Having cataract surgery today.

Wigglestein said:
I'm doing great. On Wed Eve I had what felt like a little stinging in the eye but Tylenol took care of that. That was it. It took a while for the dilation to wear off but once it did I could see clearly in that eye. I can't believe how painless it is. The hardest thing is remembering to not bend over or lift anything.
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Thanks for that, and I am happy you are recovering well. Keep us in the loop going forward.

My eye doctor tells me I likely will need cataract surgery someday, helps to know what I would be getting into.
 

SeaBreeze said:
I hope you don't mind my asking, but I'm curious. During the surgery, were you lying flat like on a bed, or were you in some type of reclining chair? Thanks. :)
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I was on a surgical gurney. I was lying flat with a pillow under my knees. I had a few rounds of numbing drops by the time I got to the OR. Then I got an IV sedative and oxygen. I was awake and could hear them talking....and the computer talking. I could not feel a thing in my eye.
 
I was in an adjustable chair, of some special kind, in the OR, which was fine.
It was far more comfortable than anything at the dentist or eye doctor or the endodontist offices. Truly!
 

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Wigglestein said:
I was on a surgical gurney. I was lying flat with a pillow under my knees. I had a few rounds of numbing drops by the time I got to the OR. Then I got an IV sedative and oxygen. I was awake and could hear them talking....and the computer talking. I could not feel a thing in my eye.
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Thanks for your detailed reply, appreciated.
 
I had my cataracts removed 15 years ago. I'm 88 now. I had problems with my eye lashes misaligning under my eye lids. Now I use cotton rounds with warm water applied to my closed eyes for years now. I also use Thera Tears drops Extra Strength every few hours. My eyes feel good now.
 
I never had cataract surgery but had LASIK about 4 years ago. I've been wearing glasses all my life. And it reached a point where my eyes were losing focus on nearby things even after wearing glasses. So, I was recommended to undergo LASIK surgery. I had the LASIK at Clearview. After the surgery, I'd dry eyes for a while but it didn't last any longer. And since then, it has to be said that my vision has improved significantly. Before the surgery, I was kind of suspecting - whether this is going to work out or not. About LASIK, I've to tell is that one wouldn't have to worry or get nervous. Also, I think your experience would depend on the place you'd go to.
 
I had cataract laser surgery in both eyes about 11years ago at the VA. lay on a gurney in OR iv anesthesia eye numbed and I was awake and could hear and talk to the people.. painless and pleasant experience considering..
 
deaver said:
I had cataract laser surgery in both eyes about 11years ago at the VA. lay on a gurney in OR iv anesthesia eye numbed and I was awake and could hear and talk to the people.. painless and pleasant experience considering..
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It was pretty much as you described. One of the voices was a computer talking. I'm having my second eye done on Wed. Vision in the first eye is great. No pain at all.
 
CeeCee said:
Happy to hear that it went well …doesn’t sound too scary at all.
What about all the drops and things after the surgery, how is that?
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They seem like a lot to remember. 3 different drops 4 times a day. I numbered the bottles, set alarms on my phone for every 4 hours, then set a 5 min timer on my phone. You have to allow 3-5 min. between drops. So the alarm goes off, I do number 1, hit the timer, do number 2, hit the timer, etc. Worked great.
 
I only had two bottles, one was to help the healing and I think the other was a numbing agent of some kind,, I had no pain but had to keep eye patch on for a couple days then eye doc took it off and checked things out. before I could not see distance very well but now I can see fleas on a dogs back 20 miles away just cant see my finger nails...
 
deaver said:
I only had two bottles, one was to help the healing and I think the other was a numbing agent of some kind,, I had no pain but had to keep eye patch on for a couple days then eye doc took it off and checked things out. before I could not see distance very well but now I can see fleas on a dogs back 20 miles away just cant see my finger nails...
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Right. After cataract surgery,
some people do not need any eyeglasses afterwards.

While others do need eyeglasses afterwards, but it's an entirely new and different script than their any of their previous eyeglasses.

Some people then, will only need eyeglasses for close-up, as you describe in this post, to trim your nails. And, for reading and such, but not for tv or driving or other general wear.

Some get a script for eyeglasses that is much less strong than previously,
but that do make both very far and very close things, more clear than without any.

While it is understandably disappointing if you need any eyeglasses at all, after cataract surgery;
at least your vision is probably then correctable, so it is hopefully very good, with your new script glasses.
Whereas, without the surgery, the cataracts become bad enough over time, that your vision is not correctible with eyeglass lenses. Some of us wait till then, to have the surgery if we dreaded it. Others don't wait as long, to get the improvement in vision that the sooner cataract removal will give.

Just for general information only!
 
