cataracts

anyone have cataract surgery?

I am given 2 options in replacing the lens of my eye with the cataract,
focal length so I can see far away or set so i can see close
whichever way it is set, I'll need glasses to see other way

I am thinking about having the AL(artifical lens) sets to see far and then when I read, I'll just wear glasses, since I SHOULD wear prism glasses(double vision) to read.

but I wanted to see if anyone has any experience themselves in the matter
thanks

 

Although I personally haven't had cataracts, my father in law and my auntie have both had cataract surgery. My father in law had his set for distance so for day to day life and when he goes outside he doesn't need glasses. On the other hand my auntie does a bit of sewing so had close up and she now wishes she had given it a bit more thought because she now has to pretty much wear glasses all the time except when she is sewing or reading.
I think my father in law got it right because the only time he wears glasses is when he is reading or doing something small and closeup.

Five years ago my brother had a refractive lensectomy which is a complete lens replacement (for other reasons) and it has been really successful with zero problems. He had worn two pairs of glasses all his life and at 50 years old decided to pay the $10,000 and get it done to both eyes. Now he only wears glasses to read very small writing but he can read magazines and books without glasses. After my brother's success my sister had the same procedure one year later and she had the same good experience as my brother. She had also worn glasses all her life and now doesn't wear them at all.
Here is a link about lensectomy http://www.theeyepractice.com.au/optometrist-sydney/laser_eye_surgery_not_suitable_what_about_lensectomy

Good luck with the procedure it is all pretty routine these days so nothing to fear and the discomfort doesn't last very long. You should have your sight back in about three to four hours.
All the best

 

thanks for the post.
I was considereding getting the lens set for distance, driving and such, I should wear glasses when I read to correct the double vision, so this will likely help a lot, by forcing me to read with the glasses.
but I still don't know for sure..granted I have a lot of reading to do, school, job, etc. but I get by without my prism glasses just fine....
I dont want to wear glasses to watch tv or do stuff around my house, etc. I need to "SEE" what the doctor says about that, I thought a new lens meant my eye would lose the ability to compensate(change from close to far), so I would be forced to wear glasses.
then again, I am only needing the new lens in one eye, my doctor isnt sure if that will get my brain to prefer and use that eye(which is the less dominant eye and needs the prisms to see bilaterally...

My parents and siblings all wear thick glassses, so Im lilely to need glasses for reading anyway

maybe I'll just get a monocle.......


Are you talking about multifocal lenses, the ones that cost $10k?

 

My brother has variable focus lenses inserted so he can see distance as well as near but he can't see very close ie less than ½ a metre (18inches) and so this is where he needs glasses. My sister on the other hand can see near and far but can't see really small things. They both got different lens systems.
I hope this helps
Cheers

 

I had both eyes done and wore glasses and contacts since age 9. They were quite bad at around 10-. About 3-4 years ago (I forgot) I had both eyes done 2 weeks apart. It was very awkward in that time to read or do anything because I needed my multifocus glasses for one eye. (never thought about removing the glass/plastic for the right eye) Now I don't need to wear glasses, only on the computer, 1.50+. It is a miracle to see without any glasses to read or to see fine at any distance. The surgeon had ordered to fly in those lenses from another co. just prior to the operation as the major co. didn't have the lenses for my (bad) vision. I saw the salesman in the day hospital who delivered them. Expensive? yes. Worth it: YES!

My hubby had just one eye done just this last Monday and he's doing fine.

Just a note: I still have the feeling that I have contacts in my eyes and the surgeon said that some people have that feeling.

 

My wife had both eyes done just like OMA two weeks apart and after wearing glasses (multifocal) for 40 years she now only needs them for reading.

 

what are multifocal glasses? my parents both wear prograssive bifocals and I know my Mom has issues with them.

What did you and OMA have done? I'm unclear on what exactly was done?

 

They are the same as progressive bifocals,it's just what they call them here in Belgium.

 

Sorry i missed this part in my last post.:-o

My wife had lazer surgery to remove the cataracts.

It was a simple procedure that was done in a couple of hours on the first eye and then two weeks later she went back for the second op.
Now she just wears glasses for reading and nothing else,she drives and watches TV without them.

