Cataract Surgery - How did you know it was time

[mrsstats]

I am 67. Have cataracts in both eyes. Eye doctor says it is up to me when to have it done, he is fine either way. I work full time, don't do much night driving. Do need brighter lighting to see better at home. Hate the idea of surgery but will need it at some point. Just not sure if I should hold off or have it done.

 

[Passepartout]

Two schools of thought here. One, wait until your eyesight REALLY bothers you- nervous about night driving, sunlight becomes a bother, loss of acuity in distance vision. OR, two, get it done early. You will heal faster, you'll enjoy more years of better vision, You'll be more comfortable driving at night, your sharper vision acuity will make travel/sightseeing more enjoyable, You can stop wearing your 'regular' glasses, opting for either multi-focal (more expensive) lenses, or using reading glasses. Getting rid of the cataracts won't give you 'teenage' eyes.

I think I've made my decision- I'll get it done sooner rather than later. I'm 71 and have had RK and LASIK already, so eye surgery is really no big thing. One tip- How you heal and the final result really keys to how well you use the eye drops post surgery.

Jim

 

[rapmarks]

I kept trying to clean a smeared thumb print off my glasses, except it wasn’t on my lenses.

 

[jtp1947]

I am 71 and had my left eye done in November and it came out so well that I had my right eye done last week even though I could have waited. I found that walking around with the left lens of my glasses removed and only having the right lens in was awkward. I was legally blind in my left eye and knew I would have to have my right eye done sooner or later so I had it done sooner. My left eye is 20/25 and I don't know yet about my right eye. I am not wearing glasses now but find that doing my checkbook is a little difficult, everything else is great, including computer chores. Thirty minute surgery was a breeze and no pain during or afterwards.
Thought I should add a little more information to my procedure. I went for upgraded lenses which Medicare does not cover. Left eye, which had an astigmatism, was a Toric lens, $375, and right eye was a Restor lens, $795. Total fees with surgery center fees, doctor's fees, eye drops and lens fee was approximately $4700.

 

[AwayWeGo]

OR, two, get it done early. You will heal faster, you'll enjoy more years of better vision, You'll be more comfortable driving at night, your sharper vision acuity will make travel/sightseeing more enjoyable, You can stop wearing your 'regular' glasses, opting for either multi-focal (more expensive) lenses, or using reading glasses.

I went with getting it done earlier, preferring more years of clear sight over the alternative of a longer period of gradually worsening vision.

I went with the plain-vanilla single vision lens implants. I have to wear glasses anyway because I'm crosseyed & I need prismatic lenses to correct for that, so there was no need to get tricky expensive multi-focus high-tech lens implants. Medicare plus medigap insurance covered the full cost.

The prospect of getting the 1st cataract operation was nervous-making, bigtime. I mean, the idea of doctors coming at my eyeball with scalpels, etc., was semi-frightening at best & terrifying at worst. As it happened, there was nothing to it (for the patient -- I'm sure the doctors & nurses were working at an intense pace). The 2nd operation a year or so later inspired zero nervousness. Both procedures were successful.

There was 1 minor complication after another year went by. According to the eye doctor, in 30 percent of patients who have had cataract surgery, the membrane encapsulating & supporting the implanted lens starts to darken & cause visual impairment. I am part of the 30 percent, although I had not noticed any worsening vision -- the doctor detected it during a routine follow-up exam. (I guess it's subtle & gradual.) The doctor said mine had already darkened & would get worse if left alone, but a quick laser procedure would take care of it, so I signed up for that.

The laser treatment was done at the same eye surgery center where I had the cataract operations, but it involved hardly any preparation (unlike the cataract operations, which involved plenty). I wasn't even lying down. For the laser procedure, the doctor had me get seated in front of a device resembling those instruments the ophthalmologists use to look at the inner recesses of the eyeball, & prop my chin on the chin rest. He had me gaze at a red light with eyes wide open. He pressed a button & a quick beep sounded -- maybe 5-6 times. That took all of 9-10 seconds. "All done," the doctor said. It remains to be seen whether I'll be going through the same thing for the other eye at some point.

Incidentally, the suburban eye surgery center is right next door to a suburban colorectal surgery center, so was important to pay attention to which door I was about to go in. So far, so good.

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​

 

[x3 skier]

Every year for the past 5 or so, the eye doc says I have a cataract but since it doesn’t bother me, I’ve not done anything about it and she is cool about that.

