I need surgery for narrow angle glaucoma and cataracts.

Husband had out-patient laser surgery to reduce pressure on one eye to prevent glaucoma last year. This was found during his annual eye exam. With this surgery, he doesn't need to use any type of eye drop medication to control glaucoma.

He didn't have any problems or downtime at all. He did use antibiotic drops after surgery & had a follow up or two that went well.
 
Decades ago my MIL who had glaucoma had a procedure on one eye to allow the eyeball to release pressure when it rose too high. It was, as I recall, the creation of some kind of release valve involving a flap that opened when necessary to release fluid. It worked. The other eye was controlled with daily eye drops.

I'm sure that since then the surgical techniques have greatly advanced. Have confidence in your surgeon.
 
I haven't had glaucoma, but I did have cataract surgery last year. The surgery was done in just a few minutes....after about an hour of getting multiple eyedrops. I had a minor "itch" when I blinked for the first 2 days, then everything settled down. My distant vision now very good, but I have to wear some cheap reading glasses for close up vision. The best thing is that I no longer have problems with oncoming headlights when I'm driving at night.
 
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Ronni, in this day and age, these surgeries are a piece of cake. I had glaucoma and cataract surgeries 20 years ago, one eye at a time. My doctor corrected my astigmatism too and for the first since childhood, I could see 20/20 once both eyes were done. I had to be awake, but the numbing did it's job, so didn't feel anything. It was just kind of weird because water was constantly spraying in my eye(s).

I had asked if I could listen to my iPod to relax me. I assured her that it had been disinfected, and she said I could. Listening to my favorite relaxing music really helped. I don't remember having much discomfort at all. Of course there are post op things that must be done and due to my particular circumstance, I couldn't drive until after both eyes were done. BTW, I had what is known as "low tension glaucoma", which means my eye pressures looked normal when done by my optometrist. But I had an unexplained blind spot, the cause of which had actually been misdiagnosed by two other eye specialists. So I feel blessed that I found my glaucoma specialist when I did.

Best of blessings with your surgeries. I hope your outcome will be as good as mine.
 
I’ve started experiencing headaches, unusual for me because I never get them. When I reported it to my eye doc, he had me come in so he could check it out.

My vision’s deteriorated, and there are other changes in my eyes to where he decided it would be prudent to get me in for surgery sooner rather than later. Originally it was looking like May or June, but now it’s scheduled for the 7th and 21st of April, pre-surgery consult end of March.

That works better for me. I have travel scheduled to California end of May and again in June for grandkids’ graduations and it would be good to get the surgery and after care out of the way before then.
 
Marie5656 said:
I had cataract surgery in both eyes. Easy surgery. Following the eyedrop routine is important. Do not take short cuts, or think you are fine to not use all the ordered drops. If you need someone to help you apply the drops, do so
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@Marie5656 good to know, thank you! Do you remember how long you had to do the drops for?

Also how long after the surgery before you could function normally? I understand the eye will be covered for a while or some such?
 
Ronni said:
@Marie5656 good to know, thank you! Do you remember how long you had to do the drops for?

Also how long after the surgery before you could function normally? I understand the eye will be covered for a while or some such?
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Two of my sisters had it done last year both with laser , takes few minutes both are thrilled with results , eye is covered slightly over night and both had a clear plastic type covering but they could see just not as well as they could next morning .

Special drops several days before surgery 3x day and after but that forgot how long , either way I have yet to meet anyone who regrets it only thing is laser cost an extra thousand , well did for them but I think worth it .
 
Ronni said:
I’ve started experiencing headaches, unusual for me because I never get them. When I reported it to my eye doc, he had me come in so he could check it out.

My vision’s deteriorated, and there are other changes in my eyes to where he decided it would be prudent to get me in for surgery sooner rather than later. Originally it was looking like May or June, but now it’s scheduled for the 7th and 21st of April, pre-surgery consult end of March.

