Cataract surgery.... I'm scared. I'm blind in one eye.

[3Hotdogs]

Literature in the office says there is a 1% chance the surgery will go south. If I'm the unlucky 1%, I'm blind.

[hlthe2b]

1. You are doing one eye at a time, right? Odds are in your favor and if you don't do the surgery

that cataract will make you blind so...

Good luck!

[regnaD kciN]

7. I think OP's point is that they're already blind in the other eye...

…so, in a worst-case situation, they’ll be completely blind. Of course, as you point out, if they don’t have it done, they’ll be effectively blind anyway.

[hlthe2b]

13. Yes. and 99% or greater are not bad odds.

I feel certain the actual odds are even better as they tend to revert to the worst-case scenario in the informed consent.

[SheltieLover]

2. ...

[LakeArenal]

3. There's a 99% chance you won't. You should like those odds.

Somewhere there’s a site that will tell you a Dr’s complication %. Find out if your Dr. has a low complication rating.

[Wounded Bear]

4. VA did both of my eyes a few years ago. Went well...

Best of luck. It's one of the most common surgeries performed.

[regnaD kciN]

6. I had it done back in 2013...

Super-easy and painless procedure, and my eyesight was almost completely restored (still have astigmatism, but I had that beforehand, too).

[onecaliberal]

5. Had mine a year ago. It was fine.

[mobeau69]

8. I had one go south but I went to IN Eye Institute in Indy and they fixed it.

It’s a pretty standard procedure these days.

When I had the other one done I went to a doctor with an assembly line surgery center that I was hesitant about but I t went great.

If it’s bad you need to have it done anyway.

[iwillalwayswonderwhy]

9. When I had mine done

I could barely see the next morning. Turn out to be slight swelling. My opthomologist doubled my steroid drops and it cleared a few hours later. This is rare, I only mentioned it cause it scared the crap out of me, and turned out to be no big deal. Make sure you use all drops as prescribed and don’t panic if it isn’t perfect the next day.

[Rebl2]

10. I understand why

you would be scared since you are already blind in one eye. I had it done last year and all went well. I also had glaucoma surgery along with cataract surgery in one of my eyes. It went fine. It’s scary to think about. I know I was, but there is no pain to speak of. Just follow the after care instructions they give you. Do you have a friend or family member to be with you? I will keep you in my thoughts 🙏🏻

[3Hotdogs]

25. I am blind in one eye because of nerve damage to the eye, caused during birth. If surgery doesn't

Last edited Sun Nov 13, 2022, 07:20 AM - Edit history (1)

work well, I'm blind in both eyes.

background.... it went badly for my mother. I don't know how or why, but she ended up with an iris that was round at the top and rectangular at the bottom. It ain't about the pain.

Yes, I live with my ex wife.... she is my best friend. Also, we rent the second floor apartment to my step daughter who is a R.N.

[3Hotdogs]

26. .

[overleft]

11. I have had both eyes done. No problem and much better eyesight.

[rsdsharp]

12. I have a cataract in my right eye. I have an appointment with the U of Iowa Hospital

for an evaluation next month, because my pupils won’t dilate beyond about 2mm. There is a real risk that the iris will tear during surgery, so we’re trying to see if the procedure is even feasible.

[CousinIT]

14. Of course you're scared! I would be too! Fingers crossed it'll all be OK for you

[brewens]

15. I have had five joint replacement surgeries since 2017. The other was ten years before.

I have the complete set. Knees, hips and shoulders.

How it works is you go in in good spirits, they treat you well and you come out all fixed!

[hlthe2b]

17. Wow. The one thing I need is an ankle replacement but on THAT particular joint (only)

I do not have faith in US orthopedic surgeons. If I had the money I'd go to Europe (probably Germany) as I have thoroughly researched their methods for ankle replacement. But, I just limp along but still get my miles in each day, just a lot more painfully.

[brewens]

21. My surgeon is in Moscow, and I could get you a referral if you like. Top notch. Dr. Kym.

Moscow, Idaho I should add.

