No Cataract Surgery for Me

[eytonxav]

I have been getting blurriness in my right eye for quite some time and thought it was due to a worsening cataract. Had an eye examine yesterday, and while my right eye has a slightly larger cataract in the right eye, the Dr considered both eyes to be very mild and would not require surgery for some time. Further, Rx did not change from last year, but when they did a retinal scan, they discovered an epiretinal membrane issue in my right eye which Dr believes is causing the blurriness. I have an appointment today with a retina specialist. I am not liking this situation, as it appears the treatment would require surgery under anesthesia and then a period of time for the eye to clear up. Any one else have this condition?

 

[W2R]

I don't but it sounds very distressing. I am so glad that you went to the doctor and he caught this. Good luck and I hope you end up with better vision.

 

[ShokWaveRider]

I have a "Kink" in my Left Eye in the Retinal Membrane, it makes a vertical straight line look as if there is a small ")" in it, right in the middle of my vision. I do not really notice it much.... any more.

However ,I do have quite a few "Floaters" that contribute to some Blurred Vision some of the time that are extremely annoying.

I have been to a Retina Specialist that says if the kink bothers me they can remove it by peeling it off ! They claim it is routine with some risk.

OK so Floaters can be removed but risks are way too high and out way any long term benefit, as a detached retina is a real issue if it manifests as a result of replacing the Vitreous.

So to the Kink: What to do? Well as it so happens, we have a group of folks that go deep sea fishing on occasion, and one of our casual friends happens to be a well respected eye surgeon in our town.

Over a beer and some fresh Mahi I explained my condition, of which he was very familiar. He said even before I had finished that he would not touch that kind of intervention it with a yard stick. Living with the condition in my case is far better that the alternatives, which in this case again is a detached retina.

To cut a long story short, he explained that, quote: "We surgeons make our money doing surgery, so the retina surgeon will want to do it. In my case I do Intra Ocular Device implants, Cataract & other lens based surgeries. If there is a need or near future need, I recommend it. BUT the potential risks are so rare, they are all but insignificant".

Apparently not so with retinal issues.

Anyway, I still have my kink, I can live with it. The floaters are way more of a pain, but at the moment I am living with them too and taking some recommended eye vitamins. We will see if they reduce as time goes on.

Good luck. "Been There done That".

 

[Marita40]

I have a rather bum right eye and am a regular client at a retinal specialist. It is rather amazing that I still have good sight in it since I've had a series of things go bad with that eye. The left eye, thank God, is just fine.

About 6 years ago I developed a retinal pucker and I had it surgically removed. I am not sure it is what you are describing here but it cured the condition and evidently has no chance of recurring.

I also have a form of macular degeneration in that eye--not old age related--called myopic degeneration. It goes through long periods (years) of being stable, but can also act up. "Acting up" means that I get a series of shots in the eye until it stabilizes again. Essentially it is a tiny blood vessel hemorrhage that distorts the sight and must be controlled. Sounds gruesome but I'm very used to the routine now and there's really no pain involved. It is a chronic condition but manageable.

My advice would be to locate an excellent retinal surgeon and get several opinions.

 

[eytonxav]

Good luck. "Been There done That".

Thanks, that is my concern as well in terms of risk vs benefit. I also have floaters in both eyes, but can live with those. While my vision is blurred, I am not getting any distortion, and can probably live with it, although it does affect my ability to play the field in softball games, and also in seeing clearly doing target shooting. What sort of eye vitamins are you taking and did the Dr think they could be of benefit?

 

[eytonxav]

My advice would be to locate an excellent retinal surgeon and get several opinions.

Thanks, I am seeing one this morning.

 

[Marita40]

I took Areds for awhile but eventually stopped. My retinal doctor shrugged his shoulders about them--meaning take them if you want but the jury is still out on their effectiveness.

 

[Big_Hitter]

DW has to get both eyes done....soon

 

[RE2Boys]

First had 80% loss of vision in right eye due to retinal detachment. Very successful or i'd be blind in that eye.

Year later had cataract surgery in right eye due to cataract development accelerated by surgery from retinal detachment. Loved my new lense and lighter glasses

Year later had cataract surgery in left eye. Again, loved it 20/20 first time in 40+ years.

