And then the ophthalmologist says . . . . . . .

[MrLucky]

I want that cataract out of your eye like yesterday. Sheesh, if this keeps up I'm gonna be like Taezzar. Procedure scheduled for June.

 

[hammerhead]

Seems once you let the doctors in, they keep coming back for more.

 

[specsaregood]

I want that cataract out of your eye like yesterday. Sheesh, if this keeps up I'm gonna be like Taezzar. Procedure scheduled for June.

Guess you shoulda drove a rincoln towncar instead.

 

[ToBeSelfEvident]

My doc said I had a "dense brunescent cataract". That's a pretty advanced cataract and you can lose the eye if left untreated. You might be surprised at the colors you will see after the repair. My vision was yellowed by the cataract and I could see TRUE blues and purples again after the surgery. They also correct your vision by replacing the cornea with a soft lens.

 

[MrLucky]

The "good news" today was the Dermatologist said . . . . After a needle to the forehead and a sharp knife . . . . We'll send it in for a bioposy, but I don't expect it to be anything. Small miracles. Got a nice headache from the needle, though.

TBSE, I forget what she called it but she asked if I took steroids. I said nothing that wasn't prescribed to me.

 

[TAEZZAR]

I want that cataract out of your eye like yesterday. Sheesh, if this keeps up I'm gonna be like Taezzar. Procedure scheduled for June.

My doc said I had a "dense brunescent cataract". That's a pretty advanced cataract and you can lose the eye if left untreated. You might be surprised at the colors you will see after the repair. My vision was yellowed by the cataract and I could see TRUE blues and purples again after the surgery. They also correct your vision by replacing the cornea with a soft lens.

YUP, that was my experience. I am up for the other eye. MrLucky, it's a cake walk. You will like it.

 

[MrLucky]

I'm undecided if I want to go for the super duper lens or go for the standard lens.

 

[TAEZZAR]

I'm undecided if I want to go for the super duper lens or go for the standard lens.

I did standard & they are great. KISS !

 

[MrLucky]

So here we are getting closer and closer.

The left eye has a posterior subcapsular cataract. That is the one she wants out first. She made no comment about the right eye so I guess that's just a normal cataract.

Had eyes measured last week and found out the procedure. Eyedrops 3x day 3 days prior. No drops day of surgery. But eyedrops 3x day for 5 weeks. My eyes might float away.

Sedation is like a colonoscopy; out but not too deep. 3 hours start to finish. Surgery is only 10 minutes of that 3 hrs

Schedule so far:
6/6 start eyedrops on first eye
6/9 surgery
6/10 start 5 weeks of drops
6/10 post surgery checkup to see if everything is ok with first eye
6/13 start drops on second eye
6/15 another post surgery check on first eye
6/16 surgery on other eye.
Same as before for second eye
Next 5 weeks eyedrops 3x day both eyes.

If I'm not posting much in June, that's why.

 

[the_shootist]

So here we are getting closer and closer.

The left eye has a posterior subcapsular cataract. That is the one she wants out first. She made no comment about the right eye so I guess that's just a normal cataract.

Had eyes measured last week and found out the procedure. Eyedrops 3x day 3 days prior. No drops day of surgery. But eyedrops 3x day for 5 weeks. My eyes might float away.

Sedation is like a colonoscopy; out but not too deep. 3 hours start to finish. Surgery is only 10 minutes of that 3 hrs

Schedule so far:
6/6 start eyedrops on first eye
6/9 surgery
6/10 start 5 weeks of drops
6/10 post surgery checkup to see if everything is ok with first eye
6/13 start drops on second eye
6/15 another post surgery check on first eye
6/16 surgery on other eye.
Same as before for second eye
Next 5 weeks eyedrops 3x day both eyes.

If I'm not posting much in June, that's why.

My FIL had that done about two years ago. It changed his life and may change yours too. The FIL tells me he can see again after mulling around in the dark.

All the best in your results and recovery!!

 

[ToBeSelfEvident]

They tried to do my first eye without sedation. Believe it or not it's pretty hard to hold still and just let somebody cut your eye. They did it a week later with sedation and the other eye also with sedation.

 

[MrLucky]

^^ Pretty hard? Seriously? I'd call that impossible. No one is coming near my eyes with a scalpel unless I'm knocked out.