I wear variable bifocals but my problem is degenerative and not cataract or i would opt for the same.

 

that sounds like she had the artifical lens that replaced her cloudy lens(cataract) set for distance.
Thanks, I feel optimistic now...and will get the surgery on my right eye and have the lens set at a distance.

THe problem I am having now is insurance. I appplied for a new insurance in August, I thought I had cataracts in june/july. I mentioned I had them on the pre-existing section and clicked the box to include pre-existing conditions.
although I was not officially diagnosed with them until last week.
I also donnt want to have surgery until I hit a healthy BMI, <25, so Im working on that, and should get surgery by december.

Least I get glasses that will give me help within a week....
What a pain in the butt this is.
Thanks for everyones help.

 

oh I SEE!!

thanks for the word of the day AND thanks a ton for the WAFFLES!

 

Sorry, I didn't make myself clear enough. Prior to the surgery I wore multifocus (progressive?) glasses for distance, in between and for reading. Prior to that when wearing contacts I needed reading glasses. After the surgeries I don't need any additional glasses anymore. So now I have similar type of lenses in my eyes as when I had my multifocus/progressive) glasses on. I can read just fine after the procedures, just need glasses for when I am on the computer.

My own cataract lenses were removed and new ones inserted. Painless procedure.

 

Here's a link that explains the procedure better: http://www.reclaimyourvision.com/Cataract/cataract-surgery.aspx

 

Thanks for the reply

I have noticed that when I get customer serice or just service, people don't treat you well. Why am I here? What makes you think I'm going to buy from you?

I get this from waiters, more recently from cashiers, when I go to buy food, they are so busy talking to someone else, they can't help me, the paying customer.

So when I went to my eye doctor(MD), I thought things would be different.,
But I have both my myectomy's done for my strabismus caused by my brain injury done at Wash U(st louis) by Dr.Hart, MD,phd, jr, , who has retired.

So I went there, since they were good and they had my records.
I was assigned a surgeon, female indian, (35-46) and she was unpleasant.
I am there because I am young for cataracts, and although I am versed in medical knowledge, I only got half way through med school before the coma accident.
So I need to be taught wtf they do in cataract surgery and the pros/cons, risks. benifets.
At the front desk, recieptionsit I dealt with just went through a death in the family, or maybe her dog died, I have no explaination for her attitude or behavior towards me, so I assume someone dying is a reasonable occrarance for her behavior.

The tech did basic exams on me, then the MD came in and talked at 50mph and
When I asked her about the procedure cause I HAVE CATARCTS, she said "here" and handed me pamphlets about how its done. I HAVE CATARCTS, I can't read anything, but much little pamphlets?
So I left,
Yes, I said you arent the doctor for me and I got up and left.


I had been speaking to a classmate from med school and he did his training with a surgeon he told me to see.

So, I saw Dr. White at KU Eye Center, and he is the exact opposite of that lady MD I saw. meaning he is awesome.
I know he's awesome because after the tech got everything done, he came(he doesnt know me) and he sat down and was very interested to hear and answer anything I had to ask.
only about half way through the exam did I tell him about my classmate, our mutal friend.

I am going to have the catarct taken out of my left eye
on 11/5. The lens will be set for distance.
I'll need glasses to read, as I do already(prisms).

If I need glasses to see the computer screen or read labels on food at the grocery store, I'll deal with that when it happens.

I don't mean to break Rules by saying what doctors I saw, but I'd go see them. I never like it when people are vague about things that work. Dr. A. White specializes in cataracts and is the guy to see.

 

VA? Visual Acuity?
Right eye, -2.5
Left eye -1.25
I have glasses, I don't use them. Not even the prisms, unless I'm doing prolonged reading my eye muscles can compensate.
My left eye has such little cataract, White wants to see how I do just correcting the right
The problem I have is, I seem to be right eyed dominant. Even now, the words are a blurry mess on the computer screen, yet if I wear an eye patch over my right eye, I am 85% fine to read.

White was so drastically different than the Wash U doc.

