Cataracts

[goodbasil]

Due for cataract surgery on the 23rd.
Anyone here had it? Is there anything to be concerned about apart from the cost?

[Bob Myers]

I had cataract surgery this last November. First the left eye and two weeks later the right eye. There really is no pain involved. I remember the anesthesiologist saying he was giving me something to relax me a bit and it seemed like it was a few minutes later I woke up and they said your wife is here to pick you up. I doubt if I was there an hour. It really improved my vision. I had a scar on my left cornea from an injury years ago, so I still need glasses to read.

[Stiletto]

My Brother had it done last year. They like to do one eye at a time. He was booked in on a waiting list in the state system, which seemed to be taking forever to happen.
I said to him, 'you dont mind spending money on your Jaguar, time to spend money on yourself' Which he did.. It cost around NZ$3K.
A month later the public system rang up at short notice and they did the other eye, which cost him nothing. It's all outpatient surgery.
It has made a huge difference to his life. he has been able to get back into guitar luthiering.

As a matter of interest, what is the cost where you are?

[Robbie 2]

Had both eyes done 4 years ago.
Same day but 20 mins apart.
Result = brilliant!!!
I have been shortsighted since I was 12 yrs old
Instantly clear perfect vision for long distance.....
BUT.....I do have to wear reading glasses for short distance now.....No worries.
Everything outside is now BRIGHT so sunglasses needed at all times outside.
Listen to your Doc....the 1st 3 weeks you need DARK sunglasses outside and shady rooms inside.
At least that was what I was told and I didn't want to stuff the new lenses up so yes Doc!!!

[dutchpp]

My father had both eyes done a couple of years ago. Nothing to worry about.
His vision improved enormously.
The costs were €0,-, almost every Dutch person has health insurance.

[hawkeye54]

Basil, I had mine done 10 years ago, as soon as I qualified for our 'Medicare' . I had had 20 / 800 vision and really thick glasses before that. As I had worn 'Mono-vision ' contact lenses in my teens/ 20's / 30's, the Doctor did one eye for distance vision, and the other for close up. I have not worn glasses in the 10 years since - a welcome change. As above, please follow medical instructions.



Good luck,


Rick

[JayInOz]

My Dad had to be at the hospital about 6.30 in the morning and it was about an hours drive. He got out of bed before daylight to make sure he got all his chores done with time to spare. Got to the hospital on time but then had to wait hours before the surgery. One of my sisters was waiting at the hospital to drive him home. The surgeon came out all smiles and hand wringing and telling her that there had been a bit of a mishap but he was sure her father would be OK. Turns out Dad fell asleep in the middle of the procedure, woke up with a start with no idea where he was- and sat up! Got a scalpel wound in the eye and scared everyone in the room half to death. His long distance vision was back to perfect but he still needed reading glasses. He was happy with the result. JayInOz

[Peerie Maa]

Had it done this year to one eye as an out patient. Awake all through the op. Had to wait a few weeks for it to settle before getting new specs.
No hassle, no discomfort, all round sucess.

[John Smith]

Due for cataract surgery on the 23rd.
Anyone here had it? Is there anything to be concerned about apart from the cost?

I had it. Did one eye at a time. USE THE DROPS THEY GIVE YOU.

[bob winter]

I had mine done years ago. No cost as far as I can recall. Wife had hers done a few months ago. Fees have crept into the system for this and that adding to several hundred dollars over both eyes for high end lenses etc. and she had to take a whole slew of drops that I have no recollection of having had to take.

There is still a warm blanket and cookie after the procedure, though.

[ron ll]

I think I need it. But I have heard from many that rave about colors being brighter and more saturated. I very much like my current color perception and REALLY don’t want it to change.

[phiil]

When I had mine done, I thought we were having an especially bright and colorful autumn. Turns out I’d been missing quite a lot.
Highly recommended.

[beernd]

I had mine done, I opted for -1.5 lenses as I read an awfull lot.
There were some minor costs for the drops I had to use (less than €10)
I am very relieved since I was slowly going blind.

[Hugh MacD]

My wife had hers done a few years ago. Life changing for her. She wept at the resurgence of color into her life again.

[John Meachen]

Its something I have to look forward to.... Thankfully,I have only heard good things from those who have been through the process.

[ron ll]

Speaking of color, my step dad had a great sense of humor and it showed in his fashion. He always wore loud and mismatching colors, it was just part of his personality. When he came home from cataract surgery he was aghast at his closet. He didn’t believe they were his clothes. He said he would never have worn purple pants or lime green shirts, among other odd colors. He kept his sense of humor, but he changed out his wardrobe.

[hawkeye54]

When I had mine done, I thought we were having an especially bright and colorful autumn. Turns out I’d been missing quite a lot.
Highly recommended.

We bought a new home in 2008, and had the eye surgery in 2012 - for the intervening 4 years, I believed that the faux marble shower surround was plain white - after the surgery, I noted that it had shading and the typical black marble veining ! Also, I had painted the rooms in the house, thought I did a great job. With my 'new eyes', I noticed a bunch of little places I missed.. . .

Rick

[goodbasil]

Mine will cost about $4,000 CDN, for one eye.

[Vince Brennan]

Been slowly losing my visual acuity but really didn't concentrate on it until just lately when I found I could no longer read tiny print in some computer parts manuals, which REALLY are tiny.

What convinced me fer sure was trying to put an inline lamp switch on the cord, and discovering (with a magnifying glass) that I had completely ignored the pre-bored holes for the conductors. I had been wrapping them around the contact screws and couldn't figure out why the case wouldn't close up.

Wife had hers done last month and raves about it.

Got an appointment to see those eye docs in January.

NOT looking forward to it, as I have a distinct phobia about having anything done around my eyes or face.

[dwr9]

I had both eyes done a little over a year ago, ten days apart. Still need glasses for close up, but very happy with the results. Medicare paid the whole bill for the basic surgery I had. If you want them to use lasers for the surgery, Medicare don't pay for that. You can get multi focal lenses so you don't need glasses for either near or far, but again, Medicare won't pay for that either. They put me to sleep and I didn't feel a thing. Doug

[Robbie 2]

I think I need it. But I have heard from many that rave about colors being brighter and more saturated. I very much like my current color perception and REALLY don’t want it to change.

Before the surgery, my eyes were casting towards the warm spectrum.
Every thing was getting slowly brown/redder tinged.
Afterwards, eyesight is pure white and colours vivid and correct.
It is really like having a warm halogen lightbulb in a room then changing it to a pure white LED lightbulb.

[Dave Gray]

I had new lenses and corneas transplanted at the same time. Each eye was a month apart. Not on Medicare yet but the most out of pocket was 3k or less. I was aware and awake the entire time but nicely numb between eye drops and anesthesia, which, apparently, had fentanyl mixed in. I know because an observer asked.

I have to use steroid drops once a day (was three times) to reduce rejection risks.

I also was pretty much legally blind, even with variable focus glasses. I still need a much lesser prescription for near and nothing for far. Things are much less yellow now. Very happy to be able to see!

[Jim Bow]

I’m all done. Was asked if I preferred distance sight or close sight. I didn’t want to have to find glasses every time I wanted to read, so I now wear glasses and take them off to read.

What was said above, if they prescribe drops, use them religiously.
Also, if the nurse offers you a nice warm blanket, take it!

[JayInOz]

I told you I think that a feller complained once that he kept seeing little brown spots in front of his eyes. His friend asked if he'd seen an optometrist, to which he replied- No- just little brown spots