Six months later had tear in retina of right eye, possibly caused by earlier cataract surgery. Had repaired but lost my 20/20. Best is corrected to 20/40 but maybe 20/60 without glasses.

Overall, I see much better than I did 15 years ago with much lighter glasses.

 

[eytonxav]

Well, the retina specialist said the epiretinal membrane is not significant enough to be causing the vision problem in my right eye, but the cataract is probably the culprit. So it looks like I need to refresh my memory by looking back at W2Rs thread. Dr told me to opt for mono or toroidal type lense vs the adjustable type given the membrane issue. He did say that surgery on the membrane is likely to result in a cataract, which further made him think that treating cataracts now is the best approach.

 

[MRG]

That sounds reasonable. I did mono vision and love it. I do need readers for detailed tasks like reloading ammo and reading fine print but 99% glasses free! Good luck.

 

[eytonxav]

That sounds reasonable. I did mono vision and love it. I do need readers for detailed tasks like reloading ammo and reading fine print but 99% glasses free! Good luck.

Thanks, were you able to get by with just off the shelf readers and do you need those for looking at PC?

 

[harley]

Right now I'm good, but as soon as FL passes medical marijuana I'm planning on developing a mild case of glaucoma.

 

[MRG]

Thanks, were you able to get by with just off the shelf readers and do you need those for looking at PC?

I can use off the shelf readers, but for details the prescription work best. I don't use any on the PC, although I still use a large font. If I were still w*rking all day on a PC I'd wear something.

 

[ShokWaveRider]

What sort of eye vitamins are you taking and did the Dr think they could be of benefit?

Lutein & Zeaxanthin 25mg/5mg respectively. My Eye doctor said they cannot do any harm.

I went for short sighted reading lenses as opposed to Long distance. I have worn glasses for years for driving and removed them to read, and I find it normal. Reading is a lot better but I notice the floaters more I am sure, as they really do not bother me so much when driving or watching TV.

 

[W2R]

Well, the retina specialist said the epiretinal membrane is not significant enough to be causing the vision problem in my right eye, but the cataract is probably the culprit. So it looks like I need to refresh my memory by looking back at W2Rs thread. Dr told me to opt for mono or toroidal type lense vs the adjustable type given the membrane issue. He did say that surgery on the membrane is likely to result in a cataract, which further made him think that treating cataracts now is the best approach.

That's good news! Cataract surgery went really smoothly for me, anyway, and I hope it does for you too. I went for the cheapest lens, the single vision kind that made me farsighted so I use reading glasses.

I tried on reading glasses at Walgreens to see which correction I needed, but theirs cost more than I wanted to pay so I didn't buy any. I ended up ordering reading glasses from Amazon at $10 for 3 pairs. I use my reading glasses for reading, computer work, and so on. But I can walk and drive with no glasses at all.

Will you have the cataract removed from just that one eye, or from both?

 

[eytonxav]

Will you have the cataract removed from just that one eye, or from both?

Retina Dr said to do both. I am wondering what medicare will pay?

 

[W2R]

Retina Dr said to do both. I am wondering what medicare will pay?

Medicare is pretty good for cataracts. I am thinking that since you have cataracts, maybe they will pay for both eyes and won't care if the one in your other eye isn't affecting your vision.

Between Medicare and my federal retiree insurance, all I had to pay was $140 for the eyedrops ($70 for eyedrops for each eye). I didn't have to pay a cent otherwise because I had no deductible or co-pay, but if you have those then they will probably apply. I think some other people mentioned in my cataract thread how much they paid, and it wasn't much either. Please feel free to revive that thread and post in it if you want to, or of course you could always start your own, or continue in this thread, or whatever you want to do.

After you have both done, you may be able to just use cheap reading glasses like I do.

 

[rpguy4]

I am bothered by floaters as well. My right eye has had PVD - Posterior Vitreous Detachment, which created even more floaters. I am 55, and it's to a point where I am doing research and considering Vitreolysis or even a new procedure call T-Membranotomy.