Just per chance, are you one of those people who like to watch your own colonoscopy?

 

[tigerwillow1]

The weirdest thing for me was a few hours after the surgery when the eye they worked on begins to see fairly well but can't move. I was so disoriented by the extreme double vision that I couldn't safely stand up. Felt like a legal heavy drug trip. Different doctors use different sedation, so ymmv.

 

[engineear]

1st off, they DO NOT replace your cornea with a soft contact lens, it's not a corneal transplant for God's sake, sheesh.
They allowed me in the room when my brother, who was a +6 diopter hyperope, had a clear lens exchange, meaning, same procedure as a cataract operation except he didn't have cataracts.

They put him on a hospital bed, IIRC I V'd him, then put him in a queue of 15 or so beds. Everytime a procedure was done, the last bed went in and everyone moved down a slot. Then, while in line, they start prepping him. Somewhere during the waiting process they numbed his face with very fine needles, don't know if that is still done, when it was his turn to be wheeled in is when they put him in dream land, still awake but a nurse could gave her way with him.

I was in the room but watched it all on an overhead tv. One tiny cut on the limbus, the juncture where the cornea meets the sclera, and 1 tiny drop of blood appeared. A tiny twin tube was inserted, 1 pulverized the lens tissue and the other tube sucked up the pieces. Then the new lens is inserted, no stitches. They then did the other eye. Each eye took a few minutes. He still wears glasses with a slight bifocal rx. Amazing how quick it was.

This was 10 years or so ago so it may be even more streamlined. This surgery is performed more than any other and is very successful.

When my granny in law had it done she ordered her glasses from me. She comes to pick them up, I put them on and she starts crying! Gram, what's the matter?... She says...I never knew what you looked like!
A few weeks later we went to visit her and gramps. Walking up to the door we could hear her mumbling and clanging pots and pans! Gram, what's the problem? Oh, it's these glasses! Well, what's wrong with them? I see all the dirt now, I'm cleaning all the time!! Lol

The loss of clarity is so gradual you don't notice until you get new lenses. You'll see better and like it!

 

[tigerwillow1]

At my place you just sit in a reclined chair while they pop in the new lens. The eye is knocked out locally, but no general sedation. It's a production line, with the day's patients staged in different states of the local anesthesia. When it's your turn you walk into the "procedure room" (with somebody holding your arm), and sit in the chair. 15 minutes later you walk out, and another 15 minutes you're out the front door. A driver is required. Before cataract replacement I had a retina surgery. It was "interesting" to watch the fluid level go down as it was sucked out, the little tools moving around, then the fluid being pumped back it.

 

[TAEZZAR]

^^ Pretty hard? Seriously? I'd call that impossible. No one is coming near my eyes with a scalpel unless I'm knocked out.

Just per chance, are you one of those people who like to watch your own colonoscopy?

That was not addressed to me, BUT , yes I am !! I even got to watch them put a stent in my heart.
My last colonoscopy, I watched because after it came a camera down my throat. I wanted to be damned sure they used a different camera !!!

 

[TAEZZAR]

They tried to do my first eye without sedation. Believe it or not it's pretty hard to hold still and just let somebody cut your eye. They did it a week later with sedation and the other eye also with sedation.

I had mine done with only a local, as they claimed they needed to communicate with me, so again, I got to watch.
I am very sensitive to anything in my eyes (never could wear contacts). The doctor scolded me a couple of time because I was blinking, that's a no-no. I am up for the other eye, after some other surgeries.

 

[Goldhedge]

She says...I never knew what you looked like!

I hope she liked what she saw... that could have gone both ways...!

 

[newmisty]

So here we are getting closer and closer.

The left eye has a posterior subcapsular cataract. That is the one she wants out first. She made no comment about the right eye so I guess that's just a normal cataract.

Had eyes measured last week and found out the procedure. Eyedrops 3x day 3 days prior. No drops day of surgery. But eyedrops 3x day for 5 weeks. My eyes might float away.

Sedation is like a colonoscopy; out but not too deep. 3 hours start to finish. Surgery is only 10 minutes of that 3 hrs

Schedule so far:
6/6 start eyedrops on first eye
6/9 surgery
6/10 start 5 weeks of drops
6/10 post surgery checkup to see if everything is ok with first eye
6/13 start drops on second eye
6/15 another post surgery check on first eye
6/16 surgery on other eye.
Same as before for second eye
Next 5 weeks eyedrops 3x day both eyes.

