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In reply to the discussion: Cataract Surgery [View all]

keithbvadu2

(40,915 posts)
13. Cataracts part 3
Thu Jun 13, 2024, 05:30 PM
Jun 2024

Cataracts part 3

Cataract surgery several years later.

Sometimes the artificial lens will develop a haze over it after several years.
It does not happen to everyone.
You can see but not focus.
My right eye had that happen about 5 years afterwards.
The left eye seemed fine. Key word; seemed.
The optometrist could see the haze and after a while it got bad enough that she recommended laser treatment.
The laser treatment is done by a doctor specially trained in the laser.
They dilate your eyes and really, really examine them.
They put a lens about ¾ of an inch deep on your eyeball with some sticky goop.
They hold your head very still and you look into the laser machine.
You see four quadrants of red.
Then she zaps your eye a multitude of times and she keeps zapping until she feels it is done.
She is looking at your eyeball all the while.
Sometimes you feel the zap and sometimes not.
It feels a little bit like a static electric shock when you grab the doorknob.
Not painful but noticeable.
My right eye took 39 zaps. I did not feel any of them.
The left eye took 50 zaps and I felt most of them.
Driving home each time, the eyesight was worthless in that eye.
You might see some floaters for a while.

The left eye seemed fine. Or so I thought.
The optometrist and the laser doctor both were amazed that I was claiming how well the left eye worked. It was not fine. It was just much less bad. It focused pretty well but was deteriorating at a slower rate.
It took about 8 to 10 hours for the right eye to work ok and I could easily tell the improvement.
The right eye was so much better that I could then tell that the left was not up to snuff.

Two weeks later, she did the left eye.
There is no set number of zaps.
It is her judgement call as she is doing it.
They thought the left eye would take less hits because it was not as bad as the right.
Actually it took more hits than the right and it did not take as long afterwards to clear up the vision. Next day – left eye good but not as good as the right yet.

Patty’s first eye hazed over in fewer years than mine. It took 55 hits with the laser.
Her other eye is not so bad so it might be six months or more before they do laser on it.

Supposedly it does not happen again.

It is so gradual that it gets pretty bad before you really notice it.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

Cataract Surgery [View all] Leith Jun 2024 OP
Mine was easy peasy, but i remember the brightness. Congratulations and Karadeniz Jun 2024 #1
Just left eye, but it was easy. (I wear contacts) restored my vision to 20/20 in that eye. onecaliberal Jun 2024 #2
Had mine about 8 years ago. I was extremely nearsighted. After both eyes I saw my feet in the shower Silent Type Jun 2024 #3
I woke up before the procedure was completed. Siwsan Jun 2024 #4
So glad I did it snowybirdie Jun 2024 #5
I got both eyes done at once wryter2000 Jun 2024 #6
Thanks for your post. multigraincracker Jun 2024 #7
Thanks for this discussion. oswaldactedalone Jun 2024 #8
My recovery was a breeze! Leith Jun 2024 #9
Not too bad for me. SarahD Jun 2024 #10
Cataracts part 1 keithbvadu2 Jun 2024 #11
Cataracts part 2 keithbvadu2 Jun 2024 #12
Cataracts part 3 keithbvadu2 Jun 2024 #13
I had the laser surgery to repair my retina Leith Jun 2024 #15
i was for mine . AllaN01Bear Jun 2024 #14
Mine is this summer. I'm very much looking fwd to getting it done, but w some nervousness Hekate Jun 2024 #16
I'm scheduled for it-- will find out when tomorrow ailsagirl Jun 2024 #17
Yeah, the loss of visual acuity sneaks up on you... Wounded Bear Jun 2024 #19
You too--thank you ailsagirl Jun 2024 #22
Did mine several years ago. It went fairly well for me... Wounded Bear Jun 2024 #18
Thank you all for the reassurance! bif Jun 2024 #20
Two Of My Golf Buddies Had It ProfessorGAC Jun 2024 #21
I had my right eye done 18 years ago and the left eye done three months ago. Emile Jun 2024 #23
I got the work done on both my eyes last year. Love the results. Paladin Jun 2024 #24
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