:42:02 GMT

Great news! I am glad it went so well.

I am going to schedule to have mine done fairly soon.Wanted to wait for summer activities to be over.

Re: Cataract Surgery...Reporting in

Moonchilde — Fri, 03 Oct 2014 18:15:22 GMT

Thank you for posting this, LG. I have been putting my surgery off, and have had a zillion questions. You've answered a few of them :-). As far as the lifting/bending restrictions, what's the time frame on that? Trying to figure out how long I'd be off work, unable to carry groceries, etc. I'm assuming a week or two?

Re: Cataract Surgery...Reporting in

docsgirl — Fri, 03 Oct 2014 23:50:28 GMT

I'm so glad it's over for you and that all went well. Your experience is vastly different from mine. I had my right eye done in August and my left eye done on Sept. 16. Three days prior to surgery, I put in eye drops from one bottle 3X daily. Following surgery, I put in drops from 3 different bottles. I was fully awake for both surgeries and did not have to wear an eye patch. I was able to sleep on either side but did wear a shield over the eye at night. I was driving the next day and back at work on Sept. 18. I guess different surgeons have their own preferred methods. I will get new glasses in about a week now that both eyes are done. I'm very happy for you. I don't know how old you are but for me, at age 68, my first look in the mirror following surgery was quite a scary experience. There were lines and wrinkles I never saw before. Yikes!!! Good luck. docsgirl

Re: Cataract Surgery...Reporting in

Shorty2U — Sat, 04 Oct 2014 00:51:11 GMT

Im so glad you are ok Lindsays Grandma! That's wonderful news! I know how worried you were. So I am glad it went well!

Every Dr and every experience is different. I did not get a patch, I just had those big sunglasses I don't care for and switched to my own a few days after! (but I bought a patch for night time so I wouldn't rub my eyes). I didnt have bruising either. I had 4 kinds of drops so many times a day for weeks, that I had a chart to keep track..lol. And they didn't tell me not to do things after my surgeries.

I think I wrote this before but I had calming meds and remember feeling a wash (numbing agent) go in my eye (s) and I could see a light but feel nothing.

And I am in my 50s and was told my steroid shots for my back may have given me early cataracts (but I do know of people who had them done younger than me).

Well thanks for letting us know. Take care.

Re: Cataract Surgery...Reporting in

Lindsays Grandma — Sat, 04 Oct 2014 03:21:08 GMT

On 10/3/2014 moonchilde said: Thank you for posting this, LG. I have been putting my surgery off, and have had a zillion questions. You've answered a few of them :-). As far as the lifting/bending restrictions, what's the time frame on that? Trying to figure out how long I'd be off work, unable to carry groceries, etc. I'm assuming a week or two?

Hi moonchilde, When I saw the doctor on Monday he didn't give me a time frame for the restrictions. I will be seeing him again this coming Monday. Because the cataract was very bad he said it will take time for me to heal. Surgery was done Monday of this wek and here it is Friday and I am just now beginning to notice that I have been looking at a drab world for a long time...I can't believe how vivid colors are now. I am retired but if I were still working I wouldn't have been able to go to work this whole week. Putting three different drops six times each in my eye is a bit of a pain and I keep a chart and mark it everytime I put the drops in. The doctor said it is best to keep them as close as possible and not to spread it out for a lengthy time. The right eye still has to be done and I have no idea when that will be, he has to be certain that the left eye is completely healed.

I'm sure you would be able to carry groceries, just make sure the bags are not too heavy. When you decide to have the surgery I wish you lots of luck. Of course we all are nervous but once you have the first eye done you'll go into the second surgery with a lot more ease. Take cae, be well.

Re: Cataract Surgery...Reporting in

I am still oxox — Sat, 04 Oct 2014 03:39:35 GMT

Are you able to wash you hair, I had cateract surgery in both eyes before I was 45, and I remember I was not able to wash my hair for at least 10 days.

Re: Cataract Surgery...Reporting in

Lindsays Grandma — Sat, 04 Oct 2014 03:54:37 GMT

On 10/3/2014 I am still oxox said:
Are you able to wash you hair, I had cateract surgery in both eyes before I was 45, and I remember I was not able to wash my hair for at least 10 days.