Oh, just happened today...My sister canceled on hanging out with me, her mother-in-law too her to the ER for an eye issue and turns out she has a corneal abrasion.
(she lives an hour away or I would have taken he)
Her husband is legally blind and cannot drive.

Eye sight is so nice to have, you don't appreciate it until you have it disrupted.
I will let the board how it goes, thanks for your advice about the whole issue.

 

Over the past 2 years, I've learned all I can about preventing heart diease. (both granddads died from heart disease)
I'd be remiss if I didn't ask what I can do to avoid MD? I am going to have to get IOLs and I'm going to continue to age

 

Thank you for the information contained in this thread.

I'm facing the possibility of cataract surgery myself. I probably wouldn't have seen an Opthamologist if it hadn't been for a Vitreous Hemorrhage I had in my right eye simply because I'm diabetic. During the follow-up exams, it was determined that I have cataracts in both eyes — the left eye (my dominant eye) being worse.

I'm myopic and have astigmatism so, when the Doc and I discuss cataract surgery I'll go for the distance implants and wear glasses when reading or hacking (I can't type) away at my computer.

 

Things could be worse. On my second visit to the opthamologist, I had a slew of pictures taken in both eyes and an angiogram which looked good according to the doctor. I believe I saw the blood vessel that leaked. The hemorrhage was classified as moderate and i didn't need a vitrectomy — the blood vessel wasn't leaking any more and the blood is slooowwwly dissipating. The doctor said both optic nerves are good. I don't know if I've had the OCT — perhaps during my next visit on Dec. 12.

Initially, it caused problems when trying to draw up my insulin syringes (I'm type 2 but insulin dependent [I take Novolog and Lantus — Humulin R and N didn't work very well] because the pills didn't work) and when I was on the computer — I had to zoom in on the web pages, including MG forums.

But, my eyes aren't my only problem — and I'm only going to be 61!

 

I've had two tests for glaucoma in my last two Dr. visits which have both been negative.

I agree with you about eyesight (having had it all my life) because we get 70% of our information through our eyes. Yet, there are those who have done quite well without eyesight for most or all of their lives — their other senses have heightened to compensate for the lack of vision.

My only concern with the surgery(ies) is the risk of infection because I'm diabetic. With the last surgery I had (to place two plates and 21 screws in my left calf because I had shattered both the tibia and fibula during a diabetic seizure) I wound up getting HA MRSA. Three years before that, I had developed osteomyelitis in my right knee and needed an I & D and 12 weeks of vancomycin (which wrecked my hearing) to clear that out.

 

my friend is a Vitreoretinal Surgery Fellow and if you have any concerns that asking him would help you, I would be happy to assit in getting you the answer. DavidGP seems very knowledgeable. but I wanted to assist in anyway I could.
Dealing with my own vision issues I know sometimes a solid answer can help ease stress.
And chronic stress is bad

 

I am a member of my local Toastmasters and I recently gave a speech that required visual aids, about cataracts.

I was very surprised when 2 of the members told me later that they had had cataract surgery, both eyees, done.
The men were only 45 and 58yo, I was suprised.

The best part of my speech, the part that got the laughs, was when I was explaining the 2 ways of fixing cataracts

"The two ways greatly depend on if a person has medical insurance.

If you have medical insurance, going to a ophthalmologist for a wee bit of eye surgery will yield great results.
The other option, if you have no insurance, is to go into a dark room and take a paper towel(I pulled a paper towel out of my pocket) and remove the eye ball....
(I covered an eye and used the paper towel to touch my eye and then(I had a cats eye marbel in the hand that had the paper towel) and I tightly closed my eye while revealing the marble) and wipe away the cataracts, then replace the eye...which I did, again hiding the marble under the paper towel and then putting them together in my pocket

I am learning how inflammation is the cause of heart disease, I wonder how inflammation hurts the eyes. I know being overweight-->diaetes-->eye diseases.

