Doctor My Eyes
7
Has anyone had cataract surgery?
As we age, most of us experience clouding of the lenses. The surgery removes the lens and replaces it with a shiny new bionic version.
My surgery date is coming up. I’m told it’s very common, safe, and relatively easy. I just have this overwhelming aversion to sharp things near my eyes.
I could use some reassurance.
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@KDemo this is one of my top 10 favorite songs. not sure what the other 9 are, so i guess that makes it my top 1 favorite song.
@katylava - An all-time great.
@KDemo My sainted Mom had them done a few years ago. She absolutely loved the acuity resulting from the procedures. She said all the colors and details of the world were back for her.
@therealjrn - How did the prodedure go, do you know?
Those results are really promising.
@KDemo I was her driver for all her Dr appointments (it’s way more fun to be the taker than the takee) but it was pretty straightforward. It was done at the doctor’s office one eye at a time. She had one side done, then a few weeks later the other. The main issue she ran into was trying not to rub her eye. But in terms of discomfort or pain, she didn’t voice any complaints.
She remarked she would have had them done years earlier if she knew how easy it was.
I think they tried to talk her into Lasik at the same time, but she wasn’t quite ready for that. Neither am I for that matter–I’m not that convinced it is that good for older eyes.
@therealjrn - Thanks! Same here, with the Lasik as well. Passing on that, as it would cost the same to do it separately. Decided to wait and see how much improvement I get from the lenses alone.
But wait, there’s more!!!
For only $2,700 per eye I can add my prescription to the replacement lenses.
Oh well. I’m optimistic that plain ones will do the trick.
@KDemo Mom went with the plain lenses too.
@therealjrn the husband of a friend of mine does Lasik for a living but will not have it done on himself. reason #1 is he likes that when you are old and near sighted that you can still see things up close if you take your glasses off, no reading glasses to misplace and your arm isn’t 10’ long. Second reason is that he would like to see about 80 years of follow up data to see how all the young folks who are having it done fare in old age.
Aww come on. It’s not that bad.
@RiotDemon Is that Travis Walton? Those alien fuckers don’t know jack about cataract surgery. They’re hell on wheels with the anal probes though. (don’t ask)
@therealjrn yes. Please tell me you’ve seen the movie.
@RiotDemon Sure 'nuff have. Plus I’ve heard Travis talk on the radio over the years…long-time-listener, never-caller, CoastToCoastAM.
@RiotDemon - Well, I guess it won’t hurt at all if I’m dead.
Sticking with Plan A for now. Thanks so much!
@KDemo Oh, no no no, Travis didn’t die. He lived to write a book (made into a motion picture) about his experience.
So, you still have a back-up plan.
My mom has had both her eyes de-cataracted … she lived to tell about it
@mikibell - Thank you. Really glad they do one eye at a time.
So far I haven’t heard of anyone that didn’t go back for the second eye, I guess that says something.
@KDemo we were just talking about this the other day… we think my dad only had one done, but he has glaucoma too, so not sure if only that eye needed to be done or if we all just lost track! (yes, I am a terrible daughter for not remembering
, but not really, bigger issues to worry about for him!)
How cloudy are things, given that you can only compare to your memories of youthful vision?
Is it supposed to make night vision better? My night vision isn’t awful, but I would like having now what I remember having once when young.
PS. Oh yeah. Forgot.
Some distant relatives were pleased with the results.
@f00l - More blurry than cloudy. I have trifocals, but have mostly gotten by without wearing them. Now I have to squint to make out some computer and phone text, and can only read the on-screen TV guide thing when standing in front of it. (32" TV).
Not sure about night vision. They kept asking if I minded having halos around lights at night.
Will report back.
My doctor has told me to start thinking about it (there is another reason besides cataracts). Anyway, she figgers that in a couple of years or so, I will convince myself to get it. I’m not so sure. Good luck!
/giphy you go first
@Barney - That’s just what my doctor said a couple of years ago. It has continued to get worse. Not even sure why they wait, because it seems once you get the bionic ones they won’t cloud again.
When you’re ready, let me know if you need a ride and someone to hold your hand.
@KDemo I’ll need lots of drugs and maybe a couple of those martinis that dog has.
@Barney - I’m sure this is a case where you are supposed to mix drugs and alcohol.
@KDemo
Shaken, not stirred!
@f00l - No problem, this whole experience has me shaken.