[hlthe2b]

22. Hah!

My grandmother had two hips done in her upper 90s (last one 98 or 99). She was tough.

[applegrove]

16. My grandmother lost an eye to whooping cough. When she got old and

needed cataract surgery she helped fund a machine for the Ottawa civic hospital. This was in the 1980s. She went in, had the surgery and was fine. She was a bit worried too. But it all worked out and the technology was not nearly as advanced as it is today. Best wishes on a speedy recovery.

PS they did both my parents in the 2010s in morning surgery. They served muffins and juice in the recovery room. I was like "cocktails, hors d'oevres - how nice" LOL! Neither one of them had any issues.

[Delmette2.0]

18. I have had surgery in my left eye twice.

The 2nd surgery required a cornea graft for1/3 of the cornea. My surgeon says it won't be a problem to just do the lens replacement on the other side. I'm scheduled for mid December and not worried at all.

[people]

19. A Friend in his 80's Was Blind in One Eye - had Cataract Surgery This Week

His surgeon told him he had the densest cataract he had ever encountered - as hard as a diamond and the surgery was long and difficult. Dr. said the surgery worked, though, and that his eye would be swollen for weeks. Been 5 days now and every day his sight, while still mostly very very blurry, is getting very slightly better. I think in a few weeks his vision will be really back. Let us know how yours goes. I bet it works!

[yellowdogintexas]

20. I had mine done almost 2 years ago. Went like a breeze

My distance vision is awesome now.

[keithbvadu2]

23. cataracts parts 1 and 2

cataracts parts 1 and 2

I watched Patty's right eye cataract surgery on 17 Dec. 2013
(I had both of mine done earlier this year.) They had a small viewing room slightly above the operating room and a window to look in. Couldn't see a thing; too many people around the table. Instead, they had it on a flat screen tv. A giant eyeball with some clamps holding the eyelids open. It had to be the same view the doctor was seeing.
They cut two tiny slits at the bottom and left side of the eye. The LPN said about point two millimeters (maybe it was two mm). Then they put a metal probe in there (sometimes two) with a rounded tip.
Then they smooshed around the organic lens and broke it up into pieces. It had covered the whole eye. They inserted a small (everything is small) hollow tip in there and vacuumed out the pieces of lens until the eye was clear of debris.
Then they inserted a flat, wide probe that had the new synthetic lens. It looked like a vacuum cleaner wand that's wide and thin.
The synthetic lens was folded over like a tortilla shell folded into the center from both left and right.
As soon as it was pushed out of the wand, it started to unfold into a circle.
The doctor used the rounded tip probe to guide it into place and help it unfold.
It does not cover the entire eye like the organic lens did.
He said the pressure of the eye holds it in place.
When I had mine done, the doctor said he put one in that had a focal point of about an arm's reach.
It doesn't take long at all. Some say eight to fifteen minutes.
My first one didn't take long but the second one seemed to drag and I was impatient/anxious for it to be over with. Don't know what made me feel that way.
They numb your eye with some drops and liquids.
One of them burns. You're not too keen on that one.
My anesthesiologist said that they gave me about two beers worth of anesthetic but I couldn't even notice it.
The patient cannot see diddly.
You cannot feel what they are doing and all you see are some bright lights looking down at you.
The place Patty went to did about 33 or 35 cataract surgeries that day. Big bucks for the partners that day.
Plus she had a laser procedure to help fix/lessen astigmatism. That did not take very long either.
She said it gave a little burn feeling in the eye.
It also gave a $1,400 burn feeling in the wallet.
The 'even better' laser procedure would have cost $3,900.
The laser was optional so Medicare does not cover it, of course.
She can tell that her vision is better and the astigmatism is better for the right eye.
Might or might not have the left eye done in six months or so.
.
We get touchy and protective about someone fiddling with our eyes.
.
Just plain FANTASTIC, AWESOME, INCREDIBLE that they can do such things and it's now routine.