The best bet is to stay under a BMI of 25

 

I had my cataract surgery
All went well, I need glasses to read
My vision in my right eye went from 20/80 to 20/25

I'm feeling both glad and sad
Glad that everything looks so crisp and wonderful


Mad that people I thought were cut. Are NOT

When I asked the roc why this cataract formed and when he was unsure
He thought it might have begun when I first started using my hyperbaric chamber in 2001
I always have had an issue with sunlight and bright lights being so diffuse that I couldn't see around them
Also before surgery I saw out of my left eye now my left eye looks like the dirty swindowshid and the right eye is crystal clear

My experience reminds me of House where a depressed woman was told she was depressed because her brain wasn't letting her see right


I don't know the episode cause I can't see my iPod well enough without glasses. Which I won't get for 6 days or so

 

I just had my 7 day follow up
20/15 in the eye that was operated on

20/25 in the bad eye, ie the other eye with the less dense cataract

I am writing now for the 1st time wearing my glasses(from walmart, +2)

everything is so CRISP and nice

I wonder about my exes that I dated with cataracts and not having corrected lenses on

I told the doc how HIS operation made me upset about the status of my not as clean as I thought it was house

He told me he has had one patient complain to him about her vision change when she told him she was upset, even though she had 20/20 vision, because she had no idea she was so not attractive
(ugly)
I need to go workout

 

:majorI am 67 yrs. old I have had poor vision my entire life.In July of 2011 I woke up one morning unable to see out of my left eye (basicly no vision in my right eye) a cataract showed up overnight.I was so scared not being able to see anything out of my left eye.I had surgery the last of August.imdeately after surgery I was able to see things clearly without glasses for the first time ever.I still need trifocals to see close, middle,and far.Overall my vision is the best it's ever been I am so thankful.


Mark

 

had my operation about 8 days ago on my right eye to get rid of the cataract.

It went great and now I see better than I have ever seen out of the right eye, I need a 2+ Over The Counter glasses to read.

Before I had the surgery, I was using my left eye daily.
I have a cataract in my left eye. The density test I had done before surgery showed the left is 3-5x (I forget exactly) less dense than the right.
My surgeon told me the right was easy to fix because the lens was supple/soft because of my age(35)

I am currently writing this using my right eye + glasses and I only see fog out of my left eye.
I use to drive/read only using my left eye. I'd have to magnify everything and drive very cautiously.(aka like an old man)

I could also fix the left eye BUT then the 1-2% risk of retinal detachment from cataract surgery would also be on that eye, aka BOTH EYES.

The surgeon said If I wait to do the left eye, it shouldnt be an issue, I had to the right just to live life/etc, but the left can wait.

It is annoying not to see out of the left eye, but I know its very doable. One of the lawyers in my dad's office is a superb athlete, and she had 1 glass eye.

but I've also paid my medical insurance deductible this year, so I could the operation for nearly free.

but I also have to wear prism glasses when I read because of double vision.
with only one eye, I don't need prism glasses.
so I see pros to having a cataract and one artificial lens.

do you agree that I should wait to have the other cataract taken out?

so how do I reduce risk for a retinal detachment?
Thanks

 

I just saw this and Im in total agreement
the best part of my cataracts is with one gone and having the other one still there means I can't read with both eyes, although I still see the world pretty well(considering before my surgery I only saw the world through the cataracted eye I still have) but I used to have double vision when I read anything, I needed prism glasses..now I DO NOT!
This is the best part

 

thanks for the reply

As for reducing risk of retinal detachment and all other causes of disease, I like this survey
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22530540
Which says a person should have a BMI less than 25. Im aware it doesnt discuss bodyfat level, but I have read elsewhere a man should be less than 15% and a woman less than 22%.

Because I read out of one eye, I no longer have the double vision that's plaqued me for 14 years, but I can only read out of one eye which tells me its MONOCLE time!
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_I2uQkGxIykM/TD1bqTImbVI/AAAAAAAAL24/P_LcF1DtWsQ/s1600/int+fyd.jpg(hmm ok, maybe not)

 

Hey,
I've had double vision correct with prism glasses after I had 2 surgeries to correct it for the past 14 years since Brain injury/coma.
Currently, I have one eye that has a cataract in it, yet I still can see out of it, just read only under the right lighting conditions.
I have one clear eye(cataract surgery left me with 20/25 vision), I need glasses(+2) to read, but see very well to drive, live life.

