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Old 03-02-2014, 02:40 PM   #21
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I have to thank a eye doctor that some twenty years ago told me to always wear polarized sunglasses when i was out side . Last pair at a regular glasses store cost me $300. For prescription sunglasses. Then i found a online store and got a pair for $39.00.
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Old 03-02-2014, 03:24 PM   #22
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Cataract surgery scheduled for the end of the month. I've complained to the optometrist for the past 2-3 years about vision issues w/o resolution. Vision started getting really bad in one eye early last year and I went to opthalmologist who diagnosed cataract. New optometrist wants to correct with lenses which will give me 20/30...yeah if I squint and turn my head this way and that to be able to read and for how long...can't afford new glasses every few months.

End of rant...I'm looking forward to the end of the month and realize how fortunate I am that cataract surgery is one of the safest. I'm in my late 50s so was quite surprised at the diagnosis.
TrviBug..best of luck... did you decide on the mono or the multi lens? I'm going with the multi lens on Dr's recommendation. I want to shed the glasses I've worn for 55 years or so. It's worth a shot. I really like the Dr and think she shooting straight.
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Old 03-02-2014, 05:49 PM   #23
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TrviBug..best of luck... did you decide on the mono or the multi lens? I'm going with the multi lens on Dr's recommendation. I want to shed the glasses I've worn for 55 years or so. It's worth a shot. I really like the Dr and think she shooting straight.
I decided on the mono lens, farsighted. I'm nearsighted and this will provide me with a test run with one near/far, however, the far will be in my non-dominant eye which may or may not turn out to be a problem. If it is, I'll wear glasses or contacts until my other eye needs the surgery and will go with both far.

After going back and forth and back and forth, I just didn't feel comfortable taking the risk with the multis even though I was a good candidate. As it turned out, the eye measurement appt. found that my astigmatism was worse than was visible to the doc, so I wasn't such a good candidate for the multis after all .

My surgery is scheduled for the 24th...I'm anxious to hear how your surgery went and how you like the multis.
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Old 03-02-2014, 08:00 PM   #24
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...(snip)...
Laser/scalpel is irrelevant; pain is not even on the table. Mine was done with the traditional manual incision. They use a very modern form of anesthesia, just enough to immobilize you. I was fully awake during the surgery, even chatting with the surgeon and nurses. No pain whatever.
I'm not in need of any eye treatment (yet). I hate to even put eyedrops in my eyes.

So how do you get over the fact that someone is opening up your eye to do something to it? Yikes, makes me cringe. Do they give you anesthesia or knock you out if you ask for it?
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Old 03-02-2014, 08:10 PM   #25
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Started wearing glasses in second grade. Had a lazy eye so had a prism on right side. Later contacts, then LASIK around age 32 or so. Now at age 40 will have to start wearing readers soon. Just thankful there are so many things that can be done now to help.

I work with many people who have had cataracts removed with very few (if any) complications. Also lots of macular degeneration and some glaucoma. Wasn't that long ago that there were no available interventions to help either, now there are. Hopefully treatments will continue to progress.
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Old 03-03-2014, 05:01 AM   #26
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how do you get over the fact that someone is opening up your eye to do something to it? Yikes, makes me cringe. Do they give you anesthesia or knock you out if you ask for it?
What they gave me (I had two of these cataract procedures just about a year ago) was very simple. It put me out for about five minutes, just long enough to get me from the prep room to the OR. When I woke up while they were getting the instruments ready, I was listening to the surgeon chat with the nurses. I chimed in because I wasn't sure I was really supposed to be awake, but the surgeon answered me and included me in the conversation from then on (he was talking about his upcoming trip to India, where he does free cataract operations every year when not visiting his relatives).

He told me every step of the procedure, just before he did it. I felt practically nothing, just the tiniest bit of pressure in the eyeball. Incidentally, the incision is amazingly tiny, only about a millimeter. They run an ultrasound probe in there and break up the clouded lens, then vacuum it out. The new lens is folded up and inserted so it can unfold in place.

I'm not sure how it works, but I was pretty much immobilized. Not strapped in, but had no inclination to move a muscle, and perfectly comfortable. Amazingly efficient procedure.

A month later, the other eye was done, everything identical except for a different conversation.

I was utterly terrified going into the first one, but perfectly relaxed for the second one.
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Old 03-03-2014, 08:54 AM   #27
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Thanks Braumeister, maybe you've helped someone here who is dreading this sort of operation. I'm a little calmer now myself.
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Old 03-03-2014, 08:57 AM   #28
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Thanks Braumeister, maybe you've helped someone here who is dreading this sort of operation. I'm a little calmer now myself.
I'd be even calmer if he'd told us he didn't wake up until after the entire procedure was done...
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Old 03-03-2014, 09:23 AM   #29
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I'd be even calmer if he'd told us he didn't wake up until after the entire procedure was done...
I don't think it's possible to NOT be terrified. Someone wants to cut open my eyeball and insert a piece of plastic? Riiiiiight!