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Wigglestein said:
All went well, again. Have perfect vision! I've worn glasses since I was 6....so 60 years ! I may need reading glasses after its all healed. But I'm okay with that. Thanks for asking.
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That is wonderful to hear, so happy for you! If all you need are reading glasses, that not bad at all. 💙

I had my first eye done yesterday around 1PM, so we were kinda connected :). The surgery went well and the surgeon today at the post op said the eye looks good. I'm trying to stay off the computer too much now, things are still a bit blurry. Next eye on the 29th.

Like you I was on a gurney with pillow under my knees, the procedure seemed to be over with quickly. Yesterday I didn't go on the computer at all, took a nap in the evening which is rare for me, wanted to rest the eye.

I have one bottle of drops, all three are combined together, so it's easier to take them. My husband has been putting them in for me. The eye patch for night is hard clear plastic, taped to my face. It stayed in place all night, and I tried to sleep on the side with the good eye, but I went back and forth.

I also have macular degeneration, so I know I will need more than reading glasses. Likely computer glasses and maybe even distance glasses. For the first time ever, I failed the dmv eye exam and could not renew my license until I was able to go back and pass that test. The doctor didn't think the results would be good enough to drive again, but at this point I'm more concerned for my vision than anything else.

Thanks for sharing your experience with us, it made me feel much more positive...hugs. ☮️
 
SeaBreeze said:
That is wonderful to hear, so happy for you! If all you need are reading glasses, that not bad at all. 💙

I had my first eye done yesterday around 1PM, so we were kinda connected :). The surgery went well and the surgeon today at the post op said the eye looks good. I'm trying to stay off the computer too much now, things are still a bit blurry. Next eye on the 29th.

Like you I was on a gurney with pillow under my knees, the procedure seemed to be over with quickly. Yesterday I didn't go on the computer at all, took a nap in the evening which is rare for me, wanted to rest the eye.

I have one bottle of drops, all three are combined together, so it's easier to take them. My husband has been putting them in for me. The eye patch for night is hard clear plastic, taped to my face. It stayed in place all night, and I tried to sleep on the side with the good eye, but I went back and forth.

I also have macular degeneration, so I know I will need more than reading glasses. Likely computer glasses and maybe even distance glasses. For the first time ever, I failed the dmv eye exam and could not renew my license until I was able to go back and pass that test. The doctor didn't think the results would be good enough to drive again, but at this point I'm more concerned for my vision than anything else.

Thanks for sharing your experience with us, it made me feel much more positive...hugs. ☮️
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I'm glad all went well for you, too. Isn't it amazing how quickly it heals? I hope it all works out for you.
 
Wigglestein said:
I'm glad all went well for you, too. Isn't it amazing how quickly it heals? I hope it all works out for you.
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Thanks. It is amazing how quickly it seems to heal, I was thinking raw and sore, but nowhere near that. I'm really looking forward to hearing about your final result after your eyes are completely healed. It's great these surgeries are available and so successful for many. Many years ago my mother in law had her eye done, she hated it, complained about her vision in that eye and refused to get the other one done. I think she went in expecting failure, but I guess it's possible they did a bad job, hard to say.
 
Good luck on your other eye on the 29th SB and glad you had a good experience Wigglestein.

I had both of my eyes done three weeks apart back in June of 2021.....I still wear glasses but they are much thinner and lighter than before and I'm happy with the results.

I didn't know at the time there is a option depending on the surgeon the surgery can be done with the person either awake or IV sedated and luckily I just happened to pick a gal that puts patients under with IV sedation......with me being a big wussy :) I don't believe that I'd want to go through it awake.
 
IKE said:
Good luck on your other eye on the 29th SB and glad you had a good experience Wigglestein.

I had both of my eyes done three weeks apart back in June of 2021.....I still wear glasses but they are much thinner and lighter than before and I'm happy with the results.

I didn't know at the time there is a option depending on the surgeon the surgery can be done with the person either awake or IV sedated and luckily I just happened to pick a gal that puts patients under with IV sedation......with me being a big wussy :) I don't believe that I'd want to go through it awake.
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Glad you're happy with the results Ike. I had some kind of mild IV sedation. One nurse there referred to it as 'twilight', another as a relaxant. They were ready to give more if I needed it. The doctor was giving me instructions, so I heard him, but had no thought to try and speak myself. I heard the slurping of the machine that supposedly was sucking out the pieces of my old lens. The whole thing went so fast, when they wheeled my gurney out of the operating room, they were soon asking me to get into the wheelchair so when my husband came they could wheel me out to the car. I didn't feel 'out of it', and was pretty much back to normal once I got home. Some said it was similar to a colonoscopy sedation, but I never had one, so I can't compare. No way would I want to go through that awake, with just a numbing drop or injection in my eye. :eek:
 
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