I had my right eye cataract surgery done on Tuesday. They took a series of measurements before the surgery and also found my astigmatism to be bad and needed immediate attention. In addition to the cataract surgery, I ended up with a Toric Lens. I had my post-ops done yesterday, and all went well. Today is the first day my eyes do not feel puffy. The vision clarity improvement is significant, and supposively improve further over the next few days as the eye heals. I highly recommend it for those having the same issue. Sadly, it cost $900, and my insurance does not cover it. Luckily, I set aside money in my medical Federal Spending Account for such expenditures.
Cataract Surgery
- Thread starter Crish63
- Start date
Congrats, I had both eyes done several years ago and the improvement was dramatic. Kind of like looking through a microscope with a blue tint for awhile.
I definitely need it! From my very limited searching, $900/eye without insurance seems very good. Congratulations! Any tips, tricks, advise etc?
Best wishes for a speedy recovery. I had both eyes done in early '23, right eye for distance and left for closer vision. I use readers/cheaters now for some activities, and progressive lenses for my ARA/ABRA RF games. Eye doctor said I was "in-between" the prescriptions offered, so it was going to be a hit or miss on long term results about needing glasses. I've worn glasses/contacts most of my 70 yrs, so it doesn't bother me except when I can't find one of the xx pair of cheaters I've got around the house, in the car, out in the shed, wife's purse, etc. LOL
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Try to put it off until you need it.
When you need it be ready to make some compromises.
I had mine done many years ago as well. The biggest changes I noticed is things got brighter and whiter and the ability to change the focal plane became virtually nil.
Depending on your coverage your lense options may be limited without paying more out of pocket.
There are pros and cons to every lense so try to educate yourself. Halos seem to come with the territory regardless of lense but there have probably been some advances in recent years.
The lenses I got are "multifocal" concentric rings and no longer offered according to the doctor who did my wife's eyes because people complained too much after getting them. On the plus side I can switch between relatively close up tasks like reading and computer work or distance tasks like driving and shooting without too much problem. I need readers for tiny print on labels like tylenol but I can still make out labels on food type stuff.
The cons for me is when a bright light hits my eyes I get a combo starburst/ring kind of effect ... LEDs, streetlights, headlights, etc. ... not debilitating but annoying.
Whatever lenses my wife got still requires her to have readers but she's also a bit more finicky than me having had 20-20 her entire life where I've had glasses since kindergarten.
Multifocal lenses and ringed starburst effect.
Try to put it off until you need it.
When you need it be ready to make some compromises.
I had mine done many years ago as well. The biggest changes I noticed is things got brighter and whiter and the ability to change the focal plane became virtually nil.
Depending on your coverage your lense options may be limited without paying more out of pocket.
There are pros and cons to every lense so try to educate yourself. Halos seem to come with the territory regardless of lense but there have probably been some advances in recent years.
The lenses I got are "multifocal" concentric rings and no longer offered according to the doctor who did my wife's eyes because people complained too much after getting them. On the plus side I can switch between relatively close up tasks like reading and computer work or distance tasks like driving and shooting without too much problem. I need readers for tiny print on labels like tylenol but I can still make out labels on food type stuff.
The cons for me is when a bright light hits my eyes I get a combo starburst/ring kind of effect ... LEDs, streetlights, headlights, etc. ... not debilitating but annoying.
Whatever lenses my wife got still requires her to have readers but she's also a bit more finicky than me having had 20-20 her entire life where I've had glasses since kindergarten.
Multifocal lenses and ringed starburst effect.
Starbursts, especially from high beams at night, are awful - definitely the worst thing about the lenses.
Also be aware that developing floaters afterwards is common, and can be easily treated with an NdYag laser.
I was told not to read or "focus" for ten days post-op. I didn't make it; wonder if that poor compliance affected the end result.
I don't recall that for mine. I took it easy for about three days then BAU.
I *think* the reason for the rest period is to give whatever the little tendrils are that "grab" the "arms" on the lense to take hold. But I don't really know because I just trusted the science on this part and didn't look into it.
There are some newer lenses that have a small amount of flex to them that let you focus more like a natural lense but I haven't heard "great" things about those. People seem disappointed in the amount of juice for the squeeze.
