Cataract Surgery

[Andrew Joiner]

I found a surgeon I like. He says my left eye has a cataract that qualifies for removal. My right eye has a cataract that can wait, but I'd probably want it done 2 weeks after the left.
I asked can I wait a year for surgery. My Dr said "a conservative approach would be OK to wait a year maybe more, but call us if you want it done sooner"

I can still see OK with my current glasses. I see signs better driving than my younger family members. I'm OK driving at night, but now that I know my vision can't be improved by new glasses I'm considering getting surgery sooner. Basically I have trouble with glare from sun or direct lights. Now that I'm aware that the cataract is a "cloud" in my eyes lens it bugs me.

I have 2 friends that are older than me that won't drive at night at all. One was told he'd benefit from cataract surgery the other hasn't been to eye doc in years but from what he tells me surgery might help him too. Both of them say" let me know how yours goes", but I feel like a guinea pig.:)

Anyone here avoiding surgery and have cataracts they "live with"? Anyone had the surgery? Please share your experiences. Thank you.

[Ralph Okonieski]

I have NOT had cataract surgery but my wife had one eye done in July of this year. She chose to have it done with laser (more expensive than the traditional approach). She was quite pleased with the surgery and results. Only down side is 3 types of drops 4 times a day for a month. Overall the surgery was very uneventful. She will have the other eye done when it qualifies for insurance coverage.

She had the surgery because she was no longer able to read as it was blurry. She can read perfectly now.

[Thomas Canfield]

I had cataract surgery 10 years back and had lens implant (10 and 11 O.D) to eliminate need for corrective glasses other than reading which I do with over the counter cheapo. I do have a pair of trifocal safety glasses to use in shop since you work at distance greater than reading and I was used to the trifocals earlier. I had worn strong glasses for 57 years when I had surgery and the change to reading only was dramatic. I did have to have one lens "cleaned" about 2 or 3 years later but that was a minor laser procedure. I am extremely happy with my cataract surgery and results. I was getting to point of not wanting to drive at night, and needed to travel as part of work.

[Wade Lippman]

I'd love to have cataract surgery, but they say I have to wait about 5 years.
People I talk to on the ski lift (I wear prescription goggles that facilitate conversation...) tell me they haven't seen as well in 50 years.

[Mike Henderson]

Everyone I talk to who has had cataract surgery says it's great. You can see again. My wife had both eyes done and can see better than me.

Mike

[James Waldron]

Got both eyes done w/ laser surgery, six weeks apart, about 18 months ago. Outstanding results! No problems, no pain, very little inconvenience, in-out one day procedure, wore eye mask for overnight the first night, otherwise went along like nothing had happened except I could see again, night and day. I chose distance vision for both eyes, so I wear reading glasses for reading (duh!) and dovetailing, no reading glasses for computer work/sawing/marking out work, etc. I can now read highway exit signs at close to half a mile. No night problems. I'd say go for it if you've checked out this doc's record and are happy with him.

Note that the laser surgery is more accurate than manual knife work, but costs extra. Check it out.

[Barry McFadden]

I had both eyes done 2 weeks apart about 4 years ago...traditional surgery..about 15 minutes per eye...implants as well.. best thing I have ever done. Colors are much brighter now as well as perfect vision...I, too, use reading glasses. I was waiting because I'm a wimp and the thought of being awake while they cut away on my eyes wasn't something I was looking forward to but it turned out to be no problem at all.... if you need it then go ahead..you will be glad you did...

[Eduard Nemirovsky]

These days cataract surgery considerate to be minor procedures. It is safe, very low risks for any complications. Patients tolerated very well. Very good outcome.
Your work - find right doctors to do it.

Ed.

[Ken Fitzgerald]

I haven't had the surgery but my wife had the surgery on both eyes, two weeks apart about 3 years ago. She is amazed how much better she can see. In general, things are brighter.

[Dan Friedrichs]

I may be the youngest, here, but I've had one done.

Uneventful. Major improvement.

