The cataract surgery went great!

[bif]

I had the first one yesterday. Just got the eye patch off this morning. The actual procedure took only 8 minutes. And I was out of it so it was no biggie. My fears were unwarranted. I saw some blurry movement and didn't feel a thing. Before I knew it, it was over! Things are still fuzzy but everything is noticeably brighter out of that eye!

[bamagal62]

1. Congrats!

I can’t wait until
They’ll let me get mine.

[SCantiGOP]

28. Insist that you want it

I had gotten where I wouldn’t drive at night. In addition to the haloes around lights, everything was just too dim to drive safely.
Every time I asked my Doc about it he would say I was “about another year from needing it.”
Finally I insisted, and he set it up. Afterwards, I was seeing like I did in my 20s. Other than reading glasses, I didn’t have to wear glasses like I did for 30 years.
I mentioned to a neighbor how the doc had kept putting me off for years, and he made a comment that that was a genuine epiphany. He said, “How does your ophthalmologist make money? They see you once a year, and then give you a new prescription for a pair of glasses that you probably buy at a huge markup at their office.”
Your eye doctor has no incentive for you to remove the cataracts, so take charge and insist on it.

[Mosby]

33. I think you mean optometrist.

From google:

Opticians are technicians who fit eyeglasses, contact lenses, and other vision-correcting devices. Optometrists examine, diagnose, and treat patients' eyes. Ophthalmologists are eye doctors who perform medical and surgical treatments for eye conditions.

So your surgery was done by an ophthalmologist, your eye dr is an optometrist.

Eta - In my experience I've gotten better eye exams from an optometrist than the other one, and using a good optician is important, you can get frames and lenses online, but you need to know what your doing. Eg my frames right now are 47-22-145. You need to know what that means if your ordering online.

[rsdsharp]

35. My eye doctor is an ophthalmologist. I haven't seen an optometrist in decades.

[Mosby]

39. I use an optometrist now for eye exams

Because all they do is eye exams so I suspect they are better at it. My opthomologist has a guy in the office who does the actual exam, he doesn't do them. He spends more than half his time doing surgery. (I talked to him about it) and have referred several people to him. He has an office in Phx and Scottsdale. Refractive surgeries, cataracts, etc.

[rsdsharp]

40. Good for you. However, opthomologists do routinely perform eye exams,

not withstanding what happens in your opthomologist‘s office.

[SCantiGOP]

41. I see an opthomologist

I’m on Medicare, which doesn’t cover routine eye exams, but since my Mother had glaucoma it covers my visits if I see a medical doctor.
He worked in a large office that sold glasses, so he would try to steer me to their glasses, which have a very high markup.

[democrank]

2. Good news

Keep getting better

[Deuxcents]

3. Keep using those eye drops!

[debm55]

4. Great, Happy to hear that. Thank you bif for keeping us posted.

[AllaN01Bear]

5. eggscllent.

if u have been wearing glasses all your life , get ready for the factor. i have seen more wo the glasses than with them.

[marble falls]

6. Best thing I did even if it got canceled for the pandemic. I was shocked and amazed how quickly it went and how ...

... quickly it healed.

But I found out I really need to wear sunglasses on sunny days.

[EYESORE 9001]

7. I'm holding out

for a zoom bionic lens as a replacement. Macro too. Wouldn’t that be sweet? Both eyes with those babies, you’d never miss a thing.
👀👁️🕶️😱🤣

I need to get my eyes checked again. I’ve got cataracts, but ophthalmologist said no hurry. I’m 69 now, so I don’t want to wait a helluva lot longer. I’ve developed come-and-go issues with focus that may be due to cataracts, natural signs of aging, or something else - which isn’t a concern, but maybe should be.

[LisaM]

14. My opthalmologist said it was a patient directed decision.

But once I made the decision, I was enormously pleased with the results of the operation. I can read small print and restaurant menus. And everything doesn't seem smeary.

[EYESORE 9001]

16. Perhaps next year then

Thanks for the boost in confidence

[h2ebits]

22. May also be due to dry eye issues

I will see my ophthalmologist beginning of September for an eye check-up to decide whether I'm "eligible" for cataract surgery. So I think that will be happening in September/ October. I have diagnosed dry eyes and it does affect your vision. (Also affects your vision test if your eyes are dry when you get your test.) I'm hoping that the cataract surgery will clear up at least one problem and I will be able to see distances again. I've had three prescriptions in this past year--thank you COSTCO for not charging me to fill the last 2.

[Polly Hennessey]

8. Great. Brand new colorful world awaits. Deuxcents

and Marble Falls gave the best advice: do the drops until finished and sunglasses 🕶️ will be needed on bright days.

[Srkdqltr]

9. Wonderful. Im so happy for you!!!!

[Maninacan]

10. Congrats!

My fridge was tan with cataract and whitw with new lens. I can see the stars again!

