I can see clearly now

Status
Not open for further replies.
At age 74, I had both eyes done 2 months ago...all I can say is, I've worn glasses for nearsightedness since I was 12 years old and now my vision is 20/20 except for reading, which is my favorite pastime. A pair of $6.00 readers fixed that on day one. Colors are a little brighter, bright sun requires good sunglasses but, most importantly, I can now see the front sights on all my guns. 3 years of not being able to see the front sights while i waited for the cataract to get big enough to operate was hell. shooting is now like a new pleasure.
 
It certainly isn't. I did have tears running down my cheeks because of the inability to blink while it's being done. It is totally painless and only take a few minutes. The cataract surgery was painless also and only takes a few minutes, about as long for one eye as the complete laser work did. The most difficult part was remembering when to put what drop and when in my eye after surgery. A cheat sheet to mark each and every drop off on made it much simpler to keep up with the routine.
 
Mine are fixed single focus. I'll have to find the cards they gave me after it was done for the specs.
It's good magic!
It was like a 60s psychedelic movie when they obliterated the leftovers! Complete with sound effects!
;):what:
 
gyp_c2 said:
It was like a 60s psychedelic movie when they obliterated the leftovers!
Click to expand...
You get a super psychedelic effect when they do an optic nerve block (anesthesia) and it starts to wear off. Usually for cataract surgery they just deaden the front of the eye. You're awake throughout the whole procedure (although under sedation). That's because the doctor is going to ask for your cooperation at certain stages.
 
AlexanderA said:
The new variable lens implants could be a good thing for those having cataract surgery for the first time. But for those of us who have already had the surgery, it's not too helpful. That's because, during the original procedure, the natural lens is emulsified using ultrasound, and then is vacuumed out. This doesn't work on plastic implant lenses, which literally have to be cut out. As I understand it, this is complicated and difficult. Once the original operation is done, it's best to leave the results alone.
Click to expand...
Thank you for this very important information.
 
I wish I would have had something to relax me during the second cataract surgery. I went through the first one without any problems, but during the second one I kept having to swallow and it got to the point at the end of the procedure I was fighting the urge and was nearly panicking. It was like I was choking. Very strange, especially considering how smoothly the first one went. It was definitely in my head, since as soon as the keep open clip thing was removed, the swallowing urge was gone too.
 
hemiram said:
I wish I would have had something to relax me during the second cataract surgery ... It was definitely in my head, since as soon as the keep open clip thing was removed, the swallowing urge was gone too.
Click to expand...
Lachrymal (tear) duct communicates to the nasal sinuses as well as to the outside. This can trigger a "swallow" reflex meant to clear sinus drainage. It's a noted instance in using the eyelid prop that one of the prongs can cause this.

That being said, color me happy that I was clean out for both surgeries. Mind, things near my eyes give me te flat heebiejeeebies like nothing else. (Visiting the retina doc takes some iron disciple on my part.)
 
CapnMac said:
(Visiting the retina doc takes some iron disciple on my part.)
Click to expand...
Yup. Cataract surgery is child's play compared to things involving the back of the eye -- vitrectomies, retinal detachments, photocoagulation, etc. Be thankful if you don't need these things.
 
I'd sure want a tranquilizer. My periodontist would give me Lorazepam before gum surgery.
I don't know if it made me less anxious because it is causes amnesia and I could not remember what happened in there. There are several hilarious stories about me still under the influence after the procedure.
 
Good thing I wasn't drinkin' my coffee when I read that.

Jim Watson said:
There are several hilarious stories about me still under the influence after the procedure.
Click to expand...

Trying to check my reflexes and nerve sensitivity coming out of anesthesia for back surgery they recorded my responses to the questions...My profanity and verbal abuse was historic.
Nobody confessed the names of my tormentors though. They were long gone before I woke in recovery.
Comments like "possession! " " Demons! " etc.