I agree but dont wait too long. This stuff has come a long way. The absolute best advice I can give is "Do a lot of research on your eye surgeon. They are not all created equal." The guy I got specialized in those, thats about all he did, 4-5 or more per week. He did a ton of test and even scribed out the astigmatism. I got the long range lenses, but they were fit to alleviate the astig's. I went from 20/90, 20/80 to 20/15 and 20/18. My LR is great and I can read a newspaper in bright light w/o cheaters, though if the light dims even a bit, I need them. I get very little of the starbursts but I will admit night driving isnt much fun anymore, I jsut try to plan it so I'm in by dark.Try to put it off until you need it.
When you need it be ready to make some compromises.
I had mine done many years ago as well. The biggest changes I noticed is things got brighter and whiter and the ability to change the focal plane became virtually nil.
Depending on your coverage your lense options may be limited without paying more out of pocket.
There are pros and cons to every lense so try to educate yourself. Halos seem to come with the territory regardless of lense but there have probably been some advances in recent years.
The lenses I got are "multifocal" concentric rings and no longer offered according to the doctor who did my wife's eyes because people complained too much after getting them. On the plus side I can switch between relatively close up tasks like reading and computer work or distance tasks like driving and shooting without too much problem. I need readers for tiny print on labels like tylenol but I can still make out labels on food type stuff.
The cons for me is when a bright light hits my eyes I get a combo starburst/ring kind of effect ... LEDs, streetlights, headlights, etc. ... not debilitating but annoying.
Whatever lenses my wife got still requires her to have readers but she's also a bit more finicky than me having had 20-20 her entire life where I've had glasses since kindergarten.
Multifocal lenses and ringed starburst effect.
My neighbor went with his normal Dr. an older guy who did one or two a month, max. John ended up all but blind in one eye and not great sight in the other. Why?
Research your surgeon well, its your life and your vision.
Tip;
Don't be a weenie like me and put it off. Run (don't walk) and get it done.
I kicked myself for waiting as long as I did.
I've had both done one year apart which gave time for all healing, follow up, etc. Personally, I think doing both at once is a fool's game but if that's what you want, go for it.
I was brought back to 20/20 distance. I got single focal lenses...distant lenses only...as I have two friends who selected the multi-focal and essentially couldn't drive at night (well, not if you count doing 30 mph in a 50 zone as driving) due to flares and star bursts. To me, $1.50 reading glasses out of the dollar store and carrying a pair around was just not egregious...particularly compared to the risk of the multi-focal. Also, I went from 2.75 mag before the cataract surgery to 1.50. That is, my close up vision actually improved but not enough to comfortably read small print (newspaper if there are such things still). As said, personally I'm fine with it.
Now, everybody's financial means are different but I was presented with the option to pay $1,500/lens for them to use a laser machine to cut the organic lens into nice even size squares prior to them actually opening the eye. This is compared to them opening your eye, going in with instruments to dice and slice the organic lens and then take the chunks out....then install the new artificial lens. I asked my Dr what provided the lowest risk and of course it was the laser. Now, I'm sure he had a financial interest in getting his machines used and paid for but to me it was obvious that the less time the eye needs to be open...and the less mucking around in there cutting up and removing the organic lens...the better so I went for it.
I also don't remember being told not to read...but I do remember disliking the plastic eye cup I needed to wear at night for a week to protect the eye while it healed sufficient that there were no worries about poking it in your sleep, etc.
As mentioned, colors became more cold. Cataracts yellow the lenses but it happens so slowly that...well, at least I never noticed it. But, after the first eye being done, the difference was immediately clear. Look thru the new lens with other eye close then switch. Holy cow...big difference.
Also, ask your Dr about Posterior Vitreous Detachment. Basically, the eye is filled with vitreous jelly that's kind of in a sack and is attached to the back of your eye to where the optical nerve is located and on the retina to either side. Normally with aging this jelly becomes more liquid and shrinks and often can detach at the back (hence posterior detachment) as a routine part of aging. Most of us will never notice that it happened.
With cataract surgery, the artificial lens is typically thinner than your organic lens (depends a lot on the specs of the needed lens). So, couple normal aging and its effect on the vitreous jelly with added space in there from a thinner lens replacing the thicker organic one and this can frequently result in PVD (if it hasn't happened already from aging).
