Your Experiences With Cataract Surgery

[dmar]

Forum brethren, I'm considering having cataract surgery. Having some difficulties seeing at night while driving, including oncoming headlights/other lights looking like star bursts. At night, in the rain, it's pretty bad. Street signs are difficult to read until I get close, especially at night.

I have progressive bifocal glasses now for distance and reading, but my vision is not really that bad. I mainly wear glasses to drive/distance, and a little bit for reading. I can use the computer pretty well without my glasses.

The eye doctor says that my cataracts are a 1.5 on a scale of 1-4, so not terrible, but I have them and they will continue to get worse. Doctor says optional, and really depends on how much I want improvement. I'm relatively young (late 50s), so it's strange to think that I will need this surgery.

The nice thing is I'd have new lenses in my eyes that will correct my vision, and eliminate my need for glasses (may still need readers…). But, my vision isn't awful now, and I know what I have vs. the unknown after surgery…. From a cost standpoint, because of the hell my wife's gone through due to her COVID "vaccine" injury, we've met our medical deductible for the year (and a whole lot more!!), so it's a little less money to do it now.

So, for those of you who have had this done:
** If you had to do it over again, would you?
** Did you have a big improvement in your vision?
** Any complications/problems from the surgery?
** From a shooting/vision perspective, did it help or make things worse. (I have an astigmatism now).

I realize most of you aren't ophthalmologists, so I'm not looking for official medical advice, just your experiences. Do we have an ophthalmologist in the house?! I don't have any friends that have had the surgery yet. My parents had it done, and it worked well for them. My dad says he has some dryness in his eye, but his vision is much better.

Thoughts? Thank you!

 

[Rustyt1953]

Over two years ago I had both cataracts removed. A Versed IV drip, a Pink Floyd laser light show and new implants and I was good to go.

Two months ago I had secondary cataracts removed. Different laser show but the desired outcome was achieved. Amazing technology.

As Johnny Nash said: "I can see clearly now".

 

[BSA1]

1. Yes
2. Yes
3. No
4. Undetermined at this time.

I need a slight correction for driving and progressive bifocals. My new glasses have not come in yet so I am using cheap pharmacy cheaters until then. I can not see the front sight clearly with them.

You will have to choose either near or far vision lens and will be forced to use bifocals to read and shoot using iron sights. Good news is Red Dot Optics work great. Maybe this winter I can try a scoped rifle.

Personally if only 1.5 on a scale of 1 to 4 I would not have the surgery. I was nearly blind in my left eye so the improvement is very dramatic.

 

[Rpg]

I had cataracts removed at about your age (I'm 72).

It's the finest medical procedure available: no pain, great outcome, no complications. I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

I got mono vision implants: left eye for reading, right for distance. I don't use readers - no need. I do have glasses that adjust the left, close up eye, to distance. This helps stereo vision, theoretically. As a practical matter, the only time I use them is taking my granddaughter to a stereo movie. Then, I wear them under the stereo glasses you get at the theater to fully experience the 3D effects.

My shooting is much better as a result of the surgery, even without my stereo glasses.

My surgeon is a shooter and we discussed my shooting: handgun, shotgun and rifle. He took all that into account in selecting my new lenses. It's worked out very well.

I usually wear over the counter sunglasses while shooting. If the light is too dim, I wear the stereo glasses primarily for protection, not vision improvement.

 

[Jinglebob]

My wife had cataracts for years that got progressively worse. One eye became so bad that she was legally blind in that eye. The Dr. who operated on her eye was not sure he could restore vision. After surgery she was able to see to a degree but will never have full vision again. DO NOT WAIT.

 

[Rustyt1953]

Woof!

