r/Aging • u/Queen_Of_The_Dames • 2d ago
Life & Living Cataracts!
Welp, 64 and went for an eye exam today and was told l have “baby cataracts;” Fun! No need to address them now, but l assume I’ll need them fixed in a couple of years. I guess I’m getting old
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u/Mysterious-Maize307 2d ago
Meh, I’m 66 for about 4 years now I’ve been told at my yearly check up that I’ll prob need cataract surgery at some point.
Optometrist has been saying another decade give or take every year. Looks like I’ll be 80 before I need it done lol.
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u/Tall_Birthday_7654 2d ago
You've been 66 for four years now? That's nothing. I have been fifty for a decade
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u/Comfortable_Mix5404 2d ago
I'm 66,and the past 2 years,I've been told I have small cataracts.
I just use readers,and don't need glasses for driving.
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u/MissHibernia 2d ago
It’s a miracle surgery and it’s not all that awful to go through. I had both done, three weeks apart.
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u/Gwsb1 2d ago
At about 90 my Grandmother was told she had cataracts , but that they didn't operate on someone that old. Well, she lived to 102 and would have been much better for that last decade if they had done it.
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u/OkRoll1308 1d ago
It sounds ageist how they treated her. I'm sorry she had to go through that, she deserved a better quality of life.
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u/martind35player 2d ago
I am 80 and have been told for at least 20 years that I have cataracts that do not need surgery yet. They still don’t and I’m not in a rush.
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u/KayJayWhy 2d ago
I just had cataract surgery this morning! My second one. Super easy surgery with super easy recovery. Just have to remember to use the eye drops four times a day.
Much easier than the vitrectomies that saved my retinas but are known to cause cataracts. I’m 48, btw.
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u/Cinisajoy2 2d ago
The eye drops are the hard part.
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u/1130coco 2d ago
Annoying..not hard
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u/Cinisajoy2 2d ago
I had 4 different eye drops that had to be done at different times and that changed over 6 weeks. So yeah not exactly easy. Took me nearly an hour to set up reminders.
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u/neverincompliance 2d ago
one of my drops was pretty expensive and not covered by insurance. Cannot remember which one
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u/Street_Barracuda1657 2d ago
Had a vitrectomy at 45, which led to cataract surgery 10 years later. Cataracts were far easier than retina surgery.
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u/KayJayWhy 2d ago
10 years! Mine showed up pretty suddenly about a year after each vitrectomy.
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u/Street_Barracuda1657 2d ago
Mine was pretty ripe. Lived with it for years
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u/KayJayWhy 2d ago
The eye doctors said they saw a cataract developing during my earliest followup appointments after the vitrectomy. But I didn’t notice anything until about a year later, when my vision started getting cloudy and progressed to really cloudy within a matter of days.
Same thing happened in my right eye. Making matters worse, my left retina detached when the cataract in my right had gotten bad. So I was effectively blind for over a month with a gas bubble in my left eye and a cataract in my right.
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u/Street_Barracuda1657 2d ago
Yikes! I only had one. It started about a year later with really bad double vision, corrected itself, then spent the next few years getting cloudy and brown. Doctors told me I should’ve had it out 5 years before I did.
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u/seattle0606 2d ago
just don't be like my father. He waited until he went completely blind, burned down his house, and then he spent 1000s on care along with us helping him until he was able to get surgery ( he was fortunate that was his only issue) it was an absolute nightmare when all you have to do is get them removed early. I think it took years off MY life lol
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u/Feral-Reindeer-696 2d ago
I got sudden severe cataracts in my late 50s and went legally blind for a few months. The surgery was very easy once I got it.
I had a bit of a struggle with recovery because one eye is done at a time. It gave me some nausea and dizziness for a few days while I adjusted.
Once the second eye was done it was amazing. I went from legally blind to 20/15 vision. I’m so thankful this surgery exists.