[House of Roberts]

20. My ex said she could see the individual leaves on the trees

for the first time in a long time!
She didn't realize what she wasn't seeing until she saw things again.

[Midnight Writer]

11. Good.

[a kennedy]

12. I wish all older age procedures were that easy eh??

Good luck, and best vision ever. Keep using the eye drops and sunglasses as others have mentioned.

[Floyd R. Turbo]

13. 🤗

[colorado_ufo]

21. What type of lens did you get?

I am frustrated that my doc keeps saying, "wait." I also didn't know that I had to choose among lens types. My brother has near vision lens in one eye and far in the other. I am 77, and I don't know what to do!

[h2ebits]

29. Lots of info on the Internet but. . . .

I'm 76 and live in Colorado. Sunglasses are a must every day unless it is dark and cloudy. As far as what type of lens to get; your Ophthalmologist should talk to you about the different types so that you can make a well informed decision.

I will tell you from reading various articles on the Internet and talking to friends; your Medicare will pay for the standard (originally developed) lens in full and the standard lens should give you your long distance vision back, This type of lens may require you to still need glasses for reading and stuff.. The other types of lens on the market (and there are several types) are designed to attempt to correct both types of vision. There are pros and cons to all types and Medicare will not generally cover them in full.

What I have discovered is that it is my loss of long distance vision that is driving me crazy. I've been wearing glasses for many years so continuing to use them after cataract surgery doesn't bother me should I need them to read, etc. My choice will be to get the standard lens; especially since Medicare covers them in full.

Everyone needs to determine what will work best for themselves. There is no one size fits all and I suggest that you do some research on the Internet to see the different types and the pros and cons of each.

Good Luck!

[colorado_ufo]

42. Thank you!

Your advice is especially helpful, since you are close to my age and also live in Colorado!

[rzemanfl]

32. Get the one Medicare pays for. I have those in both eyes and only use drugstore readers for

reading small fonts. I had to wait five years for my second eye to be "ready." I am 77 too.

[duncang]

15. Wait until you get the other one done.

Prior to getting mine done even with glasses I needed help seeing the wall clock. After no glasses, could see the wall clock, and the biggie I got my new license without the glasses requirement.

[wendyb-NC]

17. Very good

Just follow the Dr's instructions. It's great, I was very near sighted and now I don't need glasses to see distance, but I do need reading glasses.

[wordstroken]

18. Congratulations bif!!

So glad it went so well!!

[irisblue]

19. My Mom commented that the color blue was much brighter after her surgeries

Glad to hear you feel ok.

[LoisB]

23. Glad to hear it.

[calimary]

24. Oh GOOD!!!

Thanks for letting us know!

[llmart]

25. So glad I read your post.

I have an appointment with the eye surgeon for a consultation. I have cataracts in both eyes but will only need to have one eye done since my other eye has wet AMD and they won't do cataract removal on that eye. I know so many people who have had this done and can't think of one person who said they were sorry they had it done. Now I can't wait to have it done.

Glad you are happy with it and thanks for posting.

[CrispyQ]

26. Looking forward to post-surgery paintings! -nt

[magicarpet]

27. Good for you,.. relax and heal up rapidly.

[Basso8vb]

30. Glad it went well!

I had mine done 3 years ago. You'll likely notice it feels like your blue light filter had been turned off. Our natural lenses yellow with age and now you have a crystal clear lens!

Just wait until you look at the moon the first time after both eyes are done, it'll seem brighter and whiter than ever!

[Kid Berwyn]

31. Great news, bif!

Hope you feel tops real soon!

[OnDoutside]

34. Congrats 👏 I'm getting my other eye done at the end of the month.

It'll also be a toric lens, left far sighted, right short sighted, so blended vision.

[mwb970]

36. I loved the way things looked after mine.

I never saw such vivid colors!

[gibraltar72]

37. Enjoy the new colors!

[tavernier]

38. I had mine in March

And just last week I thought about how much clearer my vision was now than after the first few months following. They told me that little by little it would keep improving and they were right.

[ProfessorGAC]

43. Great News!

The one friend I told you about no longer even needs his glasses. And, he's 72!
Hope things continue down this good path.

[bif]

44. Day two and everything is still a bit hazy

A little bit frustrated.

[RobinA]

45. In Case You End Up

with a problem, (not that you will) don't be afraid to tell them that you can't see. My second eye was never right and I got a bunch of prescription changes and lasers, but eventually the doctor wasn't listening to me. I got a recommendation from my primary for a different doctor and he took one look at it and announced that my lens was dislocated. So he redid that eye and it turned out to be quite fine. I could see in two days. So it only took 1 1/2 years of not being able to see well, and I have pretty good vision. I continue to wear glasses because I have mild astigmatisms in both eyes. And, what they don't tell you, if you are nearsighted and maybe need readers for some stuff, be prepared for your close up vision to absolutely tank.