Good luck! Hubby had his eye done a few years ago, from what I recall it was pretty smooth sailing g. Perhaps some minor dryness for a day or two from the drops but nothing bad.

Congratulations Joann - be sure you let us know what your outcome is. I hope you are pleased....

Sounds good so far!!! You'll be wearing an eye-shield at night for a week or so (when you sleep). That's to keep you from unknowingly rubbing your eye and dislodging stitches or shifting the implant.

I think that most cataract procedures done today are stitchless. I never had an eye patch, either. I still remember being amazed at my vision improvement on the drive home. I had corrective lens replacement, however, not merely the removal of attached cataracts.

Good luck to you, JoAnn....my particular type of cataract surgery changed my life.

Good to hear everything went without a hitch. You will soon appreciate your clear vision!

Usually that gauge pad is removed the day after surgery and you may be required to wear a plastic eye shield at night for a week. You will probably be needing to use several different eye drops for several weeks. Please use them as prescribed to avoid any infection. Hubby and I both have had our eyes done. Piece of cake.

I hope you are happy with the result!

I'm still wearing glasses full time. Cataract surgery on my right eye failed to correct my astigmatism, despite my paying more for a lens that was supposed to do that. There is almost no difference in color/clarity between the operated eye and the un-operated eye. I will wait until I see a big deficit in color/clarity in my left eye before 'fixing' that one.

(I'm posting this to caution people that they may not 'need' cataract surgery as early as an MD urges it. It's profitable and an easy 'sell' because Medicare funds it.)

I hope you have great results, it's amazing to see without glasses.

So happy to see this post. I am getting my first eye done on Monday and the second one a week from then. I am kind of nervous. I also am getting a special multi focal lens implant and really looking forward to being able to see again.

So glad things went well. Good thoughts for your next one!

I woke up with some pain today, kind of a ache. The patch came off today. I don't wear one at night, My eye is blurry but that is expected. I have drops for a month right now. Don't be afraid Magic, there really is nothing to it. I wasn't nervous yesterday.

Magic, I understand your nervousness! I had mine done about 1 1/2 years ago, 6 weeks apart. Despite many MANY assurances from friends and family members who had had it done, I was still scared to death. After all, this is my eyes we were talking about! Well, it went like a dream! I had Lasik for astigmatism and cataract surgery at the same time. First eye, all went smooth as silk, easy-peasy. No problems at all. I had a ball bragging about how well it went, so much easier, even, than getting a tooth filled. When I went back for the second one, despite all that, I was scared to death all over again. Dumb. It was just as easy, if not more so, than the first.

Chisue, I am very sorry that you are disappointed and unhappy with your outcome, that's very understandable. But I respectfully disagree with your statement that MD's push for the surgery a lot sooner than absolutely needed. Medicare has pretty strict guidelines for it. My MD doesn't take care of my eyes, anyway, the DO does. And he's the one that told me when I went for a new prescription for glasses, that it wouldn't do any good, I had cataracts forming. But unless I wanted to pay for it myself, I had to wait until my sight was bad enough I couldn't drive. Medicare will not pay for it until you reach that point. I'm assuming that is a federal guideline, not state. So it took a little over a year before I could get mine done. But. oh, what a blessing it is!

So, Magic, if you get cold when you are nervous, ask for a heated blanket. I laid there and shivered like crazy, and they kept bringing me more heated blankets. The doc even commented about how many there were on me, and I was still shivering a little. That was the first time, only had 2 blankets the second time. Good luck Monday, let us know how you come out.

JoAnn, glad you are doing well! I am surprised you don't have to wear an eye shield at night. I did, (7 nights) and thought that was standard procedure for protection.

Rusty

Thanks so much for posting this JoAnn. Surgery will be sometime in the future, but it is good to know ahead of time what different experiences are. My Mother had Lasix surgery to remove her cataracts. For a few weeks, she did not have to wear glasses to see; she was very happy. However, she soon had to start wearing glasses again.

Congratulations Joann, I also had both eyes done in April and have been very happy. I had a very slight ache the next day and 2 Excedrin took care of it and that was the end of that. I had a bit of itching for 3 days but after all the reading up I did, I think I was one of the few who had that happen and they told me to use over the counter 'artificial tears' which helped. I did have to wear a clear plastic shield to bed for a week, no problem with that.

