One cataract surgery down and one to go!

[NXR]

Originally Posted by bobmar

Thanks for sharing your experiences Ray. I’ve been told this is in my future too. At 68, I’m gonna hold out as long as I can. Not bad yet but they’re there.

Yeah, that was my thought as well. I may even have been secretly happy that my wife needed a knee replacement because that allowed me to delay another year.

In retrospect I probably was able to safely delay more than most people because my wife loves to drive and I do not. She has driven the motorhome for all but a very small fraction of a percent of the mileage. I don't think I've driven it in three years. She also drives whenever we are both in the car.

Last year I learned the right eye was as good as it could get with glasses. I realized that I could not read the large overhead interstate signs with just my right eye until we literally were about one second from passing under the sign. With both eyes it was better.

Seeing how much of a difference I got when the "good" eye was fixed makes me now realize just how bad the "bad" eye is. Don't wait too long.

Ray

[NXR]

Originally Posted by WDW

What I didn’t catch was the option to upgraded lenses. In my case I chose Panoptix which have three focal points and of course they are $$$ beyond our insurance coverage because it’s an “upgrade”. IMHO, the investment to not need glasses was huge.

Haha, that checkbox was marked as "Not a candidate" for me so it was an easy decision.

Like TandW I have relied on my glasses as "always on" safety glasses. I've had enough things ping off of them, molten and solid, that a very strong case can be made for glasses being a safer option for me. Just last week the weedwhacker tossed something up. Unless I hung a pair of real safety glasses on every tool I likely would not remember to put a pair on at the wrong time.

Ray

[Country Road]

My wife had both of hers done with great results. The only thing she dislikes is having to hunt for glasses to read up close because she doesn’t need glasses for driving or everyday chores.

I had one eye done and will do the other next year. I’m not totally satisfied with the results and believe that my unfixed eye is better than the one with the cataract removed. I may need my glasses, which I have to use due to an astigmatism, adjusted again. I didn’t opt for the surgery with the optional lens to correct the astigmatism.

However, I’m glad that I had the first eye done because it was pretty hard to see while driving at night.

[NorthernDriv]

Had both replaced with distant lens for driving. 8 1/2 minutes per eye. And let me say.....Oh what a difference! I also have an eye phobia, can't have Anything near my eyes but they had nice drugs(it's done when you are awake)!

[twinboat]

I had my cataracts done by a Dr from the Keys.
First one was in Key West hospital. I had to strip completely and only wear a cheap gown. I said " For work on my eyes ?" No arguing with the attendant.

The second eye was done in Miami Baptist. I started to take off my sneakers and they stopped me. No need, we ain't working down there. Layed me on a table and threw a sheet over me, sneakers and all.

Go figure !

[l1v3fr33ord1]

I have had glasses since I was two years old. After two operations my eyes slowly got sharper until the left was 20-10 and the right 20-30, when I was about 21 years old. From there, downhill. I gradually went to bifocals, then trifocals. Once cataracts came along prescription changes made no difference, and my vision got worse, day and especially night.

I had both cataracts removed in 2022, two weeks apart. I paid extra to get the astigmatic-correction lenses. The doctor said I was not a candidate for the multi-focal lenses, which would have cost more than the ones I got- my eyeball was poorly shaped (farsighted), so he could not be sure I would see OK with the multi-focals.

My eyesight now is as good or better than I had at 21 years old.

I elected to have the doctor implant the single-focal length lenses set for distance vision. I could have selected middle (computer and dashboard) or close-up (reading). The doctor said most folks opt for distance because they can buy cheap readers, but if they opted for middle or close-up they would need prescription glasses ($$$).

I looked for sunglasses with non-magnifying lenses on the top and a magnifying section on the bottom, like a bifocal. I understand you can buy inexpensive ones, but my trusted glasses-shop guy suggested (at a loss of some money to him) buying the "stock" sunglasses-with-magnifying section from Maui Jim (link here). My readers are 2.50, but my Maui Jim's are 1.50 (the rule is arm's-length lens requires about half of the magnification of a book-length reader lens; Maui Jim doesn't sell a 1.25). In any case, the Maui Jim's are fantastic! I'm happier with them than any prescription sunglasses I have owned.

When I'm at risk, I now wear "generic" safety glasses or a face shield. Yes, there are times I take chances by not wearing anything, where before I had the default protection of my always-on-my-face glasses. I've also gotten used to having the wind blow stuff into my eyes. All in all, I'm very happy to be rid of my prescription glasses!

Finally, I'll pass along advice I got from my at-home optometrist- select a top-notch eye surgeon in a practice where they do hundreds of the procedures a month. That way, you are more likely to get someone (and his staff) who knows what he's doing. I elected to have my cataracts replaced when in Florida for a seasonal stay. The surgeon operated twice a week, from 8:00 to 4:00, using three operating rooms in rotation. Each procedure took about 10 to 15 minutes. Talk about "the velocity of money!" Also, the pre-op workup (a month in advance) and post-op follow-up (a month after the second eye) were top-notch. It was like a factory, albeit a friendly one and quite reassuringly professional.

[saddlesore]

Originally Posted by l1v3fr33ord1

I had both cataracts removed in 2022, two weeks apart. I paid extra to get the astigmatic-correction lenses.

The doctor said most folks opt for distance because they can buy cheap readers, but if they opted for middle or close-up they would need prescription glasses ($$$).

Finally, I'll pass along advice I got from my at-home optometrist- select a top-notch eye surgeon in a practice where they do hundreds of the procedures a month. That way, you are more likely to get someone (and his staff) who knows what he's doing.
The surgeon operated twice a week, from 8:00 to 4:00, using three operating rooms in rotation. Each procedure took about 10 to 15 minutes. Talk about "the velocity of money!" Also, the pre-op workup (a month in advance) and post-op follow-up (a month after the second eye) were top-notch. It was like a factory, albeit a friendly one and quite reassuringly professional.

