Eye surgery - opinions requested

In My Humble Opinion
41

Right now my one eye is perfect and the other is extremely myopic. I can’t just pop out one lens - I tried it and it’s impossible, one eye sees everything big and the other small. Basically I am in a waiting mode till second surgery. Definitely cannot drive like this. I guess I could get a pirate patch for my myopic eye and drive that way, but I don’t think I want to. The next surgery is Wednesday.

I can still watch TV. Dealing with the computer is worse but doable. Reading is problematic, even with Kindle and bigger fonts.

Again, this is only because of my previous extreme myopia. If you’re not very nearsighted, this doesn’t apply.

42

I was extremely myopic. Like I said, my brain basically ignored the bad eye between surgeries, and I had no problems. My doc had advised me that was likely to happen and he was right. It seems that reactions may differ. Perhaps in a few days, your brain too might start to ingore the bad stuff, or maybe it’s just more sensitive to conflicting input than mine.

43

My mom had cataract surgery at the beginning of September at age 60. The next day she had extreme dizziness and nausea. She ended up spending a night in the hospital. She blames the extreme difference between her good eye and bad eye. Since then, she has been fine. She wore reading glasses, never was nearsighted until just before she had her operation. I think she still needs reading glasses.

44

I was warned about nausea, and was told to call the doc immediately if it happened. It did happen after one of the surgeries, and I was told to go straight to their office. In my case it was related to pressure on the eye from fluid build-up, which is the most common reason. The doc actually poked a little hold in my eye to let out the excess fluid. The nausea went away very quickly.

45

Interesting stories. I am thinking I will need to have someone drive me around for a month, then. If I can’t read, though, I will probably just go crazy.

This most recent visit to the eye doctor was necessitated by my breaking of my glasses while on vacation. Long story, but the bottom line is that exactly one half of my pair of glasses broke off and was swept away in the surf while I was on vacation in the islands of the Outer Banks in North Carolina, traveling alone. I was able to wedge the remaining lens into my over-glasses sunglasses and travel thusly to the nearest optician, so I was driving with one prescription lens only. It was a nightmare. My brain definitely did not ignore the uncorrected eye. The local optician was able to fit me up with glasses having just the distance correction, as it would have taken several days to get the variable focus lenses made.

It took me a few days to get home, and another four days to get them replaced and I figured since the old prescription was about a year and a half old I might as well get the full checkup. In the meanwhile I could read without glasses by holding the print about 4 inches from my face. It wasn’t fun and I got headaches.

It sounds like I’ll probably have a difficult month at best.

46

Then between surgeries, just stick a patch over the bad eye when distance vision is important.

47

Yeah, I guess that will be what I’ll have to do and hope for the best.

I realize this is a perfect example of a “first world problem,” being anxious about an inconvenience for a few weeks instead of eventually going blind from cataracts.

48

When I was losing my sight, and it happened very fast, I was terrified and in denial. For one thing, I kept driving for considerably longer than it was safe for me to do so. I even had a strategy for it – I tailgated the car ahead of me so a pedestrian wouldn’t try to walk across the street between us. I could see the brake lights of the car so I could stop in time, but there’s no way I would have seen a pedestrian walking in from the side.

Another thing I noticed that made me realize I shouldn’t even be crossing streets as a pedestrian were the disappearing cars. In the morning or afternoon big builings would cast a shadow into the street. I’d see a car drive into the shadow, and it would just completely vanish, and then a second or two later, it would magically reappear as it came out of the shadow.

The day I got an authortative diagnosis of cataracts, and that they were completely treatable, was the same day I stopped driving. I hadn’t been able to bear the thought of never driving again, let alone living life completely blind. But when I learned it was all temporary, I started coping with it sensibly.

49

How did the mix work out for you? I’ve heard of people doing this with Lasik and the thought makes my head ache (I have a hell of a time getting even progressive lenses to work since my eyes are so different).

50

Terr, how are you doing?

51

I had a lens replacement to my right eye about 36 hours ago. The lens corrects for cataracts, astigmatism, and near-sightedness. I was told there is no lens that can also correct for presbyopia (reading).

The surgery was simply no big deal. It was quick and painless. I was sedated but awake. All I remember is seeing some lights above me and hearing the doctor remark how well it was going. I wore a taped-on plastic eye protector overnight (and have to wear it to bed for two weeks). I’ve got a bunch of eye drops.

Currently I am able to see extremely well out of the corrected eye. There’s some weirdness from having one good eye and one bad eye, but my brain is working on adjusting to this. Wearing my old glasses with just the left lens makes things worse because, as someone mentioned earlier, there is a discrepancy in the size of objects. I tried a pirate patch, but discarded it.

I’m doing very well so far. I haven’t tried driving myself yet (will probably try tomorrow), but I’m able to see as well as I did with glasses. I wish I could get the left eye done tomorrow instead of waiting 2-3 weeks.

