Community Chat

[violann]

A couple thoughts- cataracts no longer have to be "ready"- if they impact on your quality of life, they're considered ready.

If there are other eye conditions present, cataract surgery may be more complicated, but can, and should still be performed. I had an aunt who had severe glaucoma, and had successful cataract removal in her '80's.

My MIL had successful cataract removal, but since she had had an unknown stroke previous to surgery, her vision was improved but not as much as it would have been if she hadn't had the stroke.

Still, I think the statistics relating to this surgery are overwhelmingly positive.

[Scooby Doo]

A new lens called the Symphony was just approved by the FDA and it's much better than any of the other lenses previously used.  It costs extra, but I've read that it's worth it.

I haven't had it done yet, but I'm thinking about it.  My night vision is not very good. 

I'm real axious about changing my near vision to compensate for my far vision because I do a lot of close up stuff and have no trouble with that.  Driving at night is another story.

I actually have an appt tomorrow to discuss this with my Dr.

[Moonchilde]

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@Tyak wrote:

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@Andreatoo wrote:

My boss had it done as did a good friend of mine in her early 50s.

Both said it's painless and were very pleased with the results and virtually no down time. The downside is that there's no guarantee they wont come back...

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You're wrong, they cannot come back because your natural lens is removed and replaced with a man-made lens.  

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The original cataract does not come back, but it's fairly common for the following to occur. It's not literally the cataract returning, but it has the same visual effect on the person as a cataract. It's easily fixed.

From Your Sight Matters:

Since the entire lens of the eye is removed during surgery, cataracts cannot return. However, many people experience the clouding of the lens capsule, which supports the replacement lens. This can develop months or years after surgery and can cause vision problems that are similar to those of the original cataract. Treatment to correct this is called YAG laser capsulotomy.

[excpa]

I had both eyes done about a year apart, in my late 50's.   I requested that i be able to read without glasses, so I still need glasses for distance.  I was terrified the first time but got over it.   Colors were much brighter and I could see edges!  Things came into focus that I hadn't seen in years.  I also hadn't had any depth perception for years but didn't know it.  After a while (a year or so) there was cloudienss in one eye and I had a laser ("yag") done to punch up the vision.   My surgeon gave each of his patients an African Violet, which I thought was charming.  All of his patients fell madly in love with him, even the men.  The only down side was the pre-op experience because they had me go to a support group and they wanted to us to watch a film about the operation.  I left before they actually started the movie.  

[AuntMame]

I had cataract removal surgery and lens replacement in both eyes. It was an easy surgery and I would probably do it again. Although maybe not had I known about what complications I would encounter and how my life would change.

One thing you should be aware of OP...  If your mother is extremely near-sighted her risk of complications is much higher than for someone who is not that near-sighted. For the very near-sighted the risk of retinal detachment is much higher. Also thick vitreous fluid from vitreous detachment in the months after surgery can permanently cloud the eye; in my case I am now looking through a dark gray moving cloud and there is nothing that can be done about it.

The eyes of those who are extremely near-sighted are long. As a consequence there will be extra pressure inside the the eye after that new lens is inserted. That extra pressure will result in high pressure on the retina in back of the eye and added pressure on the vitreous fluid inside the eye, both of which can detach as a consequence.

Doctors don't warn you about this. You should Google it.

Also, if one is extremely near-sighted after cataract surgery in which standard lenses are inserted you will not have any near vision at all except with readers. This means your mother will have to use readers when she needs to do simple self-care like get dirt out of her eye or put on makeup or any other task involving her face. This lack of close-up vision will definitely alter her life. This is something else doctors tend not to warn patients about. Without readers I don't even have enough vision to cook.

[Perkup]

I had both eyes done in August of 2015.  At that time I was 80 years of age. I am very pleased with my left eye. It had experienced previous surgery, but has done very well and gives me good distance vision now.  My right eye is healthy enough, but they did put a different lens in that eye - one distance, one closeup.  Unfortunately, like LilasTree's Mother, I cannot read now, even with reading glasses.  I am very unhappy as I have always been able to get lost in books, and now have lost that ability.  I plan to speak with my surgeon soon to see if we can change the right eye to match the left. I think I would be better served that way.  Before the surgery I could read quite well with my right eye. Now, not at all in spite of glasses.  Be sure you always check to find out what others have experienced.