Only downside is to consider how it will effect your focusing. If you are nearsighted, they can implant a lens with some correction to avoid the need for distance glasses. You may also require reading glasses for near vision, though. Definitely think hard about this. Because I only needed one done, I don't use reading glasses, but essentially rely on one eye for near vision, which makes delicate work quite challenging (no depth perception).

[Andrew Joiner]

I may be the youngest, here, but I've had one done.

Uneventful. Major improvement.

Only downside is to consider how it will effect your focusing. If you are nearsighted, they can implant a lens with some correction to avoid the need for distance glasses. You may also require reading glasses for near vision, though. Definitely think hard about this. Because I only needed one done, I don't use reading glasses, but essentially rely on one eye for near vision, which makes delicate work quite challenging (no depth perception).
Thanks Dan. Could you have glasses made to improve your near vision?

I've worn glasses for 58 years so I'm used to them. In fact I'm glad I always have them on for the eye protection.

[Dan Friedrichs]

Could you have glasses made to improve your near vision?

Maybe. There are interesting details that are worth discussing with your ophthalmologist. I was quite nearsighted, before, and since they were only replacing one lens, they couldn't fully correct my nearsightedness with the implanted lens (because it would be too much of a correction relative to the eye they weren't touching - my brain wouldn't be able to "piece" the two images together). So I still have glasses to correct nearsightedness (in both eyes - although less severe in the eye with the implanted lens), and would need one bifocal lens if I wanted near-vision correction. That gets complicated, so I'm happy with how it is (for now).

If you do both eyes, you may need reading glasses (or even bifocals, if you end up with some nearsightedness), although they do now have some multi-focal lens implants.

[Andrew Joiner]

Maybe. There are interesting details that are worth discussing with your ophthalmologist. I was quite nearsighted, before, and since they were only replacing one lens, they couldn't fully correct my nearsightedness with the implanted lens (because it would be too much of a correction relative to the eye they weren't touching - my brain wouldn't be able to "piece" the two images together). So I still have glasses to correct nearsightedness (in both eyes - although less severe in the eye with the implanted lens), and would need one bifocal lens if I wanted near-vision correction. That gets complicated, so I'm happy with how it is (for now).

If you do both eyes, you may need reading glasses (or even bifocals, if you end up with some nearsightedness), although they do now have some multi-focal lens implants.

Your feedback really helps, thanks Dan. My Dr told me almost word for word what you said--

"it would be too much of a correction relative to the eye they weren't touching - my brain wouldn't be able to "piece" the two images together"

Your situation sounds a bit like mine Dan. I wear glasses(bifocals) for near and far vision, but for reading closer than 10" I remove my glasses . I probably need trifocals.

At my age I qualify for cataracts in both eyes to be removed even though the right eye could wait a few years. Thus my Dr said "I'd probably want my right eye done 2 weeks after the left"


I'm sending the copy below to my Dr to learn more:
-----------------------------------------------------------
Hi DR,
I've worn glasses for 58 years so I'm used to them. In fact since my hobbies are windsurfing and woodworking I'm glad I always have them on for the eye protection. I'm guessing that makes the implant choices easier?
Do you have a questionnaire you can send me to help me choose? I'm hearing people rave about not wearing glasses and like to know my options, since I prefer to wear glasses.

[James Waldron]

Your feedback really helps, thanks Dan. My Dr told me almost word for word what you said--

"it would be too much of a correction relative to the eye they weren't touching - my brain wouldn't be able to "piece" the two images together"

Your situation sounds a bit like mine Dan. I wear glasses(bifocals) for near and far vision, but for reading closer than 10" I remove my glasses . I probably need trifocals.

At my age I qualify for cataracts in both eyes to be removed even though the right eye could wait a few years. Thus my Dr said "I'd probably want my right eye done 2 weeks after the left"


I'm sending the copy below to my Dr to learn more:
-----------------------------------------------------------
Hi DR,
I've worn glasses for 58 years so I'm used to them. In fact since my hobbies are windsurfing and woodworking I'm glad I always have them on for the eye protection. I'm guessing that makes the implant choices easier?
Do you have a questionnaire you can send me to help me choose? I'm hearing people rave about not wearing glasses and like to know my options, since I prefer to wear glasses.



