Cataract Surgery

I don't know if I've mentioned that my current ophthalmologist is a retinal specialist, and as such, he does not do cataract surgery. He offered to refer me to a cataract specialist but I decided to look for one on my own, on this side of town.

After sifting through doctor reviews I settled on one who is purportedly one of Houston's best, and his appointment schedule reflects that. He did not have an available appointment until July 29, so I went ahead and scheduled it for that day.

It seems that my eyesight is degenerating fairly rapidly in the past couple of weeks, and I'm having a lot of "discomfort" in my eyes. Not exactly pain but vaguely uncomfortable and achey/burning somehow. Time to get this show on the road.
 
Ed Wilson said:
I canceled my surgery today. I don't like the hospital they wanted to send me to and was afraid of getting put in a hospital gown and maybe an overnight stay for just cataracts, plus they keep moving the goalpost by rescheduling and changing location. I'm probably overreacting but that's my problem.

Frankly, I can see well enough overall so it's not a life or death situation. When I'm in the mood for some aggravation, I'll contact another ophthalmologist. Good luck with your "quest".
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You are not overreacting. The runaround they're giving you likely has to do with money. If you're hospitalized, it's big $$$$ per day from your insurer or medicare.
At my diabetes diagnosis, the doctor I saw told me "You need to be hospitalized immediately with IV's."
I have diabetics in my family & none were hospitalized, so I asked, "Why?"
He said, "You're dehydrated."
I said, "How do you know; you haven't taken blood yet."
He said, "I can see your mouth is dry."
I said, "I've had dry mouth & dry eyes my whole life."
He said, "You need to be hospitalized; who is your medical insurer?" (he would bill them around $10,000 - $20,000/day)
I said, "I have no medical insurance."
He said, "Well, then drink 6 glasses of Gatorade per day."

When I got home, I asked my sister (diabetic 20 years) if I should drink 6 glasses of Gatorade per day.
Her eyes got real big & she said, "What? Gatorade is liquid sugar; you would end up in a coma or in the ER or dead."
 
I'm really ready to see the ophthalmologist on the 29th. It seems like my "bad" eye gets worse by the day. I have to close it or cover it to see with my good eye.

@Ed Wilson -- did you ever find a doctor that you feel comfortable with?

Anyone else dealing with cataract surgery lately?
 
Beth Gallagher said:
I'm really ready to see the ophthalmologist on the 29th. It seems like my "bad" eye gets worse by the day. I have to close it or cover it to see with my good eye.

@Ed Wilson -- did you ever find a doctor that you feel comfortable with?

Anyone else dealing with cataract surgery lately?
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Please don’t put your cataract surgery off any longer. Losing your eyesight IS possible. There are “pressure numbers” involved. I was a two out of four with four being the worst. The ophthalmologist said better do this now, so I did.

FWIW, I never went to the hospital for either eye. I went to the in/out surgery center affiliated with the hospital. My ophthalmologist did the surgery.

Take a pair of very dark non-prescription sunglasses with you —- you will need them and DO NOT plan on driving.

Follow the at home eye drops instructions to the letter.

This was around 2020, I honestly can’t remember. I know I had four horses and hired a neighbor to clean stalls for a month or so. I fed every day, but I wore goggles and nobody got groomed.
 
Lucky us the one good thing is excellent eye surgery in Garden City. Where Mark had his done.Least I have some peace of mind there. No gowns,overnight stays. Like Beth ,mine are growing weaker,since this round of steroid medicine. It does a number on them quickly. I go this Thursday for the eye doctor to re-evaluate them, then send me to the Eye surgery place at some point. I know Eye Surgery called in him drops before his first visit . They seem to have this down to the last minute.
 
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