It hasn’t got any larger and when the time comes, if it does, I’ll opt for monovision which I have now with contact lenses. Left eye for reading, right for distance and it works great. My late wife had cataract surgery with monovision but her reading eye was slightly off so she used a pair cheapo readers from the drug store.

Cheers

 

[Luanne]

I'm kind of in the same boat. Cataracts in left eye. Two years ago I was told I would probably need surgery. Went back January 2018, doctor checked me out and said they were "better" and I wouldn't need surgery for a couple of years. When I went in for my regular eye exam he told me the same thing. He said as long as nighttime glare didn't bother me (I don't drive much at night) I was fine for the time being. I keep hearing the surgery is a snap, so when the time comes I won't be freaked out.

 

[Panina]

I would suggest only doing one eye at a time and waiting a year until you first eye heals and you know it worked. As small as it is, I believe it’s 2%, there is a risk factor for complications, that your vision can get worse or you get blind.

My Aunt had it in both her eyes and in one she went blind. I also would suggest someone be with you at least 24 hours. My dad after his first cateract surgery had a reaction like a seizure the next day and had to go to the hospital. He was allergic to the after procedure drops. They did not use them on his second eye and he was fine.

 

[silentg]

The cataract surgery I had 8 years ago, went well but the dr was not . I found a new Dr that did my other eye last August.
The recovery from second surgery was much easier and my vision has never been this good.
I don’t recommend waiting as long as I did but if I had the first cataract done by the second doctor I would have done the second eye sooner.
Shop around for a doctor that listens to you and knows what he is doing and doesn’t try to bully you into surgery if you are not ready.
Silentg

 

[heathpack]

I am 52 and had cataract sx in both eyes this year, about 6 weeks apart.

I did my surgery because my cataracts were bad enough that my vision was no longer correctable with glasses. I don't understand the logic behind waiting, really, since vision is only going to get worse over time.

 

[bogey21]

I would suggest only doing one eye at a time and waiting a year until you first eye heals and you know it worked. As small as it is, I believe it’s 2%, there is a risk factor for complications, that your vision can get worse or you get blind.

That was my plan but after getting the first eye done I realized I had one good eye for distance and one good eye for close up. My brain adjusted to is almost immediately so I never had the surgery on the other eye...

George

 

[Luanne]

I am 52 and had cataract sx in both eyes this year, about 6 weeks apart.

I did my surgery because my cataracts were bad enough that my vision was no longer correctable with glasses. I don't understand the logic behind waiting, really, since vision is only going to get worse over time.

The logic behind waiting is, "if" you aren't bothered by them, "if" the nighttime glare isn't bothering you, then why have surgery you don't need at that time?

 

[DrQ]

Here's the $64,000.00 (U.S.) question? How do you determine what doctor to which you are going to trust your eyes?

 

[Phydeaux]

Here's the $64,000.00 (U.S.) question? How do you determine what doctor to which you are going to trust your eyes?

Simple, do your homework. Physicians are rated. How many procedures have they done? Of those, what is the breakdown of outcome? What hospital(s) are they affiliated with? What is the rating of that hospital? Board certified and current in CE's? Scrutinize the staff. What's the level of technology being used? State of the art?

That's a start...

 

[DrQ]

Simple, do your homework. Physicians are rated. How many procedures have they done? Of those, what is the breakdown of outcome? What hospital(s) are they affiliated with? What is the rating of that hospital? Board certified and current in CE's? Scrutinize the staff. What's the level of technology being used? State of the art?

That's a start...

I understand Board Certification's and to stay away from the "factory" practices, but where do you get the breakdown on outcomes?

 

[Luanne]

I understand Board Certification's and to stay away from the "factory" practices, but where do you get the breakdown on outcomes?

I like to go by word of mouth. Talk to people in the area who have had the procedures done.

 

[Phydeaux]

I understand Board Certification's and to stay away from the "factory" practices, but where do you get the breakdown on outcomes?

You can start by asking the doc for them.

What are the doc's credentials? Where did they train? Residency? Are they active in education? What was the last paper they submitted? Submitted to whom?

i highly doubt anyone would go to the extent of research that I suggested, thus rank what you feel is most important. If it were my eyes? Simple. I want a physician in my network of providers that is the best in the field, working out of a highly ranked hospital and is using the very latest tools, techniques and technology. Then, meet with him/her and interview them. Word of mouth doesn't work for me because it's much too small of sampling.

 

[Passepartout]

Oh, I know!!! The ones that advertise in airline magazines! That ALWAYS convinces me! Yup, you betcha.

Jim

 

[DrQ]

Oh, I know!!! The ones that advertise in airline magazines! That ALWAYS convinces me! Yup, you betcha.

