Cataract Surgery information for Laz

[Sunshine]

Linda, I had successful cataract surgery in February. It was a conveyer best operation, but the surgeon is known for his skills to the point that people fly into our small town to see him. He is excellent.

I cannot speak highly enough about the results. My whole world had turned amber. Now, I see crisply and in true colors.

My only complaint is now I have to wear glasses to see close up as in reading. But, its a small price to pay. Before, I was very myopic: 20/400. Now I can drive without glasses. Before , I could read without glasses, now I must wear reading glasses. He corrected one eye to 20/20. The other eye is corrected to 20/40 so that I can see medium distance perfectly as in reading my phone or iPad.

The after surgery drops are an annoyance as they last for weeks, but they don’t hurt.

Depending on the eyes, you may do best with the Medicare paid for variety of less, as did I. DH didn’t so he opted for the expensive ones. My friend had very rare, as in good, eyes, so she paid a lot of money: Now she can see for all distances, near, far and medium.

[Lazarus]

Linda, I had successful cataract surgery in February. It was a conveyer best operation, but the surgeon is known for his skills to the point that people fly into our small town to see him. He is excellent.

I cannot speak highly enough about the results. My whole world had turned amber. Now, I see crisply and in true colors.

My only complaint is now I have to wear glasses to see close up as in reading. But, its a small price to pay. Before, I was very myopic: 20/400. Now I can drive without glasses. Before , I could read without glasses, now I must wear reading glasses. He corrected one eye to 20/20. The other eye is corrected to 20/40 so that I can see medium distance perfectly as in reading my phone or iPad.

The after surgery drops are an annoyance as they last for weeks, but they don’t hurt.

Depending on the eyes, you may do best with the Medicare paid for variety of less, as did I. DH didn’t so he opted for the expensive ones. My friend had very rare, as in good, eyes, so she paid a lot of money: Now she can see for all distances, near, far and medium.

Thank you so much. John opted to have better distance vision and reading glasses for closeup. I keep teasing him about not recognizing me since he has not seen clearly in years.

[Lazarus]

John’s cataract surgery was last Monday. It has been problematic. Within hours there was significant inflammation and pain and vision from that eye was totally blurry. All last week was a nightmare of doctor visits between his surgeon’s facility and retina specialists. The great thing was that they were all communicating with each other and appointments were immediate...

He developed an infection in that eye and they injected antibiotics into the numbed eyeball. This was Tuesday. Pain has lessened but vision is still blurry, blocked by floaters etc. the doctors think things will improve but it will take weeks and not days. The second eye surgery is now on hold and the level of frustration we both feel is certainly...GREAT!

Here’s hoping things do in fact improve. He is 82 and that slows recovery I suppose. I do know that all of us do handle our difficulties with more logic and grace...(yes, I am grumbling).

[agate]

That's really too bad that he didn't have a better experience. It must have been trying and stressful to have to keep going back and to have that worry. A somewhat longer recovery time may be par for the course in some situations. I hope that the doctor is approachable enough so you can ask about what's going on and what's to be expected. Is he feeling all right otherwise now?

[Catdancer]

I'm so sorry he had trouble! Both my husband and I had the surgery and had no trouble. We had "no drop" surgery...drops the day before, but none afterwards, just an eye patch for a day, then nothing. I hope his eye heals.

[stillstANNding]

Sorry for both of you, Linda. Hoping for the best outcome.

ANN

[Sunshine]

Oh man Laz, so unfair. Do they know whey he got infected. Hoping it is not the surgeon’s fault for sure. Maybe important to nail it down before he second eye. Glad they are holding off until first eye heals.

With my surgery, they did drops that started just before the date, and then it seemed like a month after each eye: there were 3 different drop medications used in different sequences. I was lucky that in my nearby town, the doc has a reputation up and down the Atlantic seaboard for his skills;

[agate]

Linda, have you checked out your doctor's ratings and reviews--on Yelp, for instance?

I looked up my ophthalmologist there and found a lot of reviews. Most were favorable but a couple of less favorable ones were cause for concern.

[Lazarus]

Oh man Laz, so unfair. Do they know whey he got infected. Hoping it is not the surgeon’s fault for sure. Maybe important to nail it down before he second eye. Glad they are holding off until first eye heals.

With my surgery, they did drops that started just before the date, and then it seemed like a month after each eye: there were 3 different drop medications used in different sequences. I was lucky that in my nearby town, the doc has a reputation up and down the Atlantic seaboard for his skills;

Yup..that’s the drop schedule he has. He is a tough patient with me but does call, go to, and communicate well with his doctors. He is afraid he will lose all vision in that eye permanently. A possibility.

[Lazarus]

Linda, have you checked out your doctor's ratings and reviews--on Yelp, for instance?

I looked up my ophthalmologist there and found a lot of reviews. Most were favorable but a couple of less favorable ones were cause for concern.

We checked on her. Not on yelp but we checked.! Thanks.

[Virginia]

Linda, I am sorry to hear this. John might be being a bad patient with you because he is scared. The eyes are so precious to us and when we think we could loose one or both we tend to freak out - or at least I do.

Came back to edit this. I am not sure age has anything to do with this particular surgery. I had a friend in her mid 90s who had it done and she did fine. Although I must admit she was one tough lady to begin with.

If John can remember ask him to find out if his age has anything to do with it. However, they might just say yes in order to get themselves off the hook. Forgive me for not trusting all Doctors as I should.

[Virginia]

Linda, a man I use to work for called this morning just to say Happy Birthday. He had cataract surgery in April, so I asked how it went. He said the first eye he got some inflammation in it and had to use the drops longer. He had them done about 3 weeks apart and the second one went fine. He says he loves it, that he can see things that he could not see before even with his contacts in. Hope this is what happens with John.

[Lazarus]

Linda, a man I use to work for called this morning just to say Happy Birthday. He had cataract surgery in April, so I asked how it went. He said the first eye he got some inflammation in it and had to use the drops longer. He had them done about 3 weeks apart and the second one went fine. He says he loves it, that he can see things that he could not see before even with his contacts in. Hope this is what happens with John.

This morning John was very weak...could not stand...shaking arms and legs. Ambulance took him to hospital. He was alert and talking but so very weak.
They have done lots of tests...high top number blood pressure (very unusual for him)...irregular heartbeat...they just transferred him to a room to stay in hospital. His eye surgeon called him...there is a possibility that those eye drops caused something but it is a slim chance. I expected the doctor to mention pacemaker...

Anyway, no one is sure what is going on.

[Virginia]

Oh Linda, I am so sorry. He had so much trouble last winter and now this. I am just hoping that he will get alright and soon. I know this is upsetting for you. When you can please keep us posted about his condition and what is going on.

[Earth Mother 2 Angels]

((((((Linda & John)))))) ~

I'm so sorry this has happened, and my prayers are with you both.

Since the surgeon mentioned John's eye drops, perhaps you could check our Drug Info link here at BT for each of his drops to determine whether any of them could have contributed to his symptoms. Has the hospital stopped giving John the drops?

Healing prayers on the way.

Love & Light,



Rose