When I read, since I read with only one eye, I no longer have double vision.
I am feeling great since the surgery and I wanted to thank DavidGP and others in this thread who contributed the useful advice.
Thanks

 

Yes and you seem very knowledgeable about medical "stuff". So let me ask you this:
what's more important to health:
1 Eating "healthy foods"
2 staying at a low BMI

I ask because I saw this:
Healthy eating adds $2K a year to family grocery bill
http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/health...bill-1.2452451

A family on a healthy diet can expect to pay $2,000 more a year for food than one having less nutritious meals, say researchers who recommend that the cost gap be closed.

but there is much more to say, like you how define healthy food and unhealthy food, and I don't know if this is the place to have a talk about health.

 

Verywise
I found out that "Special K" products, which seem great to have for snacks, almost all have transfats.

Interesting as I use a Vitamix blender to take older fruits/veggies that have been in the fridge too long to make a shake. I add a wee bit of Ceylon Cinnamon(not cassia as commonly sold in stores that has significant couramin, which is known to cause liver and kidney problems)

You can get cheaper meats, also at Sams Club. But health wise, I eat very little meat
Cooking meat produces that delicious black residue on your meat is filled with various cancer causing agents such as HCA's (heterocyclic amines) that head straight for your prostate. This can be avoided by: 1 Marinating your meat, 2 eating a large amount of cruciferous veggies with your meat.

Or do what I do and try to limit your meat greatly.

1. Sex-Matched Long Term Vegetarians. This study concluded that "a long-term vegetarian diet is associated with markedly higher fasting plasma AA concentrations and lower concentrations of TAG, UA, and hsCRP. Long-term vegetarians have a better antioxidant status and coronary heart disease risk profile than do apparently healthy omnivores." Notice the decreased hsCRP levels, a key marker of the body's overall inflammation levels. hsCRP stands for "highly sensitive C-Reactive Protein.

2. Taiwanese Study. This study noted that ""Taiwanese vegetarians have lower total cholesterol, LDL-C and hs-CRP levels, and higher homocysteine levels than omnivores."

3. Slovakian Study. This study showed dramatically reduced hsCRP levels. Authors praised the increase fruit and vegetable consumption of vegetarians as a likely reason for cardiovascular improvements. The difference in CRP scores was remarkable: .72 mg/l in vegetarians versus 1.62 in meat-eaters.

All evidence shows that one of the big benefits from a vegetarian, plant-based lifestyle is greatly reduced inflammation levels. Again, the important of this cannot be overestimated. Keep in mind that inflammation is the primary component that damages your arteries, leading to decreased nitric oxide output, weakened erections and increased arterial plaque.


REFERENCES:

1) Nutrition, Oct 2004, 20(10):863-866, "Effects of a long-term vegetarian diet on biomarkers of antioxidant status and cardiovascular disease risk"

2) European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2008, 62:138–144, "Total cardiovascular risk profile of Taiwanese vegetarians"

3) Bratisl Lek Listy, 2005, 106(11):345-347, "C Reactive Protein and Nutrition"

 

Another interesting point against too much meat in the diet is Iron.
Before you make any thoughts about me being anti-meat, understand I've eaten meat my whole life, I just had a great turkey burger today and I also successfully completed the BIG TEXAN challenge of eating a Shrimp Cocktail, Baked Potato, Salad, with Roll, Butter, and of course the 72 oz. Steak etc in an hour.

Iron gradually builds up in certain cells and tissues over the course of the human life span. Too much iron accelerates mitochondrial decay and inflicts system-wide free radical damage to healthy tissues.1,2 Age-related iron overload is a known contributor to multiple degenerative diseases, including liver fibrosis, heart attack, and cancer.3-8
http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2012/mar2012_Excess-Iron-Brain-Degeneration_01.htm

and lots of sites talk about iron being too high causes problems; heart attacks/stroke/free radical production.

but on the other hand, plant based foods help to rid the body of iron.
you might think you can get iron from plants, and you can, but very little. The reason is iron found in plant foods is generally referred to as "non-heme" iron. Non-heme iron has a much lower average absorption percentage between 3-8%