If I'm not posting much in June, that's why.

Well fwiw your typing skills are still A+

 

[TAEZZAR]

So here we are getting closer and closer.

The left eye has a posterior subcapsular cataract. That is the one she wants out first. She made no comment about the right eye so I guess that's just a normal cataract.

Had eyes measured last week and found out the procedure. Eyedrops 3x day 3 days prior. No drops day of surgery. But eyedrops 3x day for 5 weeks. My eyes might float away.

Sedation is like a colonoscopy; out but not too deep. 3 hours start to finish. Surgery is only 10 minutes of that 3 hrs

Schedule so far:
6/6 start eyedrops on first eye
6/9 surgery
6/10 start 5 weeks of drops
6/10 post surgery checkup to see if everything is ok with first eye
6/13 start drops on second eye
6/15 another post surgery check on first eye
6/16 surgery on other eye.
Same as before for second eye
Next 5 weeks eyedrops 3x day both eyes.

If I'm not posting much in June, that's why.

AND eye drops for the rest of your life !! Mine are Timolol Malate & Latanoprost.

 

[newmisty]

AND eye drops for the rest of your life !! Mine are Timolol Malate & Latanoprost.

Like keeping any machine worth it's salt in running order, gotta keep things lubed.

 

[Avalon]

That was not addressed to me, BUT , yes I am !! I even got to watch them put a stent in my heart.
My last colonoscopy, I watched because after it came a camera down my throat. I wanted to be damned sure they used a different camera !!!

when I had my shoulder done they had the camera set up. I kept moving so I could watch. The Doc threatened to knock' me out if didn't sit still. When I was Vet Tech I used to be a surgical assistant too. It was fascinating to watch.

 

[Avalon]

So here we are getting closer and closer.

The left eye has a posterior subcapsular cataract. That is the one she wants out first. She made no comment about the right eye so I guess that's just a normal cataract.

Had eyes measured last week and found out the procedure. Eyedrops 3x day 3 days prior. No drops day of surgery. But eyedrops 3x day for 5 weeks. My eyes might float away.

Sedation is like a colonoscopy; out but not too deep. 3 hours start to finish. Surgery is only 10 minutes of that 3 hrs

Schedule so far:
6/6 start eyedrops on first eye
6/9 surgery
6/10 start 5 weeks of drops
6/10 post surgery checkup to see if everything is ok with first eye
6/13 start drops on second eye
6/15 another post surgery check on first eye
6/16 surgery on other eye.
Same as before for second eye
Next 5 weeks eyedrops 3x day both eyes.

If I'm not posting much in June, that's why.

good luck.. Keep us posted.

 

[Goldbrix]

^^ Pretty hard? Seriously? I'd call that impossible. No one is coming near my eyes with a scalpel unless I'm knocked out.

Just per chance, are you one of those people who like to watch your own colonoscopy?

Heck, I watch every thing I get done if there is a monitor present, Heart, Colonocopy, ... I also prefer NOT to be sedated if possible. I feel sedation extends the recovery time, and there are times I don't want to bother people for a ride home.

 

[MrLucky]

Procedure is tomorrow 6/9 at 9:50 am +/-. Next procedure is 6/16 for the other eye.

When I get back I'll post on the procedure. So far all I've had was a pcr test which was negative, no surprise there.

After surgery I'll be putting in a min of 8 drops (of 3 meds) per eye per day.

Biggest annoyance I see (no pun intended) is the limit on lifting weight to 10 lbs max for 6 weeks after each eye procedure. Also need to clarify when I can bend at the waist. Someone said 6 weeks as well, but need confirmation on that too.

 

[Au-myn]

Eye wish you a speedy recovery! Mr. Lucky!

 

[TAEZZAR]

Procedure is tomorrow 6/9 at 9:50 am +/-. Next procedure is 6/16 for the other eye.

When I get back I'll post on the procedure. So far all I've had was a pcr test which was negative, no surprise there.

After surgery I'll be putting in a min of 8 drops (of 3 meds) per eye per day.

Biggest annoyance I see (no pun intended) is the limit on lifting weight to 10 lbs max for 6 weeks after each eye procedure. Also need to clarify when I can bend at the waist. Someone said 6 weeks as well, but need confirmation on that too.

