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Cataract Surgery: What to expect after surgery

Posted by dablues @dablues, Aug 13, 2020

I had my left eye done yesterday, and have an appointment to see the durgedon today in Atlanta. My eye is blurry so don't know if that is normal or not. She said I could resume exercising at the Y after a week, no driving for 3 days but shaid nothing else. I guess I cn wait and ask until I get there but some say no heavy lifinting, not to bvend, and not to exercise for 2 weeks. I also have exercises to do at night from my therapy on neck and legss. Is blurryiness normal? I see less thsan I did before. I have exfoliation which I told the doctor but she said not to worry. Any thoughts on this? Am I jumping the gun thinking I would cleary see after surgery:? Also this AM saw halos around lights

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imallears | @imallears | Aug 28, 2022
In reply to @scadams27 "I had a detached retina and had a sclera buckle and a gas bubble. The outcome..." + (show)
@scadams27

I had a detached retina and had a sclera buckle and a gas bubble. The outcome to such a severe detachment is generally needing a new lens aka cataract surgery. It was impossible to drive at night as lights were blinding. I had the the surgery. You are given a dissociative medication so you don’t even remember it. You wear a patch with little holes to semi see thru for a day or two. There are several eye drops (medications) to put in your eye over the course of several weeks. But the vision gets better quickly and there was no more pain or pressure. It’s a bit discouraging the first few days but it does improve quickly!

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@scadams27

Hi,
Just chiming in here. I also had a detached retina in the right eye in the 1980s with just a scleral buckle. In 2009 I had, per my wishes, cataract surgery in both eyes. It was the best thing I could have done despite being told that complications may occur in the future because of the detachment. I was given the choice of far or near vision and I opted for far. I only use prescription glasses for driving but don't really need them. I use the over the counter magnifiers for close up.

I have been treated for the past 3 years for macular edema in that right eye which is almost gone. There are periodic injections of Avastin which will taper off in the coming months. I do have some dry macular degeneration (MD) that is being monitored…..the right eye of course, being the worse eye. However my left eye is nearly 20/20. I do not drive at night anymore…not for several years…that is my decision. I am 81 and it is not necessary to do that anymore. When I was told of the MD years ago I was given the advice of eating as much green vegetables as possible….spinach, kale etc and have been taking Preservision since then. I attribute the fact that my MD has not progressed much to my diet which I changed a bit and I happen to like all that green stuff so I make sure I eat that at least once a day. Several months ago I was told I had a haze on the right eye which I had though was the MD. Turns out it was just scar tissue and I had a laser procedure that lasted 60 seconds. It was a big improvement for me. They sometimes refer to it as a secondary cataract. The scarring won't return so I am happy I had that done.

Hope my experience helps someone make any decisions.

Here's looking at you kid.

FL Mary

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imallears | @imallears | Aug 28, 2022
In reply to @marjou "@scadams27 Have been told cataract procedure needs to be done but am very scared and concerned..." + (show)
@marjou

@scadams27 Have been told cataract procedure needs to be done but am very scared and concerned about out of pocket cost for only Medicare. Can you share personal positive experience to hopefully alleviate some of my anxiety?

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@marjou

Hi,

Ready by post to @scadams27 about my eye experiences. I too only have Medicare for my cataract surgery and just remember paying the 20%. I had this done in 2009…one month apart for both eyes. Aside from wearing the eye patch briefly and taking the drops….my vision was crystal clear in both eyes. However, for night driving at that time, I do see halos over street lights and oncoming traffic. Per my post to @scadams27 I don't drive at night anymore. The
surgery itself is basically nothing…it's fast….you are given a type of sedative to calm you down and boom…its over so fast. You are looking at the Doctor…you see the bright light and kind of see what he is doing but honestly…the anticipation was worse than anything. You don't feel a thing because your eye is numbed. My vision was never blurry right off the bat. I went to a clinic I still go to and that is a procedure that is done everyday by those doctors. I always wore sunglasses outside here in sunny Florida and still do.

Don't be afraid of this surgery and negotiate any payment on your part if you do have to pay. I decided to have the surgery….you will know if you really need it or can wait But really, this is something done every day and I actually don't consider it "surgery" They take the old lens out and pop in a new one.

Good luck\
Florida Mary

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