I think that depends on the cataracts. Apparently I was born with cataracts, really tiny ones which have virtually no impact on my vision. Took some 50 years for anyone to even mention 'em.
I discussed this with the eye doctor, and there are options. She says she’s willing to let me do it unsedated (my preference) and i know people who have opted for various degrees of sedation.
They didn’t give me a choice. Probably better all around. After all, I’ve seen A Clockwork Orange.
I had general anesthesia (was rendered unconscious) for my recent cataract surgery and my earlier detached-retina surgery in the same eye. I’m so flinchy I need a Xanax to take a proper (no fussing, no clenching that increases pressure) eye pressure! I didn’t want to find out the hard way if “twilight” sedative would make me sedate enough for the surgeon to root around in my eye.
Having already done the retinal surgery under general made choosing general for the cataract a no-brainer and made the surgery go so much easier.
Thanks, @Broomstick for the careful thorough answers. Very much appreciated.
So I’ve had surgery, my lens is tuned to either near or far. So far/near so good. But I do have astigmatism. Am I half blind until I can get new glasses after several weeks? As I understand it, my eyes need to heal before I can get a new prescription, then it takes 2-3 weeks for someone to craft me new glasses.
Keep your old glasses.
They’re only gonna do one eye at a time.
You may have to reduce activity for a bit. Better than not ever seeing again.
No, she was entirely willing to discuss these things, she was just unable to express them. She told me after a basic “no fancy lenses” op, I’d have the same prescription I have now. Which is ridiculous – they’re replacing the lenses in my eyes. There’d be a difference of some sort. My prescription would change. She just basically didn’t understand what she was talking about and it got more frustrating the more she talked. It got worse: she told me the basic operation was $12k + doctor fee + op center fee, then clarified that this was all bundled in the $12k fee. She was terrible.
Hell, I was asking about lens choices, she offered to send me info about lens types. So she emailed me an encrypted message that required a password. I called her back to explain the I couldn’t access her doc; she said she’d send again unencrypted. And never did.
I see that Ophthalmologist Friday morning to gather info about lens choices. I have a 2nd doc on the hook and I’m considering giving up on this office after that performance. But I don’t know if the 2nd doc is going to push me into Jan or Feb for surgery. This one will do early Dec.
Based on later posts I’m assuming you’re projecting into the future. I will tell you what happened with me.
I first had my right eye done. That left me with one eye needing my old prescription, my old glasses, and an eye needing something other than that prescription. It was… uncomfortable. I spent the time between the two procedures doing most of my driving with one eye closed. I’ve heard that some people pop out one lens in their old glasses but I’m not sure how well that would work. So yes, there was an uncomfortable period. On the upside, when I got up in the morning I could close my left eye and walk and around my home and do things without needing glasses.
On the first follow-up visit after the first surgery my eye surgeon tested my right eye and told me how to order “driving glasses” (as opposed to reading glasses) off the internet and what strength to get. These would not be perfect, but they would be good enough on a temporary basis.
I had the second surgery. Now both eyes had the new vision. No more walking around or driving with one eye closed. So I’ve been using the new glasses for distance vision and not using glasses at all for computer work or most reading. For really fine print and close in craft work I’ve been using cheap readers. Note that this is my particular situation, your experience may be different to greater or lesser extent. Most of the time I’m not aware of my astigmatism although it is there if I pay attention to it. So my current vision isn’t perfect but it is good enough for me to drive, work, and get on with my life. I’ve been having to make some adjustments to my habits (I no longer need to grope for glasses upon waking, instead of bringing objects closer - almost touching my face - to see them better I now sometimes have to hold them further away, etc.) but overall I am better off.
As I am now a veteran of eye surgery three times over I will point out that you need to heal up before getting a new prescription. You may notice some change in your vision from day to day after surgery. Theses are not drastic changes (if they are call your doctor immediately!) but it’s the reason that running out and getting new glasses immediately isn’t a good idea because you want to wait until everything is stable.
I was supposed to go out today to get new glasses, in fact, but it turns out that I already had an exam last January so I have to wait for this coming January to get another >sigh<. So I can either pay out of pocket for that, or wait two months. I have to decide if “good enough” is good enough for that time period. It’s annoying in that, in addition to the distance prescription being less than optimal, I’m putting on and taking off glasses all day long. But money is tight so… I’ll probably wait until January because my current situation, while less than ideal, is actually pretty tolerable.
That’s not “being unable to express” ideas, that’s being flat-out wrong in many cases.
Cataracts are not an emergency. They are a serious “procedure”. You need to go with the best doctor even if that means waiting until early next year.
There are lots of places that can give you new glasses in an hour or two.
Well, since she had no idea what she was talking about, she probably should have been advised by her employer to tell patients to ask the doctor.
For example? I’ve been to a mall store (“pearl vision” IIRC) an optometrist and an internet place (zennioptical.com) and they all wanted 2-3 weeks to make glasses. Help please.
This is impacting my life. I’m supposed to go to AA meetings daily and haven’t been - I can’t see across the room or recognize faces in a meeting so I haven’t been going like I should. It sucks. I went this morning and it was awful. I can’t see anyone. I stare at my feet.
Which is why, if I don’t get good answers, I’m going to another doctor. This is bullshit.
Search yelp.com for “Same day glasses” to find places in your area that do that.
I see eyebuydirect.com offers 2-day service. I’ve bought several pairs of glasses from them and have been satisfied, although I haven’t used their 2-day service.
Wait til you see the doctor.
Some places have their own optical place. I’m sure they’ll be aware of your needs after the 2nd surgery.
I read just a few minutes ago that the fancy upsell lenses are totally at your whim. And often fail more than the regular ones. YMMV.
But as much trouble as you having getting your head around this I wouldn’t want to add any extras that may fail by chance, percentage wise.
Do the surgery…it’s important for your vision and overall health really.
I live with only one eye. It’s not easy, but very much doable for a short time.
It’s gonna be ok.
This is a very often done procedure. And safe.
Right. I also have cataracts and my Opthamologist (hard word to spell!) said i should wait until next year . I was diagnosed with them almost two years ago. My new glasses given then are no longer much good, but the ones I got this spring are fine. So, with my cataracts, I would need a new paid every year, seems like.
Not necessarily. They grow very slowly.
What your doc is watching for is hardening/brittle-ing of what you have.
When i broke my glasses on a trip to Toronto, i went to the lenscrafters in the mall my hotel was attached to. I went when they opened, returned to the hotel to have brunch, and went back after brunch to pick up perfectly serviceable single-vision glasses.
I normally wear fancy progressive lenses and prefer the clarity of glass, and it does take me weeks to get those made. But i needed something i could dance in and safely get home in, and could get by for a couple of days with just distance vision.
That pair of glasses now lives in my car glove compartment, in case something happens to my glasses when I’m out with the car. Because they are just fine for basic distance vision.
My daughter usually gets her glasses the day she goes in, too. I think she may also go to a lenscrafters.
They don’t carry every blank, and it’s possible your vision is harder to correct than mine. I assured the guy that i desperately needed something, and would be satisfied with less-than-perfection. He was a lot more comfortable filling exactly what my prescription said. But if you are also seeing someone who can write the prescription, i bet you can get one that can be filled quickly.
I wouldn’t write off a doctor just because the receptionist can’t answer medical questions. I’m really surprised she even tried, honestly.
Her title is “surgical coordinator”. Not a receptionist. But probably a glorified receptionist, fair.