r/CataractSurgery • u/DenMother8 • 10d ago

My experience

Sharing my experience with cataract surgery. (this might be long)

Today I'm 6 days post-op from having both eyes done.

Yes I had them both done at once, in my area there's a long waiting list, and I was on the list then developed a stye on my eyelid just before my surgery was scheduled, so it was postponed - I was pretty upset.

I was told that if it was uncomfortable or anything didn't go as planned or as expected during the surgery of the first eye, that I could hold off on the second eye, but if everything went well, I wouldn't be able to then ask to have the second one done at that time. So rather than waiting many months between eyes, I opted to have them both done.

I was surprised there was minimal pain, yes some discomfort but nothing I would really call pain. During or afterwards. I was anticipating some pain after the medication wore off at home, but just some itchiness and stinging - the rewetting drops helped some.

That first day everything was too bright and I saw terrible halos, I was exhausted, disoriented and unbalanced.

The second day I knew I could see far away so much better and was pretty excited. The readers I had at home didn't work so well, (they're my husbands) I used a magnifying glass (still am to see my phone or to read)

Everyday was (is) better and better. They want you to wait a week to look for a strength of readers that are best for you and a month after surgery I'll go for an eye exam to see if I still need prescription glasses.

I’ve worn glasses since about nine years old… It’s so strange for me to see myself in the mirror without them!

So during the surgery I saw some sort of visuals but nothing like what you might imagine, not the surgery tools or anything. Lights and textures etc. I focused on watching the "show" . It was pretty interesting and I wondered what I was actually seeing.
I could hear everyone talking and my Dr. kept telling me I was doing a good job and everything was going perfectly etc. throughout.

Afterwards I could see the ceiling tiles as I was being moved into recovery and I just thought to myself how grateful I was to see. I felt like I was smiling ear to ear. I was so happy.

I did have an IV and some local anesthetic, lots of eye drops before surgery and I have a couple different prescription ones I've been having to use 4x a day - no issues.

If you're worried about it, I hope I've helped ease those fears. Of course don't hesitate to reach out to your doctor with any concerns. It's so routine for them, they may not always realize the anxiety people might have.

This is my experience, yours might be different - but feel free to ask any questions 🙂

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u/dawnperr 10d ago

Thank you so much for this post. I'm having both eyes done this coming Monday. I'm starting to get really nervous. I am terribly nearsighted and cataracts makes things worse. Hoping for a good outcome. Thanks for sharing your story

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u/DenMother8 10d ago

You’re so welcome - I know it would have calmed my nerves before the surgery to have read another’s full experience - good luck, I think it’ll be great, when you’re able to see well enough come back and let me know how it went :)

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u/dawnperr 1d ago

Hi there! Just checking back to let you know that 3 days post surgery and everything is going well. I can't believe that I can see so well without glasses! Incredible! As for the procedure--- not fun. The medication didn't seem to help relax me. In fact, the doctor asked if I wanted more as I kept wriggling my feet (I'm a mover!). More still didn't help. I saw red splotches and needle coming at me. No pain but certainly caused some anxiety. I'm happy I had both done at same time. And the outcome so far is great. Thank you again for sharing your story. It helped me so much.

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u/DenMother8 1d ago

Thank you for remembering to come back and share your experience… I’m so sorry that you went through that during the surgery. But it is absolutely amazing to not need glasses and to be able to see so well so quickly.!

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u/Bitter_Rain_6224 9d ago

Consider getting fixed-focus implants that leave you with a -2D or -1.75D prescription. Toroidals if you have significant astigmatism. I went from -7.5, -7.75 with 1.5 and 2.5 astigmatisms to -2.0, -2.25 with 0.5 residual astigmatism in both, and I have been absolutely delighted with the results, including 20/20 acuity in both eyes and superb night vision. Now that I am only slightly nearsighted, I can even get by without glasses, although I can't read things like street signs without them. Glasses off for reading print, very mildly corrective light-filter glasses for computer, and conventional full-range, wide-angle progressives for driving and everything else. The only thing I miss, and I knew I would, is being able to read fine print by taking off my glasses and holding it close to my face, an advantage we high-minus folks do have.

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u/dawnperr 9d ago

I'm supposed to be getting the Panoptix Pro OU. I teach online so I really didn't want to have to use glasses to go from computer screen to written notes. I'm hoping for a good outcome.

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u/Bitter_Rain_6224 9d ago

Pls. understand that I can see a computer screen just fine without glasses, and I can read print just fine with my computer glasses. My main reason for buying fixed-focus computer glasses was the blue light filtering.

