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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsTomorrow is my last eye check up for my cataract surgeries
My right eye was done 2weeks ago n my left eye last Monday. Thanks god for Medicare..Original/actual Medicare as my financial responsibilities were just under 300$. Of course, they have different options but I chose the basic option and Im just fine. If I had a job with very detailed work or if I was a professional golfer, Id have options for that. I wore contacts for about 30 years n just relied on them n just didnt realize how bad my cataracts had become. It was very easy n painless but the preparation was not fun. I had to give up my contacts for 3 weeks so my cheaters n a magnifying glass was the only way I could read and lots of eye drops to moisturize my eyes...before n after surgeries. Some lifting restrictions n basic common sense for caring for the eyes..no soap n water or rubbing the eyes..thats kind of stuff. I can see like I did when I was young..clean n clean letters n objects..wonderful! If youre putting off having this done..dont. Its the best thing Ive done for myself in a long time..a Christmas miracle ! Take care of your eyes..we only get one set of em. 🙋?♀️
debm55
(30,912 posts)Deuxcents
(18,528 posts)calimary
(83,453 posts)I woke up with a detached retina in my left eye last March. They took me right in and fixed me up. Thank goodness!
Eye problems have pretty much been my thing since I was nine and discovered that the world was NOT blurry. Had glasses and contact lenses if all kinds. I hated contact lenses. Finally had corrective eye surgery and thought it was a miracle! OMG, life without lenses (except for reading glasses which I was starting to need anyway)! One of the best things I ever did! Only now, a couple of decades later, is my vision starting to let go a little. But just a litttle.
Im interested in hearing how things went, for you.
old as dirt
(1,972 posts)I splurged for multifocal lenses (Medicare paid for basic, but I paid about $5500 out of pocket for the frills).
It still feels weird not wearing glasses, since I've worn them since I was a child, but my vision is now 20/20.
Deuxcents
(18,528 posts)Laura PourMeADrink
(42,770 posts)Like a bifocal lens?
Heard with typical cataract surgery, you select if you want to see near or far. But the kicker is that you don't retain the level of sight that you had in the one you didn't pick? But you end up worse? Like my sister picked to perfect distance ( because she had worn glasses all her life). But little did she know that would really screw up her near vision so now she has to wear glasses again!!
old as dirt
(1,972 posts)AcrySof IQ PanOpticx trifocal lens.
There are some comparisons here:
https://www.myalcon.com/cataracts/
I have no trouble reading, for the most part, especially in good lighting, although I can wear reading glasses if I need to.
Distance is excellent.
There are some issues for halos in nighttime driving, and if I did a lot of night driving, I might have made a different choice, but it's vastly improved from before the surgery, given that my vision in my left eye had gotten so bad that I wouldn't have been able to renew my drivers license again, even with my glasses. My vision in my left eye has been changing so fast that I needed purchase new glasses every year, so I didn't really mind the extra expense, since I expect that I will likely never buy another pair of glasses again for the rest of my life.
At night, I had difficulty distinguishing between a driveway and the curb, which made me quite nervous whenever I tried to make a turn into a gas station or whatever, and that is now a thing if the past.
I also got iStent inject implants, for eye pressure, and I don't need to use my eye drops for glaucoma any more, which is good, given how forgetful I am. Fortunately, my glaucoma did not result in nerve damage.
cojoel
(990 posts)I really wasn't aware of this until the first one was removed. The white color was not unfamiliar; I just hadn't see it in a while.
Good luck with your improved vision!
Deuxcents
(18,528 posts)I thought my windshield needed cleaned..my light bulbs needed changed to higher than the wattage I had. The whites are white now n not dinghy looking. Aint it great?!
PortTack
(33,984 posts)Just an FYI: for me, its taking my eyes time to adjust. They are getting better, but distance vision has been blurry. Sometimes they dont explain enough regarding post op issues.
Deuxcents
(18,528 posts)I have a little flashing in my left eye but its very seldom now. Im so impressed but Ill be asking questions tomorrow. Hope your eyes heal faster for you..