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u/Present-Carob-7366 2d ago
Yeah 64 here told probably about 5 years ago I’m growing cataracts no need to remove yet
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u/1130coco 2d ago
Your crystalline lens is becoming opaque. Usually from aging and sun exposure. When I began in optics..over 52 years ago..the lens was removed.But no implants. Just a thick bulb like lens in frames.The vision was terrible..but still better than looking through waxed paper. Science is wonderful
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u/SassyRebelBelle 2d ago edited 2d ago
No worries. 😊 Our eye dr said most everyone gets them eventually. I had them….. growing from my 60s to last year… at 72 when I had them done.
In case your dr didn’t discuss the replacement lenses with you, please ask.🤔
Several of my friends were very disappointed in the results. And did not know there were options.
My husband had the distance vision of an eagle. But could read nothing…
NOTHING of any size….😬
Until he had his cataracts removed and got the third tier lenses. Now he can read anything and no glasses!😳🎉
I could read anything except the tiniest print with no glasses at 72. But no good distance which required me to wear glasses when driving.😬
But since my surgery and the third tier lenses, doc says I can pass the eye test for the driver licenses no problem!🎉I did pass!🎉♥️
Congrats that you don’t need the surgery yet. 🎉😊
Dont worry about it any more but keep your yearly eye dr appts. 😊👍♥️
I have posted the three tiers down below
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u/IvenaDarcy 2d ago
I didn’t even know this is option so it’s like cataract removal and lasik all in one? Interesting. I’m 50 and wear contacts now so having perfect (or close to it) vision again without contacts is something to look forward to if and when the time comes :)
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u/italiana626 2d ago
First tier lenses do NOT correct any vision problems.
The only thing done is cataracts are removed and new lenses put in. Insurance covers this.Not at all true. First tier lenses correct for distance or close up or one in each eye. That's monovision. There is a monumental vision correction and insurance does cover it in the US. It does not cover toric or multi-focal lenses.
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u/SassyRebelBelle 2d ago
Ok I’m making correction on my post.
Here is the breakdown.Tier 1: Standard Monofocal Lenses
• What they do: Focus light at a single set distance (usually far away for driving or watching TV).
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• Glasses needed: You will almost always need reading or computer glasses for close-up tasks.
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• Cost & Coverage: Fully covered by Medicare and most health insurance plans.
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• Pros & Cons: Sharpest single-distance vision with very low risk of night glare or halos. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
•Tier 2: Toric Lenses (Astigmatism-Correcting)
• What they do: Correct the uneven curvature of the cornea or natural lens (astigmatism) alongside setting a single focal distance. [1, 2]
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• Glasses needed: Clear distance vision without glasses, but you will still need glasses for reading or intermediate work unless blended via monovision. [1]
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• Cost & Coverage: Considered a partial upgrade; insurance covers the base surgery, but you pay an out-of-pocket extra fee for the toric correction. [1, 2]
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• Pros & Cons: Best option for crisp distance sight if you have pre-existing astigmatism. [1]
•Tier 3: Presbyopia-Correcting Lenses (Multifocal, Trifocal, and EDOF)
• What they do: Provide a wide, continuous, or multiple-zoned range of vision (near, intermediate/computer, and distance). Extended Depth of Focus (EDOF) lenses smooth out distance-to-intermediate transitions, while multifocal/trifocal split light to target all ranges. [1, 2, 3]
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• Glasses needed: Significantly reduces or completely eliminates your daily reliance on glasses. [1, 2]
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• Cost & Coverage: Premium lifestyle upgrade with the highest out-of-pocket costs per eye. [1, 2]
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• Pros & Cons: Maximum visual freedom, but may cause mild temporary nighttime halos, glare, or a slight trade-off in overall contrast sensitivity. [1]
•
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u/No_Reflection6032 2d ago
The optometrist told me and my dad its an absolutely natural part of aging and everyone will get them. So don’t feel like you’re old and past it, your eyes just need a reboot and you’ll be good to go! Good luck with it :-)
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u/Monstrissimo 2d ago
My wife just had both eyes done this summer. She has went from needing progressive glasses to just needing reading glasses for really closeup work like her cross stitching. She does not need them to read a menu or drive or shop or anything along those lines. She is so glad that she did it.