@KDemo
@f00l - That’s another thing - my backbone doesn’t slip like it used to.
@KDemo
They wait so that we can screw up the courage to have it done (two years seems about right to me).
Please pass me that bottle of Meh wine that’s sitting there by your right elbow.
@Barney - You mean this empty bottle?
Oops.
@f00l Dick Cavett + Ray Charles! Two tastes that taste great together.
@UncleVinny
I saw Dick Cavett record a twofer once in studio.
One if the guests was a thinker/talker of some sort. Calvin Trillin, perhaps?
And the other guest I remember was the incomparable Sophia Loren.
/image Sophia Loren
@f00l I would compare her to a summer’s day, but I’ve heard that’s a big no-no.
My eye surgeon does this and more. I just had some micro-scars taken off my lens and they threw in a “free” lasik as well. Other than the not rubbing the eyes and keeping them moist it was very easy.
@xarous - Probably a similar experience. Thanks. You were awake, right? Did they sedate you?
With all the not rubbing advice, I fear I will need a cone of shame.
Oooo - on second thought . . .
@KDemo
I would need to be able to access (frequently) the full “shaken, not stirred” experience to bear the wearing a cone of shame.
/giphy "shaken, not stirred"
Know two people who had it done. One had had keritotomy back in the days (or however you spell it) and touch up lasik so she had to have a special bionic lens that was a lot more expensive but she loves it.
The other had the problem young and fast and not wearing glasses is wonderful she says. She does have cheaters all over hte place now, lol
@Cerridwyn - So far, it’s all good. Just need to get through that little “stab-in-the-eye” dread.
Maybe I should practice running with scissors.
@KDemo just tell them you need really good drugs
My dad had it last year. My whole life he wore glasses. Post surgery his vision uncorrected is 20 20. So no glasses. So although he looks odd without glasses for the first time in over 50 years his vision was much improved.
@CaptAmehrican - Bet he feels kind of odd without glasses too, after all that time.
I had Lasik a few years ago, which is arguably very different… Even when the laser was burning away parts of my eyeball, it was pretty damn cool. Pay attention to follow up care, keep everything moist afterwards, etc. I’m really happy with how well things turned out (better than 20-20). My Mother-in-law had the cataract surgery recently too, first time she hasn’t needed glasses in years!
@caffeineguy - Really glad it worked for you, but Lasik seems kind of scarier - don’t they do both eyes at the same time? That would be a lot harder for me, I think.
Thanks for the words of encouragement.
@KDemo Yeah-- both eyes at the same time-- When one goes through the follow up care, and the 30day regiment of eye drops, you quickly understand how going through it twice would be absurd.
This might gross you out but I thought it was friggin awesome: With iLasik (and other TM names), it’s a 2 step process… They start by making a flap with a laser… The laser creates 10K little bubbles a few micons deep… It’s like an old dot matrix printer printing on/inside your eyeball… you’re looking at a red dot, and this white blur raster pattern comes over it, ~60 seconds. OK, Cool. What’s next.
Then they walk you over to the next machine, prop open your eyes Clockwork Orange style… doc takes a tool and peels back the flap the laser just made… a little awkward, but not bad. You look at a dot again, the laser goes to work, burning away a few microns of your eyeball in about 2-3 minutes? They try and tell you the smell is “the laser working” but really, it’s your eyeball burning, kind of a cross between flesh and hair burning. I’m smiling as they try to give me the “that’s the laser” BS. And then… Done. Before you realize it… Doc flips the flap back in place, irrigates a bit I recall, and it heals in the next few weeks.
That day there was some itching/burning, but that’s what the variety of drops was for. I was seeing better the next day, and a few weeks later my vision tested 20/10 & 20/15, better than 20/20.
Follow the follow-up care to a T, and everything will be alright.
The laser flap (more expensive clinics) is probably better than a doc using a specialized instrument to cut the flap, because i believe it makes a crater-like flap that can recenter in place better
Anyway-- Lasik was awesome, done at ~30yrs old? (I’m 37 now, and I’d do it again. Prices vary wildly by region ($299-$10000), but you can also play games with financing and FSA/HSA contributions to do it tax free, but that’s all subjuct to change I suppose. I don’t recall the price I paid (but it was in Maryland/Virginia, so mid-Atlantic pricey) but I did it with a Wells Fargo line of credit (~2 yrs 0% interest?) and then paid that off with pre-tax HSA money.