I think your luck will carry you thru, Mr. Lucky !!!
OK, tasteless joke, but I do wish you well.

 

[MrLucky]

Even though I've been posting about this like it was something unique in the operation world, I really don't expect anything unusual to occur. This is mostly informational for the masses.

But thanks for the tasteless jokes from you two.

 

[Au-myn]

But thanks for the tasteless jokes from you two.

Just my way of loosening you up. You'll be fine, my feathered friend.

 

[TAEZZAR]

Even though I've been posting about this like it was something unique in the operation world, I really don't expect anything unusual to occur. This is mostly informational for the masses.

But thanks for the tasteless jokes from you two.

Just my way of loosening you up. You'll be fine, my feathered friend.

Speaking of feathers, you are my favorite colors !!!

 

[MrLucky]

Here's how it went.

6-10 In PreOp I was hooked up to an IV and walked to the operating room then positioned on operating table. After a few adjustments it was off to the races. I was told to look at the 3 white lights, try not to follow them, but to look straight ahead. Now I was told I would be groggy although I could talk if I had to, and that I would hear what was going on. But I was never told I'd be AWAKE for the procedure and be able to SEE (somewhat) what was happening! Then the surgeon adjusted clamps to keep eye open. No pain, only pressure. It was like a horror movie. I immediately thought of the scene in "clockwork orange".

I could see the fragments of the lens being flushed out of the capsule. Surreal doesn't cover it. The white lights were boring holes in my retina and painful to look at, but the procedure continued.

But I had pain during the procedure. I said to the doctor "hey, I have some pain". No one replied. So there I lay, sedated, in pain, and the procedure continued until the end. A real horrific experience.

I mentioned this to the doctor at a post op visit. She said she never heard me. We surmised that in my drugged dreamland, I dreamt that I was talking, but in reality, wasn't. So the second eye was done with general anesthesia with LMA for you medical people. Much better.

I'll discuss recovery at another time as it's only been 2 wks for the right eye and 3 wks for the left since surgery. Too soon to comment. Vision is good and slowly improving. But I'm not a particularly patient bird, so I find myself being depressed at the slowness of recovery. (Now I know how HH felt) I think the hardest part is the boredom. Can't lift, can't bend over, overly protective wife, very restrictive. Mostly tv & walks. Basically going crazy; so what else is new.

Edit 7/1

 

[hammerhead]

Speaking of feathers, you are my favorite colors !!! View attachment 263093View attachment 263093View attachment 263093View attachment 263092

If you lived in MA, your bird could get a drivers license.

 

[Fatboy]

Good luck today and speedy recovery!

Quick question....

Anyone else notice that the older you get, the more you talk about Dr visits?

 

[Avalon]

Good luck today and speedy recovery!

Quick question....

Anyone else notice that the older you get, the more you talk about Dr visits?

yep... and around here funerals are a regular social event

 

[the_shootist]

Speaking of feathers, you are my favorite colors !!! View attachment 263093View attachment 263093View attachment 263093View attachment 263092

Genie is looking sharp these days!!

 

[southfork]

I want that cataract out of your eye like yesterday. Sheesh, if this keeps up I'm gonna be like Taezzar. Procedure scheduled for June.

Well you saw what I posted, mine said i had bad cataracts and needed out right away, went to va doc for glasses he says I dont have cataracts, waiting to go to 3rd opinion,

 

[MrLucky]

Post #31 will report the whole procedure I went through today after I rest a bit. But I thought you'd like to know that I was awake through the whole procedure and to some extent could see what the surgeon was doing. Eeek.

 

[TAEZZAR]

Post #31 will report the whole procedure I went through today after I rest a bit. But I thought you'd like to know that I was awake through the whole procedure and to some extent could see what the surgeon was doing. Eeek.

That was my experience too.
We are ALL waiting to hear more. Hope it is all good news.

 

[MrLucky]

Post #31 has been updated with the surgery experience.

This post will be revised eventually to document the recovery experience.

 

[MrLucky]

I've heard/been told that recovery is slow. It normally takes 5 wks just for the eye to heal. Then months for the brain to process the new vision. Distance vision is slowing getting better, but I think ultimately I'll need some distance glasses even if only a mild prescription. I did have a mild astigmatism, which she said she corrected, but one can only do so much.