As for the surgery, it was nothing. No pain, no strain, no anxiety. You check in, they check your vitals, put in an iv, and away you go. You may recall being wheeled away, but you will not recall anything about the surgery, as you are given a drug which erases your memory of what happens.  Went home about an hour after the surgery, feeling fine and with no after-effects. Just a routine of drops for a couple of weeks.  Follow up check a couple of days later.

Best of luck to your Mom. 

[qualitygal]

I figure we have to see, if possible, so I'd do it. One at a time though, not 2 at once. I'd say the same of any other replacements too. One at a time. 

[noodleann]

I won't go through all the details of my surgeries and aftermath--it worked out okay--except to say two things.

One, make the doctor tell you explicitly what lens he or she will be implanting, and whether it will alter your mother's focus. The doctor I used, without my knowledge or consent, implanted lenses that had some magnification. That meant that I can now use the computer without glasses, a plus, but I've permanently lost my close focus. I can't do close work any longer, cannot see well enough to remove a splinter. That distressed me, and if I had been consulted and fully informed about this before the surgery, I'd have said no, give me plain lenses.

The other point is that the paid upgrades people may post about, which cost thousands of bucks on top of the regular fees in most places, may not give the advertised benefits. A woman I know who had both eyes done and was told she'd be able to do everything without glasses found she needed glasses just as she had before, only a weaker strength. She negotiated a partial refund with the doctor for his failure to deliver the promised benefits, but I wouldn't count on being able to do that. 

Good luck.

[I am appleblossom]

I had cataracts removed from both eyes last year.  It was a breeze.  It was outpatient surgery.  I can see perfectly without glasses except for reading.  I have a 2.0 lense in my glasses for reading and a clear lense at the top of my glasses for sight.  There was no pain, it took no more than an hour in the surgery center.  Within 2 weeks my other eye was done.  I had to put drops in my eyes for a period of time but had no pain whatsoever.  

[Moonchilde]

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@noodleann wrote:

I won't go through all the details of my surgeries and aftermath--it worked out okay--except to say two things.

One, make the doctor tell you explicitly what lens he or she will be implanting, and whether it will alter your mother's focus. The doctor I used, without my knowledge or consent, implanted lenses that had some magnification. That meant that I can now use the computer without glasses, a plus, but I've permanently lost my close focus. I can't do close work any longer, cannot see well enough to remove a splinter. That distressed me, and if I had been consulted and fully informed about this before the surgery, I'd have said no, give me plain lenses.

The other point is that the paid upgrades people may post about, which cost thousands of bucks on top of the regular fees in most places, may not give the advertised benefits. A woman I know who had both eyes done and was told she'd be able to do everything without glasses found she needed glasses just as she had before, only a weaker strength. She negotiated a partial refund with the doctor for his failure to deliver the promised benefits, but I wouldn't count on being able to do that. 

Good luck.

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I agree completely. No matter what the doctor "promises", whether or not a person will not need glasses at all after surgery depends very much on what their basic eyesight was before the cataracts came on. If a person was very nearsighted, no implanted lens, no matter how expensive, will mean they'll never need glasses again - unless they'll be content with mediocre vision.

In one eye, I paid extra for the lens for astigmatism. Excellent choice as it's now my "best" eye. I couldn't afford to pay extra for the other eye so got the "regular"lens. Knowing my prescription, all along my doctor kep telling me I wouldn't need glasses after surgery. If I'd gotten $3000 lenses in both eyes, I still would have needed glasses after surgery because of how nearsighted I was to start with.  A year and a half after surgery I'm pretty much where I always have been - wearing glasses to do everything (as I always have) except read. I would much rather have had a reverse outcome - needing reading glasses but able to see to watch TV and drive without glasses.  But like others hae reported here, my doctor pretty much did his own thing and did what he "thought best" and ignored me.  Just be careful - AND realistic.