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patty's second cataract surgery

done on thursday may 08.

came out fine, maybe even better than the first.

she noticed a tremendous improvement the next day.

i watched this one also.
the doctor had to work a little harder on this one.
the cataract was a bit more developed and tougher to break up than the first.

i learned a new tidbit of knowledge about the operation.
the doctor is barefoot.
he sits on a special stool which does not look so special,,, after all, a stool is just something to sit on, right?

the stool has foot pedals. At least two pedals for water and suction and probably a third pedal to push the new, synthetic lens out of the wand into the eye.

he has to use his hands/fingers to control/position the various probes into and around the eye under the outer layer.
if he had to use his thumb or other fingers to control water and suction, the action of the finger movement would also cause the probe to wander.
NOT a place you want a lot of uncontrolled movement!

she says it still came out great and is now only wearing glasses for up-close reading.
she was seeing 20/20 out of the left eye the day after surgery.

this time, she did not have the laser surgery for the astigmatism.
that would have been out of pocket, just like last time.

when she declined the extra laser surgery, the heavy guns sales pressure kicked in.
not quite called foolish but leaning towards it and 'you really should have it done'.

will get an eye exam in about a month for a real prescription but doesn't look like it will be very strong.

coming out great so far!
.
(added later) ---- it seems that the second eye was a little bit tougher because she did not
have the laser treatment done.

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Cataract surgery several years later.

Sometimes the artificial lens will develop a haze over it after several years.
It does not happen to everyone.
You can see but not focus.
My right eye had that happen about 5 years afterwards.
The left eye seemed fine. Key word; seemed.
The optometrist could see the haze and after a while it got bad enough that she recommended laser treatment.
The laser treatment is done by a doctor specially trained in the laser.
They dilate your eyes and really, really examine them.
They put a lens about ¾ of an inch deep on your eyeball with some sticky goop.
They hold your head very still and you look into the laser machine.
You see four quadrants of red.
Then she zaps your eye a multitude of times and she keeps zapping until she feels it is done.
She is looking at your eyeball all the while.
Sometimes you feel the zap and sometimes not.
It feels a little bit like a static electric shock when you grab the doorknob.
Not painful but noticeable.
My right eye took 39 zaps. I did not feel any of them.
The left eye took 50 zaps and I felt most of them.
Driving home each time, the eyesight was worthless in that eye.
You might see some floaters for a while.

The left eye seemed fine. Or so I thought.
The optometrist and the laser doctor both were amazed that I was claiming how well the left eye worked. It was not fine. It was just much less bad. It focused pretty well but was deteriorating at a slower rate.
It took about 8 to 10 hours for the right eye to work ok and I could easily tell the improvement.
The right eye was so much better that I could then tell that the left was not up to snuff.

Two weeks later, she did the left eye.
There is no set number of zaps.
It is her judgement call as she is doing it.
They thought the left eye would take less hits because it was not as bad as the right.
Actually it took more hits than the right and it did not take as long afterwards to clear up the vision. Next day – left eye good but not as good as the right yet.

Patty’s first eye hazed over in fewer years than mine. It took 55 hits with the laser.
Her other eye is not so bad so it might be six months or more before they do laser on it.

Supposedly it does not happen again.

It is so gradual that it gets pretty bad before you really notice it.
…

[Rebl2]

28. I got my

first one done July 2021 with glaucoma surgery at same time. Second eye done two weeks later (both eyes I had to go in the day after to make sure pressure was okay). Actually when I had second surgery (in morning) by afternoon had terrific headache and very sick to my stomach. Immediately called eye doctor and had me come in and the pressure had gone sky high and they drained fluid from eye and immediately headache got better as well as nausea and pressure went down of course. They warned me with both surgeries it could happen. By April 2022, I started noticing my eyesight was not as good as it was, which is that haze you speak of. The eye dr. said he could tell it was happening. I am going to try to wait until next spring to do the laser procedure. We will see. My eye doctor said it’s not unusual for that haze to happen and some people have it happen within a couple of months of cataract surgery, but it’s rare that would happen.