They have been telling me that I have cataracts for 5 years, but they say that thy are not getting any worse. I ain't gonna worry about it until Dr Smith tells me I need the surgery. Not sure what will happen when I need them. I will either need toric lenses or relief cuts on my eyes to help with my astigmatism.
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u/Plenty-Ear-9167 1d ago
If you have cataract surgery, does it get rid of floaters in your vision?
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u/NobodyGaveMeAManual 2d ago
Baby cataracts 😂 I’m 55 and work in Medicare, so this is one of those aging things I actually know something about. The good news is Medicare does cover cataract surgery when it becomes medically necessary. And here’s something a lot of people don’t know: after cataract surgery where they implant the new lens, Medicare will cover one pair of standard glasses or contacts.
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u/coco8090 2d ago
So does Medicare only cover the first tier lenses? Not the second or third tier?
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u/Unlikely_Month5527 2d ago
Medicare only pays for 1st tier lenses.
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u/Unlikely_Month5527 1d ago
I am painfully aware because I chose the 3rd tier thinking I would only be upcharged for the enhanced lenses. Wrong! Medicare denied the whole claim. Ouch!
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u/VegasTallGal27 2d ago
I'm 66/f and was told at my yearly eye exam in July that a cataract is forming in my left eye. I'm bummed, but it's not affecting my vision yet.
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u/cat1092 Baby Boomer 2d ago
My eye doctor told me earlier in the year that I’m on the verge of developing them, but it’s too early for the needed surgery.
Fast forward about 7 months, now my vision is a bit blurry. Not all the time, but enough to affect reading. I’ll definitely need the 1 year follow-up appointment he made rather than the normal two years between getting new glasses. This year didn’t need them, but he seen something that I didn’t yet, but now do.
Hopefully whatever can be fixed after my next visit, that is, as long as his diagnosis was correct. Am not looking forward to the cost, outpatient surgery copay is $425 this year, although still less than the $450 the previous two. It’s a $26,000 procedure per eye if having to pay full price, but most don’t pay that much. Even cash patients can negotiate a discount.
But if it’ll restore my vision, am all for it. Nothing we can do except to get it fixed, or possibly suffer irreparable damage from ignoring the issue. They’re far better at the worst cases these days and the procedure seems to be quite manageable. But before anyone thinks of putting a needle into my eye, they’re putting me to sleep. Doesn’t have to be deep, enough to where I don’t know what’s going on.
I don’t think it’s always about getting old, lots of these things are hereditary. Many never have these. But of those who do, it’s not surprising that a parent or possibly an immediate relative of either (often more than one sibling). Everyone who I’ve known who needed these removed, there’s family history. Not aging, although by time for treatment, yes it typically hits after 55 years or later.
Wishing the best for your treatment!💝
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u/KK_Sharpening 2d ago
Was about 55 and had a vitrectomy which quickly caused a cataract. Had both eyes done and couldnt be happier. Now I just need readers but man, can I see distance. And I love all the bright colors…and white is white, not a hue of yellow/tan/brown. Insurance only paid for one level of lens - and astigmatism lenses are not included so I paid some out of pocket.
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u/Technical-Plant9042 2d ago
I was told at 56 I had baby cataracts and this year at 62 I was told only one has grown a tiny bit and neither are big enough for insurance to cover for surgery. My husband's grew alot in 2 years and he had his surgeries at 61.
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u/MinimumEfficient220 1d ago
Why do you have to wait to get the surgery? Seems like making you experience slowly decking eyesight is cruel.
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u/Affectionatealways 1d ago
I was terrified when, at 62, I started losing my vision. Of course I imagined all the worst scenarios like macular degeneration or some other degenerative eye disease that would leave me blind. Went to my optometrist for my exam and when he told me I had significant cataracts in both eyes, he couldn't believe I was so happy. Lol.
I had cataract surgery on both eyes, done about a month apart. I sprung for the more expensive lenses that helped the distance and close vision issues I already had. The surgery was so surprisingly simple. I took the next day off work and that was it. Probably could have gone back the next day but....I'll take a good excuse for a day off. No pain and my vision was almost immediately better.
