Public Service Announcement....

[MTboatguy]

Well last Wed, I had cataract surgery on my left eye and next Wed, I will have the same surgery on my right eye, scared to death before I went in, last Tuesday was not a good day for me.

But I am hear to tell you, if you have a problem, don't hesitate to get the procedure done, it works, it was a small amount of time in discomfort, but it will give lasting results and I have worn glasses for 50+ years and now I don't have to!

It is a bit out of balance right now, because one eye is done and doing quite well, the other eye will be done and I will spend the next couple of months getting used to being able to wake up in the morning being able to see without grabbing my glasses, just based on this last few days, I am amazed at what I was missing, especially the colors, it is really a eye opener, that I allowed myself to get to a point that everything was so muted in what I saw every day.

So if your eye doc has told you that you need to do this, don't be hesitant, get it done, I feel lucky that as we age, we have options like this available, the surgery was about 5 minute and about 15 seconds of pressure and a day of feeling like you have sand in your eye, but the drops help with that.

But again, don't be afraid or apprehensive because it is not a big deal, you will be happy with the results, I know I am and I a actually looking forward to getting the right eye done, so I am back in balance.

Technology is amazing and I am glad we have it available to us.

 

[JASinIL2006]

Glad you are OK!

 

[dwco5051]

Had mine done last October. Wish I would have done it a few years before that now it is done. I no longer put on one blue and one black sock. I didn't realize that the old lens must yellow some.

 

[GA_Boater]

One of the best things I ever had done. After the first eye was done I kept opening and shutting one eye at a time and figured out I was blind as a bat. The yellow haze in the still bad eye was unbelievable.

After wearing glasses since my 30's, the last 4 years have been eye opening. :wink:

 

[jimmbo]

Maybe that's why colours look different to me depending on which eye I use...
Did your night vision improve?
I figure I will need to have it done in the next 3 yrs.

 

[gm280]

I have cataracts growing, but the eye doc said they are not interfering with my vision at this time. But one day it will. However, decades ago I had LASIK eye surgery done on one eye and I haven't needed glasses since. I wore glasses since I got my driver's license and couldn't read the numbers in the view finder, at the age of 16, and LASIK fixed that.

And I have one eye for distance vision and the other for close up. You would think that would be a bad thing, but strangely enough it works for both situations absolutely perfectly. The eye doc said you eyes work that way and it doesn't bother your vision ability at all. No problems with depth perception ability or any other vision issues. Go figure!

But if you have cataracts or thinking about LASIK procedures, go for it. It doesn't hurt and you get results instantly as well. My wife has had cataracts removed from both eyes. Let's just say she is a very happy camper!

 

[Bob_VT]

WOW seems more common then I thought. I have cataracts too but the Dr said it is too early for surgery...... holy crap we are all getting older talking about our health...... I bet many of you carry Medication Lists in your wallet too!
Glad the surgery went well.....

 

[bassman284]

Maybe that's why colours look different to me depending on which eye I use...
Did your night vision improve?
I figure I will need to have it done in the next 3 yrs.

If you're already noticing night vision problems, that will be a long 3 years. I had mine done last fall and wish it had been at least 2 years earlier.

 

[GA_Boater]

For me night driving was avoided. All lights bloomed and were doubled. On two lane roads any approaching car made the road all but disappear and I aimed for the outside white line - If it wasn't worn off.

Now I can drive with relative safety at night.

I was given the option of close, distance or mixed. I went with two distance cuz a cheap pair of readers would let me read. I haven't bought a pair yet - No glasses needed to read.

 

[jimmbo]

I was told I had 'Mild' Cataracts about 4 yrs ago, I replied that I had been driving them for over 20 yrs. The "road all but disappearing" has been noticeable the last 8 yrs.

 

[MTboatguy]

I have not gone anywhere after dark yet to see how it changed my night vision, anything has to be better than what I had for night vision, as with GA, before it was double starbursts when I was hit with oncoming lights. I opted for distance on my eyes, but I am sitting here working on the computer and can see the screen just fine, I can actually read the TV guide on my Dish system with no problems now.

I have not done much night driving for over 20 years now, just live to far away from town to make it worthwhile anymore and there are to many 4 legged obstacles around here at night!

 

[gm280]

Yes, seems we are all talking about getting old and the issues associated with that. However, it still is way way better getting old then the alternative by far...

 

[MTboatguy]

Well second surgery complete with success this morning, don't let fear keep you from doing this, still a bit of irritation in the eye they worked on today, but it should start feeling better after I get some sleep, and finally after all of these years, I should be able to see what is over the next mountain or around the next bend again.

Little bit of comedy in the post op today, the post op nurse spent several minutes looking all over my arms and legs before she figure out I didn't have an IV for sedation, Doc came out for a small quick follow up to make sure I was okay and she asked, where is his IV? The Doc told her, He don't do IV's. I was her first case that didn't have an IV and she was beside herself. My wife and I were giggling pretty hard by that time.

It has been a very long time since I had a needle stuck in my body and when that happened, I really was in no position to protest.

But it was a bit of levity this morning.

 

[ezbtr]

I had that surgery 6 ish years ago (working on water front is tough on the eyes/glare etc) on right eye, got the distance lense, about 20 mins, was seeing 20/20 that night (w/ protective cone) irritation etc all normal w/in 2 ish weeks, theyv'e come a long way - only reading glasses now

 

[Old Ironmaker]

I was visiting my parents and my raised in Italy Dad says "Do you hear abouta you poor brother? He has 2 new Cadillac's, the poor guy." I say "He doesn't even like Caddilacs, why did he get 2?" Mom says "Cataracts not Cadillac's!"

I took Mom in about 10 years back to the local eye surgery clinic. It is an assembly line, dozens of people waiting, 2 come out 2 go in. I think it was 60 minutes I waited. 2 surgeons I believe, every Tuesday. Worked for her as well as my poor brother that actually has a Caddy now.

 

[Old Ironmaker]

I

I have not done much night driving for over 20 years now, just live to far away from town to make it worthwhile anymore and there are to many 4 legged obstacles around here at night!

I can count on 1 hand how many times I have driven at night in the last 10 years. And the last time was Super Bowl Sunday. I put the truck in the ditch coming home, no I wasn't DUI, 2 beers in 4 hours. It shook me to my core. Thank goodness for 4 low. I wouldn't want to explain anything to anyone, dry roads no fog, snow or rain.