Who's had cataract surgery? Feedback wanted.

[gsganzer]

I'm 56, and my right eye has developed a pretty bad cataract, requiring surgery. I had an eye exam at two different places and they both agree on the need for cataract surgery, as do I, because my vision in my right eye has gotten real crappy.

Key-Whitman Eye Center (big eye center in/near Dallas) did Lasik on my left eye 10 years ago and I trust them the most and will have them do the surgery. The Lasik 10 years ago gave me mono vision, left corrected for distance via Lasik, right eye was left alone and was suitable for reading. The mono vision worked ok, but depth perception was a slight problem and you find yourself having to align your head certain ways for things like reading/welding so the proper eye is aligned with the task.

Anyway, I'm thinking of going with, and they've recommended, a Symfony multifocal IOL. They said it should give me great distance and intermediate, with useable near vision for everyday tasks of reading a cell phone, dashboard etc. Actual reading of a book or fine print, I'd probably prefer readers. I'm fine with this, I already use off-the-rack readers for this and at my age, I figure readers are pretty much the norm. The plan right now is to just fix the right eye, but the left would need done some year down the road.

The only real concerns I have is with night vision. The Symfony lens is supposed to minimize most halo's, glare, starburst etc, that a multi focal can have, but doesn't truly eliminate it. Doing the surgery via laser is also supposed to minimize the risk of night issues when using multi focal lenses. I went down the Google-fu rabbit hole during my research and like most internet research, I find reviews all over the place. Like most things, you're going to hear mainly from the folks that aren't happy. So I'm checking with the folks I trust the most on real world feed-back, TBN'ers.

I have a meeting with a Key- Whitman counselor on Jan. 9th to finalize everything and then schedule the procedure. Most insurance will pay for standard Mono focal lenses installed via conventional surgery. Upgrading to a multi-focal and laser assisted surgery would cost more out of my pocket. I'm fine with this, eyesight is a big thing and I want the best possible outcome for the remainder of my life.

What's the feedback/outcome/recommendations with some of the folks here?

 

[mrmikey]

I'm 66, had both mine done, last one a couple of months ago. One of the most rewarding surgeries I've ever had done.
I was using invisible bifocals before, now drive with no glasses and can read pretty much newspaper size print with no problem. Watch TV with no glasses. Need readers for any great amount of reading or small print. Being able to drive with out glasses and do most everything else without them is awesome. I have to keep reminding myself to use the safety glasses when I'm out in the garage as I was used to using the 2.0 cheater glasses to see the tape measure.
I was offered the multifocal lenses but the surgeon mentioned about starburst and night driving and I may find it annoying so I went with normal lenses. I still have a slight starburst but nothing I can't live with. Even with normal eyes, I hated night driving.
As for the actual surgery, I have no idea if it was laser or not, I know it was less than 15 minutes in the OR and no pain at all. No patch, just drops for a month after and had full vision back in 24 hours or so.
Long story short, I'm glad I went with the single vision, your mileage may vary ...........Mike

 

[Oaktree]

I haven't had it myself, but my wife had it done a couple years ago (both eyes). She was very pleased with the results. She still needs glasses for some things, but can get along without them for the most part. Her night vision is better, but still not very good. No complaints about halos, just that it takes her eyes a very long time to adjust and even then it's not as good as mine.

Unfortunately, I'm not a good candidate for it due to a large amount of astigmatism. It would be a very expensive procedure and not one that's covered by Medicare.

 

[QRTRHRS]

I had both of my eyes done in 2020. Standard procedure, no laser. I could not afford the multifocal lense, went with no glasses for distance, reading for close. No night driving issues, no problems. Follow the doctors post surgery instructions. Don't do like a friend did and go home and bale hay.

 

[ROUSTABOUT]

My dad had his done. He is happy with it.

 

[nybirdman]

Had both done in 2020,no problem.My surgeon does 10 a day when operating.I still need glasses for a stigmatism.;so I went for the single focus.

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

My wife (68) had cataract surgery a year ago. Medicare would pay but since she has worn glasses for 60 years decided to pay for lens implants as well. Her vision is 20-20 now but needs low power readers for small print. I was checked (I'm 70), no cataracts and still have 20-20 vision. The girl checking me was pretty...I mean REAL pretty ). I asked her how old the Ophthalmologist was who was giving me the rest of tests and she said he was really old..."ancient" she said.
When I saw him found out he was a month younger than me!

 

[George2615]

I'm 70 and had both eyes done about 3 years ago. Had distance vision corrected. (I wore glasses for almost 60 years to see distance). Now only need reading glasses which are cheap. Just had my annual checkup about 3 weeks ago. Vision is still 20/20 since surgery. No problems driving day or night. Dr. did each eye about a month apart. Time took about 3 hours each time including recovery time. I only had to pay a small copay.
Hardest part was after surgery putting prescribed eye drops in the eye several times a day for a week. I hate things going in my eye. Most of the time my eyelid would slam shut just before the drop hit.

