Cataract Surgery

I have cataracts, too. My ophthalmologist said most people in their 70s have some degree of cataracts, but he said mine isn't nearly at the point where he would recommend surgery.
 
Ken Anderson said:
I have cataracts, too. My ophthalmologist said most people in their 70s have some degree of cataracts, but he said mine isn't nearly at the point where he would recommend surgery.
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I had the same situation until last year when I had the vitreous detachment and had to have surgery on that eye because of internal bleeding. They told me that the surgery would cause my cataract to grow faster and they weren't wrong.
 
I'm finally moving forward with the cataract surgery. I have an appointment next week for re-measuring and all the eye exam/tests again. I have decided that I am going with the standard lenses and not bothering with toric since my astigmatism is minimal. Sometimes simply removing the cataract will allow the cornea to return to normal shape, and there is a procedure they can do at the same time as the cataract removal where they cut a small slit in the cornea to allow it to lay flatter. I'm going to grill the surgeon on those options.

I'm probably not having laser surgery unless there is some significant reason that it is necessary. The charges for the laser and the facility charges are a considerable amount of money with no real benefit as far as I can tell.

I have done my homework and I'll be a lot better prepared for the discussion with the surgeon this time. I believe I know the limitations due to my damaged retina and I know that I will not be one of the lucky ones who don't need glasses anymore. Oddly, I feel kind of naked without my glasses so I really don't mind wearing them. As long as I can SEE, I don't care what it takes.

I'm feeling a lot better about having some decisions made and I'm hoping the surgeon will agree that it's 'go time.'
 
Ken Anderson said:
My wife said that her cataract surgery was significantly less horrible than she had anticipated.
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The majority of people have a similar experience as Michelle. I'm just one of "those" people who have to study the situation and all the options before committing to something so permanent. I had no idea how many options there are for lenses, types of surgery, etc. when I first saw the cataract surgeon. I had assumed that I would be a candidate for one of the specialty lenses (multivision, light-adjustable, etc.) but as it turns out that is not the case.

I didn't know until I saw the specialist that the damage to my retina eliminates any benefit of the expensive lenses. He told me that not a single specialty lens would help me at all due to the wonky light refraction in my eye. I'm happy that he isn't one of those doctors who would have inserted a $4,000 lens and then made excuses for why it didn't help my vision.

I'm disappointed that I won't have a miraculous outcome like a lot of people do, but hopefully removing the cataracts will help with contrast and light, which should be a big improvement. I am dismayed at how fast my vision is deteriorating so I'm beginning to feel anxious to get this done.
 
Beth Gallagher said:
The majority of people have a similar experience as Michelle. I'm just one of "those" people who have to study the situation and all the options before committing to something so permanent. I had no idea how many options there are for lenses, types of surgery, etc. when I first saw the cataract surgeon. I had assumed that I would be a candidate for one of the specialty lenses (multivision, light-adjustable, etc.) but as it turns out that is not the case.

I didn't know until I saw the specialist that the damage to my retina eliminates any benefit of the expensive lenses. He told me that not a single specialty lens would help me at all due to the wonky light refraction in my eye. I'm happy that he isn't one of those doctors who would have inserted a $4,000 lens and then made excuses for why it didn't help my vision.

I'm disappointed that I won't have a miraculous outcome like a lot of people do, but hopefully removing the cataracts will help with contrast and light, which should be a big improvement. I am dismayed at how fast my vision is deteriorating so I'm beginning to feel anxious to get this done.
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You may have a "Miraculous" outcome. My sister has been diabetic for 46 years & also has Retinopathy. She had cataract surgery because she couldn't pass the eye test to renew her driver's license. She had both eyes done recently & she said she has never seen better.
 
Tony Nathanson said:
You may have a "Miraculous" outcome. My sister has been diabetic for 46 years & also has Retinopathy. She had cataract surgery because she couldn't pass the eye test to renew her driver's license. She had both eyes done recently & she said she has never seen better.
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I hope so. The surgeon told me that my results will not likely be "what I'm hoping for." I have other issues besides the cataracts.
 
@Beth Gallagher - glad you having it done. Don't over expect in either direction and you will be fine. I over expected but, I was told mine were much worse than hubby- plus I am 7 years older than him. I am getting better each day, and not wearing glasses does drive you to feeling naked like. Most people don't get the other lens as offered as it cost $1000 more.
Your research will pay off for you! Btw, you may see some pink or yellow like lighting, feel like sand in one eye and or the feeling something is hanging off the sidelines in and eye- all perfectly normal.
 