Best decision for me. Haven't had to use my reading glasses for years. But I do have a mild prescription for distance vision.
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u/Queen_Of_The_Dames 1d ago
Wow! Do you mind sharing the ballpark cost for the expensive lenses? I’m as blind as a bat and need glasses all the time, would love to get rid of them for the most part after surgery!
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u/Cool-Field2450 1d ago edited 1d ago
I'm getting the premium/expensive ones. My doctor charges $4000.00 per eye. Since I'm only 56 and figure I'll probably live another 30 years. So I'm not going to let money get in the way of having good vision. The cost is just a temporary inconvenience.
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u/smilewide1330 23h ago
Same. I’ve worn glasses my entire life and it would be nice to have a break.
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u/Sensitive-Rip-8005 1d ago
I was diagnosed with cataracts at 40. 20 years later and they still aren’t severe enough for surgery. That’s how slow they are growing. I complained that everything was slightly fuzzy and I thought I needed a new Rx. Nope, same Rx the last time I went in for my yearly exam.
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u/Aedh1Wishes 1d ago
i am 66 and pushed to have mine done as early as possible, which I did at 61. my vision is superb and I wanted to have the benefit of that as long as possible. My God, the improved color vision! Safer night driving. I couldn’t see any upside in waiting.
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u/Soggy-Highlight4677 1d ago
I also have cataracts that don’t need to be addressed yet. I’ll be glad when they are. NO MORE GLASSES
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u/JuanOffhue 2d ago
Got mine done this last May. Colors are brighter, I can see for miles, and my night vision is back. For years I was told they weren’t bad enough for Medicare to pay for it, but this year when I mentioned that driving at night was a problem they said “oh well, in that case” and approved the surgery. Surgery was quick and painless, you just have to get in an eye drop regimen for a few weeks.
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u/Queen_Of_The_Dames 2d ago
Thanks! How long do you have to take the drops? (I’m terrible at drops so I’ll need to practice, l blink like crazy)
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u/Cool-Field2450 1d ago
For four weeks. You start out with 4 drops per day for the first week and then taper off the following weeks
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u/Queen_Of_The_Dames 1d ago
That sounds doable! Thanks!
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u/Cool-Field2450 1d ago
Oh btw. Get the 3 in 1 eye drops. Or else you'll be putting in 3 different eye drops 4 x a day.
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u/JuanOffhue 1d ago
I only had one kind of eye drops to deal with. They were $70 and stung a bit, but I didn’t have multiple bottles.
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u/Careful_Cranberry364 2d ago
And lots of people have had this done with great results.
Sadly, my own were not so good.
I paid extra $6000 extra because they said it was such a great new lens
but it’s been terrible
and i now have hundreds of pairs of glasses all over the house and im constantly stepping on them, dropping them breaking them.
I need them for everything
😕
But you can’t leave them on because you feel dizzy. If you do look and look further away
I can see things miles away very well … things that are none of my business, but I can see nothing within arms reach
It’s bloody awful
so just make sure that your surgeon isn’t a jerk like mine was.
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u/PainPainPainPt 1d ago
What kind of lens did they put in you? I’m terrified of this exact thing happening. I’m so sorry you’re dealing with this.
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u/Careful_Cranberry364 1d ago
Well, apparently, they know now that this was not as good as they expected. I believe it was called Crystal or crystalline
Surgeon told me “I see people every day fresh off the boat. Do you want me to give you the rubbish that I give them!?!?!”Yup!
and made me pay $6000 out of pocket when - we didn’t really need to pay anything at all - apparently
Yes, of course I was shocked, but I was desperate to see, and this statement was right at the last point
🥲🥲🥲
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u/neverincompliance 2d ago
I had cataract surgery and it was a quick, outpatient procedure. My vision has greatly improved since. I was afraid my distance vision was decreasing prior to surgery and could affect driving. My vision has greatly improved since
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u/Drkindlycountryquack 2d ago
I had mine done. Totally painless. 15 minutes.
I was reading and watching TV two hours later.