The doctor didn't say anything about that but in the list of instructions it said, "sponge bathe" which to me means stay out of the shower. The last thing you need is water or soap getting in the eye that had the surgery. I don't know how much a beauty salon charges for a shampoo only but if push comes to shove that is what I will do and I'm sure my hair stylist will understand. I was surprised with all the restrictions but it makes sense because certain activity puts pressure on the eyes.

Re: Cataract Surgery...Reporting in

Lindsays Grandma — Sat, 04 Oct 2014 04:00:46 GMT

On 10/3/2014 Shorty2U said:
Im so glad you are ok Lindsays Grandma! That's wonderful news! I know how worried you were. So I am glad it went well!

Every Dr and every experience is different. I did not get a patch, I just had those big sunglasses I don't care for and switched to my own a few days after! (but I bought a patch for night time so I wouldn't rub my eyes). I didnt have bruising either. I had 4 kinds of drops so many times a day for weeks, that I had a chart to keep track..lol. And they didn't tell me not to do things after my surgeries.

I think I wrote this before but I had calming meds and remember feeling a wash (numbing agent) go in my eye (s) and I could see a light but feel nothing.

And I am in my 50s and was told my steroid shots for my back may have given me early cataracts (but I do know of people who had them done younger than me).

Well thanks for letting us know. Take care.

Hi Shorty2U, I laughed when I saw that you kept a chart for your eyedrops. That is exactly what I am doing because if I don't I will be totally confused. Three different drops six times can really throw you of track. Hope you are doing well.

Re: Cataract Surgery...Reporting in

cody2 — Sat, 04 Oct 2014 04:01:51 GMT

On 10/3/2014 docsgirl said:
I'm so glad it's over for you and that all went well. Your experience is vastly different from mine. I had my right eye done in August and my left eye done on Sept. 16. Three days prior to surgery, I put in eye drops from one bottle 3X daily. Following surgery, I put in drops from 3 different bottles. I was fully awake for both surgeries and did not have to wear an eye patch. I was able to sleep on either side but did wear a shield over the eye at night. I was driving the next day and back at work on Sept. 18. I guess different surgeons have their own preferred methods. I will get new glasses in about a week now that both eyes are done. I'm very happy for you. I don't know how old you are but for me, at age 68, my first look in the mirror following surgery was quite a scary experience. There were lines and wrinkles I never saw before. Yikes!!! Good luck. docsgirl

I don't mind seeing the lines and wrinkles but some of the other comments here are making me afraid. I am scheduled to do my pre-ops for cataracts in my first eye and now I am not so sure.

Re: Cataract Surgery...Reporting in

Moonchilde — Sat, 04 Oct 2014 04:05:31 GMT

On 10/3/2014 Lindsays Grandma said:
On 10/3/2014 moonchilde said: Thank you for posting this, LG. I have been putting my surgery off, and have had a zillion questions. You've answered a few of them :-). As far as the lifting/bending restrictions, what's the time frame on that? Trying to figure out how long I'd be off work, unable to carry groceries, etc. I'm assuming a week or two?

Hi moonchilde, When I saw the doctor on Monday he didn't give me a time frame for the restrictions. I will be seeing him again this coming Monday. Because the cataract was very bad he said it will take time for me to heal. Surgery was done Monday of this wek and here it is Friday and I am just now beginning to notice that I have been looking at a drab world for a long time...I can't believe how vivid colors are now. I am retired but if I were still working I wouldn't have been able to go to work this whole week. Putting three different drops six times each in my eye is a bit of a pain and I keep a chart and mark it everytime I put the drops in. The doctor said it is best to keep them as close as possible and not to spread it out for a lengthy time. The right eye still has to be done and I have no idea when that will be, he has to be certain that the left eye is completely healed.

I'm sure you would be able to carry groceries, just make sure the bags are not too heavy. When you decide to have the surgery I wish you lots of luck. Of course we all are nervous but once you have the first eye done you'll go into the second surgery with a lot more ease. Take cae, be well.

Thank you. I guess I'd better plan on 2-3 weeks at least. Hopefully in the new year. There are reasons that between now and Xmas aren't good for me.