That works better for me. I have travel scheduled to California end of May and again in June for grandkids’ graduations and it would be good to get the surgery and after care out of the way before then.
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It’s good that you got the operation earlier. I know someone who had the same type of eye surgery, only she had it done mid summer. A big problem she had, post surgery , was the summer sun. We gave her some safety sunglasses to protect her eyes. She said the sun was the biggest problem she had after the surgery. She had 20/20 vision after surgery and was so glad she got it done.

Good luck with your surgery Ronni.
 
Ronni said:
@Marie5656 good to know, thank you! Do you remember how long you had to do the drops for?

Also how long after the surgery before you could function normally? I understand the eye will be covered for a while or some such?
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There were different drops. I think at least two weeks...I forget now, so do not want to give you wrong info. Once I was healed, and could take off the eye patch, I could see better right away.
I always needed glasses full time...but now I just need readers.
Make sure you have someone to drive you to appointments.....especially when wearing the patch.
 
Marie5656 said:
There were different drops. I think at least two weeks...I forget now, so do not want to give you wrong info. Once I was healed, and could take off the eye patch, I could see better right away.
I always needed glasses full time...but now I just need readers.
Make sure you have someone to drive you to appointments.....especially when wearing the patch.
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Did you have an actual eye patch ?

Both my sisters had like a see through plastic '' patch '' both had it done within last 2 years and yes one needs readers the other one who wore glasses no longer needs anything but the one with readers see's way better especially at a distance .

Their insurance did not cover the laser only scalpel but both paid extra went with laser .

Btw , I noticed your in Batavia we were practically neighbors as hours away, I am from Albany and loved it but had enough of the brutal dreary winters so moved to Florida but now looking at N.C .
 
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Ronni said:
@Marie5656 good to know, thank you! Do you remember how long you had to do the drops for?

Also how long after the surgery before you could function normally? I understand the eye will be covered for a while or some such?
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like everyone I know and no exception after you get it done you will be glad you did so do not sweat it out .

I wear glasses to read but no cataracts but my sisters were blind as bats till got it done and one lives got it done in Italy which I would not have done I would have come to the states other is in New Orleans .
 
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I had cataract surgery done about 10 years ago.

You take the drops about a week Before surgery.
And drops after surgery about same length of time.

Do take a good pair of sun glasses with you the day of surgery.
Have a driver for getting you back home.

I can remember the lady in bed next to me didn't have driver, refused the nurse about calling a taxi.

The nurse told her you have an auto wreck & injuries happen to you or someone.
I can loose my nurse's license.
 
Sliverfox said:
I had cataract surgery done about 10 years ago.

You take the drops about a week Before surgery.
And drops after surgery about same length of time.

Do take a good pair of sun glasses with you the day of surgery.
Have a driver for getting you back home.

I can remember the lady in bed next to me didn't have driver, refused the nurse about calling a taxi.

The nurse told her you have an auto wreck & injuries happen to you or someone.
I can loose my nurse's license.
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You and @Marie5656 both suggested drivers. I’m pretty sure that’s mandatory here, or at least with the clinic I’m going to.

I have both Ron and my daughter Paige lined up. Paige will likely take me to my first surgery because I doubt Ron will be able to walk that far (lots of corridors and parking issues) at least for the first one.
 
They gave me some derpy cheap sunglasses to wear in car. I made the personal choice to have a driver, my patch was a hard plastic shield with holes in it so eye could breath. Had to attach it with medical tape.Wore it during the day on day of, then at night for a few days
 
Sliverfox said:
About taking the drops after surgery,, chill the bottle.
The cool liquid helps tell you whether you get it in your eye.

I titled my head on the arm of the couch ,,no drops running down my cheek.
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Good idea @Sliverfox! I became adept at eyedrop accuracy after I started wearing contacts. Tilt head back, pull lower eyelid down, line bottle up about an inch from eye, aim for lower eyelid pocket. Worked every time, so I don’t think I’m going to have trouble administering the drops.

It will be remembering that’s going to be a problem. I’ve already decided to set a reminder on my phone that will ping when it’s time, however many times a day I have to do the drops.
 

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