General questions re. cataracts

Posted by ellerbracke @ellerbracke, Dec 27, 2018

I am new to this group, and would like to get some general feedback regarding the progression of cataracts. I am not currently seeing (!) any kind of eye doctor. Started to need reading glasses perhaps 15 years ago, cheapos from drugstore. Eventually needed glasses for distance vision and driving, got bifocals, hated them. Kept cheap reading glasses, got distance vision glasses for driving. About 2 years ago reading became easier and easier, can read 80% of material without glasses, no problem. Distance vision has also improved to the point where I needed less magnification. I was told in 2016 that I am starting to develop cataracts. So far the only negative aspect is the halo effect when driving at night, especially when it is raining. Otherwise no problems. Does one wait for symptoms to develop/worsen, or get myself to an opthamologist now? How long can I hope for this so-called 2nd sight to last? How quick can I expect the eventual deterioration to be? Has anyone heard of or received the new lens (I think it’s called adjusted depth of focus lens??
I appreciate any comments or advice from people who have dealt with this fairly common eye problem.

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@lioness

Now the hospital says as long as I use their van to get to the surgery and come home from the surgery, it is Ok to have someone meet me at home instead of having to go with me to surgery. I am now on for surgery tomorrow. Thank you all so much for your help.

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@johnhans

Now the hospital says as long as I use their van to get to the surgery and come home from the surgery, it is Ok to have someone meet me at home instead of having to go with me to surgery. I am now on for surgery tomorrow. Thank you all so much for your help.

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Johnns glad to hear this yea, we all need to be our own advocate

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Hi,
I have had cataract surgery on both eyes. The symptoms were the halo's at night also. I had the left eye done first. When tested, I used one eye for distance and one eye for close up work and was told this was unusual. Never needed reading glasses but needed them for distance vision. Had the one eye done with regular close up lens used, not any fancy laser or special lens, and medicare paid for it all. About 2 years later, the other also need cataract surgery so had the lens for distance put in. No problems adjusting and almost don't need glasses and can now see better than before for both close up and distance so no reading glasses needed. Medicare covered everything.
Wife had surgery using laser two months ago and nothing but trouble. She had distance lens put in and paid $1200 out of pocket since was told it wouldn't damage her tear ducts as much since she only had 4 of them working. The eye now has black spots in the center of field of vision and eye socket feels constricted as if has a telescope on the eye socket so that part of the vision is obstructed. Retina specialist said had hemoragging and will take time to dissolve but surgery was success??? She had the other eye done about 6 weeks later also with a distance lens put in and that didn't have any issues with laser and $1200 extra charge. Now she has dry eyes and needs drops every day which she wanted to avoid. So much for that advice not working out. We did not have the same doctors since one is in WI and one in Maryland. Still wondering if that was good advice given to her?

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@hodagwi

Hi,
I have had cataract surgery on both eyes. The symptoms were the halo's at night also. I had the left eye done first. When tested, I used one eye for distance and one eye for close up work and was told this was unusual. Never needed reading glasses but needed them for distance vision. Had the one eye done with regular close up lens used, not any fancy laser or special lens, and medicare paid for it all. About 2 years later, the other also need cataract surgery so had the lens for distance put in. No problems adjusting and almost don't need glasses and can now see better than before for both close up and distance so no reading glasses needed. Medicare covered everything.
Wife had surgery using laser two months ago and nothing but trouble. She had distance lens put in and paid $1200 out of pocket since was told it wouldn't damage her tear ducts as much since she only had 4 of them working. The eye now has black spots in the center of field of vision and eye socket feels constricted as if has a telescope on the eye socket so that part of the vision is obstructed. Retina specialist said had hemoragging and will take time to dissolve but surgery was success??? She had the other eye done about 6 weeks later also with a distance lens put in and that didn't have any issues with laser and $1200 extra charge. Now she has dry eyes and needs drops every day which she wanted to avoid. So much for that advice not working out. We did not have the same doctors since one is in WI and one in Maryland. Still wondering if that was good advice given to her?

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I am not sure of the bleeding as a reason as I was told by my doctor that there are no blood vessels in the area of the eye operated on. That is why I did not have to stop my low-dose aspirin for the surgery. However macular degeneration does cause bleeding in the white part if the eye so the bleeding may not be due to the surgery. Macular degeneration does cause blind spots.

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@lioness

To update you finally, I did get the van and I did have the surgery. It was successful. Moral of the story is to be persistent and do your own research. Thank you all again for all your help and support.

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@chuckrd

I totally agree with moo1. Find an eye surgeon with references. I have had both eyes done in last two years and doing fine. Had trouble with one eye and saw a different doctor for right eye do have to wear glasses but that's ok. The only correction for cataracts is surgery and I would recommend laser surgery.
Knife surgery is still available but with laser surgery you are in out of surgery in 5 minutes and 2 hours in clinic. I am 85.

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I am interested in this, I didn’t know that laser surgery is available for cataracts I thought the lens had to be physically removed.

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@lizziemnz

I am interested in this, I didn’t know that laser surgery is available for cataracts I thought the lens had to be physically removed.

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The cataract is broken up and then removed by suction. Each doctor has their own way so you would need to ask if the surgeon does laser surgery

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@johnhans

The cataract is broken up and then removed by suction. Each doctor has their own way so you would need to ask if the surgeon does laser surgery

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Most eye clinics have a video showing how laser surgery is done. Ask to see it.

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Considering dropless laser cataract surgery; has anyone experienced this? Three times a day drops for a month will be problematic for me
to accomplish successfully.

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@catladyde9

Considering dropless laser cataract surgery; has anyone experienced this? Three times a day drops for a month will be problematic for me
to accomplish successfully.

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If the problem is forgetting there are apps for smartphones that will alarm you when it is time to take your eye drops. I had to do four times a day and the app worked well for me.

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