Cataracts: What can I expect? How to prepare?

I seen hundreds of videos of conventional cataract surgery - no biggie, certainly not messy, nor was I uncomfortable with mine - nor is the outcome any different between the two types. Doctors do, however, make a lot more on the surgeries using laser devices - and more surgeries help them amortize the cost of the laser device itself.

I agree that doctors make more money from laser surgery, a few years ago my partner saw a specialist for an assessment regarding cataract surgery and when he told the doctor that he would prefer traditional surgery the doctor began berating him for his choice, he kept on ranting about the procedure being much worse without using laser, even when he said that the cost is too much the doctor just sounded off some more, needless to say we left and never returned. When it was my turn I asked for a different doctor and he was more professional in his manner, I still haven’t made a decision yet and I was told that my cataract wasn’t urgent so I’m just going to wait for now.

We're researching options, hoping there's a way to clear the scar tissue and give her back some vision.

Hi again! I told you I would reply after my visit to the Cleveland Clinic. I just got home today. I had a really good visit. My doctor is Dr. William Dupps and he is simply fabulous! So kind and caring and really listens. He spent about an hour with me. He assured me I am not crazy and positive dysphotopsia is a real thing. He told me to give it 3 more months and see how it goes because it usually goes away with time. It can take up to a year. He said if I just can't stand it he can do a "reverse optic capture" which means they basically lift the capsular bag that the lens is sitting in up around the lens to sort of block the light that is bouncing off the lens. He says it is minimally invasive and takes less time than the cataract surgery takes. We talked about lens replacement and he says he tends to be conservative and tries to avoid it because it is risky. He is also friends with Dr. Masket in California who researches this extensively. If you've done any internet searches, you may have seen some of his articles. I had read some of his stuff just before I went to my appt, so I thought it was pretty cool that he knows him. He is going to talk to him about my case. You can get a lot of info if you google him. I hope that helps you. Find yourself a better doctor. If you are able to travel, I highly recommend the Cleveland Clinic. I'm very happy I spent the money to travel there. If I ever get my other eye done, I'm going there to have Dr. Dupps do it.

Hi. Thank you so so much for remembering me. And so glad your visit was a good one. Sounds great. What kind of testing did he do? Was this the clinic in Cleveland? I am assuming this is my problem. No one can confirm the diagnosis, though it certainly sounds like it. It has been two years for me, so I don’t think it’s going to improve. I am fearful of course of doing anything that might make it worse.!!! I will do some investigating again and let you know. Thank you thank you again. I am in Boston. Where are you?

Yes, Cleveland Clinic. Do you have a flickering sensation in the outer corner of your eye? Just google positive dysphotopsia. You'll get all kinds of information on it. I'm in Wisconsin, so a quick 1 hour flight for me. I've seen others talk about good doctors in New Jersey on this message board. Read some other posts and you can probably find the names. Maybe that would be closer for you. As far as testing, they just took some pictures of my eye and he looked at my eye. Nothing more than any regular eye exam. Mostly just talked about my symptoms.

Thanks again for all your info and help. Sometime I have trouble logging on here. Could you email me directly or even call? my -email---mtpeony@aol.com---------508-380-9349,,,,,,,,,thanks Millie
The laser sounds interesting.

I had cataract surgery in both eyes last year, about 6 weeks apart. It was really smooth and quick. I had two different lenses put in: a Panoptix Multifocal lens in the left eye, and a Vivity Extended Range of Focus lens in the right eye. I did this after doing a lot of research on the two different lenses. (There are a number of YouTube videos by reputable Ophthalmologists about this.)

My recovery was easy-peasy. My vision after the surgery was absolutely AMAZING for awhile. After about month or so I developed bad floaters in one eye and then in the other. So, fast forward one year - I just had my first vitrectomy and 9 days out I am doing really well. Fingers crossed.

Did you have YAG procedure during the process? They sometimes increase the incidence of floaters.

No, I did not have a YAG procedure, just a lens replacement.