@caffeineguy - Not gross at all, fascinating! (I have a medical background). And I suspect the cataract surgery is much less complicated. And the generic lenses are covered by insurance, Whew!
I have been suspecting that I miss a lot when cleaning. This should reveal a lot. Not sure if a plus or minus . . .
@caffeineguy Well, technically they’re not lying about the smell of “the laser working” because the laser is working by burning your eye. Everyone’s right!
@caffeineguy
My mom had it done and they ponied up the extra $9000 to fix her eyesight. She’s nearsighted like I am but not nearly as much. She said it’s wonderful getting to open her eyes first thing in the am and see everything for the first time in nearly 60 years. She’s been wearing glasses since second grade. She’s thrilled. She did have a moment two weeks ago where she had some momentary double vision and said that happens to her occasionally but not enough to be anything more than a minor annoyance.
It’s been about 6? 7? Years since and no complications at all.
@ivannabc - Yay mom!
I can’t afford the corrective lenses, but it was a difficult choice anyway. I had to fill out a questionnaire choosing whether I would prefer better near or far vision. I need both! Too hard to decide.
Thanks for adding your story to the plus column.
@KDemo My mom has all kinds of eye problems. They corrected one eye for close and the other for far. She has no depth perception but she does well. It was a transition to using one eye at a time to see. She still wears corrective lenses and needs to rest her eyes frequently.
@KDemo
I have built in bifocals. Right eye slightly near, left eye slightly far.
I like it. I switch focus effortlessly, but have been doing it since childhood, so … dunno how hard to learn to do that.
I wear glasses only to drive, because they make me. I just barely miss the no-glasses cutoff.
And to shoot, when I do that, because I’m right-handed.
@speediedelivery
I have always had that, but it’s only slightly off 20/20 both eyes. I use one eye to focus, the other to add depth. It works fine.
No idea if your mom’s situation is similar to mine, but can hit tennis balls just fine, given my complete lack of practice and skill.
@speediedelivery @f00l - Sounds really convenient for Talk Like a Pirate Day, but I have a tendency toward mild vertigo/motion sickness even from some youtube videos. So better not to tempt fate.
I think I’ll be happy to just roll things back about 20 years.
@f00l She may have more depth than I realize. She uses both eyes except with close detail. Mom has had all sorts of double and triple vision issues. I remember the coke bottle glasses when I was a kid. For awhile she had contacts and glasses. I don’t know what her eyes are corrected to now.
@KDemo Mom and I both get motion sick. Not to your extreme but we are no fun on car rides. I am generally ok if I am driving.
I am trying to talk myself into lasik. I do not like the idea of watching someone poke at my eyes.
My mom has had many procedures done over the years. I am thankful I have not had as many issues with mine at least so far. Several friends have had lasik and cataract work done. They all tell me to quit thinking and just do it.
Pass the liquor. I need stronger than wine.
@speediedelivery - Exactly!
I was told sedation is optional.
@speediedelivery As long as you acknowledge what they’re doing: They’re burning off a few microns of your eyeball here and there; It’s easy to get through it! I thought it was cool from a technology standpoint, and it’s only getting better.
@caffeineguy I will agree the tech part is cool. The rest well, I am not positive. I decided to wait for the new year to really think and move forward.
@KDemo
FWIW general anesthesia is very hard on you. Avoid when you can.
@f00l - Not even an option in this case. But thanks.
What?
Cadillac Surgery?
@daveinwarsh - Yup. Performed down on the ranch.
omg, 1985 Bruce!!!
@KDemo
Have had cataract surgery - unknown cause, one eye at age 35. Biggest downside for me was not being able to lift anything over 10 pounds for a few wks, but surgery itself was a breeze. They gave me a shield to wear over my eye at night because I worried that I’d itch it and cause catastrophic damage (that was in my dramatic stage). I was given valium. Was aware during the surgery, but happy. Psychedelic swirls of the most vivid colors when they were replacing the lens - it was breathtaking. Good luck on your surgery - afterwards you’ll wish you did it sooner!
@rm9116 Oh! Valium! I took that once for my Lazik. I loved that stuff. Let me know if you have extra…
@rm9116 - Seriously? Didn’t know I’d be in for a psychedelic experience! Did you have to pay extra?
Really hope that upgrade is included in the generic package.
I’m scared…
@yasna007 - ?
Changed my Dad’s world. Of all the procedures (knee replacements, etc) he’s had, this has brought him the highest quality of life. He marvels at the colors he’s missed out on for years.