 

[oldballs]

At 88 I had catract surgery....with distance lens and stigmatism correction....did both eyes and cost me a bundle. However my Macular degeneration set in after that and my vision is poor as to distortion and blank spots. The cataract surgery was quite helpful however.

Now, I'm getting shots for AMD in both eyes.....I'm slowing down anyway now that I'm 90 YO. Just glad that I can see as well as I do....and still can drive safely on local streets/roads....mostly during day time hours.

Cheers,
Mike

 

[gsganzer]

I see most folks have had the single focal lenses. Anyone have experience with the multifocal?

 

[cqaigy2]

Both eyes, different times.
I have moderate glaucoma and left eye(dominate eye) the retina had problems that resolve to a surprisingly good 20/40.

Single focus, glasses for near. Piece of cake. They used eye drops to numb the eye, laser stage used to break up the lens, except the seal failed on one eye. Phaco to finish up. I didn't notice any difference on the phaco part, between the eye with the lens broken up with the laser, over the other. I believe the laser is used to reduce energy introduced to the eye by reducing the phaco energy needed to break up the lens. The energy introduced has been indicated in protean damage inside the eye, including damage/denaturing the capsule behind the lens. I still needed laser treatment about a month after, where they shot holes in the capsule behind the eye.

 

[Death Row Dave]

I had both eyes done , wore eye glasses for 54 years . Now only need readers . My first view was what did I miss out on in my life.,

 

[KennyG]

I had mine done about 3 years ago (73 now) with the expensive extended focus lenses. 100% happy with it. I have some rings around lights at night but it's not a problem. I use 1.50 reading glasses for comfort when reading, but as long as there is reasonable light, I can read, use a phone, etc. without glasses. When driving I can read the dashboard with no problem. Both eyes came out essentially identical and better than 20/20. I had worn glasses or contacts since I was 9 years old.

I did begin to have some haziness about a year after the surgery. My doctor said this happens in about 20% of the cases. I'm not sure what the technical issue is, but they did a laser "touch-up". It only took a few seconds per eye and returned my vision to crystal clear.

 

[Death Row Dave]

Pipeliner , Stationary Engineer , Welder , basic young fool worker , took its tole on my body , 4 fusion in neck , 4 types of arthritis , stage 4 cancer survivor . Please use your PPE , don’t be a tough guy , and think you don’t need that crap .

Eyes and fingers are tough to purchase at WalMart the last time I looked

 

[RustyA]

Wife had both hers done two years ago due to lens damage from prescription medications. Paid big money to upgrade to multifocal hoping she would not need reading glasses. She drives with no glasses but has readers hanging on her neck for phone or reading. Eye surgeon said close vision would get better in a few months. To me multifocal expense was not worth the extra cost.

 

[alexpops]

I see most folks have had the single focal lenses. Anyone have experience with the multifocal?

Not me, but my Dad did both at 86 when he had cataracts fixed. Multifocal lenses & he loves it. Whole life he had astigmatisms/far-sightedness and wore bifocals as long as I remember ... now no glasses for distance or reading. Night vision is better than it was, but at 94, it really ain't great. No halos though, which I did have from lasik in 2007, and I reverted within 2 years, whereas he hasn't.

 

[BravoXray]

I see most folks have had the single focal lenses. Anyone have experience with the multifocal?

A close friend has them and hates them. She's thinking about getting regular monofocal lenses put in, but it may be pretty expensive.
I told her not to get them, but her doctor said most people got them and loved them. Of course, the doctor made more money for selling the multifocal lenses,
My ophthalmologist discourages them because of all complaints people have had with them.

 

[scootr]

Subscribed. I'm waiting to do this. Vision is getting worse and catarac surgery is recommended for me.
My friend got it first. He paid extra for multifocus lens. First eye went good and vision is perfect. Second eye not so good. 3rd surgery on the second eye tomorrow for my friend. He has been about 1 year getting all these surgeries to straightened out the one eye. He said he blames his trouble on the injectable antibiotic vs the eyedrops. His advice, do not take the injectable antibiotic.

 

[NPRECON]

Dittoes on the lense replacement. Cataracts "creep" up on your eyes and degrade your vision so slowly. I first really noticed mine when dove hunting. Could no longer knock them down. Didn't know why. Then went for annual eye exam and they caught it. Talk about a life changing experience! Took just a few minutes and suddenly I was again seeing all those things I had been missing for a few months.

 

[QRTRHRS]

When my wife had her first eye done, the numbing solution ended up irritating her throat. She told the doctor and the nurses but they went ahead anyway. Well, when the doctor had her lense out, she coughed, driving the iris forward. The doctor has done many thousand's of surgeries and he flooded her eye with carbon dioxide. He managed to save her eye. She went back three weeks later and had the new lense inserted. Second time around, a nurse told my wife to put her finger on the (forget the proper term) tube that runs to the throat which worked for her. She did have some issues for a long time but that eye is pretty much okay now. The other eye was not a problem.

FWIW, I upgraded my reading glasses from what Medicare covered to no line bifocals with no prescription on the top and with safety lenses. That way when I need to both see and protect my eyes I am covered.