I sail and do woodworking. Same deal. So, I went with distance vision in the surgery and I wear reading glasses for detail work and polarizing, uv coated sunglasses for sailing. Works well. Reading glasses are cheap and plentiful at Costco or Walmart, so I keep one pair at my bench, one pair at my navigation table, one pair near my computer. And I have a pair in a hard case that slips in a shirt pocket for getting around to places where I might need them, like reading a menu with lots of small print. (I can mange most menu entries without 'em, but it's always good to be prepared.) I can do most stuff on my computer, including SMC posts without my reading glasses, but the print gets smaller on some sites, and I grab 'em and keep going.

When I need eye protection in the shop, I have bi-focal safety glasses that work just like reading glasses. Since I'm a hand tool mostly guy, I don't always need 'em, but when I do turn to the tailed beasties, I've got 'em.

[Michael Weber]

I had non-age related lens clouding cataract surgery many years ago. They used corrective lens and my vision went from like 20/120 to 20/20 in one eye and 20/30 in the other. And as noted by others, colors seemed remarkable.

[Jim Becker]

My elderly father had cataract surgery a couple years ago and not only did it remove the issue, it also corrected his vision such that he could stop depending on glasses to see clearly. It was a nice benefit of the surgery. I wouldn't hesitate to get it done based on that alone. I also had a positive experience with LASIK in 2003 which makes me more comfortable with the idea of eye surgery for things like cataracts should I need it in the future. (likely based on my last exam)

[Steve Peterson]

I may be the youngest, here, but I've had one done.

Uneventful. Major improvement.

Only downside is to consider how it will effect your focusing. If you are nearsighted, they can implant a lens with some correction to avoid the need for distance glasses. You may also require reading glasses for near vision, though. Definitely think hard about this. Because I only needed one done, I don't use reading glasses, but essentially rely on one eye for near vision, which makes delicate work quite challenging (no depth perception).

I am 56 and only started wearing glasses about 3 years ago. I needed them to see street signs when driving. My close vision is fine, although I need more light than I used to.

I asked my eye doctor about laser surgery to avoid wearing glasses. They said that I could fix the distance problem, but then would need glasses for reading. $5K to trade one problem for another doesn't seem like a good idea. They also suggested one eye for distance and one eye for up close. Not sure I like this idea either. I am on the fence waiting for a few more years.

[Ken Combs]

74YO here, and had both done a week apart in '16. No longer need glasses except for a mild 1.25 reader set. 'normal' surgery, not laser. That was offered at a $3K premium because it would likely result in no correction for reading either, but NOT guaranteed to do so.

[Jim Becker]

I asked my eye doctor about laser surgery to avoid wearing glasses. They said that I could fix the distance problem, but then would need glasses for reading. $5K to trade one problem for another doesn't seem like a good idea. They also suggested one eye for distance and one eye for up close. Not sure I like this idea either. I am on the fence waiting for a few more years.
Steve, I took that tradeoff with a smile on my face. I was a slave to my glasses before LASIK in early 2003...I couldn't even read the clock on my bedside table clearly I was so nearsighted, let alone anything farther away. The surgery took about ten minutes and corrected me to 20/20 in one eye and 20/15 in the other. How do I know it took ten minutes? Because when I sat up from the machine, I looked at the clock on the wall. And after a few seconds, I realized the clock was over 20 feet away. :) For awhile, I didn't even need reading glasses, at least if there was good light and the type wasn't too tiny. I have been using OTC readers for a long time now, but only need relatively low powered ones. Needing reading glasses is typical for many folks when they reach "a certain age" as the eyes tend to relax and gradually lose their ability to focus closer. And that's with or without the surgery. I actually was offered mono-vision (one near/one far) but turned that down.

[Don Morris]

My wife had the multi focal lenses placed two years ago. She’s now 20/20 in both eyes. More expensive and the doc said not everyone is a candidate for them. Have a friend who has had some adjustment problems with them. We think she may have been someone who wasn’t best suited for them but they were placed anyway ($$$). If you can afford them and are indeed a good candidate for them they free you up from needing glasses to read. LOML loves them.