@ACraigL - I hadn’t considered more vivid colors. Gives new promise!
Half the people I know have had it but I have not. I did however have a little blood vessel suddenly burst behind my eye a yr and half ago and then went thru a series of shots in that eyeball to try to seal the leak. The first one, the anxiety put me thru the roof and they had to headlock me (they’re used to that). They numb the eye first and after that I realized it didn’t hurt at all. Just the thought of it was cringe worthy. I have an appt next Tuesday to check on it again. I believe I will not need a shot again as I can usually tell by my vision if it’s leaking.
@lseeber
needle poking eye.gif
@lseeber - Hope you aren’t losing vision permanently?
Tell me they numb the eye topically
@KDemo No… I’m not. Some do tho. At first it was like I was trying to look thru a glass of water with my right eye. It started getting better more recently and the glasses I had to get seem to be too strong now. I guess this is a good thing.
And yes… they numb it. They’re quite generous with those drops actually.
@therealjrn giffy is in hiding. nada. I do have one with an eye getting poked but no idea how to post it, lol. I’m on laptop.
A similar surgery to give unimpaired folks 3x better vision is in trials and I would do it.
@katylava When I was a preteen, I read a Scholastic Book Club choice about a young man who went blind and his subsequent adventures at the blind school, getting a guide dog, etc. It must have made a big impression on me as I would never let “them” screw with my eyes if it wasn’t medically necessary.
Probably way before most of you people’s time but there used to be a TV show about a blind PI called “Longstreet” From what I remember, his big skill was turning off the lights in the room so he could beat up the bad guys.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
It wasn’t on for very long…
@therealjrn and yet daredevil is pretty popular
@katylava DAREDEVIL IS FREAKING AWESOME.
@therealjrn agreed
@katylava - Seriously, what have we been missing??
@therealjrn Haha… not before my time. I remember it. I liked looking at James Franciscus.
/image cool cataract glasses
@medz
Oh… I will say that my dad had some cataract surgery a few yrs back and the lens put in (?)… and now he’s having trouble with one of his eyes a lot. He had to stop golfing because he can’t see the ball anymore.
But my son in laws mother had the univision surgery (I think that’s what she called it)…one eye is for close and one eye is for distant and she said she never spent better money.
I had contacts that did that once and they’re great soon as you get used to it but can’t drive at night in them… it’s suddenly like looking thru a kaleidoscope.
@lseeber - This is the first post-surgical problem noted here.
Good thing I’m not a golfer.
My mom had it done. Both eyes maybe a month or 6 weeks or something apart (no longer remember). Some fancy lens where she no longer needs distance or reading glasses. She was surprised to discover a shirt she had bought had yellow in it. She is happy with the outcome and in her case had no complications.
MAKE FOR DOUBLY SURE YOU GET THE RIGHT GLASSES.
@therealjrn
@moose should weigh in on this.
@therealjrn
I had cataract surgery at age 75, several years ago. My sister had the same procedure recently with equally great results.
for all those months…before procedure.
Corrective lenses gave us better than 20/20, perfectly clear vision. Procedure is easy and convenient.
As comfortable as getting a shave in a barber’s chair.
Kick myself for tolerating those halos around headlights and street lights when driving at night …
So I’d like to thank you all for your insight.
Had the first eye done Thursday. Opted to see if I could go without the Valium, only had a brief period of panic.
For the remainder of the day and until the next morning, every time I checked my vision it was like another layer of gauze was peeled away. The next morning, I noticed more colors. In my old eye, the sky was overcast grey. In my new eye, it was kind of glowing purple. (This should give you incentive if you need it, @Barney!)
In truth, I am becoming partially disappointed though. Although my vision is more clear, it is not more focused. In fact, because I chose near/mid vision lenses, my distance vision is worse than before. I guess the issue was the definition of distance - I always thought of it as driving and doing outdoors stuff, but it actually encompasses everything beyond about arm’s length, so it covers a lot.
The whole thing was painless and they let my friend watch the procedure. I’m still going to do the other eye next month.
Guess I’ll just have to wear glasses more than I did before. Also, I suppose there’s a chance that my vision could still continue to improve.
@KDemo
Happy it went well!
@KDemo It’s not over yet. Your vision will keep improving for awhile more. I forget how long it took for Mom’s eye’s to stabilize but I’m sure it was at least a week or two.