Symptoms are good size floaters in your vision and in particular a circular floater (looks like a Cheerio floating around in there) which is one generated from the detachment point at the optical nerve. Also, you might have a flash of light at the periphery of your vision. All this is ok and goes away. Floaters tend to break up and your brain starts to edit them out. I found the flashing light to go away pretty quickly.
This is NOT the repeated flashing light symptom of retinal tear/detachment. I was told to be very aware of three possible things: 1) repeated flashing light, 2) snow globe effect and, 3) a curtain coming down over part of your vision. This is from retina damage (torn or detached) and is NOT PVD.
Only surgery in my life that I have zero regrets about.
Cheers and best of luck.
I was brought back to 20/20 distance. I got single focal lenses...distant lenses only...as I have two friends who selected the multi-focal and essentially couldn't drive at night (well, not if you count doing 30 mph in a 50 zone as driving) due to flares and star bursts. To me, $1.50 reading glasses out of the dollar store and carrying a pair around was just not egregious...particularly compared to the risk of the multi-focal. Also, I went from 2.75 mag before the cataract surgery to 1.50. That is, my close up vision actually improved but not enough to comfortably read small print (newspaper if there are such things still). As said, personally I'm fine with it.
Now, everybody's financial means are different but I was presented with the option to pay $1,500/lens for them to use a laser machine to cut the organic lens into nice even size squares prior to them actually opening the eye. This is compared to them opening your eye, going in with instruments to dice and slice the organic lens and then take the chunks out....then install the new artificial lens. I asked my Dr what provided the lowest risk and of course it was the laser. Now, I'm sure he had a financial interest in getting his machines used and paid for but to me it was obvious that the less time the eye needs to be open...and the less mucking around in there cutting up and removing the organic lens...the better so I went for it.
I also don't remember being told not to read...but I do remember disliking the plastic eye cup I needed to wear at night for a week to protect the eye while it healed sufficient that there were no worries about poking it in your sleep, etc.
As mentioned, colors became more cold. Cataracts yellow the lenses but it happens so slowly that...well, at least I never noticed it. But, after the first eye being done, the difference was immediately clear. Look thru the new lens with other eye close then switch. Holy cow...big difference.
Also, ask your Dr about Posterior Vitreous Detachment. Basically, the eye is filled with vitreous jelly that's kind of in a sack and is attached to the back of your eye to where the optical nerve is located and on the retina to either side. Normally with aging this jelly becomes more liquid and shrinks and often can detach at the back (hence posterior detachment) as a routine part of aging. Most of us will never notice that it happened.
With cataract surgery, the artificial lens is typically thinner than your organic lens (depends a lot on the specs of the needed lens). So, couple normal aging and its effect on the vitreous jelly with added space in there from a thinner lens replacing the thicker organic one and this can frequently result in PVD (if it hasn't happened already from aging).
Symptoms are good size floaters in your vision and in particular a circular floater (looks like a Cheerio floating around in there) which is one generated from the detachment point at the optical nerve. Also, you might have a flash of light at the periphery of your vision. All this is ok and goes away. Floaters tend to break up and your brain starts to edit them out. I found the flashing light to go away pretty quickly.
This is NOT the repeated flashing light symptom of retinal tear/detachment. I was told to be very aware of three possible things: 1) repeated flashing light, 2) snow globe effect and, 3) a curtain coming down over part of your vision. This is from retina damage (torn or detached) and is NOT PVD.
Only surgery in my life that I have zero regrets about.
Cheers and best of luck.
I thought he was going to be selling some snake oil but basically 45 minutes to say "surgery is how you remove floaters".
had both done 3 yr ago. improvement but not a miracle cure. i got no astigmatism correction. $ issue. i would say wait til in need but not desperate. still have some fog issues and trouble with focus. still in trifocals. but still happy with results. don't expect perfection at old age. i remember very well when the surg was 6 hr and several days sand bagged in place for days. then thick heavy glasses. an enormous improvement today. took care of a few early on the carrier.
How long ago were yours done? Mine were about 6-7 years ago, two weeks apart. They took the bandages off the next day. The surgery was minimal, he pokes a tiny Z shaped hole in the side, scrapes up the lens, vacuums it out, then puts the new one in and unrolls it. The Z shape of the incision needs no stiches. All in all it was almost a non event except for seeing better.
overall? OK. thought it was tat removal and augmentation but that is plastics only i guess.