This food form of iron is called heme iron. On average, heme iron is about 23% bioavailable.
"Bioavailable" in this situation means that the iron can successfully make its way from the food into our bloodstream. This 23% number for heme iron, however, is only an average.
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=george&dbid=217

The best way to reduce iron in your body is by giving blood.
You lose about 220-250 mg of iron when you donate a unit of blood.


http://www.naturalnews.com/038670_heavy_metals_chelation_foods.html
Heavy metals in the human body contribute to serious health problems. Toxic heavy metals such as mercury, cadmium, lead, uranium and aluminum may enter the human body through food, water, air, or absorption through the skin. In today's world, it is difficult to avoid exposure to any one or more of these metals. Natural News has reported extensively on this subject. It is, however; useful to be reminded of the foods that actually help to remove toxins from the body.


Basically, any plants help your body get rid of heavy metals, like iron.
So eat more veggies

 

crap
so I got an Iphone and I am shocked by how small all the words are, particularly n the app I like, "Friend finder"
http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=282277

Then I had to get new glasses(I have been wearing 2+ since my cataracts surgery) it writing posts is no big deal. I see so great now.

the glasses(from walmart,-$3) had one of their arms snap off
opps
I got new glasses and using the eye chart at the walmart, I got 1.5+

I can't see my phone with these.
I got 3 powers and I see my phone great
I went home
Now I have to sit close to the computer screen to see it


So I need 2.5+ I suppose, or else I'm going to need biofocals?
nuts

 

I just bought off the shelf at walmart
I bought a pair for reading books/iphone and a pair to read the computer screen.

I only have the one eye fixed, this way I no longer have double vision and I'm stil so amazed by how nice things look.

I can't complain to my parents or sister, they have all worn biforcals since they were small.

 

Yes, I know have 2 pairs of glasses.
One to read the computer screen with, another to read books/Iphone with.
While they are interchangable, I can read the computer screen with my book glasses, but I must sit closer to the screen. Or read a book with my computer glasses, but must increase distance.
I might get a pair of bi or progessives in May(after the semester of school ends)

Do you think I should get a Fundus image taken?
I have noticed recently when I drive at night, the headlights of oncoming cars are not dots, but seem to have halos around them again. It makes driving at night difficult. I will see my eye surgeron next week(hopefully) to see if I have what he warned me might happen, a secondary cataract.
You may have heard about a condition called “secondary cataract” or “after-cataract”. This occurs when the lens capsule, the membrane that wasn't removed during surgery and supports the lens implant, becomes cloudy and impairs your vision. Another term for this condition is posterior capsular opacification (PCO).

A secondary cataract can develop months or years after cataract surgery. You may have the sensation that the cataract is returning because your vision is becoming blurry again. The gradual clouding of vision is the result of cell growth on the back of the capsule.

There is no way to know who may develop clouding of the lens capsule after cataract surgery. However, up to 50% of cataract surgery patients experience this problem.

Treatment for a secondary cataract is fairly simple. It involves a technique called YAG laser capsulotomy, in which a laser beam is used to make a small opening in the clouded capsule to allow light through. It is a short, painless outpatient procedure that usually takes less than five minutes. Afterward, you typically stay in the doctor's office for about an hour to make sure your eye pressure doesn't increase. Generally, most patients will immediately experience improved vision, while some experience gradual improvement over several days.
http://www.aoa.org/patients-and-pub...d-vision-conditions/cataract/cataract-surgery

any comments about this occuring or how I'd notice? I don't see anything blurry out of my fixed eye. I do still have a cataract in my left eye. Which in about a year, or sooner, I want to have fixed, but instead of having another "distance" lens put in,as I have in the eye I had fixed, I'd have a reading lens put in. wouldnt this allow me to read with out glass, albiet only through that one eye?
recall, if both eyes can read at the same time, I have double vision due to my brain injury ...do you think that will work?
one eye to see distance(like drive) and the other eye to read

 

thank you for the consultation.
about a secondary cataract, once this is fixed via YAG laser, are you saying I can get a 2nd cataract happen again?(ie a 3rd cataract?)
http://www.uwhealth.org/healthfacts...lexMember-Show_Public_HFFY_1126651607431.html