Community Chat

[Shorty2U]

If I remember correctly there were 2 or 3 people (besides myself) that were to get cataract surgery. I forget which posters but was wondering how it went?

Did they put you to sleep? Give you calming medicines? They told me I would get an IV with calming meds.

My MIL went and she had NO drugs and said she was fine. (she doesn't live around here). She also paid extra (thousands out of pocket) so she wouldn't need glasses and got the better lens.

BUT my Dr said the lens you pay for during surgery WONT work for me NOT to need glasses SO the FREE one is best for me, and I WILL still need glasses. (I WANT to wear glasses, unlike most..so I was GLAD. lol)

I had my eye surgeon check up which took all but 2 hours. I never had so many eye tests in my life!

They said my cataracts are thick. I will be getting one eye done last week in May and the other the first week in June. And I will have to go the next day after EACH surgery and then 2 more times for check ups. In addition to going next week for an hour for measurements or something for before surgery? (Where as my MIL went TWO days after surgery for check ups).

What a going on. I will be living there (and its an hour from our home). So my DH (bless his heart) is going to take vacation days for my surgery AND all my appts because I don't drive anymore due to my back/nerve damage problems etc.

So anyway it sounds like each place is a little different so I wondered how you made out and what was your experience.

The ONLY thing Im basically worried about is, will my back hold up through all this because just spending hours at the eye surgeon for testing affected my back that I was in agony today.

[hckynut]

I don't know how they came out but I can tell you that neither one of my eye surgeries took more than 15 minutes. In fact I looked at the clock when I was rolled into the OP and again when I was back in the ""changing area"". Total time was 12 minutes for my 2nd eye surgery which was with a Mono-focal iOL.

Also one that cannot lie on my back from long periods of time and I think the worst for me was when I had a full body Nuclear Scan which took over 4 hours.

Can't see why a ""normal uncomplicated"" cataract surgery would take more than a half hour.

[september]

My husband had it (each eye, 1 week apart), and on the way home from having the first procedure...I was driving, and he could read road signs up ahead, better than I could.

Of course, after the second one, his vision was greatly improved. I can't see that there's a down side to having this done.

[Shorty2U]

Thanks for the replies I will see if the others that were going before me post too. I forgot to add my MIL said it took 5 mins. (maybe shes estimating or just said that to make me feel good?) Anyway, I was told 30 mins. I guess they say that in case it runs longer? I heard too its easy. I just hate the 1hr trip back and forth and I hope my bad back holds up for the various visits. Otherwise Im not too concerned.

[gidgetgh]

I haven't had the surgery done, but my husband had both eyes done this year and did great. He had the bladeless laser surgery. Took about 6 minutes per eye. He had his done 6 weeks apart. IV sedation, but awake. No eye patch. Was able to drive the next day. Follow up with our regular eye doctor the next day, then the next week and finally, the next month.

He still has to wear glasses, but that was his choice.

He had absolutely no pain or discomfort. The eye drops are key here. He had 3 different ones. Two we started 3 days before the surgery and then the 3rd one was added the day of the surgery. I made a chart to keep up with them.

He did great and you will too- wishing you the best.

[stilltamn8r]

I cant imagine what "drugs" your mother in law thought she might get- No one, to my knowledge gets drugs for this surgery- They DO numb your eye with drops when you get there- I didin't even have to totally disrobe for mine- I wore a gown over my street pants... And yes, I too was not candidate for the more expensive lens, evidently if you have cer tain types of astigmatism, there is a problem getting it in totally "level "and then the benefits are negated..

i doubt it took more than 15 minutes...

I am blind in my left eye, and my right went so gradually that I just kept thinking I needed better contacts! When I finally went to the Ophtho, she walked toward me in the darkened room with her flashlight, and when she was about 3 feet away, said "Wow! I can see it from here!" She said it was "brown"...yuck!!!

No wonder I couldn't see!

Anyway, I have never seen better in my life, need no glasses or contacts for distnace, still need drugstore readersfor close ups- no pain, no complications

I was only in my late '40's when I had mine and YES, I did have to go back the next day, but drove to work the following day...

You will be so glad you had it done....

[Allegheny]

Hi Shorty2U You'll have your surgery and be on the well on the way to recovery before me. My appointment for the lens measurement isn't until late June.

[Shorty2U]

Thanks again for the replies ......

and Still- My paper says I will get an IV with drugs to calm me (not to put to sleep). MIL had the IV hook up but never needed the drugs to calm but my paper says I get them. (Id rather not have them bc I need to take my back pain pills to get thru it because I am in chronic pain daily, still have to find out @ my next pre-op apt if I can take them day of surgery).

But I will be living at the eye surgeons =2 X for surgery + 2X post op + 2 more visits after Im all done = 6 visits.

[Lindsays Grandma]

Shorty2U, I'm one of the posters who also needs the surgery. I am nervous but after reading all the posts here I feel somewhat better about it. I asked my eye doctor how they numb the eye before surgery and he said they pull the lower lid down and inject the solution in the turned down lid please tell me it isn't done that way!!!

I am making arrangements for my first visit which I was told will take 2 to 3 hours. It is a long drive for me too and I have only two people to help with the driving which is an inconvenience but I have no choice.

I have chronic back pain and sciatic leg pain and I'm not looking forward to spending so much time in the car going back and forth. I know what you mean about spending your life there, at least it will feel that way. One thing I am happy about is that my insurance will pay 100% as well as a pair of glasses

Good luck and if you are able to, please let us know how the first surgery goes.

[JaneMarple]

My sister just had her second eye done yesterday (Wednesday), she did great. The procedures did not take long and she had no issues with the first eye and expects none with the second one.She will have a followup in the morning to make sure everything is good and then she'll be on her way.

She said that the procedures did not take long at all and the surgery was painless.

She's super excited at the prospect of not having to wear glasses again. Good luck to you OP.