I'm over the moon!

Katybug

Katybug

Senior Member
Location
Charlotte, NC
I've been talking about this with anyone who would listen....upside/downside of cataract surgery. No one mentioned this, and I couldn't be happier with a check for thousands.

I've needed glasses since age 13. Got contact lenses at 16, but after breast cancer they took my precious estrogen away (a must for contacts,) so back to glasses. The money I have spent in being able to see all these years is more than I even want to think about. And today the dr says that after the cataract surgery, I WON'T NEED GLASSES!!!! I have never seen him before but I wanted to throw my arms around him. I can't even imagine.

I think being near sighted is worse because anything within 3 ft of me, especially the computer, is best seen w/o my glasses because they're so strong for distance. So it's an on/off situation all the time, and I can't tell you how inconvenient it is looking around the house for them ongoing & the many pairs I've lost in shopping. If I want to see the price or anything else up close, off they come. Sometimes I can find them, sometimes I can't... and I've been doing this for so long. When I wore contacts, I used Dollar Store reading glasses for the computer or reading. (If you lose 'em, no big deal!) And I guess that's what I'll go back to after the surgery.... very gladly!!! But to wake up and be able to see clearly all through the day & finally feeling comfortable in driving at night is making me an extremely happy camper. With it getting dark earlier and the severe cataract hindrance, I get very nervous driving home from work. WHAT A HAPPY DAY! Maybe there are those of you who can relate, but I would bet the farm there is no one any more excited about having surgery!
 

This is great, Katybug, my ninety-three year old mother had the surgery a few years ago, she now reads without glasses. She can see much better than I can. I have cataracts, not real advanced yet, but I understand the night driving thing.
 
You'll be a new woman Katy......my lovely hubby is waiting to hear from the hospital about having it done too.....
Won't be holding our breath on that though seeing as he'll be having it done through the public hospital system....:rolleyes:
For his sake I hope it's sooner rather than later as one eye is getting worse and if it keeps progressing like that
he probably won't be able to drive....:( like you, he can't drive at night any more.....
 
Casper said:
You'll be a new woman Katy......my lovely hubby is waiting to hear from the hospital about having it done too.....
Won't be holding our breath on that though seeing as he'll be having it done through the public hospital system....:rolleyes:
For his sake I hope it's sooner rather than later as one eye is getting worse and if it keeps progressing like that
he probably won't be able to drive....:( like you, he can't drive at night any more.....
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And the severity of them only gets worse, Casper, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed they can work him in soon. Keep us updated.
 
Katybug said:
And the severity of them only gets worse, Casper, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed they can work him in soon. Keep us updated.
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Thanks Katy, I know, as my late mum had them done years ago and they waited until she couldn't see two foot in front of her......:(as I said, with the public hospital system here in Oz it could happen tomorrow or in 2 years time but hopefully not....:indecisiveness:
 
I had mine done 3 years ago. It is simple prcedure nowdays, thanks to new technology.
You'll be as good as new, in a short time.
 
Katy, like you I was been nearly blind without glasses or contacts. I could see to read without glasses but anything 5 feet from my face was a total blur. I had both eyes done two years ago, and have mixed feelings about it.

Yes, I can see without wearing glasses for distance now, but now have to heavily rely on reading glasses for any close up work and really need to wear glasses all the time for maximum correction, but can see well enough to drive and watch TV without them, so I don't bother. Having said that, it is great to wake up and see the alarm clock or go to the bathroom in the middle of the night without fumbling for my glasses, but two years later I still do that out of habit..LOL

Another down side I have experienced is that I developed floaters and flashers after the surgery, and my optho said it is not because of the cataract surgery, but I wonder, never had any problem with this before the surgery. Dry eyes are another side effect, but drops can help that.

Although your doctor said you won't have to wear glasses, don't count on having maximum vision without them, even if only for reading. Medicare pays for a pair of glasses after surgery, so that should tell you something.

Good luck with your surgery, and if I had it to do all over again, I would despite the drawbacks. Being able to see at a distance without glasses is a deal maker for me.
 