Same, same for the wife, same for everybody I know. The one time 2 weeks was true.
Wife also had a pressure regulation problem they treated by drilling an extra hole in her eye.
Technology has changed a lot in the last 5 years. I had laser cataract surgery about 5 months ago on both eyes, performed one day apart. The laser surgery can also correct for minor astigmatism at the same time.
There are a lot of lens options available. Monofocals that insurance will pay for. Various types of multifocal lenses and light adjustable lenses. The later two are premium lenses that insurance may not cover.
I decided to use the light adjustable lenses. These lenses can be adjusted with ultraviolet light after the surgery. After surgery the doctor will determine if any corrections need to be made to provide the targeted prescription. If adjustments are needed and they will be made with intense UV light that will change the shape of the lens.
The downside to this type of lens is that the UV adjustments are made a few weeks after the surgery and you must prevent all exposure to UV, by wearing provided glasses or sunglasses, until after the final UV lock-in treatment.
I only needed one UV adjustments about 4 weeks after surgery. The first adjustment only took 19 seconds. After that there were two lock-in adjustments that set the macromers and prevent future changes. The first was 90 seconds for each eye. The second 120 seconds. Possibly the longest 90-120 seconds of my life. The UV light is extremely bright and you cannot move your eye during the process. These adjustments also left me seeing all things white as pink. This is commonly referred to as erythropsia and slowing fades away, back to normal color vision, after a few days.
Vision is 20/15 in both eyes, with no astigmatism. I no longer need reading glasses to work on the computer, use an iPhone or more importantly dial the combination on my gun safe.
That said, I will admit to using +0.75 reading glasses when my eyes are tired.
Unfortunately insurance does not typically pay for either the laser surgery or the light adjustable lenses. So my out of pocket was significant. But I am happy with the results.
Probably the most important aspect about the various types of surgery is to follow the doctor's post op instructions and use the eye drops.
Here is someones experience on reddit - LALs - Light Adjustable Lens: My Experience
There are a lot of lens options available. Monofocals that insurance will pay for. Various types of multifocal lenses and light adjustable lenses. The later two are premium lenses that insurance may not cover.
I decided to use the light adjustable lenses. These lenses can be adjusted with ultraviolet light after the surgery. After surgery the doctor will determine if any corrections need to be made to provide the targeted prescription. If adjustments are needed and they will be made with intense UV light that will change the shape of the lens.
The downside to this type of lens is that the UV adjustments are made a few weeks after the surgery and you must prevent all exposure to UV, by wearing provided glasses or sunglasses, until after the final UV lock-in treatment.
I only needed one UV adjustments about 4 weeks after surgery. The first adjustment only took 19 seconds. After that there were two lock-in adjustments that set the macromers and prevent future changes. The first was 90 seconds for each eye. The second 120 seconds. Possibly the longest 90-120 seconds of my life. The UV light is extremely bright and you cannot move your eye during the process. These adjustments also left me seeing all things white as pink. This is commonly referred to as erythropsia and slowing fades away, back to normal color vision, after a few days.
Vision is 20/15 in both eyes, with no astigmatism. I no longer need reading glasses to work on the computer, use an iPhone or more importantly dial the combination on my gun safe.
That said, I will admit to using +0.75 reading glasses when my eyes are tired.
Unfortunately insurance does not typically pay for either the laser surgery or the light adjustable lenses. So my out of pocket was significant. But I am happy with the results.
Probably the most important aspect about the various types of surgery is to follow the doctor's post op instructions and use the eye drops.
Here is someones experience on reddit - LALs - Light Adjustable Lens: My Experience
I had my right eye done in 2020. Doc said I needed it but I wasn't sure... My wife convinced me to have the surgery and I wish to this day I did not have it done. It will be a cold day before someone cuts on my left eye. I've spoken before on the problems and a post-op laser procedure to remove scar tissue. I won't bore you again but I am glad for those who've had positive results. Now my wife is facing cataracts.....
That sucks. I have a good friend from college who had both eyes done at age 55 or so. Pure success. My mother had both eyes done around 9 mos ago and success for her too. I'm just hoping I don't ever need it because I have heard about results like yours, on cataract surgery and on the LRK/laser for Rx change.
