I need cataract surgery. Any advice?

[Tom]

The local they gave me were eye drops and cream/paste.  It helped that I was half asleep.  I had to be there at 6A.  Surgery was at 7:30A.  The doc came in from Honolulu with his team and worked out of an outpatient clinic set up for surgery.  Didn't hurt, just entertaining. 

[Sasquatch Jim]

 Then the doc did a round of golf and went scuba diving  at Mahkona, right?

[Rough Edge racing]

 I had the pre op yesterday..Street clothes are fine..I will be sedated just like a ass hole exam..unaware of what's going on...paid the 1250 bucks beyond Medicare coverage for the single focus lens and Lasek type procedure...
 The doctors assistant is a 50 something hottie and I flirted with her shamelessly...She flirted back....made my day 

[bigbikerrick]

I had the pre op yesterday..Street clothes are fine..I will be sedated just like a ass hole exam..unaware of what's going on...paid the 1250 bucks beyond Medicare coverage for the single focus lens and Lasek type procedure...
 The doctors assistant is a 50 something hottie and I flirted with her shamelessly...She flirted back....made my day 

Good Luck, with your upcoming surgery, RER. Please keep us posted of how it all goes. This is the first surgery that I am actually looking forward to.
Having a "hottie" to flirt with is the icing on the cake!
Rick.

[Rough Edge racing]

 Rick, you survived a lot more than this, should be a piece of cake for you! 

[Tom]

Then the doc did a round of golf and went scuba diving  at Mahkona, right?

He had to wait for his insurance payment.  I did hear something about staying the weekend and his wife coming over. 

[Tom]

Good Luck, with your upcoming surgery, RER. Please keep us posted of how it all goes. This is the first surgery that I am actually looking forward to.
Having a "hottie" to flirt with is the icing on the cake!
Rick.

Come to think about it.  The women on the Doc's team were good looking.  Even the nurses in the surgical center. 

[Rough Edge racing]

 I had my right eye done yesterday...Moderat e cataract  with a mono focal distance correction and a Lasik type procedure to have a better depth of field vision..The "operation" was ok, I was sedated but aware of what was going on, well sort of..Afterwards it wasn't painful but more  an annoyance...When I got home my vision in the right eye was shitty to say the least...I ate something, took two Xanax and went to bed..Woke up this morning with good vision...Had a follow up at the doc's office today, no problems, 20/20 vision uncorrected.(right eye was 20/200 uncorrected before, my left eye was always 20/40 uncorrected) Need readers for close up but can see the gauges in the truck ok without them...My right eye gets done in a month with the same procedure...This is the first time since being a kid I have true stereoscopic distance vision...

[twowings]

Speedy recovery to you!

[jdgretz]

WOOT!

jdg

[LowRyter]

success!

good to go

[Tom]

   It'll get way better with the other eye being done.

[Ronkom]

My vision was (is) deteriorating. I'm diagnosed w/Fuches dystrophy. Ultimately I'll need corneal transplants. All that being said I was told I also had "moderate" cataracts that were adding to my issues. I opted to get the cataracts done late last year, hoping to buy time before the transplants are unavoidable.
 As others have said, quick, almost no discomfort and WOW! Right eye done first so I could close one then the other to appreciate the difference. Just like having an old beat up pair of yellow sunglasses on....and then taking them off. White is white again, colors are bright. Don't hesitate to get it done. In my case, because of the other issues, Dr. recommended the most basic long distance replacement lens, he said "I don't want to have to mess around any more than absolutely necessary in your eyes"  I expected to still need glasses for reading etc.
At my follow up he was very pleased (as was I) w/how everything had gone. He said: "This might buy you a few months...or 20 years" unfortunately my vision is still deteriorating noticeably, so it's not going to be any 20 years. But I am going to go & have my eyes checked to see if I have the "cloudiness" that can be helped w/the laser cleaning... fingers crossed.
Ronkom

[Rough Edge racing]

 Although the actual operation is fast, there is a week or longer of "special" care, in my case, three types of eye drops several times a day,no bending over, heavy lifting and avoiding dust for a week...
  My cataracts did not "tint" my vision yellow, but made it difficult to see in dim light and glare when driving at night...

  Of interest may be I have been taking 40mg's daily of Simvastatin cholesterol control drug for about 10 years....One "slight" side effect is a risk of cataracts.......... ......
   For me with a Medicare PPO, the out of pocket for single focus lens cataract surgery was about $400 per eye including the various eye drops...The lasik type procedure to improve depth of field vision was not covered and cost an additional $1250 per eye...

