And God Laughed

[MandysMom]

You know what happens when you get smug? GOD laughs because HE knows he can get back at you.....
My husband (5 years older) had cataract surgery 7 or 8 years ago but had some special risk factors. My parents both died (at 78 and 83) with no diagnosed cataracts. So I smugly said I'll probably never need cataract surgery.
Did I say GOD is laughing ? Yep had been noticing maybe more problems with night vision and I attributed it to my lifelong severe astigmatism or my years old beat up glasses. Today, finally at my new ophthalmologist , diagnosis-- Cataracts, might be a year before I'm begging for surgery. Good news is all the improvements in surgery and lens implants. Back when I trained surgery took over an hour and then you lay flat with sandbags holding your head still for days. By the time Mel had cataract surgery, it took 15 to 20 minutes and we went camping the next day after the Dr removed bandage and said we were good to go. My Dr said 11 to 15 minutes a week apart and fancy lens implants and my lifelong astigmatism will be gone and I'll keep my great close up vision. Stay tuned, you never know when I'll give GOD another good chuckle!!!
Oh and he added that once healed he said I need surgery to lift my lids so I can actually see through the new lens implants!
Sheesh
Velda

[Colliemom]

Hahaha, you have a funny doctor Velda. Yep, never know what God has in mind down the road. But having had cataracts myself, know what it's like. And thing have improved even more since I had mine done. Good luck with it.

[IrishIroamed]

Well they say laughter is the best medicine, maybe that's why God is laughing Sorry you'll have to have the surgery, but you've got the right attitude, and sounds like the right doctor for it.

[grammynmaggie]

I am getting my cataracts removed April 27th and May 11th... I also have astigmatism but my medicare will not cover the lens needed to correct that it will cost an extra $2,500 out of my pocket... I cannot afford that so I will still have to wear glasses .... I have been waiting for 3 years for them to reach the number that Medicare will pay I guess they're classified 1 through 4 and Medicare will only pay when they get to be a. 3-4...by that time you can hardly see... I'm excited to get this done(

[avalen]

Oh, that reminds me to call and my appt, my glasses are 3 years old, gonna hope I don't have any cataracts, don't think I do, but they sure are dry all the time.

[MandysMom]

I'm not looking forward to the surgery but if it works to save my near vision and reduce my glare from astigmatism, Ill be happy. The Dr said my eyes are like his and we are among maybe half dozen people in our region with this shape eyeball and degree of astigmatism. He's younger ( in practice 10 years) but says he looks forward to cataracts so he can justify fixing his astigmatism. Said it is why he has never had lasic, because it puts risk on the cornea for future cataract surgery. Thought that interesting because the partner Dr who I was with in that office for more than 25 years before he died, had tried to talk me into LASIK ( even though it meant referring me out of their office at the time because neither he nor I like the senior partner). Interestingly enough this new Dr said in a round about way that he well understood why I didn't like the senior guy! The Dr i liked who died did not like the senior guy either! Will let you all know as time goes by. Then after cataracts fixed, I get to have eyelid lift as he says soon I will have trouble seeing due to drooping. I haven't asked yet but wonder if my using Cpap has contributed to the droop as it sure seems to have come on quickly.have to ask when I see Dr again.
Velda

[monik7]

Velda, in 2011 I did not have cataracts, but hated wearing glasses. Up until I was in my late 40s, I never wore glasses. I decided to have the same surgery they do for cataracts where they take out your old lens and put in a fancy new one. I had to pay full price, but to me it was so worth it. I have not worn glasses for 5 years now. On the drive home from having the second eye done (probably 1 1/2 hours after surgery) I stopped at the local DMV, took the eye test and passed, and had the glasses requirement removed from my license. The surgery is a piece of cake, is quick and doesn't hurt at all. They gave me a Valium before the first eye, but I didn't like how it made me feel and declined it for the second eye. No problem. Also, not long after the surgery, I needed to put thread through one of the smallest needle eyes they make. Did it the first try! Last year I had to renew my license and it was fun when I aced the eye test and the lady wanted to make sure I wasn't wearing contacts.
Sandi