But I'm really, really happy with the outcome. Being able to drive without glasses is amazing. Never got to do that before.
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Old 03-03-2014, 09:37 AM   #30
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I'm looking forward to being able to buy non prescription sunglasses in any style I want and to ditch the pricy glasses. My eyesight relegates me to high dollar no-line trifocals in order to not have the thick coke bottle lenses.
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Old 03-03-2014, 09:58 AM   #31
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I'd be even calmer if he'd told us he didn't wake up until after the entire procedure was done...
My 74 year old sister just had both eyes done, cataracts. She was sedated, but awake, said it was not unpleasant. Think they waited 2 weeks in between. She's going in next week for a Macular pucker, she expects to be awake.
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Old 03-03-2014, 10:08 AM   #32
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I'm going through a bit of a rough patch with a worrisome diagnosis for my right eye--myopic degeneration. It is similar to macular degeneration but not age-related. My sight in that eye has deteriorated and there's no remedy. Funny how we expect there to be a "cure" for everything these days and are distressed when there's not. Luckily my left eye is close to 20/20.
It would help to hear any war stories concerning eyesight. . . misery loves company, I guess
Just to get back to the OP for a moment, I hope all goes well for you Marita. Hopefully you have sought out a second opinion from a well regarded specialist.
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Old 03-03-2014, 03:10 PM   #33
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What they gave me (I had two of these cataract procedures just about a year ago) was very simple. It put me out for about five minutes, just long enough to get me from the prep room to the OR. When I woke up while they were getting the instruments ready, I was listening to the surgeon chat with the nurses. I chimed in because I wasn't sure I was really supposed to be awake, but the surgeon answered me and included me in the conversation from then on (he was talking about his upcoming trip to India, where he does free cataract operations every year when not visiting his relatives).

He told me every step of the procedure, just before he did it. I felt practically nothing, just the tiniest bit of pressure in the eyeball. Incidentally, the incision is amazingly tiny, only about a millimeter. They run an ultrasound probe in there and break up the clouded lens, then vacuum it out. The new lens is folded up and inserted so it can unfold in place.

I'm not sure how it works, but I was pretty much immobilized. Not strapped in, but had no inclination to move a muscle, and perfectly comfortable. Amazingly efficient procedure.

A month later, the other eye was done, everything identical except for a different conversation.

I was utterly terrified going into the first one, but perfectly relaxed for the second one.
Sounds like it's similar to a colonoscopy . You're there, but you're not there.
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Old 03-03-2014, 03:11 PM   #34
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I'd be even calmer if he'd told us he didn't wake up until after the entire procedure was done...
That's my wish and I'll be discussing this option with the doc.
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Old 03-03-2014, 03:20 PM   #35
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Sounds like it's similar to a colonoscopy . You're there, but you're not there.
I was definitely not there for my colonoscopy. My anesthesiologist gave me Propofol, the "Michael Jackson drug". I had w-o-n-d-e-r-f-u-l dreams........

I did not remember a thing after "take a deep breath". I did not even remember the wonderful dreams.
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Old 03-05-2014, 01:26 PM   #36
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I'm going through a bit of a rough patch with a worrisome diagnosis for my right eye--myopic degeneration. It is similar to macular degeneration but not age-related. My sight in that eye has deteriorated and there's no remedy. Funny how we expect there to be a "cure" for everything these days and are distressed when there's not. Luckily my left eye is close to 20/20.
It would help to hear any war stories concerning eyesight. . . misery loves company, I guess
Sorry to hear of your diagnosis, Marita. My father had macular degeneration, so I have a fear of that. My eyesight is getting progressively worse, but so far is correctable with lenses.

I recently tried to wear progressive lens glasses (no line bifocal) but they made me so dizzy and nauseous that I couldn't wear them. I ended up with a new prescription for contacts...a bifocal in one eye and a distance lens in the other. I can still see best with dimestore readers and have about 600 pairs of them scattered about the house.
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Old 03-05-2014, 04:51 PM   #37
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My eyes are perfect. It's just that they are making the crossword puzzles smaller every year.
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Old 03-06-2014, 12:40 AM   #38
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I have a history of high myopia and macular degeneration. I've been seeing floaters for more than half my life. Before I hit 50, I received surgery for right epiretinal membrane which involved face down recovery for more than 2 weeks (ie for that period you should not lift your head up except for eye drops and eating/ drinking). At around 51, I had cataracts done for both eyes. I see an ophthalmologist twice a year now. At my last visit ( just last week), the doctor said I was borderline glaucoma and given my mum and 2 sisters are already diagnosed of glaucoma, I am scheduled a more in depth glaucoma test next week. To sum up, I am anxious, worried and my blood pressure is up!
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Old 03-11-2014, 11:47 AM   #39
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Marita40,
Sorry to hear of your problem.

I've known a few folks with serious issues. My Aunt had an eye removed at age 4, it didn't seem to slow her down for the next 84 years.

One VP at Megacorp only had one eye that functioned. Another suffered from Macular Degeneration, both did well professionally, they never slowed down due to their issues.

Another co-w*rker had (RP) Retinitis Pigmentosa, he's probably blind by now. Last I heard he'd made some adjustments and was still w*rking.

Another co-w*rker had to have an eye removed because of Melenoma. She was back to work within a couple weeks, they didn't make a prosthetic eye for another month. You couldn't tell any difference, with the prosthetic, it never slowed her down. I'm sure she was very self conscious during that time it wasn't in, but she never let it show.

My eyes changed so rapidly (myopia) as a kid. I never could see the chalk board. Sports were difficult, hard to stand in at the plate, when you can't see the ball.

The changes slowed down in my teens. Now I just have to contend with bifocals. I did get a shock during my exam for dizziness. The Balance DR. mentioned I was only seeing 20/40. I'd had an exam last year and was 20/20. He thinks as my balance therpy progresses, it will revert back.

Due to the issues I'm having, reading a computer screen is almost impossible. The lines shift and wave around on the screen, sections of text just collapse, and then reappear. Makes it difficult to concentrate. It stinks, but I haven't seen anyone at the Nuerogist, or Balance center, that makes me think I wish I could trade places.

Hang in there and best wishes to you.
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