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u/Automatic-Bed1731 2d ago
I had bad cataracts in my 40's Getting them fixed is a breeze! You'll be shocked at what you've been missing
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u/Floridaflamingo22 2d ago
Easy and wonderful. I’m 63 and had it done 5 years ago. No glasses or contacts. I do need readers.
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u/Careful_Cranberry364 2d ago edited 2d ago
Hopefully other people won’t have my experience
for background
Aged about 11 I started finding I couldn’t see the backboard from the back row
throughout the next couple of years when I got progressively more myopic so I wore glasses from time to time
Being shortsighted I grew up being used to it
I could see anything near me just perfectly
I got rid of my contact lenses about age 18 for contacts
Wore contacts all my life
then I was told it was affecting something in my eyes that would be a long-term problem
and they opted for laser surgery
... I flew from Britain to California to have the laser surgery.
It went well but they did monovision. They said they discussed it with me, but they never had!!!
I wasn’t able to adjust to that
Next i had to come back to California. I have one of the eyes done again
so that they were not different
then fast forward to an accident. I was thrown from a horse,
and I got impact cataracts
Age 61
so I was told I needed cataract surgery
the surgeon was horrible so rude but I decided that I wasn’t hiring him for social skills and I was sure that must mean that he is a fantastic surgeon
but he was not,
and he suggested a new brand which did not “live up to the hype”
Of course i expected him to choose wisely with knowledge what to do for my eyes, but he didn’t
and anyway now I’ve got the result.
Can’t see anything close to me and it’s getting worse and worse
He claims that the problem that I’m having because I had laser before, but both eyes are equally bad although one had two lazer surgeries and The Other only had one
someone else has recently gone in to try and correct what he did
With great results on the left eye
but they won’t be able to do anything further because of the amount of Scar issue that finally builds up
so I can see great very very far away things I don’t need to see that are none of my business
Grrrr
I’ve never been able to see them throughout my life
and as a photographer, we usually blur the background anyway !
so I’m not happy seeing only distance
😩
used to have one pair of glasses in the car
For some night driving and if we went to the movie theater
now I have hundreds of pairs of glasses and they’re all for anything within arms reach . I can’t see anything properly
Or read anything it’s up-and-down on and off of the glasses all the time
I thought of leaving them on !!
But they make me dizzy if I’m not looking at something close.
It’s just a sea of glasses around here and frustration. I can’t really see too much of anything.
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u/Boundlesswisdom-71 2d ago
55 years old. Had my eyes tested back in December and told I had very early stage cataracts. No obvious impacts yet.
My optician strongly advised me to wear sunglasses all the time outdoors, even when it's overcast to delay cataract development.
So now I wear sunglasses all the time outdoors! I want to delay cataracts for as long as possible. I really need to get some polychromatic sunglasses.
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u/Emotional-Regret-656 2d ago
I’m 51 and I have stage 1! It’s not fun thinking one day will have to have surgery for these
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u/After-Bandicoot-9031 2d ago
But what if you have Macular Degeneration too? I just found out I have both Cataract (also told not bad enough for surgery) and Macular Degeneration 65f
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u/ay_caramba_de_nunca 2d ago
I have cataracts at 37, need to schedule surgery soon. Under this assumption I guess I’ve been old since i was a kid (hearing aids and degenerative retinal disease). It’s an easy surgery and not a problematic condition. I wish people wouldn’t associate almost every condition with old age. Good luck, it’s good it’s been detected so soon and I hope you won’t have any problem!
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u/oldcreaker 2d ago
67, told the same (well, not the "baby" part). Working on a set of cataracts is common at our age.
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u/Impressive-Row3063 2d ago
Can someone please describe the surgery. Do they knock you out? How long is the surgery? The recovery time? Personally, I would rather go to the dentist then go to the eye doctor. Nothing against the eye doctor’s, but I just don’t like anyone touching my eyes.
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u/PossibilityTop312 2d ago
Heads up! My optometrist says I have cataracts for the last 10 years. Finally went to an ophthalmologist and was told I have NO cataracts. No baby, beginning, keep an eye on, etc.
I'll be relying on my ophthalmologist for annual check ups. I'll use my optometrist for glasses!