[MandysMom]

Sandi, I have worn glasses since I was 2, so over 65 years. I gotta say I'm looking forward to ditching them, even if I end up with reading glasses for certain things I'll be happy. Thanks for the thoughts.
Velda

[snowball]

[quote="MandysMom"]Sandi, I have worn glasses since I was 2, so over 65 years. I gotta say I'm looking forward to ditching them, even if I end up with reading glasses for certain things I'll be happy. Thanks for the thoughts.
Velda[/quot

one of my closest friends for forever...just had her cataracts done...she has such bad eyes...and I'm sure that she is totally
impressed with her new eye sight she is just waiting for the time to pass so she can get reading glasses... it will be a whole new world for you
sheila

[Queen]

I'm only 55 and have bad cataracts from too many years of swimming and lifeguarding and not being able to afford prescription sunglasses. Went to the opthamologist for a cataract consult and ending up being sent to a retina specialist since he thought I might have macular degeneration. The retina specialist ruled that out (whew!) but then got all kinds of excited to discover what my cataracts were covering up... I'm an ocular albino. This excited her so much, I guess it's not that common. But, bottom line, they want me to wait on the cataract surgery because having no pigment in my eyes means the cataract is the only thing providing UV protection.

[MandysMom]

Mickie. I'm still in midst of research, but I have seen notes from manufacturers that some of the new lens implants provide UV protection. Start reading up on IOL's, Intraocular implants. Might be something out there for you. There are charts that show probability of cataracts. Some people get them early ( my best friend had cataract surgery 20 years ago in her 40's), but by age 70 about 70% of us have or have had them! Lots to learn! Took me a week to get over the startling news, but now I'm almost to chomping at the bit to get surgery. Still going to pick up the new glasses to see how much they help.
Velda

[Queen]

Thanks, Velda, that's important info. Fingers crossed I'll get to have it soon, the whole not seeing well and having halos around everything at night is making working evening shift interesting.

[mitch5252]

..
You are going to LOVE your new vision. My George got rid of both reading and distance glasses.
Yay!
..

[Redetotry]

. They gave me a Valium before the first eye, but I didn't like how it made me feel and declined it for the second eye.
Sandi

I need to have cataract surgery also but I'm allergic to so many things especially Valium. I went in years ago for a test of some kind and they put me out with Valium AFTER I told them I was allergic to it by mouth, so they injected it into a vein I could hear them asking if anyone could get a pulse and did they know if any of my family was there. Needless to say I am terrified of having something like that happen again. It sounds like it is possible to do cataracts with a local, is that how they did your second one Sandi?

[monik7]

. They gave me a Valium before the first eye, but I didn't like how it made me feel and declined it for the second eye.
Sandi

I need to have cataract surgery also but I'm allergic to so many things especially Valium. I went in years ago for a test of some kind and they put me out with Valium AFTER I told them I was allergic to it by mouth, so they injected it into a vein I could hear them asking if anyone could get a pulse and did they know if any of my family was there. Needless to say I am terrified of having something like that happen again. It sounds like it is possible to do cataracts with a local, is that how they did your second one Sandi?

BJ,I think the Valium is just supposed to relax you since you're awake during the procedure. I don't think it was used for pain (because there was none). It was completely voluntary if I wanted the Valium and they had no problem when I said I didn't want it. I felt no pain and I don't recall anything said about a local. I would have remembered that. Whether there could have been some drops that might have achieved the same thing, I don't know. But I was fine without the Valium. It was kind of weird after they blasted and removed my original lens. I could see light coming through, but no form. Then like magic, the doctor positioned the new lens and everything was clear. I'll admit I have a pretty strong constitution, but I would say if you think you'll be OK without it during the procedure (only takes 15-20 minutes), tell them, "NO VALIUM IN ANY FORM!"
Sandi