Ozarkgal said:
Katy, like you I was been nearly blind without glasses or contacts. I could see to read without glasses but anything 5 feet from my face was a total blur. I had both eyes done two years ago, and have mixed feelings about it.

Sorry to be so late answering, the Xmas season demands are overwhelming, aren't they?

I'm thinking your prescription may be a little bit stronger for distance, it's about 10 ft for blurs and I only required reading glasses a few yrs ago...but at this point I can't read w/o them. As you know they give you a choice with the surgery in distance or close up. I went w/main issue all these yrs of distance. I just want that feeling again of being able to wake up and see across the room. I can buy reading glasses for a $1.00 with 1/2 hr/day at best for me & much less of an issue.

Yes, I can see without wearing glasses for distance now, but now have to heavily rely on reading glasses for any close up work and really need to wear glasses all the time for maximum correction, but can see well enough to drive and watch TV without them, so I don't bother. Having said that, it is great to wake up and see the alarm clock or go to the bathroom in the middle of the night without fumbling for my glasses, but two years later I still do that out of habit..LOL

You just described how I felt decades ago with extended wear contact lenses in being able to see across the room clearly. Poor vision is such a challenge, but I've never had to wear glasses to get around familiar places. I rarely ever wear them at home, don't know where they are half the time, but unable to watch TV or drive w/o them. And tho I get along just fine w/o them around the house, nothing is really sharp & clear and I've adjusted to fuzzy vision over the yrs. I'm on the computer much more than TV and can't see jack on here with my reg glasses on, so it's just easier to grab them as I'm going out the door.

Another down side I have experienced is that I developed floaters and flashers after the surgery, and my optho said it is not because of the cataract surgery, but I wonder, never had any problem with this before the surgery. Dry eyes are another side effect, but drops can help that.

I hate hearing "dry eyes." Whew, with a glob of Vaseline type ointment applied/required every night for the last few yrs to avoid giving myself a corneal scratch in a deep sleep, I hate hearing it may get worse. Post menopausal is one thing, Tamoxafin (sp?) did me in on the extreme dryness. I'm not giving up my overhead fan...soothing sound year round but horrible for dry eyes. I'll keep on w/my ointment, but cringe to think it may get worse.

Although your doctor said you won't have to wear glasses, don't count on having maximum vision without them, even if only for reading. Medicare pays for a pair of glasses after surgery, so that should tell you something.


Good luck with your surgery, and if I had it to do all over again, I would despite the drawbacks. Being able to see at a distance without glasses is a deal maker for me.
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Thanks, OG, I'm so looking forward to it! Sincerely appreciate all your input.
 
OG: Are you scheduled for surgery or in the decision making phase?


Thx for asking, OG, I was told yrs ago it was up to me, that I had them, and they were only going to get worse. The dr said to let him know when I couldn't deal with it any longer. Last yearly eye exam, couple mos ago, I told him I was ready.

I'm way more than ready, can't wait, but my insurance pays more after Jan 1 so I'm holding off 'til then. The surgeon has already done one measurement and I have another one in early Jan by a tech....then, can you believe I can't get an appt for surgery 'til Feb 14th/right eye and Feb 28/2nd eye? Char Eye,Ear, Nose & Throat is the best we've got in the state with multiple locations and dozens of drs. I've supposedly got the best one, or so says my Optometrist.

I'm disappointed with the dates, but can't do anything about it. And probably my fault as I insist it be done on Friday, with the wk-end to recoup before working on Mon. But I dare not complain when I hear how long some of our Aussie members have to wait for procedures, blows my mind!

I've probably posted more than half of this in other posts, so kindly overlook if you're read it more than once.

Thx again for your input and experience with it. :) You gave me great insight. I answered another post on it last night, but my posting has been so hit and miss lately because of longer working hours. (The long hrs are about to end 'til after the holidays as the boss is taking the rest of the month off and will have our lil guy with him. BUMMER!!!! Just when I need more income, here comes FAR less!)
 

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