;)
 
I went back today for the follow up exam on the laser surgery and to get glasses for close up and to solve my double vision problem. My distance vision is now 20/20 and I can see anything clearly if it's about a little over a foot from me. For really close up work or reading small print I have to have some help. I'm using 1.5x readers while waiting on my new specs. Outside in the sun calls for shades. Can't handle the bright sunshine but I have never been able to anyway.
 
doubleh said:
I went back today for the follow up exam on the laser surgery and to get glasses for close up and to solve my double vision problem.
Click to expand...
Since my wife's laser cataract surgery, she has had to have "prisms" in the upper lenses of her bifocals, along with a small amount of correction in the lower lenses for reading. Is "double vision" what the prisms are for? Just curious.:)
 
My eye guy called it double vision, not astigmatism, so I will stick with his terminology. My problem was caused by a severe accident that crushed the left side of my face and an incompetent doctor that didn't get things realigned correctly when he glued the pieces back together. Astigmatism is supposed to cause one to see red dot sights as a blur or with flares off to the side I believe. I do not have that problem.
 
rabid wombat said:
My Doc gave either Vicodin or Valium (I can not remember)…regardless, I got a doggie downer for both…it helps! I am right there with @CapnMac … do not mess with my eyes…
Click to expand...

I was fine until about the second he started to dissolve my lens, and it got worse and worse. I was totally fine the first time, and I was pretty embarrassed by the whole thing. The doctor laughed about t afterwards, but I could tell he was a little irritated by my gulping like a fish before I just fought it off and decided to tough it out. The only time I was like that was when I had a root canal and it wasn't the first one, it was about the 5th one I had and it was by far the worst. The pain was just horrible and during the last few minutes of it, I was fighting the urge to bail out, and was wanting to swallow over and over again. My dentist is a kind of sarcastic guy and he was laughing at my struggles and asked me what kind of fish I wanted to be.
 
CapnMac said:
Lachrymal (tear) duct communicates to the nasal sinuses as well as to the outside. This can trigger a "swallow" reflex meant to clear sinus drainage. It's a noted instance in using the eyelid prop that one of the prongs can cause this.

That being said, color me happy that I was clean out for both surgeries. Mind, things near my eyes give me te flat heebiejeeebies like nothing else. (Visiting the retina doc takes some iron disciple on my part.)
Click to expand...

Well, maybe that eyelid prop did it, all I know it was very unpleasant. When I first started having the deterioration in my right eye, I began looking at cataract surgeries on YT, and the cutting part did kind of freak me out, but if my mom could be awake through it, I could make it too. I watched so many of them, I got desensitized, I guess.

A coworker of mine had her first eye done 2 weeks ago, and the second one on Monday. I would imagine she did fine, and I will find out in the morning when she comes in. She has no memory of the first eye being done at all.
 
So I'm interested in knowing .... everyone here who has had the surgery, did you all do it with our without the anesthesia?

Let me be clear with my question.

Some prefer to remain awake but to have enough of a sedative being administered in order to make it a very calm, laid-back experience.

Some prefer to be totally knocked-out and not remember anything.

Almost all get a little Valium before the surgery and then get a drip that will lead to one of the two above.

Has anyone here opted to receive no drip, no liquid sedative of any kind during the surgery? In other words wide awake and feeling everything.
 
I took a Valium before each lens replacement and a drop was placed in my eye before each surgery. I was awake during the whole procedure. I felt a tiny stick in each eye at the start and that was it. I had no pain at all after the first procedure and only a slight feeling of pressure in my eye for a day after the second. I could see nothing during the procedure except a very bright light. My vision in each eye was improved immediately.
 
doubleh said:
I took a Valium before each lens replacement and a drop was placed in my eye before each surgery. I was awake during the whole procedure. I felt a tiny stick in each eye at the start and that was it. I had no pain at all after the first procedure and only a slight feeling of pressure in my eye for a day after the second. I could see nothing during the procedure except a very bright light. My vision in each eye was improved immediately.
Click to expand...

Mine was very similar…
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

F
  • Locked
Oh crap - shooters after cataract surgury - please chime in
Replies
22
Views
4K
dogrunner
D
M
  • Locked
Anyone shooting after cataract surgery?
Replies
21
Views
6K
Tob
T
george burns
  • Locked
Update on corrective eye surgery, it's been a while since we spoke on this
Replies
15
Views
1K
scaatylobo
S
george burns
  • Locked
Got the Cataract surgery on second eye, amazing
2
Replies
36
Views
2K
george burns
george burns
Phlier
  • Locked
Post Cataract Surgery: Seeing the sights!
2 3
Replies
69
Views
8K
Kman314
K
Back
Top