PortTack
(33,984 posts)Eyes..cataracts were never my area
Joinfortmill
(15,791 posts)Deuxcents
(18,528 posts)UTUSN
(71,913 posts)Deuxcents
(18,528 posts)Which I am not afraid of 😱
PoindexterOglethorpe
(26,129 posts)relatively young age of 62.
I'd been extremely nearsighted all of my life. Couldn't see the blackboard in first grade, even from the front row.
Got glasses before start of second grade. Got new glasses every year thereafter. When I was 16 I got contact lenses, which were a huge improvement.
To simplify a long and complex story, I'd learned by my early 50s that I had beginning cataracts. Then one eye exam, the doctor said,"You need to get cataract surgery." I was distressed, and called an older friend, who immediately said, "Poindexter, get the surgery!" She was right. I elected to get lenses that gave me good distance vision. Excellent choice. I feel as if I can read small signs on distant hills. I do need reading glasses for close up stuff, like actual reading. But I'd been using reading glasses from around the time I'd turned 40 (I'm now 74, you can do the math) and so reading glasses are no big deal.
dflprincess
(28,362 posts)I have a mild astigmatism so I'm still wearing glasses but the improvement in both my distance and reading vision amazes me.
I was nervous before the first eye was done, couldn't wait for the second surgery. I spent the two weeks between amusing myself by covering each eye in turn and marveling at the difference, especially how much brighter colors are.
LetMyPeopleVote
(152,006 posts)My new eye doctor thinks that it will four or so years before I need surgery. In addition to the new eye doctor, I see retinal specialist to monitor diabetic retinotopy. My diabetes is under good control with an AIC of 6.3 and so only see the specialist every six months
littlemissmartypants
(23,739 posts)I don't understand why more doctors don't share that the best way to mitigate the development of cataracts is to wear sunglasses that have strong protection against the damage of sunlight and that means even when it is cloudy.
My work team gave me the nickname "Hollywood' and used to tease me relentlessly for religiously wearing my sunglasses. They continued even after I told them that I was hoping to protect myself against cataracts based on the recommendations of my optometrist.
My best friend said that they did it because they liked me so I just took it in stride. It definitely didn't make me wear them less. I continued and doubled down by expanding into designer versions for maximum effect.
❤️
Roisin Ni Fiachra
(2,574 posts)to the point where surgery is necessary, although the doc says I can get the surgery if I want.
Thanks, your post is very encouraging.
hlthe2b
(105,010 posts)Better Days Ahoy
(698 posts)Acrylic lenses in both eyes. Bionic now, I am.
I love it. Super easy process even with 14+ diopters because I had an excellent dr.
20/20 now and I buy my 2.5 readers at Ocean State Job Lot for $3. No more $800 glasses and sunglasses.
katmondoo
(6,488 posts)I am 93 and my eyesight is great even without glasses. When I was a child I had to put on glasses just to get out of bed.
albacore
(2,504 posts)ProfessorGAC
(68,460 posts)..had that done the last couple years. They both said they wished they'd done it sooner.
Hope the outcome is the same for you.
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)both of mine finally progressed enough to need it.
Our son, though, had to have cataracts removed in his early 50s. In any other era he'd go blind. And have to stop working. Instead, he's not only had his vision saved but had 3-way lenses implanted so he no longer needs to wear glasses.
Modern medicine!
(And for those unfortunates encouraged to regard every subject as grievance, the cataract surgeries were mostly or entirely paid for by insurance, none of us wealthy, but our son's special lenses required a monetary investment he and his wife sacrificed for for his convenience. He could just wear glasses.)
Wounded Bear
(60,053 posts)I was near-sighted and wore glasses since 3rd grade. Couldn't stand the concept of contacts, hate messing with my eyes like that.
Now, I wear readers for reading and computer work, but drive glasses free, except for shades, of course.
Deuxcents
(18,528 posts)Everyone I know who had cataract surgeries say the same..I wish Id have done it sooner and I caught myself saying that to the dr today! I have Original Medicare and thankfully, all paid except for a small deduction but if I needed more than just the basic, Id have done whatever to take care of the problem. Take care of those precious peepers.. thanks, everyone 🙏