Jim

Or Yelp

 

[clifffaith]

Medicare would only pay for one of Cliff's eyes since the other cataract wasn't "ready" yet. He liked the results of the first eye so much he paid for the second one himself.

 

[VanX]

Had mine done at age 47 (52 now) - both eyes a few months apart. Visual impact was very noticeable (like blurry/marshmallows in my line of view) and I just picked the best surgeon in our city to do the fix. Canadian healthcare so no cost.

No problems in recovery or since. Have to wear reading glasses now but that’s just an age thing and not a result of surgery.

 

[Jan M.]

I was told in December of 2010 that I had the seeds, the start of cataracts. I went in because I had a vitreous detachment and the ophthalmologist saw them during the in depth exam. I was thrilled that I didn't have a retinal detachment, only a vitreous detachment, but not too happy to hear about the cataracts. I assumed I would need the the surgery in the next year or two at the most but the eye doctor said not necessarily. I didn't know that they can take years to mature and that it varies from person to person in regards to how long it takes. This past January when I went for an eye exam I was told they have gotten a little larger since last year but still aren't bad. The eye doctor said if I wanted it done he would justify it for me. Since they weren't giving me problems I was content to wait another year and the doctor supported that decision. But he did tell me that I should plan on getting them done this coming year. He said that in another year that they would probably be affecting my vision to some degree whether I realized it or not because most people miss the little changes until the cataracts start getting bad. I know from my husband, MIL and other people we've talked to that until you have it done you don't realize how much your vision was affected. Colors are more vibrant, everything is sharper and clearer. I also know from people who waited longer to have them done that it is better not to wait until they get really bad.

My husband had his done 10 years ago so I know how easy it was and am not the least bit hesitant to have it done. My husband only retired this year so was working when he had his done. He scheduled the first one towards the end of the week so he had the weekend off to recover. From the time we left our house until we got back home it was under 3 hours. Since he knew what to expect with the second eye he only took half a PTO day as he was home based for his job and had paperwork he could do in the afternoon.

Before my husband had the surgery what he had the hardest time with was being able to read the street and highway signs with the white lettering on the green background.

 

[x3 skier]

I don't understand the logic behind waiting, really, since vision is only going to get worse over time.

Since it doesn’t bother me and hasn’t gotten worse for some 5+ years now, why would I have a surgery that has a small but finite chance in making me blind in an eye?

Same reason I didn’t have knee replacement surgery until I really needed it. Why risk fixing something that didn't really bother me that had a small but finite chance of loosing a leg entirely or serious infection?

YMMV

Cheers

 

[Luanne]

Since it doesn’t bother me and hasn’t gotten worse for some 5+ years now, why would I have a surgery that has a small but finite chance in making me blind in an eye?

Same reason I didn’t have knee replacement surgery until I really needed it. Why risk fixing something that didn't really bother me that had a small but finite chance of loosing a leg entirely or serious infection?

YMMV

Cheers

Since my doctor first suggested I would need cataract surgery, and now, my eyesight has gotten slightly better. So the deterioration over time doesn't always happen.

 

[isisdave]

I am 71 and had my left eye done in November and it came out so well that I had my right eye done last week even though I could have waited. I found that walking around with the left lens of my glasses removed and only having the right lens in was awkward. I was legally blind in my left eye and knew I would have to have my right eye done sooner or later so I had it done sooner. My left eye is 20/25 and I don't know yet about my right eye. I am not wearing glasses now but find that doing my checkbook is a little difficult, everything else is great, including computer chores. Thirty minute surgery was a breeze and no pain during or afterwards.
Thought I should add a little more information to my procedure. I went for upgraded lenses which Medicare does not cover. Left eye, which had an astigmatism, was a Toric lens, $375, and right eye was a Restor lens, $795. Total fees with surgery center fees, doctor's fees, eye drops and lens fee was approximately $4700.

Wow! I'm going to have to do this in my right eye pretty soon, as it has a cloudy spot right over the fovea that prevents a complete correction. I'm 69. But the add-on cost I'm being quoted is $1900 for toric and $2800 for multi-focal, each, although those costs include ORA and LASIK enhancement if necessary. I was reviewing the cataract thread from about 2009 recently, and these add-on costs seem to have doubled. This doctor is highly recommended, but I may have to call a couple and compare.

jtp1947, how did the cost reach $4700 if Medicare was paying for at least 80%, but optional lenses only about $1200?

mrsstats, there are several older threads on cataracts. You can search with the little search window in the upper right corner.