Cataracts

porsche tech · 08-05-2020, 05:44 AM

Sitting here waiting for my wife to take me to the outpatient surgery center for my left eye cataract surgery. I had the right one done 2 weeks ago with magnificent results. Anxious to get the second one. They implant a multifocal lens which is good for close medium and distance. I've worn glasses since I was in HS! I still find myself trying to take them off when I'm getting ready for bed. Old habits are hard to break.--Dave

crustychief · crustychief's Garage

good luck with the surgery, I had ASA PRK done july 10th, my vision is still improving, already way better than before though.

billybek · billybek's Garage

Hope it goes as well as the right one did!

masraum · 08-05-2020, 05:49 AM

I know quite a few folks that have had it done. THe results are generally very positive based on what I've heard.

RKDinOKC · RKDinOKC's Garage

Have had good luck with my caddilac surgeries. Good luck to you.

NY65912 · 08-05-2020, 08:45 AM

Very timely for me. I went to the opthamologist Monday. She said that I will need cataract surgery in the future. I am very anxiety ridden, I get knocked out for everything. Do they knock you out for this surgery? I'm told no by most docs. Could be a deal breaker.

I also mentioned that I drive a Rincoln not a Catarac. She wasn't very happy with my joke. Oh well.

nota · 08-05-2020, 09:02 AM

after 7-8 years you may find a grey fuzziness returning to your vision
the sack the holds the lenz can get affected by UV over time and
a simple laser procedure will punch holes in the sack and allow full vision to be restored
I had to do that

masraum · 08-05-2020, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nota

after 7-8 years you may find a grey fuzziness returning to your vision
the sack the holds the lenz can get affected by UV over time and
a simple laser procedure will punch holes in the sack and allow full vision to be restored
I had to do that

Yep, very common after cataract lens replacement, to after some period of time, to need the laser zap to clear things up. I've had relatives who have had it.

masraum · 08-05-2020, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NY65912

Very timely for me. I went to the opthamologist Monday. She said that I will need cataract surgery in the future. I am very anxiety ridden, I get knocked out for everything. Do they knock you out for this surgery? I'm told no by most docs. Could be a deal breaker.

I also mentioned that I drive a Rincoln not a Catarac. She wasn't very happy with my joke. Oh well.

My wife has some anxiety around surgery, and was freaking out a little while talking to the anesthetist before surgery. The anesthetist, being forewarned was able to enhance things to the point that my wife didn't remember anything about the process.

Seahawk · 08-05-2020, 09:24 AM

What does vision with cayteracs look like - blurry, etc?

I ask because, again, timely, I get an exam in two weeks because my left eye is slightly blurry compared to my right.

masraum · 09:36 AM

Since my wife has been through cataract stuff in the past year or so, cataracts can occur anywhere in the field of vision (at the edge or more centrally). They also develop slowly, so they sneak up on you because your vision slowly degrades. Things get fuzzy. It gets hard to read, and you need more light. Colors dim and become less saturated. You could have double vision (usually in one eye). You could become more sensitive to bright lights and glare. For my wife they developed centrally in one eye. I understand that it's often like looking through fog or frosted glass.

masraum · 08-05-2020, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seahawk

What does vision with cayteracs look like - blurry, etc?

I ask because, again, timely, I get an exam in two weeks because my left eye is slightly blurry compared to my right.

I noticed when I was 40 or 41 that my left eye was starting to see differently from my right. The difference was tiny, at first. The left wouldn't focus on close stuff like the right would. Now 10 years later, the left is quite a bit different from the right, but no cataracts, just very different vision. I've never worn glasses in my lift, but started wearing readers 4-5 years ago.

How are colors between the right and left eye? If things are basically the same (other than not being as sharp, then I'd be surprised if it was cataracts. I believe they usually dim and desaturate your vision quite a bit. But I'm not a Dr, and I haven't had them myself. It's just from speaking to a bunch of folks while dealing with my wife dealing with them recently.

dad911 · 08-05-2020, 09:49 AM

I had RK surgery (vision correction) in the '90's. The RK caused some ghosting/shadows later on, but it was virtually unnoticeable, especially with cataracts. When I had cataract surgery, vision improved, and now the ghosting in that eye is close to unbearable. The surgeon that did the cataract did not map/scan my eye, he should have.

