Cataracts; Advice Needed

L-boy

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I have no specific information but have known several people that have had it, including both of my parents and aunts and uncles. As mentioned it has gotten more routine and you are in and out pretty quickly. In a couple of cases there were complications afterward which required follow up but were ultimately resolved. My impression is that you'll definitely see better minus the cataract but you may experience some minor visual issues afterward.

Sorry not much more help. Good luck!
 

cover2

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I really appreciate all the info that has been provided (good for my mental health). Good wishes are appreciated as well. I'll report back afterward and let you know how it went.
 
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From strictly a patient point of view, the procedure itself was painless and didn't take over 20 to 30 minutes and no anesthesia. Some numbing drops are put in the eye. They had me hang around another hour or so postop and gave me some OJ and a sweet roll. During the procedure, you see. lots of bright lights and hear some sounds from the laser which gave me goosebumps. Some doctors have you wear a patch over the eye for the night following the surgery and some don't. I had a patch and could take it off the following morning. No physical restrictions, but you do have to put drops in the eye for a few weeks postop.

As I sat out on my screened porch I could see the veins in the leaves on an honey bell orange tree - amazing. I had not realized how bad my eyesight had gotten until after my cataract surgery. I now read the newspapers, books, etc. without glasses. Good luck and I hope you do well.
 

Jack o' Diamonds

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I had the surgery 15 yrs ago. Much as described above, takes about 15 min, painless. Slap a patch over it overnight, go back the next day to get it checked, put some steroid drops in it for a couple of weeks. I wen from 20/400 before to 20/30 after with the implants. Prescription hasn't changed in 15 yrs..
 

Delg8tor

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Good luck Cover2. I remember my grandmother having both eyes done years ago with no problems and greatly improved vision. That was 20-25 years ago. As stated above the technology is greatly improved. You should be happy with the results.
 

cover2

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Pre-Ops tomorrow and right eye a week from Wednesday. I'm going in bouyed by all the good info and well wishes from you all. You Gators are the best!
 
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jeeping8r

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My Dad had one cataract and a Lasik (sp?)type procedure to other, Only side effect he had was a detachment of both retinas. Both in laws have had cataract work with zero issues.

As for myself last month I had a fight with a bungee cord at work, Cord won, Still cloudy in my right eye but slowly getting better. Retina specialist I see doesn't want to cut eye open to remove the blood, Big risk of retina detachment. Going to let nature do the job. Not fun seeing 6 taillights per car at night :)
 

cover2

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My Dad had one cataract and a Lasik (sp?)type procedure to other, Only side effect he had was a detachment of both retinas. Both in laws have had cataract work with zero issues.

As for myself last month I had a fight with a bungee cord at work, Cord won, Still cloudy in my right eye but slowly getting better. Retina specialist I see doesn't want to cut eye open to remove the blood, Big risk of retina detachment. Going to let nature do the job. Not fun seeing 6 taillights per car at night :)
I feel you about the headlights. The dims look really bright from the oncoming cars. Hope it clears up quickly.
 

jeeping8r

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Going to experience my very own retina reattachment later this morning..yee haw. Hoping for the oil instead of air bubble to keep the docs handy work in place
 

stephenPE

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I'm lucky to have good eyes and really only need glasses for reading (knock on wood) that started when I was in my mid-40s.
Good luck C2. :eek:ldman:
Same here. The started making the print in the Gville Sun smaller (I swear) Went to Dollar tree for those glasses and a MIRACLE happened. The print was fine. Praying for you cover. I hope it goes exactly the way you want it.
 

cover2

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Thanks again guys. Pre-Ops done. Doc says should be fine. Do the other eye the following week. Good luck Jeep.
 

bradgator2

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So when I was 16.... 17.... I was doing some work on my 1st car. I removed the ash tray to modify it so it could hold some hidden switches (car stereo stuff). I cut it and then brought it to the grinder. Sparks went everywhere (of course) and so I immediately stopped, put on some goggles, and went back to work. That night, it felt like a had little piece of sand in my eye. The next morning, it felt like an ice pick was stabbed through it.

So off to the ER.

They looked in there and sure enough... a little tiny metal splinter. "Why werent you wearing googles?"

Piece of cake, they literally pluck it out like a splinter. They numbed up my eye with some drops and go to work. It was odd, my vision was blurring as they were applying pressure to the eye with the needle. Unfortunately, the tip of the splinter is left in my eye when they pluck out the splinter. "Why werent you wearing goggles again?"

So plan B is to drill out the splinter. But since this is such an unusual case, they wanted to wait until all the interns and other newbies all come in there so they can all watch. The room crowds with like 15 fresh doctors watching in horror. They literally had to use a dremel tool looking drill to drill this sucker out. Now I am fully awake. Does anyone know what it feels like to watch a drill bit come straight at your eyeball? "So...um... why were you not wearing goggles?"

It is evening by this point. They get it all out. But they said over the past 24 hours, it has rusted a little bit. So they want me to come back the next day and have the real eye doctor do this again. Great, except I was leaving on a plane flight at 6 the next morning. So they page in the eye doc to come in and go ahead and do it.

He eventually gets there and was pissed. "Why the fuk were you not wearing goggles?!" I had to go through the EXACT same procedure with a dremel tool... except this time, with an even smaller drill bit. He filed away little bits of my eye that had rust stains on it. While I was awake. Watching a drill bit. Being told... "dont blink". The last thing that doc said to me was, "dont be a dumbass, wear goggles."
 