[Chris Parks]

This is my advice for what it is worth and was the procedure I followed. Back story was I was chronically short sighted since I was a child and most probably nearly legally blind without either glasses or contact lenses. My glasses were like the bottoms of Coke bottles to look at as they were so thick and they were heavy and started to distort my face and nose so I went to contact lenses which were a god send and gave undistorted peripheral vision. When I was told I needed a cataract done and a corrective lens could be implanted at the same time I was over the moon. It was also suggested that I have a contact lens in the other eye as an experiment that enabled me to read so I saw long with one eye and read with the other. Some people cannot tolerate it but I took to it like a duck to water and have never worn reading glasses since.

Mono vision as it is called does cause a very small depth of field problem but day to day it causes me no issues. When I needed the other eye done they implanted a reading lens and I could not be happier. If it was me I would ask about it, some doctors can be a bit reluctant but it is only a contact lens experiment and thus not permanent and you have nothing to lose except reading glasses. For the short period I had to wear them, less than 12 months prior to the first cataract op due to astigmatism I absolutely loathed them and would be very unwilling to have to wear them again.

[Jim Andrew]

My mom had the surgery about 20 years ago, and it went so well she had her other eye done. Really improved her vision.

[Rick Potter]

My wife (75) has worn glasses her whole life, and goes in for the first eye in two weeks. She is getting the lenses that are like blended trifocals, and the Doc says she should not need any glasses at all.

I still passed my DL test last year without glasses, but I can tell I am getting worse, and got some glasses mostly for reading with blended distance also. I just wear them all the time. I can hardly tell the difference in sunlight, but at night it is more obvious. Doc says I have to wait a few years before I qualify for cataract surgery (I'm 75 also), and I can hardly wait. I started wearing OTC readers at age 45.

[Tom Norton]

Appreciate this thread as I have my appointment with the eye doctor today for the exam and then another this Saturday cwith the surgeon. I am leaning toward having mine set for distance and continue to wear glasses with a mild prescription of a progressive lense for reading.

[Ernie Miller]

They also suggested one eye for distance and one eye for up close. Not sure I like this idea either. I am on the fence waiting for a few more years.

I had cataract surgery on both eyes, but 10 years apart. Those ten years were great. One eye for closeup - one eye for distance - no glasses at all. My wife had her surgeries 6 weeks apart, and those six weeks weren't good at all. I think this one eye vs. other eye only works if your vision wasn't too bad to begin with. Mine was 20/80, hers was significantly worse.

[glenn bradley]

I am ahead of the age curve for it but, due to the location of the cataract in both eyes I had multiple vision and could not drive at night. As soon as my "best" refractive correction met the insurance requirement, I had the surgery. The worst thing you can do is assume that your slowly degrading sight is not as bad as you think. Ego can also get in the way for some.

The surgery was quick and pretty painless. The worst part for me was taking it easy for a couple of weeks following each eye. I do not sit around and take it easy very well at all :mad:. I still need glasses for close work but, once again I can see the freeway signs, small details in my work and enjoy my restored sight more than I can tell you.

I guess you'd say I was happy with it.

[Doug Garson]

I had cataract surgery on both eyes about 5 years ago. I was very shortsighted and wore glasses from age 12 until my surgery at age 63. I chose a multi focus lense. My lenses are the strongest prescription available at that time, there may be stronger ones available now, so my vision is not quite 20/20 but very close, I can read comfortably and drive without glasses. I would highly recommend you discuss the multi focal lense with your surgeon.

[lowell holmes]

You guys are courageous, my hat's off to you.

[Mike Henderson]

You guys are courageous, my hat's off to you.

Everybody I talked to that had the surgery says, "There's nothing to it."

Mike

[Dan Friedrichs]

You guys are courageous, my hat's off to you.

It's also an extremely common procedure. 3M procedures per year in the US, compared to something like ~500k knee replacements. Lots of volume = lots of expertise and low complication rates.