 

[jrm53]

I had the right eye done in 2013 the hack left some thing in it and 3 weeks later had to back in and remove it, kept telling me it would get better soon as a result I have a donor cornea in it looks like a frosted bath room window out of it. Had a Jewish doctor in Springfield Mo do the left eye with a lazer when they unstraped my head I could see GREAT my vision in the left eye is 20-10 do not beat around the bush Tell him not to leave stuff in your eye to have to go back in! Good luck. Jeff

 

[VaTom]

Do it. I am 69. I have my second cataract surgery this coming Tuesday. I had to have retina surgery in both eyes to repair tears and that surgery has to be followed up with cataract surgery. You will be surprised at how bright and sharp colors look with the new implanted lens. The surgery only takes about 30 minutes and they put you partially under. I chose to just have regular lenses put in as they can put in ones that can correct vision but generally insurance won't cover the special ones. I have been wearing glasses since I was twenty so I didn't need the extra expense. You are aware during the surgery but feel no pain. Yes you see the light show during the surgery!. Follow the doctors instructions with the special drops they give you and you will be good to go. Sunlight will be brighter so you may need to get good sunglasses.

 

[Abbynormal]

I had astigmatism in my left eye & 20/200 vision, left vision also astigmatism and 20/40 vision.

Got right eye done first and Dr. used a corrective lens to give me clear far sighted vision for shooting. Got left eye done a year later and got a near sighted corrective vision for reading,

Best vision I've ever had in my life. Color is brighter and got eye glasses for computer. Wouldn't hesitate to -it again and I am enjoying things that I've never been able to see before.

 

[GB]

Finished my second eye a year ago last week. Very good results. No glasses to view the world but do need readers ( didn't need them to read before) Small price to pay. One thing though - - don't expect the bright light stars to go away, they didn't for me.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

The World is a brighter place.
No complications, yes would do it again,
Need glasses for distance especially in Left Eye.
Which is unfortunate, Lefty Left Eye Guy.

 

[SweetMK]

Well, I am a little different than most,,
I was ready to schedule the surgery,, ( I am presently 72 YO)

but, I found a different issue.

Since 1999, I have been getting my glasses at the same place,, they closed about 5 to 6 years ago.

I went to Sams Club,, and purchased decent glasses (so I thought)

My previous place taught em how to clean their glasses, mostly with Dawn detergent,, and wipe only with toilet paper.
(TP is the softest paper that can be purchased.)

I did the same cleaning with the Sams glasses,, I thought I needed cataract surgery!!

The new glasses have a different coating (or no coating!!??) and they are not clean when I use that procedure.

After I TP clean the glasses, I have to use a lens cloth to dry "polish" the haze off the lens.

I only learned this two weeks ago,, my vision is "like new" again.
At 50 years old, make durn sure you are not living with a coating of something on your present glasses.

Right now,, no surgery for my predicted future!!

 

[bigwheelzip]

Recently had mine done. Had astigmatism and needed progressive glasses on all the time.
Was offered a menu of choices, costing from $44 to $8000. Took the full Monty, which was special progressive lenses and a LASIK procedure. See great now, and don't need glasses for anything anymore.
I'd definitely do it again.


Sent from my motorola one 5G using Tapatalk

 

[STCM(SW)]

Had the left eye done in 04, right eye done in 07.
Went from 20-400 & 20-350 to 20-30 & 20-40.
And I only need readers. And colors look like they should!

 

[Rudi]

Got mine done in Dec. and Jan. I was scared, hate that kind of stuff. They took great care of me, doc. has done like 10,000 of them. Back to 20/20. Only need readers for close work. You will be pleased, good luck.

 

[rockquarry]

I had cataract surgery on both eyes about five or so years ago and got the best lens implants available at the time, about $6000 for both eyes, out-of-pocket. My own vision test was to thread a needle. No glasses for anything now and I can see open sights on handguns and rifles fine. No more backing the focus adjustment on a scope as far out as it will go.

I can now read road and street signs at distance well before I'm on top of them. Lens implants are expensive, but considering how much you use your eyes, it's worth the cost.

