<p>I posted earlier about the difference between eyes being a possible problem. The doc did leave me at -2.5 in my left eye, with the right being -3.75. Barring a detachment in my right, it shouldn’t be ripe for cataract surgery for 5-10 years. After my retinal surgery I was being told I might never get better than 20/40 in the left, but yesterday they did a refraction and I got to 20/20 with correction so I’m very happy. They’ll do another refraction at the 1 month followup and then I’ll get new glasses because the vision can change slightly.</p>
<p>There is a slight cataract in my right eye and if the left eye didn’t need to be done, he would leave it alone. The only reason for the doing the right one now is to get the vision in it similar to what my new left one will be.</p>
<p>Had my surgery 6 days ago. Easy peasy. The worse thing was itching for about three days afterwards. Refresh eye drops are my best friend.</p>
<p>Well, I survived my surgery today! I love IV sedation! My vision is a bit whacked right now, but my left eye vision is certainly improved! No pain, just dry and a little achy. Lots of distortion when I wear my glasses, so I understand why they said I might prefer no glasses immediately. I do believe I will sign up for the right one! I have a see-through shield on as they said either shield or glasses when I am awake for week 1, shield when I sleep.</p>
<p>They were well prepared for me. Anti-nausea drug immediately (stomach was rolling), BP very high, first dose of versed in preop barely helped, 2nd put me out and I remembered nothing else. Anesthetist said it took 6 doses to get me through.</p>
<p>They were running behind so 2.5 hours door to door. Very glad it is over.</p>
<p>So glad that the surgery turned out well. I hope that your vision is better than you hoped for. The anticipation is much worse than the reality in this case. Just make sure that you do the drops when prescribed.</p>
<p>I went for my post-op visit Friday. I should have paid more attention to annoyingdad! I will basically be doing no drill and fill until I get my right eye done March 19. They just can’t make the lenses work for both eyes at the same time. I really did not understand that would actually happen. Such a bummer.</p>
<p>So I got a pair of readers, but they only work for my new eye. I have a patch to put over the left lens of my glasses and then my right is good for near and far vision, though depth may be off. So I should be able to do simple things like cement crowns and take impressions. We will set up a referral system tomorrow for those who can’t wait until April.</p>
<p>At least with the readers, the double vision is gone and I can read. Since my new eye is now 20/30, I can drive! But is all very, very strange.</p>
<p>It will all be worth it once you have the second eye corrected, dentmom. So glad your first surgery went well. 18 months post-surgery, I can’t remember what it was like to have lousy distance vision. Driving is a pleasure. It’s something of a pain to have to use my readers so frequently - makes me wish I had looked into that the fancy lens option (toric?) more carefully.</p>
<p>You may find you tire more easily until the second surgery is done. My ophthalmologist told me it was because my brain was working overtime figuring out how to see.</p>
<p>Update: I had the second surgery today! One of my pts works for the eye doctor and my staff begged her to get me in early. She got me added to today’s schedule.</p>
<p>I was still petrified, though BP was not quite as high, and they got me sedated a little quicker to get me calm. Still took just as much versed/fentanyl as eye #1. I am feeling quite wired from it all.</p>
<p>So now I have great distance vision for the first time in 48 years and I can already feel that my first eye is not working so hard. I am using my glasses with new lenses and can read fairly well, though right eye fuzzy. It will all settle and get tweaked in a few weeks.</p>
<p>On to my new life…again, thanks to all!</p>
<p>Congrats, dentmom4, on your new life with improved vision. I had my cataract surgery back in 2008 and had a checkup last week with my regular optometrist. My vision is holding up great, and he recommended new drops to help with the dryness, which is my biggest complaint. Back when I got my first pair of glasses in 1967, who would have thought I’d be going through my 50s without glasses.</p>
<p>Yes, I am not liking the dry eyes. They told me today it may be months before I don’t feel like I have a contact in my eye. Gggggrrrrr. I am, however, getting used to using drops, though not with an open eye.</p>
<p>I do love the peripheral vision with no glasses. Glad to hear your vision is holding up well. I hope for the same.</p>
<p>Great news dentmom4!</p>
<p>So, can anyone explain why they don’t just do both eyes at once? My mother needs cataract surgery, and I’m looking into stuff for her.</p>
<p>I understand that both eyes may be done at once, though rarely. I’m guessing that doing one eye at a time is preferable because, although it’s very low-risk surgery, it’s best to risk only one eye at a time. There may be some patients for whom doing both eyes at once is a viable option.</p>
<p>It’s apparently a topic of some controversy among ophthalmologists: [Simultaneous</a> Bilateral Cataract Surgery: The Debate Continues](<a href=“http://www.aao.org/publications/eyenet/201109/cataract.cfm]Simultaneous”>http://www.aao.org/publications/eyenet/201109/cataract.cfm)</p>
<p>Not cataracts, but was just (Monday) diagnosed with vitreous gel degeneration in my left eye, which has started (Friday night) giving me light flashes (like a streak of lightning in the outside edge). I am not even 55! Eye Doc says it’s “normal” but none of my friends (including the 72-year old I’ve known since I’m a kid) has experienced anything like this. Apparently there’s nothing I can do to “fix” it, and I just have to be aware that the retina could tear and then that would require some surgery.</p>
<p>Anyone experience light flashes?</p>
<p>It’s rare to do both eyes at once. Frazzled’s link is worth read. My doc said he wanted to see how the first turned out and insisted that I have 2 weeks minimum in between. I would have done it the next day. My vision was so distorted in between surgeries.</p>
<p>I know nothing about light flashes. Sorry.</p>
<p>Flashes often come when small tears are developing in the retina often due to issues with the gel. It is a sign to go see the eye DR ASAP–especially if you get "floaters soon after. Floaters are bits of blood in the eye from the tear. It needs to be treated ASAP. usually by lasers.</p>
<p>barrons, saw the eye doctor Monday morning without an appointment, walked in as he was unlocking the door. He took a bunch of pictures of my eyes and dilated the eye and concluded no tears (but potential to tear more so than before) and that the vitreous gel is disintegrating. He associated it with “getting older”. He did say if I experience headaches I must stop what I am doing and head to an ER. Have a follow up for my “regular” eye exam in 2 weeks. It certainly is unnerving.</p>
<p>I have. It had cataract surgery…yet. Both of my parents had it…and I have cataracts not yet at the point of needing surgery. Reading this thread makes me WANT to have this done. I would love just a short time without needing glasses for distance!</p>
<p>justamom, I haven’t heard of the gel degeneration diagnosis but my H has been through detached retinas in both eyes. Pay attention to your doc about those symptoms and don’t delay getting treatment. Blindness can occur pretty quickly without surgery. Fortunately, my H has an excellent eye surgeon and is fine but it’s a scary prospect. Floaters and reduction in peripheral vision, as well as the flashes, are symptoms.</p>
<p>I recently had a hyphema in my left eye, cause as yet undiagnosed, although most of the dire ones have been eliminated. I had to forgo all exercise, not bend over or lift anything heavy, and sleep propped up on the couch for three weeks. That was a drag, indeed. You have my sympathy, justamom.</p>
<p>So, I have another cataract question: what type of lens to get?</p>
<p>My mother gets seasick very easily, and cannot tolerate progressives at all. Would she be able to use the more sophisticated type of lens that adjusts focus, or whould she stick to monocuclar? And experiences?</p>