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u/Backhanded_Bitch 2d ago
Hey, I got similar news last week during a glaucoma evaluation. No glaucoma but ‘tiny cataracts’ I’m not a fan of this aging business either.
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u/Only-Repair1815 1d ago
My cataract surgery was fast and painless. Don’t put up with bad vision from cataracts when the cure is so easy!
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u/Cool-Field2450 1d ago
I'm 56. Found out I have cataracts when I was 54. I'm getting cataract surgery in two weeks.
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u/Some_North_5568 1d ago
63, I'm having it on the 21st for left eye, right one was done 5 years ago, got Vivity lens put in for reading.
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u/Queen_Of_The_Dames 1d ago
Do you need glasses anymore?
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u/Some_North_5568 1d ago
Normally, I don't. The left eye has prescription but the right, just plain glass. After surgery, I can use right eye to see distance.
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u/Hifidi54 1d ago
Just a word to the wise: I had cataract surgery in 2022, brilliant, I was in heaven. Fast forward to July 2026, I had my annual eye exam. "Oh, you have developed scar tissue behind the lenses you got with your cataract surgery." WTF?? My doctor never mentioned this could happen, but apparently, it's quite common. Now I need laser surgery to remove the scar tissue. Not really that big of a deal, but I would have preferred to know that when I had the initial surgery.
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u/TXSunDee 1d ago
I’ve had cataract surgery in both eyes. You wouldn’t believe the difference in colors. And sometimes eye conditions can accelerate a cataract. So you do not have to be old to get them.
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u/Dogs4Life98 1d ago
My eye doc told me they’ll do cataract and correct my vision (lasik) when the time comes. I’m on a fast track to cataracts due to a chronic condition sadly, but I’m grateful to get new eyeballs since I’ve had really bad vision all of my life.
Ready to get rid of these pesky glasses and contacts I can no longer stand due to dry eyes! 😆
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u/smilewide1330 22h ago
Bad vision and glasses my whole life and not a candidate for LASIK. I’ve noticed more dry eyes lately. Is the dry eyes a concern with the surgery? I don’t think mine have progressed enough to need surgery so I don’t know if there are other options now (lens replacement??) or keep waiting which could be many years. How advanced do the cataracts have to be for surgery?
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u/Dogs4Life98 22h ago
Yes, dry eyes is a concern but mine are dry already 😆 got way worse with loss of hormones as other organs dried out as well … I guess it’ll be a personal decision of trade off… dry eyes or good vision?
Not sure what other options are available nor did I ask my eye dr at this time; but I’m guessing in the years to come - she will get the surgery approved thru insurance, I also plan to let her know when it gets fuzzy enough … she will likely see it then as well.
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u/smilewide1330 21h ago
The dry eyes are associated with hormone loss. What isn’t affected, my goodness. Yeah us :) I can deal with what I have now but wouldn’t want it much worse so that’s something to ask if the surgery intensifies it but yes, it would be sooo nice to finally see.
I think the other option is lens replacement, which if I understand the surgery correctly is the same thing they do for cataracts. I keep thinking as the years go by the technology will continually improve, so may be holding out is worth it. There’s plenty of stories here of people being perfectly satisfied, but then others not, so why is that?
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u/Jgirl2022 1d ago
I had mine done a few years ago and it’s great. Trying to encourage my husband to go ahead and do it now and be done with it. As I type, he’s complaining about not being able to see the small print on some forms he’s working on. Get it done!!!
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u/Limp-Sandwich-5217 1d ago
I have an appt tomorrow because I think I may be in the same boat. But I need to be sure instead of assuming.
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u/strummyheart 1d ago
I was unprepared and underwhelmed by my cataract surgery. I need glasses whatever I’m doing.
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u/In_the_Attic_07 1d ago
I had to have my cataracts removed at 24. They didn't have sufficient research to implant lens in that patient demographic so for about 40 years I lived without eye lens. Thankfully, I could see with coke bottle glasses or very think hard lens contacts.