There are a few doctors here in the US that will do the Vitreolysis.

Here is an overview of the procedures:
Overview | Ellex USA | One Powerful Vision

Just glad that finally some Ophthalmologist's are recognizing the need for treatment, rather than just telling their patients they have to live with them.

 

[Likes_to_Lurk]

Rpguy4, thanks for the link to the vitreolysis procedure. I also have PVD in my left eye. The detachment occurred last September and the floaters drive me crazy. I have 2 long tendrils that appear in the center of my vision. My doctor keeps telling me it will get better. And to be fair, they have gotten a bit less annoying. But at this point, I don't know how much they are going to improve.

I'll have to check into the procedure.

 

[TrvlBug]

Rpguy4, thanks for the link to the vitreolysis procedure. I also have PVD in my left eye. The detachment occurred last September and the floaters drive me crazy. I have 2 long tendrils that appear in the center of my vision. My doctor keeps telling me it will get better. And to be fair, they have gotten a bit less annoying. But at this point, I don't know how much they are going to improve.

I'll have to check into the procedure.

DH had the detachment in both eyes years ago and is still bothered by the dark floaters. He is severely myopic. They have improved as much as they will.

I had detachments within 2 months after each of my cataract surgeries in spring of 2014 and 2015 and other than 1 tiny pencil point floater in my right eye I see very rarely, they have disappeared. Unfortunately, the clear, gelatinous floaters in the right eye have not and still annoy me somewhat. The first detachment (left eye) also resulted in retinal detachment.

 

[rpguy4]

There have been improvements in the YAG laser technology to more precisely target the floaters for the vitreolysis procedure. Check the webinar from Dr. Singh in the link I posted earlier. Considering having the vitreolysis done 1st over the vitrecomy procedure, much less riskier, provided the doctor knows what he's doing. My PVD happened over a year ago, and I can't really say for sure that its gotten any better.
According to my Ophthalmologist and the Retina specialist I went to for a consult, it is also very likely I will have a PVD in my left eye at some point as well.

 

[eytonxav]

Had my initial evaluation and the recommendation was to either go monofocal for distance or opt for Technis lenses which are supposed to restore closeup/intermediate/distance vision, although there is some increased risk of getting halos or starbursts at night from headlights and streetlights. The mono's would cost me nothing for both eyes, and the Technis would cost $4150 for both eyes.

I have read that the Technis can sometimes create need for glasses at intermediate range. I am unsure of how I want to proceed. Has anyone else on here gotten a multi-focal lense? How about a dropless procedure where they inject with antibiotic treatment during the surgery to avoid weeks of eye drops?

 

[Likes_to_Lurk]

I chose monovision and I am very happy with my vision. Both eyes test 20/15. After wearing glasses for many years, I am thrilled to be able to see distances without an appliance sitting on my nose!

I do use drugstore readers for reading and close up work. I also have a pair of bifocals for situations where I need to switch frequently between near and far vision (e. g., shopping - need distance to find appropriate aisle and near vision to read labels)

When I was researching lenses, I read about people still needing glasses for intermediate or reading with the multifocal lenses. I'm not sure of the frequency of this. There are several cataract surgery threads on this forum that might be helpful.

As for the antibiotic, I have not heard of the placement during surgery. I did not find the drops onerous, but others have.

Good luck with your surgery.

 

[W2R]

Like Likes to Lurk, I did not get the multifocals. In my case this was because I was never happy with multifocal glasses. I saved a lot of money and I am very happy with the outcome. I can drive, walk, eat, converse, and watch TV without glasses. I use $3 readers for reading and computer work. I don't mind them at all.

When I need both distance and far, as in shopping, I just slide the readers down my nose enough that I can peer over the top of them.

I never heard of those antibiotics. Only one of the three types of eyedrops my surgeon prescribed was antibiotic, I think? My drops were:

Ciprofloxacin (antibiotic)
Ilevro (NSAID, cuts down on inflammation I think)
Durezol (Steroid)

So, if all that did was eliminate the Ciprofloxacin, it wouldn't have helped me hardly at all. It was the cheap generic one, too; the other two cost about $35 each per eye.