Hedi Mitchell said:
@Beth Gallagher - glad you having it done. Don't over expect in either direction and you will be fine. I over expected but, I was told mine were much worse than hubby- plus I am 7 years older than him. I am getting better each day, and not wearing glasses does drive you to feeling naked like. Most people don't get the other lens as offered as it cost $1000 more.
Your research will pay off for you! Btw, you may see some pink or yellow like lighting, feel like sand in one eye and or the feeling something is hanging off the sidelines in and eye- all perfectly normal.
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The surgeon told me straight out that I will likely be disappointed in my outcome. As long as I can see I don't care about glasses one way or another. My vision in the left eye has deteriorated from 20/30 in July to 20/100 this week. This really scares me and I don't want to be "legally blind."

It must be a lot cheaper in your area because any of the premium lenses are up to $5,000 (depending on the lens) for each eye in this area. Then they require the patient to have laser surgery so that adds a few more thousand, plus the "facility fee". I'm actually glad that I am not a candidate for premium lenses.
 
Beth Gallagher said:
The surgeon told me straight out that I will likely be disappointed in my outcome. As long as I can see I don't care about glasses one way or another. My vision in the left eye has deteriorated from 20/30 in July to 20/100 this week. This really scares me and I don't want to be "legally blind."

It must be a lot cheaper in your area because any of the premium lenses are up to $5,000 (depending on the lens) for each eye in this area. Then they require the patient to have laser surgery so that adds a few more thousand, plus the "facility fee". I'm actually glad that I am not a candidate for premium lenses.
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Will be praying for you sight. You don't need to see through walls like Superman, so....
 
@Beth Gallagher - my BFF has Mascular degeneration, Wet in one eye the other Dry.. she has shots, every few weeks.
$5000 each eye ,each time... guess we are lucky not to have that..Yikes it is expensive !
I am just glad we do not have that to deal with!
 
Hedi Mitchell said:
@Beth Gallagher - my BFF has Mascular degeneration, Wet in one eye the other Dry.. she has shots, every few weeks.
$5000 each eye ,each time... guess we are lucky not to have that..Yikes it is expensive !
I am just glad we do not have that to deal with!
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That's terrible, G. My father also had macular degeneration and near the end of his life he had lost all but peripheral vision. He died in the late 1990's, so there were not many treatment options for him at that time. I have had a fear of MD myself, but at least there are treatments available for it now.
 
Krystal Shay said:
I went with the "toric lense" on my eye with the astigmatism, which removed the astigmatism. Toric lenses can be a little pricy and you will have pay some out of pocket expense for those lens.
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Krystal--how are you doing with the toric lens? That is the last decision I have to make since I have a small amount of astigmatism in one eye.
 
Just got back from the ophthalmologist and finally have my left eye cataract surgery scheduled for next Thursday. After a lot of back-and-forth with the doctor, we decided that my best option is the standard monofocal lens and I will continue to wear glasses as needed. He could not say whether spending the $$ on toric lenses would be a true benefit in my case since I have a small amount of astigmatism. The additional cost would be close to $8,000 which includes laser surgery for both eyes. So no; it's not worth it to me for a "maybe." Besides I'd have to go across town to the Medical Center to the laser treatment facility versus an outpatient facility clinic that's convenient on this side of town.

As it stands, I will have manual surgery with standard lenses, and probably still wear glasses for my best vision but I don't care about that. I'm used to my glasses so that's no biggie.
 
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Beth Gallagher said:
Just got back from the ophthalmologist and finally have my left eye cataract surgery scheduled for next Thursday. After a lot of back-and-forth with the doctor, we decided that my best option is the standard monovision lens and I will continue to wear glasses as needed. He could not say whether spending the $$ on toric lenses would be a true benefit in my case since I have a small amount of astigmatism. The additional cost would be close to $8,000 which includes laser surgery for both eyes. So no; it's not worth it to me for a "maybe." Besides I'd have to go across town to the Medical Center to the laser treatment facility versus an outpatient facility clinic that's convenient on this side of town.

As it stands, I will have manual surgery with standard lenses, and probably still wear glasses for my best vision but I don't care about that. I'm used to my glasses so that's no biggie.
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Hubby had that in both eyes and he still sees fine.
 
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