No guarantees as to whether or not you'll need glasses after surgery, but regardless, your vision will be better. One negative aspect from my experience - night vision improvement was minimal for me, if there even was an improvement, but that probably varies person to person. I seldom drive at night so it hasn't been much of a hindrance.

 

[2152hq]

I wore glasses since the 3rd grade.
Terrible near sighted. 20/300 and 20/400
It improved a bit as I got older but still was in the 20/200+ range.
Then for some unexplained reason my eyes both improved to
20/30 as I got to age 70.
They couldn't tell me why, they just did.
I didn't were my glasses anymore around the house .
I renewed my Divers License and removed the Corrective Lenses restriction at age 72.
Great!!

Then my left eye started failing. Everything was starting to be a yellowtone color.
Lights were blurred, tough to see at night. Then everything was like looking thru wax paper.

The right eye is starting to go too but is not bad right now.

I had the left eye surgery done last year.
All went fine. I could actually see on on the ride home from the surgery!
Right back to 20/30.

Everyone I talked to that had the surgery told me of the terrible post surgery 'eye drop' daily routine I'd have to go thru.
Yes it was 30 days of eye drops several times a day.
But I'll do it gladly all over again w/no complaints when they fix my right eye!
The prize is crystal clear perfect vision.

 

[len917]

Forum brethren, I'm considering having cataract surgery. Having some difficulties seeing at night while driving, including oncoming headlights/other lights looking like star bursts. At night, in the rain, it's pretty bad. Street signs are difficult to read until I get close, especially at night.

I have progressive bifocal glasses now for distance and reading, but my vision is not really that bad. I mainly wear glasses to drive/distance, and a little bit for reading. I can use the computer pretty well without my glasses.

The eye doctor says that my cataracts are a 1.5 on a scale of 1-4, so not terrible, but I have them and they will continue to get worse. Doctor says optional, and really depends on how much I want improvement. I'm relatively young (late 50s), so it's strange to think that I will need this surgery.

The nice thing is I'd have new lenses in my eyes that will correct my vision, and eliminate my need for glasses (may still need readers…). But, my vision isn't awful now, and I know what I have vs. the unknown after surgery…. From a cost standpoint, because of the hell my wife's gone through due to her COVID "vaccine" injury, we've met our medical deductible for the year (and a whole lot more!!), so it's a little less money to do it now.

So, for those of you who have had this done:
** If you had to do it over again, would you?
** Did you have a big improvement in your vision?
** Any complications/problems from the surgery?
** From a shooting/vision perspective, did it help or make things worse. (I have an astigmatism now).

I realize most of you aren't ophthalmologists, so I'm not looking for official medical advice, just your experiences. Do we have an ophthalmologist in the house?! I don't have any friends that have had the surgery yet. My parents had it done, and it worked well for them. My dad says he has some dryness in his eye, but his vision is much better.

Thoughts? Thank you!

I would do it over again-did have both done-not at the same time
Yes there was great improvement in my vision
No complications at all-keep area clean
Didn't change my shooting vision--got lenses for distance (driving), shooting no problem <25 yds
astigmatism may be a concern for perfect vision
If you Dr. recommends it then do it--Good Luck

 

[tops]

I'm 81 and I had both eyes done about 3 yrs. ago. I was worried about using the eye drops after surgery but the Dr. put something in during the operation and I didn't have too use the drops. I have had a glasses restriction on my drivers license for 35 years. I renewed my drivers license last year without glasses but I need glasses too read. I can see pistol sights a little better. Larry

 

[len917]

I had the right eye done in 2013 the hack left some thing in it and 3 weeks later had to back in and remove it, kept telling me it would get better soon as a result I have a donor cornea in it looks like a frosted bath room window out of it. Had a Jewish doctor in Springfield Mo do the left eye with a lazer when they unstraped my head I could see GREAT my vision in the left eye is 20-10 do not beat around the bush Tell him not to leave stuff in your eye to have to go back in! Good luck. Jeff

I had my cataracts removed by Christian doctors with no problems either.