52

Thanks for reminding me to post :slight_smile:

Ok, well, had the other eye done on Wed., two days ago. Same basic thing although I remember more about being on the operating table, actually had a running conversation with the surgeon/nurses ranging from art to travel to movies :slight_smile: I had the glaucoma surgery done on both eyes together with the cataract surgery (as long as they opened the eye up, why not), so it took about double the time.

Today midday had the patch taken off the eye. Now I have 20/20 in one eye, 20/25 in the other - but it may get to 20/20 after a week or two. Went and bought myself reading glasses (+2’s) and reading is no problem now. Without reading glasses, things up close are a bit blurry, for example, food when I eat is not in focus.

Have to take a bunch of drops - 3 different kinds, tapering off over 4 weeks. No pain, no dryness of the eyes (yet?). I was wearing glasses for 43 years, so it is a bit weird not doing so, and my eyes feel “unprotected” outside - that is, the wind gets to them etc. but I will get used to it. But it is a great feeling to see everything so sharp, and it is amazing how much stuff there is in the peripheral vision that you miss when you have a -12/-13 prescription and are wearing glasses.

All in all, very positive experience. My MIL, who’s here to help out during this time (I can’t lift things including my 16 month old daughter for a few days) is now thinking of doing this, and she was a bit afraid to before.

53

Thanks folks! That’s interesting that there’s no lens to correct for presbyopia. That means I’ll have to still have reading glasses anyway. That definitely pushes my thoughts toward the less expensive lens implant.

54

Some intraocular lenses do correct for presbyopia. My understanding is that there is not currently a lens that will simultaneously correct for astigmatism and presbyopia.

I’m now two days post-surgery, and I’m starting to realize that once both eyes are done, I’m going to need reading glasses even though I didn’t use them before. My IOL corrected for cataracts, astigmatism, and myopia.

My surgeries are costing me $1300 per eye beyond what insurance covers, possibly plus a $50 copayment. I’m using three kinds of eye drops. Two I’ve paid for myself. One had a $5 copayment. One had a $50 copayment! (total cost about $125). Wasn’t expecting that.

55

Terr, glad things have gone so well (ditto to other recent surgical patients)! :slight_smile:

56

Terr, how are they hangin’? The eyeballs, that is.

57

20/20 :slight_smile: Do need reading glasses to read, although if I hold the book out to about arm’s length I can read it like that. It’s just not very comfortable.

For the first time in 43 years I will be able to see underwater with goggles. Weeee!

58

Fan-TAS-tic! :slight_smile:

59

A little of that could be from the effects of the drops and increased light sensitivity–my surgery wasn’t for cataracts, just vision correction, but for a while everything was lambently colorful. It faded after I was done with the steroid drops. I imagine most of the change will last in your case, though.

Secondhand anecdote, but my father had lens replacement done on both eyes at age 70, and was delighted with the results. He went from decades of dealing with trifocals and progressives to just needing reading glasses.

60

I saw my eye doctor for my pre-op consultation today. They did some exams and measurements, and explained my options.

My right eye, the one they’re doing first, has myopia and of course presbyopia and a very small amount of astigmatism. The left eye has all three conditions.

Option 1: Ordinary basic lenses with no vision correction. Little or no cost beyond what my insurance pays. Presbyopia immediately goes to the max, so I would continue to need glasses similar to what I have now (variable focus a.k.a Varilux) with maximum correction for reading. However, my vision would be improved because of the removal of the cateracts.

Option 2: Multi focal lenses, essentially a duplication of my glasses lenses except for the astigmatism. The brand is “ReStore.” It does not correct astigmatism. Astigmatism correction can be done later with Lasik corneal surgery. Cost for the lens is $2000 per lens. Lasik is an additional $1000 per eye.

Option 3: Since the astigmatism is mostly needed for the left eye, for that one we have another option, a toric lens. This corrects astigmatism and myopia but not presbyopia, so I would not have good close vision in that eye. The toric lens costs $950.

The eye doctor is suggesting that for the first surgery, on my right eye, that I get the expensive multi-focal lens. This would potentially give me near-perfect vision in that eye. Then, for the second surgery 2 weeks later, get the toric lens. I would then use only my right eye for reading and other close work. This would run me $2000 for the right eye multi focal, + $950 for the toric.

The most expensive option would be to get multi focal in both eyes and also get Lasik for the astigmatism at least on the left eye at a total out-of-pocket cost of about five thousand dollars. If all went well I would have perfect vision in both eyes and should never need to wear corrective lenses again.

My husband says do what I want, he has no problem with the cost, and actually said that Option 1 seems pointless to go through surgery and still have to buy & wear glasses. He also said it would take getting used to for him, since I have been wearing glasses since long before I ever met him.

Risks are the same regardless of which type of lens is used.

If anyone else has gotten multi-focus lenses, toric lenses and/or Lasik surgery I’d love to read about your experiences. Thanks to those who’ve already replied.

ETA: Of course, all of the options eliminate the cataracts, so even the cheapest option would result in additional vision clarity.