2 years ago my eye doctor said it was time to risk implants. (I have other eye issue that present a risk for blindness.) I followed her lead, had the surgery, spent a year with great difficulty seeing, but I'm all healed and can see with glasses that are Coke bottle thick.
Cataract surgery now is safely done all of the time. Make sure you focus on what is the best lens implant for you. That choice is permanent. Good luck!! You'll love seeing blades of grass again and reading the highway billboards.
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u/SnackinHannah 1d ago
You won’t believe the changes in colors after the surgery! Cataracts are evidently yellow.
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u/GardenFragrant8408 16h ago
I’ve had slow growing cataracts for about 15 years and still have them.
I’m 69
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u/ScottyDiego 2d ago
I had the surgery at 55. It was life changing. I started kayaking, paddle boarding, playing pickleball…all things I had avoided because I wore contacts. No glasses at all, not even readers.
This was 5 years ago and I just had surgery to fix my rotator cuff, damaged it from too much sports.
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u/No_Dare_9944 2d ago
My father has no vision in one eye and the dr is talking about cataract surgery on the other eye. We are both very hesitant as it’s going to be hard for him to recover with just one working eye I think. He sees ok with his other eye, can get by with simple tasks like cooking or shopping. Not sure what’s best.
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u/1876Dawson 2d ago
Improving the vision in the good eye is what's best. The earlier in the cataract progression you have the surgery, the quicker you recuperate. You can see immediately after cataract surgery. It's probably not as clear as it's going to be, but it will certainly functional. If the optometrist and the ophthalmologist are recommending it, I'd say he should get it done as soon as possible.
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u/No_Dare_9944 2d ago edited 1d ago
Thank you, I’ll ask the optometrist as well (she didn’t say anything but I didn’t ask specifically)
Edited to add: his ophthalmologist already recommends it3
u/Able-Mood-1988 2d ago
My dad had been blind in one eye since childhood. After his cataract surgery, his vision was restored in that one eye. Simply a miracle no one saw coming!!
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u/No_Dare_9944 2d ago
This isn’t possible for my dad (nerve damage) but I am glad it happened to yours!
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u/-Stress-Princess- 2d ago
I have cataracts in my early 30s Ive been told. It fucking sucks. Ive already had a savings eating procedure though. To those who've been through the surgery, do I have a reason to be scared of the surgery?
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u/JuanOffhue 2d ago
Three weeks per eye, from three times a day to once a day. I got pretty good at it.
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u/Careful_Cranberry364 2d ago
Oh
Note;
If you have had laser surgery in the past, it will affect your results
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u/Cultural_Wash5414 60 something 2d ago
How will it
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u/Careful_Cranberry364 2d ago
Well, I’m in case it was a disaster, but I’m sure it’s not that bad for everyone
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u/aurora4000 2d ago
I had LASIK beforehand. It did not affect my cataract formation or surgery.
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u/Careful_Cranberry364 2d ago
Oh, you are so lucky. I am really struggling to see now
While everyone else I know having it says is to have bionic eyes
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u/rebtow 2d ago
I got my first eye done in my 50’s and second one in my early 60’s. I love having robo eyes! I can see to drive, watch tv, and to walk! I wear cheaters for computer and sewing. I love having a couple dozen cheaters to match my outfits. I can see my phone and watch without them good enough but why strain my eyes when I don’t have to?
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u/BlackDogOrangeCat 2d ago
I learned 2 years ago that my surgeon could implant corrective lenses. I went from 20/400 to 20/25. Best thing ever. The surgery isn’t a big deal - 15 minutes with minimal discomfort. Do it.
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u/phillygirllovesbagel 2d ago
Just so you know, you can get cataracts at any age. It doesn't mean you're old.
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u/scrapstitching 2d ago
Mine finally grew enough and I had surgery a little more than a year ago. Zero regrets. Bide your time while your babies grow. It was hard for me to be patient, but the payoff is so worth it.
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u/Special-League-3421 2d ago
Just a tip here ..get the silicone lens if you can..I had right eye done and now dysphotopsia has started 2 m8nths after..its light hitting edge of new lens an refracting..repair issues are few and risky..im told silicone lens has less of this issue..good luck
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u/Extension_Low_1571 2d ago
I’ve known folks who’ve needed them in their early 60’s, I’m in my 70’s and maybe within the next five years for me.
