Ok…Thursday afternoon I am having my first cataract surgery, I started the drops today. Three times a day…three drops.
Hoping there will be less drops after the surgery.
Any pearls of wisdom?
There will be drops, but it really isn’t too bad. Do make sure that you follow the instructions for the drops. I have had the surgery in both eyes. It is so easy. For the second eye, my husband was out of town, so my daughter came up. I was the first surgery of the day, so I had to be there at 6:30 am. Lots of drops that morning. I stayed in street clothes. All I needed was to wear a shirt that buttoned.
At 7:40 my daughter was called back, as I was out of surgery. By 8:07 we were driving out of the parking lot. We went home and I put in my first round of drops. We went to breakfast, then came home and did the second round of drops, and then went to sleep. I used a timer to keep tabs of when my next drops were needed.
I had a post-op appointment the next day. The Dr. was pleased. He commented on my using the drops. He said that there were people who didn’t do the drops and that they usually had problems.
You will be amazed at the difference in your vision. Modern medicine at its best.
I started three different drops…three times a day today. Not a problem.
Wondering if I will continue all three after the surgery…and for how long.
I have a follow up on the 13th in the morning…and another on the 20th.
Second eye being done Feb 2.
Take notes. I’m developing a cataract, but the doc says it’s simply age-related and not progressing very quickly.
Good luck on Thursday.
When they tell you not to bend or lift, listen. My friend had to have hers redone because she decided it was okay to garden the next day. Also, wear the glasses as the sun will very bright at first.
I had mine done a couple of years ago and H had both last month. He is so happy with his improved vision.
Good luck.
Wear sunglasses?
My concern is about how I will actually see before I’m fitted with my new glasses. First cataract being done Jan 11.
Second one being done feb 2.
Glasses fitting March 2.
My far point vision will be corrected from 6 or 7 down to 3. Supposedly i won’t need glasses for near point like reading at all.
But until I get my new glasses in March…how will I see? My glasses will be too strong, and my vision isn’t exactly going to be 20/20 without them!
Good luck!
They usually give you dark glasses, but sunglasses should be fine, just wear them.
For the inbetween, go to Costco and get the cheap throw away readers. You can test yourself to see which one you need. I bought two packages in different strengths before H’s surgery and he wound up seeing so well off the bat that I am going to return them.
Readers are for close vision. I am not going to need correction for close…only far.
My daughter has glasses with correction for nearsightedness (far point) that are far less strong than my current glasses…maybe those will work.
Could you use your old glasses - with the lens removed for the operated eye - so only the second eye would have a lens?
@rockvillemom I probably will do that…I have an older pair of glasses I can just pop the lens right out.
But that means I’ll be seeing OK with one eye…and not so OK with the first cataract eye.
One would think they will have some suggestions for me when I’m there for the surgery! Hoping so!
Let us know how they handle. I am extraordinarily nearsighted - -17 in one eye and -19 in the other - looking forward to cataract surgery in my future - anything would be an improvement over my current situation - but I was wondering the same thing.
I had cataract surgery in my left eye a few years ago and my right eye is OK for now. I was a teeny bit nearsighted and opted for 20/20 vision. Now presbyopia has taken hold and I need glasses to see what I am eating!! I’d rather have my vision before cataract.
In addition, I have dry eye and need to apply drops several times a day.
I didn’t opt for 20/20 on the advice of my eye doctor.
They advised me that my near point vision would be a huge issue if I opted for 20/20 far point.
I’ll let you know Friday or Saturday. My friends here say I will have. Sense of that very quickly for my first eye.
My H used the Costco glasses for distance as well before his surgery. You just get the number that you need for your purpose. Before his surgery, he had two pairs, one for close and one for distance. I used the same setting for close that he used for far!
Good luck!
Just checking in. The procedure went well…as did my follow up visit this morning. Absolutely no doubt…I will be able to read and do computer work without glasses. I will still need correction for distance…but they did a trial of my potential corrective lenses this morning…and wow!
Since I’m keeping my one year old frames that I like…they will make me a new left lense which I will have before my right eye gets done on Feb 2.good…because otherwise…I wouldn’t be seeing much!!
Just seeing this … glad all went well. It’s amazing to me how simple this procedure is today. I can remember visiting my friend’s grandma in the hospital after she had cataract surgery. Her head was in a halo device, she was medicated to the 9’s, and it was a huge deal.
Glad it’s working out for you.
Yay! Please rest a bit and don’t lift any objects!!!