Re: Cataract Removal Questions

Reva · ‎03-09-2010

@conlt wrote:
I wish you good luck with your surgery. I will be getting my cataracts out in the future but they are not ready yet. I had eye surgery to remove a lesion a couple of years ago, the surgery went alright, I did not feel it.
I was warned not to rub my eye. I did wear an eye shield and was happy to do it for fear I may rub my eye at night. I was told not to get the eye wet. I used facial wipes to wash my face and bought a pair of swim goggles to wear when I washed my hair. That worked pretty well.

Thank you so much! I've had small ones for a few years but this past year they have really affected my distance vision so it's time!

Tomboy · ‎01-23-2012

Hi Dragonflyveb! Just had my left eye done 3/11 and the right eye 3/4. Like you, no pain but I do have to wear a shield over my eye just for sleeping for 7 days so that's not bad. No shower water in my eye for 7 days either. I had the toric lens, which corrects the astigmatism and nearsigntedness. Can't believe how well I can see. My only issue is with the close up vision, can't see a thing. Trying to adjust to readers so all I'm doing is putting them on, taking them off. It's a pain. May look into progressive so I'm not constanty taking glasses off and on. Medicare only covers the basic surgery which is for distance. I had to pay some out of pocket for the astigmatism portion and it would've been even more out of pocket if I had chosen a lens for the close up vision. I use polarized sunglasses too.

CrazyKittyLvr2 · ‎05-11-2013

The 1st line of my instructions sheet said not to rub your eye, EVER.

My surgeries were in Oct. 2024 and I never, ever rub my eyes.

Dragonflyveb · ‎04-29-2015

Hey, Tomboy! @Tomboy

I wore contacts since I was 16, so when I was told my cataracts were ripe, I went for the whole package! Along with the cataracts, the surgeon corrected my vision (could barely make out the big E on the chart), plus corrected my astigmatism. Walked out with a whole new pair of eyes!

The only drawbacks are light sensitivity and still needing reading glasses. I chose not to do one eye for distance and one for close up. I figure I can change my reading glasses strength if I have to. But it does make doing my eyebrows almost impossible...no near vision!

Medicare only covered the cataracts, so I paid for the LASIK and astigmatism correction myself. I would do it again!

dragonfly

just bee · ‎03-10-2010

@Reva wrote:
I'm scheduled for cataract removal in May and have a few questions for those of you who have been through it. How long before you can actually rub your eyes? My dr. said try to keep water out of eyes, be careful washing hair, need to sleep with eye patch for 2 weeks, no heavy lifting for 2 weeks.
I totally forgot to ask how long to wait before wearing eye makeup! A friend of mine said she wore eye makeup the next day and had no eye patch at all. I'll also have an IOL implanted to give me good distance vision but will need glasses for reading. I'd love to hear others restrictions after their procedures, especially if you had it done recently. TIA in advance! Reva

@Reva

I had both eyes done last month, three weeks apart.

It's important that you follow the advice of your provider because there's quite a bit of variation in follow-up treatment.

For instance, I never had to wear a patch or shield.

I was told to avoid eye makeup for a full week. The main concern, according to my clinic, is mascara that may deposit flakes in your eyes.

No rubbing for two weeks.

Avoid submerging your eyes in water and don't stand in the shower with your face towards the showerhead.

They will give you pretty detailed instructions and you will have frequent follow-up appointments.

The actual surgery takes roughly seven minutes. I did not remember anything about the first one after receiving Versed, but they assured me that I was fully aware and was able to follow directions.

I was totally aware for the second surgery.

Don't fret! It was much less trouble that I'd imagined it would be.

The weird part is adjusting to the new vision. I'm still nearsighted and will continue to wear glasses, but I'm able to see a lot without glasses.

Technically, my current prescription is wrong and I'll need a new one, but I can still function with these "old" glasses. I won't be getting a new prescription until next month. And now I know why. My eyes are changing every day.

The fun part was after I had the first eye done. The "old" eye saw everything in sepia tone -- things looked yellowish brown. The "new" eye? Everything looked so bright and white.

You'll see!

~My philosophy: Dogs are God's most perfect creatures. Angels, here on Earth, who teach us to be better human beings.~

Reva · ‎03-09-2010

Thank you to all who replied with answers to my questions and writing about your own experiences. Just completed my second eye surgery and all is very good. My first surgery I was aware of the procedure but so comfortable and my vision was almost 100% by day 2. My second surgery last week was a bit different as I don't remember the procedure and it's taking my left eye some time to catch up with the right eye. Today, almost a week later, I can watch TV and see great to drive but need readers for close-up just as my eye doctor told me. I had a great doctor for my surgery...in fact he's the eye doctor for the Buffalo Bills!! It is a miraculous surgery and virtually painless. Don't hesitate if you ever need it! Reva

MILKI · ‎05-30-2011

Hello, I am an RN, retired now, and worked in the OR for over 38 years. I am 73 and had my right eye done on March 31 and left eye done the following day, April1 2025. The surgery was done in an outpatient surgery that is run by the ophthalmology group in Billings Mt called Vance Thompson. Painless, medication put under the tongue in preop about 20 minutes or so before being wheeled in the OR. Awake the whole time, no restraints needed, felt drowsy and absolutely no discomfort at all. Heard the entire conversation between scrub nurse and surgeon. Once in the OR, drapes are placed over you and a special drape in placed over the operative eye. Procedure may have taken anywhere from 12-18 minutes, and absolutely felt nothing, Nothing at all, except when they took off the sticky drape over your face. In recovery about 30 minutes, no patch, we were given special sunglasses to wear when outside , and then assisted to my car for my husband to drive me home. Felt some scratchiness in the operative eye but used my antibiotic drops as instructed and sterile eye solution to help relieve the scratchiness. Told not to bend over ( forward) as that position puts pressure on the eye and could lead to a complication with the IOL. No rubbing eyes for several weeks if not longer or try to avoid entirely as it could lead to damage to the lens, Came home , went to bed to take a nap and to get ready to do it all over again the following day for the left eye... both surgeries were a breeze , and Im so glad I had it done. I did the reversal with my sight, wear glasses for distance( driving, tv) but nothing for reading, sewing and crafting. Hope this helps you!! MJ

Tinkrbl44 · ‎08-23-2010

@Reva wrote:
A big thank you to all the responders on my questions! As always, you have been so helpful and encouraging! I'm not worried as my eye surgeon pioneered this procedure in WNY and he and his father are well respected in our area. They are also the eye surgeons for our Buffalo Bills...Go Bills! I'm looking forward to getting it done and will post afterwards. Again...thank you to all who have posted and to all who may continue to post their results! Reva

@Reva

It sounds like you still live there.

I grew up there. We all moved away after graduation, but my sisters both now live in Hamburg.

Reva · ‎03-09-2010

@Tinkrbl44 wrote:
@Reva wrote:
A big thank you to all the responders on my questions! As always, you have been so helpful and encouraging! I'm not worried as my eye surgeon pioneered this procedure in WNY and he and his father are well respected in our area. They are also the eye surgeons for our Buffalo Bills...Go Bills! I'm looking forward to getting it done and will post afterwards. Again...thank you to all who have posted and to all who may continue to post their results! Reva

@Reva

It sounds like you still live there.

I grew up there. We all moved away after graduation, but my sisters both now live in Hamburg.