Long story short, if you have had any eve injury or vision correction surgery, there may be complications to cataract.

NY65912 · 08-05-2020, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by masraum

My wife has some anxiety around surgery, and was freaking out a little while talking to the anesthetist before surgery. The anesthetist, being forewarned was able to enhance things to the point that my wife didn't remember anything about the process.

Thanks, that helped.

porsche tech · 08-05-2020, 10:04 AM

Just got back from the left eye and it's day and night difference already. Still wearing the dark glasses as they dilate big time. The first one was pretty well 20/20 the next day. There was no pain involved either time and it's very quick. He used a laser to make a slit, break up the cataract and suck it out. Then he inserts the new multifocal lens.
NY65912, they did not knock me out but put me in la-la land when he put the lens in, no anesthesia for the laser removal part. I also have pre glaucoma so at the same time, they install little drain things that help reduce the pressure. I also have astigmatism and that was corrected too. There are several varieties of the surgery, depending on which lens they use, if they use a laser, etc. I opted to go with the high dollar version and don't regret it.

gchappel · 08-05-2020, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NY65912

Very timely for me. I went to the opthamologist Monday. She said that I will need cataract surgery in the future. I am very anxiety ridden, I get knocked out for everything. Do they knock you out for this surgery? I'm told no by most docs. Could be a deal breaker.

I also mentioned that I drive a Rincoln not a Catarac. She wasn't very happy with my joke. Oh well.

I have had two eye surgeries so far, first was retinal surgery. That caused a cataract to form, almost expected, so I then had cataract surgery. Of coarse two different surgeons. I asked each of them, and they did not routinely put people to sleep. I said in the nicest kindest way there was no way in H&@) I was having this while awake, and if they would not put my to sleep I would find someone who would. Although it is up to the anesthesiologist, I was out for both my procedures and remember nothing. Recovery was quick and easy, I was lucky. Hope you have the same outcomes.
Gary

porsche tech · 08-05-2020, 10:15 AM

To Seahawk: my vision was noticeably worse in dim light / overcast conditions. (Hard to see the golf ball). Also they say (and I had some of this too) that you might experience a "halo" around bright lights--headlights, floodlights, etc. I had that too. My vision was a little blurry too even with my glasses. Hope that helps.--Dave

Seahawk · 08-05-2020, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by porsche tech

To Seahawk: my vision was noticeably worse in dim light / overcast conditions. (Hard to see the golf ball). Also they say (and I had some of this too) that you might experience a "halo" around bright lights--headlights, floodlights, etc. I had that too. My vision was a little blurry too even with my glasses. Hope that helps.--Dave

It does and thanks.

I am glad the surgery went well. The whole eye thing just freaks me out, my Achilles Cataract so to speak.

Best and heal well.

asphaltgambler · 08-05-2020, 11:02 AM

Did you know that 40% of Asians have cateracts? The other 60% have BMW's. Badda-bing. I'll be here all week, at least until Friday afternoon.......

jcommin · jcommin's Garage

I had surgery to both eyes as well. Before the surgery, my vision was deteriorating. I was having trouble seeing signs on the highway. I have been wearing glasses since I was six and bifocals since the age of 13. I don't have the best eyes.
It was amazing difference when the left eye was done. Everything was brighter and bluer. Vision out of my right eye was dull and reddish. Huge difference. I paint in pastels as a serious hobby and I began to wonder what color and value I was really seeing.

My only complication is that I got a torn retina in my left eye 6 months later. This was serious and required immediate attention.

It has been about 8 years since my surgeries - I get annual eye exams as well as a check up from the retina doctor who did the surgery. A couple of things: Nota and Masraum are correct: over time the eyes can cloud up and that can be corrected by a laser zap. No hospitalization is needed. It can be done in a doctor's office. The other, the likelyhood of re-tearing the retina is high.

One more thing: Don't go on Youtube to learn about catarack surgery especially if you are having anxiety over the procedure. It made it worse for me.