Cataract Surgery Question

[jaguargolf]

I had the enhanced surgery done on both eyes several years ago; one eye, then 2 weeks later the other eye.
I had double vision driving at night, (glare reflecting off the cataract), I also had an astigmatism which required glasses to see distance clearly since I was a teenager.

The enhanced surgery is done with a laser rather than a scalpel and then a spoon inserted to break up the lens for removal.

Normally there is no pain medication used, you might have a small amount of anti-anxiety, calming medicine done during the removal of the old and insertion of the new lens. I felt no pain or discomfort.

The laser breaks up the lens in an instant ..poof and there is a bloody cloud of mush that gets irrigated out with saline solution through a small incision that you will not feel or even know that it happened. The whole procedure takes 10 minutes tops.

I also opted to have the laser correct my astigmatism at the same time. your eye is held open by a small wire clip that is inserted very easily without any pain or discomfort.
You look at the light and maintain your gaze focused for a few seconds, the laser marks where the corrections are to be made on your cornea and ... poof ,it happens.

All cataract surgery requires the removal of the cataract (affected lens) and the insertion of a new lens.

You can opt for bifocal or for 20/20 which usually requires reading glasses. My doctor recommended against bifocal,;
The few I know who opted for bifocal are disappointed.

The basic surgery is with scalpel and insertion of a glass (hard plastic lens).

Enhanced is done with laser and insertion of a soft plastic lens which goes in a smaller incision and is unfolded with saline solution.

Cataract surgery is the most common surgery in the USA

Find a surgeon who specializes in cataract surgery. Mine only does cataract surgery and he does 10 a week, 5 on Tuesday and 5 on Thursday.

I recommend the enhanced surgery, for me it was an additional $3000 and worth every penny.

You must do the eye drops both before and after DO THE DROPS. Full recovery takes about a month

Don't rub your eyes for about 4 months.

My vision immediately became 20/20 and I use reading glasses


Good luck and good health to both of you.

 

[sw282]

My wife has decided to have cataract surgery. (I am not far behind. Perhaps next year or so in my case.) In doing a bit of research, she has learned that there is a standard procedure, which insurance typically pays for, and an optional, enhanced procedure, which entails out-of-pocket costs. The enhanced procedure, per her reading, involves inserting prescription lenses.

For those of you who have looked at this, or experienced this, is the enhanced procedure worth doing? We assume the enhanced, optional procedure is to eliminate or reduce the need for prescription eyeglasses, but we wonder if it is as effective as simply wearing prescription glasses. Plus, prescriptions change with time, so we wonder if the enhanced procedure is supposed to fix vision issues forever...

Anyway, for those who have some knowledge or experience, we'd appreciate some informed comments.

l only have one EYE.. lt was quite traumatic for me to get the cataract removed. l put it off as long as possible. My optician finally told l had to do SOMETHING because the cataract had gotten brittle. Finally got the surgery. The opthalmologist installed a TOREX lense. l can see far off, but need glasses for reading. l always wear glasses for safety sake

 

[LVSteve]

Can somebody explain why some of you seem to have considerable sensitivity to requiring corrective lenses for driving? If you need glasses/contacts to see properly, it's just how it is.

 

[Iggy]

I had my first eye done two weeks ago and my other eye done yesterday. My wife picked up two pairs of prescription readers at Walgreens a few minutes ago.
Here I am and can see better than I have for years.

 

[pharman]

I am getting cataract surgery later in June...I have a choice on which lens to pick for the procedure...wondered if any of you have the Vivity Extended Depth of Focus Lens...I am leaning toward this one versus the Panoptic Trifocal lens...any and all comments will be appreciated...Thank you...Roger

 

[s&wchad]

Can somebody explain why some of you seem to have considerable sensitivity to requiring corrective lenses for driving? If you need glasses/contacts to see properly, it's just how it is.

I'm not sure I understand your question, but I'll give it a try...

I have no objection to wearing glasses; I've worn them since my early teens. My vision has deteriorated and now the best they can correct it to is 20:40. Last year they were able to get it to 20:30. My doctor told me I could hold off on cataract surgery for a little while, but recommended I do it now. I'm taking his advice...

So much of my life depends on good vision. My eyes have gotten so bad, I can't follow a golf ball past 100 yards. Even with glasses, I have trouble reading street and business signs.

 

[pharman]

I had the dubious honor of having a cataract op in the mid 60s when I was a kid. Got the other eye done in the late 80s, and they refused to give me implants because I was too young. They were worried about the implant picking up proteins and becoming cloudy, sort of a synthetic cataract. I've worn hard plastic or gas permeable contact lenses for nearly 60 years.

Two coworkers got their cataracts done in the 2010s. One was a roaring success, 20/15 vision and quick recovery. The other guy was left with starbursts and halos at night.

I see many of you who have had the op done comment on the bright colors. Do the implants filter out UV light properly? I can see way into the UV spectrum, apparently, and it is a pain. I have to be careful picking out sunglasses that are not only polarized but also have an excellent UV cut. The night driving glasses I bought also double as eye protection for my scorpion hunting with a UV light. Their UV cut is superb.

What exactly are "starbursts?"

 

[Rustyt1953]

After her cataract surgeries my mother experienced starburst in her left eye. It was significantly better after follow up treatments.

What Causes Starburst in Eyes? | Vision Unveiled

Starbursts in eyes occur due to light scattering, often from corneal irregularities or lens issues, creating a halo effect around lights.

wellwisp.com

 

[sjmjax]

Lights at night, stars, street lights, headlights don’t appear as points of light.


But, resemble the Star of David or an old fashion illuminated star you’d put on top a Christmas tree.

Strobing lights like emergency vehicles are the worst.

It can be very distracting and disorienting.

 

[scattershot]

My wife just had both eyes done. Both her opthalmologist and the surgeon recommended against the upgrade implants, as not being worth the money.

 

[MDF4]

My wife just had both eyes done. Both her opthalmologist and the surgeon recommended against the upgrade implants, as not being worth the money.

My brother is an eye Doc' and we had this conversation whether to stay with the standard or upgrade to the more expensive versions.
His advice was to not go with the upgrade partly do to my age, nearing 77-yrs, and consider the return on investment. Fine with me as long as I can still maintain my class 3 med.

 

[pharman]

Thank you all for the information...I really appreciate this...I am now leaning toward getting the "Toric" lens with the astigmatism correction...

 

[Greyman50]

Had right eye done Dec 2019, left eye done Jan. 2020. Vision is “halo’ed” driving at night so my very good looking eye surgeon says laser after eye lid surgery. Everybody I’ve talked to says one of the best things. Looking forward to the proceedure.

 

[AJ]

Had right eye done Dec 2019, left eye done Jan. 2020. Vision is “halo’ed” driving at night so my very good looking eye surgeon says laser after eye lid surgery. Everybody I’ve talked to says one of the best things. Looking forward to the proceedure.

My Wife had eyelid surgery. Says it was the best thing she has ever done for her vision.