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Thread: Cataract surgery tommorrow

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Aug 2015
    Location
    Pennville, Indiana
    Posts
    13

    Cataract surgery tommorrow

    I am having cataract surgery tomorrow and another in two weeks. The doc told me I would only need reading glasses afterward. I was wondering how long it would be before I could expect to get back to the lathe. He said it might take up to a month to heal. What has been your experience if you have had the procedure?

  2. I am facing the same situation, perhaps a few months from now. I will be interested in the responses.
    Remember, in a moments time, everything can change!

    Vision - not just seeing what is, but seeing what can be!




  3. #3
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Location
    Lakewood, WA
    Posts
    229
    I have had the surgery in both eyes. About a month apart. In my case after both surgerys, there was no pain I waited about 3 weeks to go back to the lathe. Very important wear an eye shield googles along with a face shield. A combination of the two will keep dust out of your eyes and avoid rubbing them. I'm 75 Y/O so I was very apprehensive, in the end, the whole process goes well so don't worry and I had no pain at all. I just have to wear glasses for reading and close up things. Good luck to you, and don't worry! Hope this helps and colors will be brighter and wear sun glasses when driving.
    regards
    Don

  4. #4
    I had cataract surgery 2 years ago. They did one eye and then the second one 2 weeks later. The worst part for me was worrying about it before hand. I couldn't imagine being awake for it all but it was no problem. All I could see was a blur the whole time he did the procedure and everything went fine. Not much recuperating other than wearing an eye shield over it at night for 2 weeks in case I rubbed it in my sleep. I was back woodturning within 2 weeks and as Don said, it's important to keep dust out of your eyes for a while so you won't be rubbing them. The procedure from start to finish (not including prep time for drops and freezing) took about 15 minutes. I can remember when I was a kid my aunt had cataract surgery and it was standard procedure to be in the hospital for a week after! We've come a long way! I'm sure yours will go fine and you will be back woodturning before you know it...

  5. #5
    I've also had it done on both eyes. Absolutely no problems and like Barry said, the apprehension about it was far worse than the actual procedure. It's truly like a miracle. I've been nearsighted since i was a kid, so using glasses for driving, etc. was not a concern. I chose a short focal length so I can do my bench work and computer work without correction. As I write this my glasses are propped on top of my head. Will need to put them back on my nose for the drive home. You'll wonder why you waited so long after it's all done.

    I over researched the whole thing beforehand. I learned that cataract surgery is the most frequently performed operation in the world. You have a greater chance of complications getting a cavity filled at the Dentist. Good luck.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    Atwood Tn.
    Posts
    48
    Same as previous posters for me.Im 68 and had it done about 10 or so years ago and don't wear glasses for anything.I could see better before I got back to the room out of the eye they had just done than my good eye.A true miracle procedure

  7. #7
    I had both eyes done last year, there's nothing to the surgery. I was told it would take three to four weeks for them to heal up good enough, for me to do lathe work. He said it wasn't only because of the dust issue, it also had something to do with holding my head in that position for long periods of time. He was worried that the new lense might move, from looking a certain way. Plus, he was worried that it might cause unneeded pressure on my eye. So, I waited about three and a half weeks before turning anything.
    Len

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Fredericksburg, TX
    Posts
    2,576
    I had both eyes done a week apart at 65 and had lens implants. I was able to attend a day workshop a couple weeks after the second eye, but did not have correct glasses. I have to wear "readers", +2 over the counter, for normal reading and close work, and have found some rimless or no top bar half glasses that work about like bifocals. I do have a pair of trifocal safety glasses for the shop since it seems that I need a +1 for normal working distance like lathe work. It was truly amazing to pull off the first patch and be able to see pictures of my grandchildren about 12' away without glasses after wearing very strong glasses (-10 and -11) for over 50 years. Hope you have great success also.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Spring City, TN
    Posts
    1,537
    I had both eye's done at 60, several weeks to a month to avoid dust. They nailed one eye and was off a tad on the other. I have to have 1.0 on one eye and 1.5 for the other. Sooooo, here's a tip, go to the Dollar Tree and buy the $1 readers and use them until things settle. I also found some 1.5 reader safety glasses and wore them at work. In my case I'll buy a 1.0 and 1.5 pair of glasses and swap lens to make 1 pair of my custom prescription. I later bought some progressive readers from Walgreens and love them(had to buy 2 pair), they progress from like .75 to 1.5 from top to bottom of the lens and like 1.0 to 2.0 on the other.
    Eye dryness was a pain post op, but eases over time. I had astigmatism in both eyes and with the laser surgery, they corrected it completely. Kind of neat, go in wearing glasses and leave 20/20 in the eye they operate on. The first eye, I had absolutely no problem and when you looked through it then to the other, you could see how the cataract is effecting your vision. In my case it looked like I was looking through a tea glass. Now the second eye felt like a mule had kicked me. Not certain why, but not only had a fiber of something irritating me, but the incision really hurt and the vision did not correct for several days. But now I can't tell the difference.
    The good news is, no glasses to drive, the bad news is, I can't read squat without my reading glasses from about 2 feet in. Good luck and I hope it goes well.
    Josh

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Aug 2015
    Location
    Pennville, Indiana
    Posts
    13
    Thanks to all who replied. Its off to the doctor now; and I guess the middle of September before I turn again.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    SE PA - Central Bucks County
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    65,688
    My father had his taken care of...'hasn't needed glasses since which is pretty noteworthy given he's 85 in a month. I don't recall the exact recovery period, but it was reasonable.
    --

    The most expensive tool is the one you buy "cheaply" and often...

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Jul 2015
    Location
    Fairlawn, OH
    Posts
    36
    Hope your procedure went well. I likened my cataract replacements similar to getting an new windshield.

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Lewiston, Idaho
    Posts
    28,504
    Thinking of you Steve!

    My wife had both eyes done 2 weeks apart, 2 years ago. She does well.
    Ken

    So much to learn, so little time.....

  14. #14
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    Fort Smith, Arkansas
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    1,985
    I had it done about 20 years ago and still 20/20. Depending on how long and severely your eyes have been clouded you may be amazed at how bright colors are. I remember just being stunned at how much color there is and how "white" white looked. Of course the brain soon adapts but it's a pleasant memory.
    My three favorite things are the Oxford comma, irony and missed opportunities

    The problem with humanity is: we have paleolithic emotions; medieval institutions; and God-like technology. Edward O. Wilson

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    Orange Park, FL
    Posts
    1,110
    That was the easiest surgery I have ever had. It is the apprehension beforehand that is the biggest bother.

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