Swamp Queen

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So when I was 16.... 17.... I was doing some work on my 1st car. I removed the ash tray to modify it so it could hold some hidden switches (car stereo stuff). I cut it and then brought it to the grinder. Sparks went everywhere (of course) and so I immediately stopped, put on some goggles, and went back to work. That night, it felt like a had little piece of sand in my eye. The next morning, it felt like an ice pick was stabbed through it.

So off to the ER.

They looked in there and sure enough... a little tiny metal splinter. "Why werent you wearing googles?"

Piece of cake, they literally pluck it out like a splinter. They numbed up my eye with some drops and go to work. It was odd, my vision was blurring as they were applying pressure to the eye with the needle. Unfortunately, the tip of the splinter is left in my eye when they pluck out the splinter. "Why werent you wearing goggles again?"

So plan B is to drill out the splinter. But since this is such an unusual case, they wanted to wait until all the interns and other newbies all come in there so they can all watch. The room crowds with like 15 fresh doctors watching in horror. They literally had to use a dremel tool looking drill to drill this sucker out. Now I am fully awake. Does anyone know what it feels like to watch a drill bit come straight at your eyeball? "So...um... why were you not wearing goggles?"

It is evening by this point. They get it all out. But they said over the past 24 hours, it has rusted a little bit. So they want me to come back the next day and have the real eye doctor do this again. Great, except I was leaving on a plane flight at 6 the next morning. So they page in the eye doc to come in and go ahead and do it.

He eventually gets there and was pissed. "Why the fuk were you not wearing goggles?!" I had to go through the EXACT same procedure with a dremel tool... except this time, with an even smaller drill bit. He filed away little bits of my eye that had rust stains on it. While I was awake. Watching a drill bit. Being told... "dont blink". The last thing that doc said to me was, "dont be a dumbass, wear goggles."
That is one of the most horrifying stories I've ever read!
 

divits

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So when I was 16.... 17.... I was doing some work on my 1st car. I removed the ash tray to modify it so it could hold some hidden switches (car stereo stuff). I cut it and then brought it to the grinder. Sparks went everywhere (of course) and so I immediately stopped, put on some goggles, and went back to work. That night, it felt like a had little piece of sand in my eye. The next morning, it felt like an ice pick was stabbed through it.

So off to the ER.

They looked in there and sure enough... a little tiny metal splinter. "Why werent you wearing googles?"

Piece of cake, they literally pluck it out like a splinter. They numbed up my eye with some drops and go to work. It was odd, my vision was blurring as they were applying pressure to the eye with the needle. Unfortunately, the tip of the splinter is left in my eye when they pluck out the splinter. "Why werent you wearing goggles again?"

So plan B is to drill out the splinter. But since this is such an unusual case, they wanted to wait until all the interns and other newbies all come in there so they can all watch. The room crowds with like 15 fresh doctors watching in horror. They literally had to use a dremel tool looking drill to drill this sucker out. Now I am fully awake. Does anyone know what it feels like to watch a drill bit come straight at your eyeball? "So...um... why were you not wearing goggles?"

It is evening by this point. They get it all out. But they said over the past 24 hours, it has rusted a little bit. So they want me to come back the next day and have the real eye doctor do this again. Great, except I was leaving on a plane flight at 6 the next morning. So they page in the eye doc to come in and go ahead and do it.

He eventually gets there and was pissed. "Why the fuk were you not wearing goggles?!" I had to go through the EXACT same procedure with a dremel tool... except this time, with an even smaller drill bit. He filed away little bits of my eye that had rust stains on it. While I was awake. Watching a drill bit. Being told... "dont blink". The last thing that doc said to me was, "dont be a dumbass, wear goggles."

Kinda reminds me of this scene...

 

bradgator2

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Kinda reminds me of this scene...



Holy hell. I'm telling ya... that is exactly what it looked like! :lol:

Except the drill bit only had to penetrate very, very superficial. Definitely less than 1mm deep. I think the cornea is only like 0.5 mm thick.
 

cover2

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Man. I'm feeling better and better about this whole eye surgery business ;)
 

crosscreekcooter

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This is probably a little more accurate representation of the procedure.

original.gif
 

cover2

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First eye done. Thanks to Brad and Coot's posts (one with pix), I went in brimming with confidence. Truthfully, it went just as several posters described. Started off with the numbing drops and a bit later I was given something to keep me still. I asked for some general anesthetic, fearing that having something going on around/in my eye would be more than I could stand. Last thing I remember was talking with the doctor about the expected improvement in my eyesight. Asked him to guarantee that I'd go back to my old ways and never miss when quail hunting, but he wouldn't go quite that far.

I woke up about 35-45 minutes later with no ill effects. Was surprised at how brilliant colors were in the newly repaired eye. Eye was still a bit dilated, but could already tell a big difference in distance vision. Ate a little breakfast and debriefed with the Doctor. Other eye will be done a week from this coming Monday. Went home and relaxed and will go to work tomorrow. One buddy of mine described the procedure as a "nonevent," and he was correct. I'd tell anybody who needs it done to not hesitate. Thanks again to all for the well wishes.
 

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