@KDemo my co-worker has one eye for close up, and the other for long distance. I asked if it was weird, or if she had to close one eye sometimes to see better. She said you get used to it really quickly. I then asked if she had depth perception problems and she said no.
So maybe ask about that?
@therealjrn - You give me hope. Thank you!
@RiotDemon - y’know, I’ve been thinking I need to have more discussion with the doctor before the next surgery. Perhaps there are other options. I worry about motion sickness if my brain doesn’t adapt, but hopefully they’ll have ideas. I’ll give it another week and see what I can see.
Thanks!
@RiotDemon - I think @f00l’s eyes are also like that, and it works for her as well.
@RiotDemon I tried that with contact lenses. I couldn’t see worth a damn.
@KDemo Sounds good
A friend’s eyes were sensitive to light for at least a week.
@speediedelivery - Ooo - I had fantastic sparkly circles around every light for a while, they’re fading now. Wanted to go look at Christmas lights but didn’t want to drive.
@KDemo
The “one somewhat near-sighted, one somewhat far-sighted” works effortlessly for me.
I never notice or observe myself switching primary focus. Automatic. I can read close, and see distance, without thinking about it. And I have plenty of distance perspective.
Really fine print can annoy me. Usually I can do it, tho.
Ideally, you want the far-sighted eye to be the one that matches your native “handedness”.
(Ie: if you are left-handed, then your far-sighted eye should be the left one.)
[this helps, practically, when you have to “sight” things" using one eye.]
If the near-sighted one is even a little too near-sighted, your state drivers’ license agency will still make you wear corrective lenses for driving tho.
So ask about that.
@sammydog01
I suspect you/your brain has to get used to it.
You brain has to adapt to habitual switching. My brain learned when I was a kid. So no worries.
But I have heard of people having their vision “corrected” in this way, and having good results. So it must be something the brain can learn to do.
@KDemo
FWIW I have none.
But please don’t trust my experience only. I know nothing about that.
@RiotDemon My son in laws mom had that done several yrs back. She loved it. Said it was the best 10k she’d spent (about 8 yrs ago). I got the contacts that did the same. Took about 2 weeks to get used to and I loved them except… I drive a lot and if the sun goes down whilst driving all of a sudden all of the lights look just like looking thru a kaleidoscope … suddenly. I had to jerk the car off the road asap and pop them out.
@f00l I’m astigmatic as well and that causes problems. They have contacts for that but they have to be aligned properly in your eye or else you can’t see. If you have two and one rotates a bit you’re OK but with one you can’t see well until it slides back. Plus my brain, well, it tries.
@sammydog01
Astigmatic here also. Quite so, I think?
I could never adapt to contacts. Didn’t try very hard to).
I’m ok with glasses and bare eyesight.
@KDemo So you are thinking that you should have gone with the distance sight? (I’ve worn glasses since I was about 9, so I’m used to wearing them. My distance vision is crap. Wearing glasses just to read would be fine and dandy with me.)
Edit: No valium, huh? You are a far braver woman than I.
@KDemo I had mine done 10 years ago. During the time between surgeries, you can expect headaches all the time, and sore muscles all over your head and face as you unconsciously clench up in an effort to make the eyes work they way your brain is used to. After the second one, it took me about 2 months to get used to the new arrangement, and then there were small changes for another 6 months. I learned to buy cheap readers for awhile, because near vision hadn’t stabilized. After that it was, and is, wonderful. Go outside at night and look at a streetlight with first one, then the other eye covered. I was awestruck at the difference. I’m glad you got it done. Peace, and confusion to our enemies!
@Barney - Not really sure. I will further investigate the differently-focused-eyes thing. I’d like to read the nutrition labels when shopping. Really, I want to see everything, however don’t mind glasses when driving cause I always wear prescription sunglasses.
Also I want you to know that I’m seeing a lot more purple in the world. Not sure if it will last, but enjoying it for now.
Definitely going with Valium next time.
@OldCatLady - So what you’re saying is have patience? I’m not very good at that. Awesome about your vision though. Your story will keep me from giving up, anyway, and maybe from spending a lot on new glasses for a while.
Love the sentiment. Is that Sun Tzu?
We’re making progress. Vive la résistance!
@KDemo I heard it as a toast in a British navy wardroom, but Sun Tzu apparently did say it. https://suntzusaid.com/book/5. I’m pretty sure Mueller can quote him, chapter and verse.
@OldCatLady
Speaking of seeing -