OT Cataract Surgery

[Caryc]

Thought I'd post this since I know some of the members here are in the geezer category and may be facing the same thing.

In the past couple months I had cataract surgery in both eyes. I've worn bifocals for the last 30 some years. I now no longer need glasses and am thrilled to death with my new vision.

I no longer need to close all the drapes while trying to watch TV in the day time. The sunlight just made the TV seem all faded out.

The actual surgery was a piece of cake. It took about 15 minutes and was completely painless. The doctor did my right eye first since it was the worst and then the left about three weeks later.

If any of you are facing cataract surgery, don't fret about it. As I said it's a piece of cake. Also if anyone has any questions I'd be happy to answer them.

There are some videos on youtube showing the whole procedure. It's pretty drastic looking so I'm glad I didn't watch them before my surgery. I don't recommend watching them if you're facing cataract surgery. But, as I said, mine was completely pain free and not even uncomfortable in any way.

The worst thing wast getting the IV inserted so they could give me the relaxing drug. They gave me a local anesthetic in the eyes in the form of drops. I've had IV's plenty of times so that's really nothing to me.

 

[Royse]

Glad to hear it went well for you CaryC!
My dad had given up driving until he had his done.
Once he did he was like a 16 year old with his first car.
Any excuse to go somewhere!
May he rest in peace.

 

[Tim(ups)Johnson]

I go in next week to see if I am ready for my surgery,thanks for the words of wisdom

 

[DGinVT]

I had mine done to improve my shooting for distance vision. Did not have cataracts. What a difference, no more foggy glasses from rain or snow.

 

[Caryc]

(quoted from post at 06:20:12 03/19/16) I had mine done to improve my shooting for distance vision. Did not have cataracts. What a difference, no more foggy glasses from rain or snow.

What exactly did you mean by "had mine done", since you didn't have cataracts? Did you mean laser surgery?

 

[Doc8246]

Had cataract surgery on my left eye Monday and will have the right one done in two weeks. Don't remember a thing about the surgery. I can't
believe the difference. Everything is so much brighter. If you need it don't put it off!

 

[Caryc]

(quoted from post at 18:56:29 03/19/16) Had cataract surgery on my left eye Monday and will have the right one done in two weeks. Don't remember a thing about the surgery. I can't
believe the difference. Everything is so much brighter. If you need it don't put it off!

I know what you mean about "brighter". I had just bought a new 40" flat screen TV before my surgery. After the surgery, I was really amazed at the picture on this thing. :mrgreen:

 

[DGinVT]

(quoted from post at 18:17:05 03/19/16)

(quoted from post at 06:20:12 03/19/16) I had mine done to improve my shooting for distance vision. Did not have cataracts. What a difference, no more foggy glasses from rain or snow.

What exactly did you mean by "had mine done", since you didn't have cataracts? Did you mean laser surgery?

The eye doctor put in a new lense in each eye so that I didn't have to wear glasses anymore while hunting or handgun shooting. I have protective glasses while handgun shooting. Close up work for maching, lathe, milling machine, etc requires a close up lense. There was no laser surgery done.

 

[Caryc]

(quoted from post at 05:51:11 03/21/16)

(quoted from post at 18:17:05 03/19/16)

(quoted from post at 06:20:12 03/19/16) I had mine done to improve my shooting for distance vision. Did not have cataracts. What a difference, no more foggy glasses from rain or snow.

What exactly did you mean by "had mine done", since you didn't have cataracts? Did you mean laser surgery?

The eye doctor put in a new lense in each eye so that I didn't have to wear glasses anymore while hunting or handgun shooting. I have protective glasses while handgun shooting. Close up work for maching, lathe, milling machine, etc requires a close up lense. There was no laser surgery done.

OK, I see now. But you did have cataract surgery because that is exactly what cataract surgery is. They use a machine that kind of liquefies (for lack of the correct word) the lens in the eye. Then they use a kind of vacuum to suck out the old lens and insert a new plastic one.

I guess you must have pretty good insurance because most insurance companies are not going to pay for cataract surgery unless it's really needed and it can be corrected by wearing glasses. Or maybe your doctor just submitted it as cataract surgery. There is a magnification factor in the new lenses they put in. It was easy to tell when I only had the right eye done. If I alternately closed eyes things would appear larger with my right eye.

In my case I went to my eye doctor to get a new pair of glasses and she told me that new glasses would not help. What I needed was cataract surgery so that's what happened.