[bigbikerrick]

Rough edge, Tom, and Ronkom, Its encouraging to hear what you guys have to say. I have an appointment for surgery on one eye the second week in april, then hopefully
the other eye 3 weeks later. I cant hardly wait, its frustrating not being able to drive, and depending on my son or wife to drive me places, not to mention having 4 beautiful Guzzis just collecting dust in the garage, but it will make that first ride that much sweeter, although it wont be until the end of May or first part of June.
Thanks alot for all the great info.

PS. Ron Kom, The first bike I plan to ride after my peepers are fixed, is the red LeMans IV that you used to own!
Rick.


 

 

[Sasquatch Jim]

  Just keep an eye out for a good eye surgeon.

[Tom]

Rough edge, Tom, and Ronkom, Its encouraging to hear what you guys have to say. I have an appointment for surgery on one eye the second week in april, then hopefully
the other eye 3 weeks later. I cant hardly wait, its frustrating not being able to drive, and depending on my son or wife to drive me places, not to mention having 4 beautiful Guzzis just collecting dust in the garage, but it will make that first ride that much sweeter, although it wont be until the end of May or first part of June.
Thanks alot for all the great info.

PS. Ron Kom, The first bike I plan to ride after my peepers are fixed, is the red LeMans IV that you used to own!
Rick.


 

Have you figure out what type of lense?  Near or far or bifocal (may not be the correct term) set-up?

[Rough Edge racing]

 I had the other eye done last Thursday, single vision lens and and  Lasik on both eyes.Use readers for close up..Left eye was more difficult because eye drops wouldn't dilate my pupil adequately for what ever reason...The Doc said he had inject directly into my eye and some other procedure to dilate the pupil...I was less sedated than first procedure and could sort of see and hear the doctors...Sounds creepy but at the time it wasn't.... The next day I had a black eye and somewhat annoying scratchy feeling but it cleared  the next day..This eye took several day for clear vision ...It's now 20/20 in both eyes and for the first time since childhood I have true stereoscopic vision..It's a crazy 3D world out there and I'm still adjusting too it..
 I use antibiotic drops for one week and anti inflammatory drops for one month...Standard procedure for this doctor....

[kirb]

I had both eyes done about 10+ years apart. I was VERY nearsighted from day 1, so take that into consideration... Wore glasses from age 2-17, contacts from 17 to 43ish.

Had medium focal length done on left eye 12+ years ago. No glasses needed for distance vision, needed for reading in left only.
Wore a contact in my right eye and used it to read and help with distance (stereoscopic).
left with implant, right with contact for distance for 10+ years.
I only would suggest doing this if it doesn't bother you...most people it is hell. I adapted quickly.

I then had my right one done a few years ago and had them set to the same medium focal point as the left. I now do not need glasses for distance, but must have readers. Getting rid of the contacts has been the best thing to happen to me since being able to see.

[bigbikerrick]

Tom, I am scheduled for a pre op appointment, on the 30th, and surgery on April 12th, I am still trying to decide what type of lens to choose. I want to ask the actual surgeon what lens he thinks would be best for my case, but I am leaning towards distance vision at this point. I dont mind wearing glasses afterwards, as I have used glasses since I was 9 years old.
There  have been many times where my glasses saved my "bacon" with different chemicals splashed in my face, and my glasses saved me. I think I would be too lax in using eye protection when at risk. Heck just yesterday, I inadvertently got a shot of throttle body cleaning spray on my glasses.
thanks
Rick.

[Tom]

Rick....sounds like the way to go.  Especially since you're used to using glasses while reading.  I've gotten use to slight blurriness at a distance so for me not a problem.  Good luck with everything.  If the Dr. uses a laser, ignore the smell.   

[wymple]

I had both eyes done, lens replacements for cataracts, a few years ago. I was very near sighted. My eyes were done separately, 30 days apart. I must say, they missed by about 5% from leaving me with perfect vision. I do not need glasses at all, except reading, but my vision is a tiny bit better with glasses. The biggest difference is at night, as lights are a little less scattered if I have my glasses on. It's wonderful to be able to ride without glasses under my helmet. You may get better results than I did as well. I still actually wear glasses most of the time, as I'm comfy with that having worn them for 60 years anyway.