Time For Cataract Surgery - Need Personal Experiences: Hi All, Well, I saw (sort of!) this coming. Saw my optometrist Friday and left with a referral for a refractive surgery consult.

MadMikeOne Loc: So. NJ Shore - a bit west of Atlantic City

Hi All,

Well, I saw (sort of!) this coming. Saw my optometrist Friday and left with a referral for a refractive surgery consult. I know there have been several threads re: cataract surgery here on UHH over the last few years and that several members shared their personal experiences here. Unfortunately, a “search” here came up empty.

I have 2 requests of my fellow Hogs:
1) links to cataract surgery discussions here
2) personal experiences from members who have had the surgery - specifically in retrospect what, if anything, they would have done differently and why (especially as it relates to the choice of an intraocular lens). I have horrific astigmatisms in BOTH eyes, so I’m quite concerned about that.

The thing that concerns me most is choosing the right lens for me. My photography is an extremely important part of what makes me me.

By the time I arrived home from my optometrist on Friday, it was too late to call docs to make an appointment. I’ll be following through on that first thing tomorrow AM. The plan is to get two opinions and evaluating my options before proceeding. We live within easy driving distance of Philadelphia, and I’ve been researching several of the docs at Wills Eye Hospital there, and I now have a short list. Also have done research on the VERY few nearby docs who do cataract surgery. We have lots of great birds and other photo ops where I live, but when it comes to medical professionals - not so much!

Thanks in advance. Please feel free to PM me if you prefer not to share publicly.

“Mike”

PHRubin Loc: Nashville TN USA

I had it done years ago, the laser type in my case. My current ophthalmologist doesn't see the benefit of laser over conventional. Since I've only had it done one way, I can't compare. I will say this, the surgery was a breeze.

They give you a choice of what type of lens to have implanted, one focal length or "bifocal". The bifocal would be a compromise setting for both, and I wanted the best vision I could get and accepted I would need either bifocal or progressive glasses. Obviously, I chose single. I was amazed at how clear the world was after! In truth, the focus wasn't quite perfect for infinity, but having glasses made that a non-issue, and corrected any astigmatism. Furthermore, my eyes have changed over the years, so no lens that was right then would be correct now.

Any questions?

edrobinsonjr Loc: Boise, Idaho

Hello, Mike,

I had this surgery in 2011. They did one eye at a time for safety's sake.

Immediately after the operations I could see very well. The most amazing thing was that colors returned to normal.

There was little or no pain involved other than a bit of itching and tearing.

Now I only need glasses for close things like sitting here staring at the computer screen.

Couldn't be more pleased. I say Go For It!

Ed

PHRubin Loc: Nashville TN USA

Ah - yes! Colors were corrected, my old lenses had yellowed.

RichardTaylor Loc: Sydney, Australia

Approx 20 months ago I had both eyes done, about a month apart.
I used to have glasses for driving, and glasses for reading (including computer screens).
Extreemly sucessful as I don't wear glasses at all now, and can read the bottom line of an eye chart.
The operations itself were very quick. The first one was into surgery at ~9am and leaving the eye clinic at about 9:45 am after a cup of coffee and a sandwich. The second one was similar except no cofee as it was the last one of the day. You do need somebody to drive you home as you can't legally drive for a couple of days, at least down here.
The only minor discomfort was keeping the eye patch over one eye, so you don't rub it, untill the follow up visit next day with the doctor.
Took the bandages off about 6-7 hours after the operation(s) and I could not believe how good my eyes were.
Feel free to ask any questions.

Swifty Loc: Canfield Ohio

Check into implant lens that are graduated to give you up to 3 corrections, similar to graduated lenses. Reading, near distance, and far distance. Just read about them. My cataract surgery was covered by the VA. UPMC/PA billing was almost $100,000.

GerryER Loc: Virginia USA

I have had surgery in both eyes. After the surgery, I have 20/15 in my right eye and 20/20 in my left eye. I went through the surgery with just local anesthesia and could basically "see" while the Dr. removed my old lens and put in the implant. I opted for the simple correction and not the fancy variable focal implants, so I need to use reading glasses, but my far vision is great. I might add that I had worn glasses since about 7 years old and am now in my seventies and the last 3 years with good vision is surely a blessing.
The operation is basically uneventful and is done in a couple of hours. They only do one eye per session, for obvious reasons. I had another issue with my left eye that needed correction before my second implant, so a couple of months transpired between implants. My Dr. is now in N. Carolina, but he is great. I had gone to a very large eye clinic in Virginia and got very poor service and results there. A fellow worker directed me to my present Dr. and I cannot say enough good about him and his team.
Hope this gives you some insights.