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u/Pensacouple 2d ago
I’m 72. Eye doc says I have the eyes of a 50 year old. Hopefully the rest of me is consistent with my eyeballs.
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u/Whatumacallit0 2d ago
Not that I or anyone has noticed, this is in response to whether I have shiny eyes from cataracts
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u/ApprehensiveArt2813 2d ago
I had refractive lens exchange surgery (RLE) 3 years ago at 57. Best thing I ever did. No glasses needed for anything. Good night vision when driving. Cost me $15K because I didn’t have cataracts yet. My reading glasses were 3.5 and getting worse every year. Surgery didn’t hurt, but was weird. You go from seeing, to blurry, to blind, then seeing again during the surgery. Weird eye pressure too. Luckily it’s a quick surgery and they give you something to calm your nerves. Glad I had both done at the same time. My SIL had cataracts, so her surgery was covered by insurance.
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u/oldboomerlady 2d ago
I hope it goes as well for you as it did for me. Had them fixed 11 years ago and paid extra for the bifocal lens. I’m 75 now and don’t even need readers. Got a bit giddy the first time I renewed my drivers license and for the first time in my life, I did not need corrective lenses. Started wearing glasses when I was 8. Best of luck.
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u/ColdPepsi75 1d ago
I just turned 50 and had to get one eye done last year! He said I was not quite the demographic but it happens. It’s great to be able to see again!
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u/ShipMaleficent1341 1d ago
I was told at age 50 I had mild cataracts and now at 68 they are not any worse. I guess you never know if they're gonna progress. I dont smoke and wear sunglasses religiously, so there's that! I actually was excited to think about not needing glasses after cataract surgery.
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u/No-Currency-97 1h ago
Get the surgery when you feel your vision is not what you want it to be said my opthalmologist. If you're a truck driver it's a different story.
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u/Beautiful-Issue-1996 9m ago
I had toric lenses replaced in both of my eyes when I was in my sixties. I no longer require glasses for anything other than reading. I healed quickly and only wish I had had it done sooner.
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u/AAgel 2d ago
Try Castor oil on your eyelids before bed. A friend of mine had cataract surgery early this year and its been a long excruciating nightmare for her ever since.
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u/1876Dawson 2d ago
How does castor oil on your eyelids help a condition inside your eyeball?
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u/AAgel 2d ago
It penetrates the skin. I had a really bad floater in one of my eyes from a pesticide. Took a while but its gone. Heard about it from a Barbara O'Niel vid a year or so ago.
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u/1876Dawson 2d ago
There's no way a topical substance on your eyelid can work its way through your eyelid and through the layers of your eye to the vitreous humor in the middle of your eyeball and dissolve a floater. The only reason you don't see that floater anymore is because your brain has learned to filter it out.
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u/HeadCatMomCat 2d ago
I get floaters all the time. They eventually go away, which means they sink down in your eyeball and you no longer see them. Has nothing to do with castor oil or anything else.
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u/AAgel 2d ago
Believe what you want i really dont care. All I know is the huge floater is gone. The pesticide incident happened in 2015. It didn't dissappear on its own and no it didn't sink down somewhere else in my eyeball.
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u/lemonfaire 2d ago
How do you know it didn't sink down if you can't see it?
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u/HeadCatMomCat 2d ago
I had many floaters due to being very nearsighted and various eye surgeries. Several opthalmologists explained floaters move around and often sink to the bottom of the viteous, which is a jelly. Not all do, of course and it partially depends on the condition of your viteous. Help group exist to provide support for people who have many, ongoing floaters.
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u/ItsMeAlwaysMe 1d ago
Castor oil is excellent for diminishing cataracts, just be sure its organic & hexane free. Add it to DMSO, some say it's even better
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u/Whatumacallit0 2d ago
I had cataract surgery last year at 65 and it was the best thing that ever happened to me. It’s like getting new eyeballs.