Cataract Surgery. Off topic.

[Denzie]

I’m scheduled to have it soon. I’ve worn glasses for 58 years and can’t function without.

How did you handle using glasses while waiting on the second surgery? Did you get new glasses? Get rid of a lens? Thanks in advance.

[scifiknitter Blogger]

Denzie, I didn't get my new prescription until a week or so after both eyes were done.

Your new lenses will be designed to correct your vision. You will have some choices. I choose to correct distance vision and use glasses for reading etc. I was able to rely on that one eye for the week between the two surgeries - the brain adjusts. I used cheap reading glasses until I could get my new pair.

Hope this helps.

[Denzie Moderator Volunteer in reply to scifiknitter]

I’m woefully nearsighted and can read without glasses it’s driving with one eye that can see well and one eye that can’t see past 3’ that worries me. The nurse that did my presurgical check up had no idea what others do. We’re going to correct my eyesight so that I can still read w/o glasses but need them for distance but at a much lower strength.

[scifiknitter Blogger in reply to Denzie]

If you correct for near vision rather than far vision, you may have some challenges with driving until you get your new glasses.

[Denzie Moderator Volunteer in reply to scifiknitter]

That was part of my concern and I’m going to bring it up to the surgeon that his nurse wasn’t sure how they handle it. I’m trying to not drive much right now.

[JeanE41]

Welcome to the club. I had my cataracts done in December 2017. As Anita said, the new lenses correct for distance vision. I have worn glasses for 61 years, so was shocked to be able to drive without glasses. I have astigmatism, so I opted to have glasses to correct the astigmatism with bifocals for reading. I have been very pleased with the result. Like Anita, I used cheap readers in the interim until I got my new glasses. My surgeries were only one week apart which is unusual so I only had one week with one corrected eye and one not. That was disconcerting, but manageable.

I hope all goes well. Let us know how it goes.

Jean

[JeanE41]

Addendum. They removed the lens from my glasses on the first operated eye. Be prepared to go home with a clear plastic protective cover after your surgery. I called it my bug eye. Not pretty, but it does a good job of protecting the eye.

[Denzie Moderator Volunteer in reply to JeanE41]

Glad to know that they removed that lens. I was debating about going to an optometrist the day before surgery to have that done, but again thought about driving and got nervous. I also have an astigmatism in my left eye. I forgot to discuss that with him. I’m sure he has a plan because the surgeon is the one who told me about it 2 years ago.

[SusieJo1948]

I had one at a time you get one done and go back and get the other done. It was less than a week. I got my long distance vision fixed. He told me they make same one with long and short but insurance wouldn't pay for them so I go to really world and get readers. Medicare pays for one pair of glasses mine wasn't right.never took back readers are just fine. I wore glasses since I was twelve. When they were done I

Ccouldn't believe how far I could see t was wonderful. You'll do great. Love susie

.

[Denzie Moderator Volunteer in reply to SusieJo1948]

Hoping my success matches yours. Thank you. I learned that cataracts can cause issues discerning colors. It explains a few things- like a new scarf I thought was pink but turns out to be orange. 🤭

[JeanE41 in reply to Denzie]

You will be pleasantly surprised by how clear colors are after the surgery. Everything looks brighter.

[ThePurplePlace]

Denzie,

I had a cataract develop during my cancer battle and was told it was like from having been on Steroids. I had successful surgery on my left eye back in January of 2017 and then about a month later we did have to change the lens in my glasses for the left eye. I also and primarily wear contacts, we now my contact in that eye was also adjusted. I need some "strength" for reading for my distance vision in my left eye is now perfect.

I had my surgery done at a eye center where they do nothing but "Cataract Surgery". It was fast, easy and painless. I went home with my eye covered with patch (not clear) and later that evening about 8pm, my eye MD called and told me to remove the patch, I was totally amazed at how bright and vivid "colors" were and had not fully realized just how 'cloudy' that eye had become.

SO far my right eye is okay, there is a "early" sign of the potential for a cataract, but nothing they would remove at this time. I almost wish they would, because I LOVE how much better my sight is in the left eye. We will monitor it at each exam and if it gets to the point that it medically meets the necessity to be removed, I would do it again in a heartbeat. WISH all my surgeries and procedures were that easy.

Best of luck,

Lisa

[Denzie Moderator Volunteer in reply to ThePurplePlace]

So steroid use makes it not so off topic? I was on steroids twice last year for pneumonitis. And your response sent me digging into the really fine print on my breast cancer medication sheets as well. I totally overlooked the fact that Tamoxifen can cause blurry and double vision. LESSON LEARNED! My ophthalmologist was puzzled by the changes in the last 2 years but stated it’s unusual but not unheard of. I’m going to start reviewing those medication sheets more regularly. Thanks.

[ThePurplePlace in reply to Denzie]

Denzie,

Very true! Not at all off topic for us. Whenever I hear about any "cancer patient" who had sudden vision changes, I ask them to go and ask and see if they might have cataracts.

It was actually my regular eye doc who figured it out after I had a pretty sudden change in my vision. I had just had an exam and had new glasses and a new contact RX and then just a few months later, my eyes were blurry and watery, especially while driving. I want back and she immediately said I had developed a Cataract and that she felt pretty certain it was form the Steriods. "My meds were listed on my chart and she was aware I was also in treament for cancer". She then referred me to the eye surgeon and he also said it was "somewhat" common for patients in cancer treatment (due to the Steroids). I was on Dexamethasone (first for a brain met and then for several months while on Chemo). I had NO clue until they mentioned it. But, I have since read about others who had the same issue and in each case it was attributed to Steroid use.

Lisa

[Hidden]

Denzil, I am on my second pacemaker and had cataract surgery on my right eye first and on my left eye several months later. It might sound funny,but I took out the lens in the right side of my glasses to drive while waiting for the surgery in the left eye. Now I just need reading glasses,but am fine without

Glasses for everything else. Good luck

[Ncpoet]

Denzie, I have cataracts but they are not “ripe” enough for surgery. But here’s an idea for you. I wore contacts. When I needed bifocals, I was prescribed one for closeup and one for distance. So I had two very different contacts. Had no trouble adjusting. Maybe you could get one for distance for the few weeks you would need to wait for surgery on the second eye.

Let us know how it goes especially for those like me who will need to do this in the future.

Judy

[Denzie Moderator Volunteer in reply to Ncpoet]

Thanks, Judy I will. Your response reminded me of a study done decades ago where volunteers wore glasses that turned everything upside down. For a couple days they fumbled but after that the brain adjusted and ‘flipped’ the perception back to normal. The brain can be a marvelously adaptive organ.