Scruples Loc: Brooklyn, New York

You mentioned some thing important. “Photography is an important part of what makes me me”. You should do everything possible to preserve this trait. While my father suffered for some time with cataracts he made the choice to complete the surgery. Then he was mad at himself for not doing it sooner. Don’t deny yourself a opportunity to be content. Good luck, my fellow Hogger!

Happy Shooting!

GeneG

Make sure that your dominant eye is corrected for the distance you are most comfortable with when using your camera. Everything else will be a matter of personal choice. You can expect a big improvement in vision overall. Good luck!

frankraney Loc: Clovis, Ca.

MadMikeOne wrote:

Hi All, br br Well, I saw (sort of!) this coming.... (show quote)

With cataracts there is really only one option. And that is surgery. When to have it as a matter of choice being when it bothers your vision enough that it affects you everyday life. the only other decision you'll have to make is to what kind of lens you want and how you want to see with that eye. By that I mean do you want to see far, near, etc. That decision will also depend on the other eye. In my case I had surgery in one eye and I had him set it for reading close up because I could see distance with the other eye. This is what they call monovision. We all get cataracts as we age pretty much and typically will get it in both eyes so it depends on between you and your doctor as to how you want to proceed. The surgery is basically painless restless at least it's minimal risk and fast the next day after my surgery I could see good I no longer need to wear glasses because as I said I read with one eye and see distance in the other. I'm now getting a cataract in the other eye which I will have the lens replaced with a distance one so I will still have monovision.

https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/considering-cataract-surgery-what-you-should-know

MadMikeOne Loc: So. NJ Shore - a bit west of Atlantic City

PHRubin wrote:

I had it done years ago, the laser type in my case... (show quote)

Paul, thanks so much for your quick response. I’ve worn glasses since I was 7, and m 73 now so having to wear glasses for “something” after cataract surgery is no biggie at all. Your comment about which lens you chose and why is EXACTLY the sort of info I’m hoping to get here before I see the docs. I'm sure I’ll have questions for you after my MD visits. Thanks again!

Uuglypher Loc: South Dakota (East River)

MadMikeOne wrote:

Hi All, br br Well, I saw (sort of!) this coming.... (show quote)

Had both eyes done- two weeks apart! Couldn’t be more satisfied with both results!
Dave

Fredrick Loc: Former NYC, now San Francisco Bay Area

MadMikeOne wrote:

Hi All, I just posted this in the Main forum, and ... (show quote)

Had cataract surgery done on both eyes this past February (just before COVID-19 hit). Only regret was that I didn’t do it a couple of years before. Amazing improvement in eyesight.
I selected Symphony lenses, which are more expensive than mono focal lenses, but in my opinion well worth it. I can see clearly at all distances except reading in dim light, where I need corrective lenses then to wear.
I don’t know if the Symphony lens is acceptable for people with strong astigmatism, as I don’t have that.
I’m now talking to my eye surgeon about possibly getting lasik surgery done to correct for reading in dim light. Might not do that.
Only downside to the Symphony lenses is I see lights at night that look like small starbursts, but I’m told that should improve over time. I can drive at night fine.
Colors are truer now. Whites are much whiter, and greens are greener. Both had a yellow cast to them that I didn’t realize before the surgery.
Advice would be to get an eye surgeon that has done THOUSANDS of these surgeries. Mine has done 25,000 cataract surgeries. These surgeons are out there. You don’t want any mistakes done with your eyes.
PM me if you have any questions. Good luck!

MadMikeOne Loc: So. NJ Shore - a bit west of Atlantic City

edrobinsonjr wrote:

Hello, Mike,

I had this surgery in 2011. They did one eye at a time for safety's sake.

Immediately after the operations I could see very well. The most amazing thing was that colors returned to normal.

There was little or no pain involved other than a bit of itching and tearing.

Now I only need glasses for close things like sitting here staring at the computer screen.

Couldn't be more pleased. I say Go For It!

Ed

Hi Ed and thanks for sharing your thoughts. Actually, I’m going to have to “go for it”. The last 2 times I had glasses made, my vision was still pretty bad. On Friday, my optometrist told me things were only going to get worse if I didn’t something soon. I’m going to have my right eye done first because I’m a right-handed left-eye shooter. At least if something goes wrong with the right eye, I’ll still be able to see something through the view finder with my left eye!

RichardTaylor Loc: Sydney, Australia

MadMikeOne wrote:

Paul, thanks so much for your quick response. I’ve worn glasses since I was 7, and m 73 now so having to wear glasses for “something” after cataract surgery is no biggie at all. Your comment about which lens you chose and why is EXACTLY the sort of info I’m hoping to get here before I see the docs. I'm sure I’ll have questions for you after my MD visits. Thanks again!

I got "distance" lenses in both eyes. However when I said to the doctor my eyes work well at short distances also. I can said I can read that book and your computer screen easily, although reading very small print on a medicine bottle was a bit difficult. She said "your eyes are not suposed to be that good!".