[BigmanPigman]

24. I know 3 people who had it done and it went great.

Yours will too.

[SlimJimmy]

27. The only other alternative is to go blind

from the cataract over time. I have to be honest here, I like your odds with surgery on this one.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

29. How exactly does that literature define the 1% chance the surgery will go south?

Last edited Mon Nov 14, 2022, 10:53 PM - Edit history (1)

Especially as I doubt it used that language. It probably means more like the result won't be as fantastic as it normally is.

I believe cataract surgery is by far the commonest surgery done these days. I had both my eyes done some 10 years ago now at the relatively tender age of 63. I often say that cataracts were the best thing that ever happened to my eyes. I couldn't see the blackboard in 1st grade, got glasses shortly thereafter, wore them, and contact lenses forever. What I love best post-surgery is that when I wake up in the morning I can see! The world is not a blur.

And yes, without surgery you will go blind, maybe sooner, maybe later. Discuss your fears with the doctor. Someone else has already suggested you find out your doctor's numbers about success, complications, whatever. If need be, go with a different doctor.

added on edit:

During the time I was seeing various eye people before the surgery, they'd either take one look at my eyes, or one look at the paperwork, and go, Wow. I finally asked someone just how bad my cataracts were. She explained that there are three or four kinds of cataracts (I no longer recall the specifics) and I had all of them. And that on a scale of 1 to 4, I was a 3 plus. It's amazing I wasn't walking into walls.

What I want to emphasize is that because the changes were relatively slow, I had not realized how much my vision had deteriorated. I had noticed problems in matching threads and yarns, as I embroider and crochet, but had solved that problem by looking at threads and yarns in daylight. The inability to see colors in artificial light is absolutely a diagnosis of cataracts.

At the time of my surgery, I understood why it was accepted in the past that old people went blind. Because they did, all too often. I can imagine accepting loss of vision, and doing what I could otherwise. But I live in the 21st century, and I'm beyond grateful that I do not have to go blind from cataracts.

[3Hotdogs]

30. It doesn't. It is a fold-over flier in the office shelf, along with other stuff to pick up and take

home. But this morning, I went in for the pre-op eyeball measurements and instruction.

The disclaimer about stuff that can go wrong is 2 1/2 pages long - perforated eyeball, retina detachment and so forth.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

31. You need to read those pages carefully.

And I doubt they mean you have any significant chance of going blind. And they are describing extremely rare complications.

Again, cataract surgery is by far the most common surgery in this country. It is incredibly successful. Speaking for myself, knowing that I had two good eyes to begin with, the gain from cataract surgery is remarkable.

As I've already said, in first grade I could not read the blackboard. And no, I am not exaggerating. First grade was a trial. During the summer between first and second grade I got glasses. Hooray! I could read the blackboard.

I'm one of 6 children, and my parents became resigned to the fact that all of their kids were nearsighted and needed glasses. Indeed, the eye doctor they used simply had all six of us in his office one day a year and did what needed to be done.

What I do recall is that every year, when I first got new glasses, things were crystal clear, but very quickly got less so. That is the problem of conventional eyeglasses.

Shortly after graduating high school, at age 17, I got contact lenses. Wow. How amazing. I could look out the corner of my eye and still see.

That was back in the day of hard lenses. What was good about them was that the steady deterioration of my vision was stopped cold with hard contact lenses. The down side was that if I didn't get enough sleep, putting them in was a bit difficult. But I was young, and managed.

Eventually I got soft lenses, which were far better in terms of comfort. And then cataracts. Which were, honestly, the best thing that ever happened to my eyes. I got cataract surgery, had good lenses implanted, and the very best part of all is that I can see! When I wake up in the morning I can look across the room and read the clock. I can read small signs on distant hills -- well, not exactly, but it feels as if I can.

Since not getting cataract surgery will surely lead to blindness, I hope you will consider the alternative.