Looking good: cataract surgery oversharing report

[braumeister]

Gromit, all those questions will be answered by the surgeon you select.

[HFWR]

Since a very unpleasant (as if there's some other kind...) root canal, I am adamant that plenty of drugs are involved when I have any sort of medical/dental procedure. If I'm uncomfortable, we're going to stop, administer more drugs, wait for them to "soak in", then proceed. And we'll do that as many times as necessary.

[TrvlBug]

Congrats BWE...

My second eye is scheduled for early March and I'm electing to go mono vision. Love, love, love not having to wear glasses although I do wear prescription sunglasses for crisper driving vision.

[TrvlBug]

Quote:

Originally Posted by gromit Needing cataract surgery in a year or two, I'm trying to decide whether I want local or general anesthesia. I actually had cataract surgery on one eye about 5 years ago with general anesthesia. While the surgery itself was easy, recent news stories on long term effects of general anesthesia have me reconsidering which way to go. Also, perhaps someone that went the local route can answer whether the following little annoyances in my previous surgery would also be required for local. They were: 1. No food or drink, not even water, after late on the night before surgery. 2. An IV, not an inhaled drug to knock me out. 3. I was required to go have a physical and get the physician to sign a document that I was fit for surgery. 4. The soonest surgery could be scheduled was about 4 months into the future. Thanks in advance. To the OP: Thanks for the detailed post. very helpful.

I had cataract surgery almost a year ago. Doc does local unless circumstances warrant general. I was terrified, but it was easy peasy and I'm looking forward to my other eye next month.

In my case, 1. yes, 2. yes, 3. no, both last time and upcoming surgery. Last time, doc was booked about 3-4 mos. out; this time about 6 weeks.

[gromit]

Thanks Trvlbug, you satisfied my curiosity. The Dr. I used last time only uses general anesthesia, so local isn't an option with him. I'm thinking of looking at other Drs. this time and maybe going the local route. I'm glad to know now that scheduling the surgery can take quite a while even with other Drs. I will take that into account when I plan what time of year to pursue it. Thanks.

[MRG]

Thank you for sharing. Glad you had a good experience. I've been told 5 years ago, I have the beginning of cataracts.

I've been a maggo since age 6 or before. When DM had hers done she was so happy, said she could stop scrubbing the yellow walls all the time. I do look forward to having my vision corrected as a medical condition.

Versed unfortunately doesn't really work fom me. I vividly remember the entire upper GI with it. I'd told the DRs scheduling staff, that it wouldn't work due to other meds. They figured it out during prep. I'll walk away in the future from any procedure where that's my only option. Anyone know if they can use propofol? Hate to go under general, maybe propofol is considered general?

[Bestwifeever]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amethyst I am developing cataracts relatively early, although there's no health reason, such as diabetes, for it. Possibly I have spent too much time outdoors. Night driving is becoming troublesome (oncoming headlights wash out the road markings) so it's just a matter of time. One thing holding me back from cataract surgery is that I am only moderately nearsighted (-2.75, -2.50) and don't need reading glasses. I enjoy being able to read in bed without glasses or contacts; being able to thread a needle or find dropped stuff on the floor with naked eye. I don't like the idea of being thrown into mandatory reading glasses...that's why I never had laser surgery. Amethyst

Amethyst, you can have intraocular lenses to your current level of vision put in place when/if you have the surgery. My doctor asked me if I wanted near distance, far distance, or one of each (I picked far, a couple of people posted here that they chose the one of each option).

Today was my follow up visit, surgery plus one week: All is well, normal activity/exercise/makeup can resume. Pressure within the eyes is perfect--no glaucoma. One week after surgery, the left eye is 20/20, which I don't think I ever had in either eye, with a -0.5 diopter. I can see clearly and cleanly. No giant haloes around lights at night, no glare making things hard to see. One more appointment in three weeks for final check and refraction for reading glasses (like I didn't already pick up a few different cheap pairs of differing strengths at Target and Walmart). Still so happy with the results.

I will have a visit with the retinal specialist later this spring.