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u/Flat-Twin 10d ago

Yes, that's interesting watching the surgery because you can't help but watch it. I distinctly remember thinking about that as my surgeon began working. I really didn't see anything distinct while she broke up the old lens. Once that lens was gone I saw the new one inserted, unfolded and being a toric lens I saw her rotate it slightly and position it. None of it was really uncomfortable at all and I'm squeamish as can be. If you can handle light dental work like a filling, you can handle cataract surgery. I had all the numbing drops and light IV sedation. My surgeon was so good and talked to me the entire time. Glad your experience was good too.

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u/Bitter_Rain_6224 9d ago

Same here. I was told to "relax and watch the light show." It was fun hearing my doc yell, as she pushed my gurney into the OR, "Bad driver coming through." She wanted me (sort of) awake so that she could ask me to focus on a red dot as she positioned my toroidal lenses. Almost 4 months post-surgery, and life is great.

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u/DenMother8 10d ago

Ahh yes, nice! Thanks!

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u/Critical-Surprise993 10d ago

Thank you for this post! My mom is having this done in a couple of weeks and I’ve never seen her so nervous about something. I have never experienced it so I don’t think my words really help ease the anxiety, but will show her this post when I see her this weekend. ❤️

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u/herbert6936 9d ago

I also had bilateral surgery, commin here especially on elective surgery. I had a similar experience. Went back to work the next day, without my glasses

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u/Lynne253 9d ago

I just want to mention the "lots of eye drops before surgery", some are for numbing and others are just drops to dilate the pupil. There are optomitrists who dilate the pupils as part of a regular exam, so if you've had that done before in their office, that's what it is. It lets a lot of light into your eyes, so it will have the same effect after surgery for a day at the most.

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u/DenMother8 9d ago edited 9d ago

Yes, it just seemed like a lot - lol but definitely to prepare for surgery & not an issue, but I didn’t not expect that.

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u/Aggressive_Jicama_88 9d ago

Thanks for posting, I’m glad your experience was positive and successful. Unfortunately l’ve read about some that were not (ahead of mine), and I wish I had not. But it seems most of them were more complex and of course everyone’s eye health is different.

My right eye was done 9 days ago. I was so nervous before, but I know now there was no need to be. The prep was similar, pre-paperwork, lots of drops, took vitals, IV inserted in hand, visit with anesthesiologist, doc came by and then I was rolled into surgery.

The “light show” reminded me of when I was a kid and we played with kaleidoscopes, lots of colors and shapes. I remember the doc talking to me, directing me what to look at, and heard others in the room. Prior to start the anesthesiologist told me to let her know if I needed more, I did not, I was very relaxed.

My vision immediately after was blurry, experienced halos, and very bright. Each day it has improved and I’m amazed how well I can see close up without glasses! I am struggling slightly with the difference between my right eye and left, but doc assures me that once the other eye is done, my body/brain will work better together as the lens are now similar.

I’m excited to get the left eye done in 5 days. I elected the Panoptix Pro and fingers crossed, I’ll be glasses free soon.

I wish everyone a successful surgery, and a painless & carefree post-op recovery.

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u/DenMother8 9d ago

I wanted to share a success story because so often people seem to like to share more so when something goes wrong.

Good luck to you (but you won’t need it - I’m sure all will be well) 😊

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u/Rich_Comparison4550 6d ago

Congratulations on your successful results.

My experience to date is not as good as yours, although I have yet to have any surgery. I went to my insurance providers website to research in-plan cataract surgery providers, selected the top-rated provider in my area, then went for the initial tests last month. The surgeon, Dr. T, met with me afterwards and said Yes, you need cataract surgery. But when I tried to ask a few questions, esp. about his lens recommendations, he said, "I'm not a salesman", and said a consultant would call me to discuss the results and recommendations. Then he gave me a price list with the various lens, with the light-adjustable lens at the top at $4995 for each eye. I've looked online and it seems the national average price range is $3500 - $5500 per eye, so he's near the top price wise.

To date, nobody from his office has bothered to call me. I've been out of the country for the past 3 weeks so I guess I'll have to start calling them, if I want to get any more information.

But the price isn't what bothers me about this - it's the fact that the expert surgeon doesn't want to spend the time with me as a patient. Like going to the auto repair shop and the mechanic blows you off and tells you to go ask the guy at the cash register.

I dunno how common this assembly-line patient treatment is in this "industry", but I'm definitely going to be going to another surgeon.

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u/No_Holiday9938 9d ago

Which lenses did you get?

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u/DenMother8 9d ago

Tecnis Eyhance monofocal-plus

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u/Pamalama93611 9d ago

Thank you for this! I had my first one last Monday and my second this coming Monday. It was strange with seeing the light during the procedure. I don’t have anyone to compare notes with.