Yup, Wife and I had Lehmann in Nacogdoches, TX highly recommended to Us while We were getting updates done to our Foretravel at the factory..

I drove truck as a lifetime profession [50+ years, 5+m miles], and was scared plumb past spit-less with the idea of allowing anyone to screw around with my eyesight.
The 'Doc said he'd never seen a cataract as large as my left eye had, right eye was not as bad, but still needed the surgery. [ this was due to sun shining across my eye from the drivers side window He thought]
As others have said. Very "Easy Peasy".. My "Fear" was unfounded.

[1stimerveer]

I'm at a point where I have to have cataract surgery on both eyes... I will get them done on at a time.. How long does recovery take before you're totally healed?

[saddlesore]

Originally Posted by 1stimerveer

I'm at a point where I have to have cataract surgery on both eyes... I will get them done one at a time.. How long does recovery take before you're totally healed?

"All In" takes from 1 to 2 months total.[Including the follow ups] You should be able to return to driving after a week or so per eye..

[Glenn and Kathy]

Originally Posted by NorthernDriv

Had both replaced with distant lens for driving. 8 1/2 minutes per eye. And let me say.....Oh what a difference! I also have an eye phobia, can't have Anything near my eyes but they had nice drugs(it's done when you are awake)!

I couldn't wear contacts because I can't stand putting them in, even by the tech who tried to fit them. Hate doing eye drops. Cataract surgery no problem, had no idea what they were doing.

Glenn

[NXR]

Let's talk about showering. Showering is OK on the day after surgery. You need to keep water and soapy water out of the eye and I was advised to apply the eye patch with the tape, take a shower with my head faced down and that eye GENTLY closed (not firmly closed), and then use the scheduled drops afterwards. Even with the tape around the top and sides of the patch it got damp inside the patch. Not wet but damp on the foam edges.

One cataract surgery site recommended these things for showering and they arrived today so I'll be trying one tonight. It looks like a good solution: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07TNQD25H?th=1

And the verdict after a couple of showers is...Mixed.

Although this seems obvious in hindsight:

- Wash your face before taking a shower regardless of whether you use an eye patch or a face shield. Also shave before or after, not during. Duh...

The face shield had one big advantage in that its adhesive strip held tight and came loose easily when removing the face shield but not during the shower. It did not pull on the skin at all nor did it leak or leave a residue.

One thing I disliked about the eye patch and tape is that the tape really pulls the skin and leaves a sticky residue. The tape needs to keep the eye patch in place while sleeping so it makes sense that it would stick tighter.

The face shield had drops of moisture on the inside but there was no water on my face or around the eyes so it likely is effective in keeping the water out of the eye.

Either method works, though. I'm going to use the face shields because I bought them but with either method I still keep the surgical eye closed lightly while showering.

Ray

[NXR]

Originally Posted by 1stimerveer

I'm at a point where I have to have cataract surgery on both eyes... I will get them done on at a time.. How long does recovery take before you're totally healed?

There are different types of cataract surgery depending on the eyes. I had manual phacoemulsification. I read a lot on laser-assisted and the consensus was that there was no discernible difference in outcomes except in special circumstances. Even surgeons that went all-in with laser ended up backing away after a few years of using the laser. Not due to negative outcomes but rather laser was more expensive for the patient with no real reason for that expense.

My second surgery is September 27th and on November 1st I'll have my final checkup and get a prescription for eyeglasses, if needed. Everyone is fairly sure I'll need them due to not being able to fix the one eye's astigmatism due to corneal irregularities but since eye surgery can induce some astigmatism they cannot know until a month post-surgery. My astigmatism may actually be better.

I'm OK with that since I've worn glasses from back when they literally were glass.

At least in Ohio a physician cannot make the determination when "It's safe to drive again" whether it's eye surgery or another surgery. Not their job. They will only offer guidance. My surgeon said she has a lot of people who drive themselves to the one week follow-up appointment but it really depends on the individual.

Ray

[NXR]

If you have "traditional" or "original" Medicare as I do and not "Medicare Advantage" a.k.a. Medicare Part C, Medicare Part B will pay for one pair of basic eyeglasses following cataract surgery even though eyeglasses are not a normal coverage (if you've met your deductible, of course).

I was at Costco today where I get my glasses and they told me they do not accept this particular Medicare coverage. They told me that Walmart does, though, so I need to visit one in the next month or so to confirm that and learn how it works.

If anyone else knows of other companies where the free set of eyeglasses can be obtained please add that information to the thread.

I also need to call my Medigap "G" provider (AARP/UHC) to assure they will cover the other 20%.

Ray

[TandW]

Since we are sharing venues for these procedures here goes. My right eye was done this past Friday morning at EyeGuys of Augusta, Georgia. Seems to be one of those high throughput outfits someone mentioned previously. No problem with that. In fact, I trust the specialized service to be more accurate.
So on Saturday morning I drove myself back for the post-op checkup, ditching the eye-shield I wore overnight for my eyeglass prescription from two years back. Nothing at all was said about what I was wearing. For those worried about eye bumps, they did the standard Glaucoma pressure test after placing the yellow numbing drops. Even gave me a tissue and said to wipe both eyes of the excess. Then they tested the vision. Of course, the right eye was terrible. Went home with instructions to begin using the steroid drops three times a day along with the nonsteroidal pain drops. Sunday the vision much improved. Today I had a full shower before going off to get a hearing test for my Tinnitus. I haven't been wearing the shield. And the vision is better than it has been for a very long time. I am so very amazed at how white, pure white really is.
Good luck to all, and please don't fret!