Cataracts and other visual concerns!

[ArlyA]

There seems to be a wide variety of diagnoses as to weather you need it or not. The same eye doc I've happily used for years told me "you don't need it yet. While I can't remotely weld anymore, sometimes need to shut one eye to read a road sign now. Have added lights everywhere so as to see things etc, etc.

 

[ponytug]

Wow! Having to close one eye to read a highway sign seems to me more than bit beyond "you don't need it yet".

Some doctors don't hear very well; a patient tells them that their life is significantly impaired and the answer is per an organizational guideline. Grrr. In fact, double Grrr! Sometimes, I want to say "Hello? Are you actually listening to yourself and hearing me?" I have fired more than a few doctors for not listening to and caring for their patients. I loathe doctors who practice by box checking. Drives me nuts. Remember the old joke? "What do you call the person who graduates last in their class in medical school?" "Doctor..."

In this day and age, patients often come in with more insights about their issues than the doctors have, and many MDs have a hard time relinquishing their role as a God whose word is not to be questioned. Times are changing, but not fast enough for me.

All the best,

Peter

 

[ArlyA]

Wow! Having to close one eye to read a highway sign seems to me more than bit beyond "you don't need it yet".

Some doctors don't hear very well; a patient tells them that their life is significantly impaired and the answer is per an organizational guideline. Grrr. In fact, double Grrr! Sometimes, I want to say "Hello? Are you actually listening to yourself and hearing me?" I have fired more than a few doctors for not listening to and caring for their patients. I loathe doctors who practice by box checking. Drives me nuts. Remember the old joke? "What do you call the person who graduates last in their class in medical school?" "Doctor..."

In this day and age, patients often come in with more insights about their issues than the doctors have, and many MDs have a hard time relinquishing their role as a God whose word is not to be questioned. Times are changing, but not fast enough for me.

I was warned by my ophthalmologist that my eye doc was "old school" (quoting her) and not likely to approve of it. She was right! She's actually not at all old, but I'd guess the school she attended had a different approach to replacements.

 

[rgr33]

Haven’t read all the entries here, but just a heads up on lens choices.
My wife chose a distance lens for one eye and a reading lens for the other. Now she can’t see very well at either close or far

I chose distance lenses, and am very happy with the results, although I have reading glasses spread all over the place, house, car, barn garage, always need to read that fine print on something.

 

[ArlyA]

Haven’t read all the entries here, but just a heads up on lens choices.
My wife chose a distance lens for one eye and a reading lens for the other. Now she can’t see very well at either close or far

I chose distance lenses, and am very happy with the results, although I have reading glasses spread all over the place, house, car, barn garage, always need to read that fine print on something.

I was kinda thinking the same thing. Reading glasses are cheap.

 

[dfkrug]

The approach I am going with is to correct to similar nearsitedness that I had and will retain in my right eye. My left will will not be operated on. Since I have worn glasses since the 1960s, and usually wear sunglasses outside, I don't gain the ability to go without glasses.

I have had progressive lenses for many years, but read up close at night with no glasses. Should be the same as before. We will see.

 

[workinonit]

I just had my right eye done Wednesday. We targeted my distant vision. My left eye hasn't progressed to the point to need surgery yet. I played golf yesterday and I can see the ball again. Pretty happy with what I had done.

 

[deserteagle71]

Haven’t read all the entries here, but just a heads up on lens choices.
My wife chose a distance lens for one eye and a reading lens for the other. Now she can’t see very well at either close or far

I chose distance lenses, and am very happy with the results, although I have reading glasses spread all over the place, house, car, barn garage, always need to read that fine print on something.

My eye doc told me that some brains adapt easily to having one eye corrected for distance and the other for reading. But some don't, and I was afraid my brain would never get used to have my eyes done that way so I opted for good distance vision. 3 years now, and I'm very happy with the results.

And yes, I too have reading glasses stashed everywhere!

 

[IXLR8]

My wife (68) has cataracts in both eyes, she just had her worst eye done a few days ago. She has been using glasses since she was 13, been using contacts since she was 22. She has been using a distance lens in one eye and reading in the other since she got contacts. That is what she is doing with her replacement lens's. They gave her dilating drops to start taking 1 hr before her surgery. They gave her numbing and antibiotic drops to start taking the day before. She was told to be there by 0800, they took her in at 0810 and I was taking her home at 0945. She said she was awake for the entire procedure, which would freak me out. The doc talked with her the entire time and had her move her eye around during the procedure. They opened the doors at 0615 and when they took her in, the nurse said that she would be number 12 that morning. They had 4 surgery rooms and 3 docs working.
She is so excited to be able to see as well as she can now, she reports colors are more vivid and defined. She can now read what is on the TV from her couch. She is looking forward to getting the other eye done in 2 weeks. She is also having trouble getting use to the idea when she gets up in the morning, she doesn't need find her glasses or put in contacts anymore.

 

[dfkrug]

Well, I had my right eye done on Thursday. Today, Friday, I see real improvement. Bright and sharp are the images, better than my other eye. Feels fine, too. Wow.

I arrived a little before 6AM, and was the first of 12 patients that day (one doctor). I was aware of the procedure, but felt nothing. Not even the eyelid clamps. I saw light anomalies as the operation progressed. The doc did not speak or ask me to do anything. I did not really feel the happy juice they gave me (some tranquilizer plus Fentanyl).

My follow-up appt with the doc was the same day, in the afternoon. So I stayed at the hospital for that. Got home by 3:30.

I had to call in some favors to get rides to/from the hospital, as I recently became a widower. Tough to ask any friend to give you a ride at 5AM.

Now, I just gotta take about a thousand eye drops (steroid, anti-biotic, and NSAID).

My cost was $160 for the basic lens (Medicare with Part C).

(Arly, you are gonna love this.)