My doc in Florida gives everyone a terrific book (written by the docs in their practice) that tells you EVERYTHING you could possibly think of to ask. I read it over and over and over for the month before the surgery LOL. I felt like I knew precisely what to expect and I felt very comfortable.

I chose the Laser method and Medicare did not cover it all, I had to pay $1,495 per eye over the basic costs.

Magic, I totally understand your feeling nervous - sheesh the idea of someone doing that in your eye is scary as heck. But honest, there is no pain and most of all (for me anyway) there was no "ick" factor of having something being done in your eye. Its really much easier than you'd expect. I also had a fantastic prep nurse and the staff at my doc's surgery center was all so upbeat and personable. I would recommend my doc and his staff to anyone, wish you were in Florida instead of AZ :) Good luck to you and to Walnut, I'm sure you'll both be just fine!

Oh yes, and those heated blankets really rock! My instructions (and the book) told me to bring a sweater and I chose to wear knee socks and that was a good decision cause it was COLD in the prep room and I would guess I was hanging in there for 1/2 hour to an hour.

Yes, wear long pants & bring a sweater they keep it COLD in there. I think every place is different in what they tell you to do. I was reading online before I went in and they said different things then my Dr did. Oh, and don't be afraid to wash your eyes with Baby shampoo. I just knew it would burn but it didn't and I just bought the Dollar General brand. Put a little on your hands and wash all around your closed eyes & the lids. Do this at least the week before surgery and after. Also NO FOOD or BEVERAGE after midnight .the day before surgery. No gum and only tiny sips of water for medicines.

Wow. I don't remember them telling me not to eat or drink. I will have to call them tomorrow. I am also paying out of pocket. I have a $6500 deductible and I want the better multi focal lens that insurance won't pay for cause they consider it an "upgrade". Thanks for the advice everyone. I am still nervous! LOL.

I'm really glad your results were good. DH has had three surgeries on the same eye, can't really see much out of it. Needs the other eye done, won't do it. This is an excellent doctor, he repaired my eyes after another dr botched my lasik.

Thanks everyone or your reassurances and tips. My first cataract surgery is slated for Sept 2. You guys are most helpful.

They didn't tell me not to eat or drink either. The hospital tells you that when they call the day before and gives your your appointment time. I found it out on the internet. Another suggestion is get one of those "picker upper" things.

My lenses were over and above what my insurance would pay, too, in order to correct for severe astigmatism as well as my very serious myopia.

My doctor was genius.....he corrected one eye just a wee bit less than perfect, which allows me to see near and far; I can read all but the tiniest print without readers and even apply my makeup! There is no way that I could be happier with the results.

Even after two years, I still find myself groping for my glasses when I wake up in the morning, lol. The surgery was such a blessing for me.

One thing that I had to deal with, especially for the first several months, was uncomfortable dryness. I was encouraged to use a gloppy gel at night, and a couple of different kinds of drops during the day. I still use lubricating drops a couple of times a day.

mother's doc made a tape of her op...back in the day with 2 stiches... lol she did wear glasses but only for reading...now down to 1...

Can someone tell me how long my eye will be blurry? Its been 2 days and its still not clear yet.

Is it slowly getting less blurry? Mine took about 3 days but it happened gradually.

yes, very gradual, which makes me wonder if I should wait to get the other done. I am seeing much whiter whites, my other eye is seeing a dull or a antique white.... which I never knew.

I'm certainly no doctor but I wouldn't wait. My doc's system had me wait 2 weeks but after that first week, I felt totally ready. I also never realized how dull and dark everything looked (with the other eye) until I had the first eye done. And then I kept checking each eye against the other - LOL I'm sure everybody does that - and was astounded at the brightness and (after the blurry went away) the clarity. So they say "whiter whites and bluer blues" and I think that's right on, but if it gets too bright in the beginning, just wear sunglasses and you'll eventually adjust. That was my experience, of course I know (and just from reading the different experiences here) that we are all different. Good luck - from your comments, you seem right on target to me.