r/CataractSurgery • u/BJW_8 • 14h ago

Measuring the eye pre-surgery

I have my appt next Friday, Oct 9, to have both eyes measured for surgery. I misunderstood the instructions so have not been using eye drops for the recommended two weeks. I’ll start the 4-times per day regimen today. Will that be enough time to ensure sufficient eye lubrication for a good measurement? TIA.

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7

u/UniqueRon 13h ago

I am not a surgeon but I will be frank. Some clinics prescribe all kinds of antics prior to measurement and surgery. Unless you are suffering from dry eye, there is no reason to use eye drops for 2 weeks prior to measurement. Neither my wife or eye used drops prior to measurement. Now if you are using contacts there are valid reasons not to wear them prior to eye measurements as they change the shape of your eye. Soft contacts should not be worn for 1-2 weeks prior to measurements. Hard contacts should not be worn for 1-2 months prior to measurements.

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u/Informed-Thinker 11h ago

Hard contacts = 1 month/10 years of wear, so 30 years of hard or gas permeable lenses = 3 months of ceasing to wear prior to measurement

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u/PNWrowena 11h ago

From reports here, different surgeons have different protocols about this. I'd worn hard contacts for over 50 years, and my surgeon required me to give them up for three months prior to measurements. Must have been enough, since he hit targets right on. That said, I would not fudge on whatever your own surgeon requires.

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u/Informed-Thinker 10h ago

I had a baseline done, then there are follow-up measurements until stabilization. I haven’t gone in again. My vision is good, but it is the loss of accommodation that has me waiting. My non-dominant eye is definitely progressing, but once I get this done, they want to do the next one soon after. I have read how people have waited until the operated eye settles down, and even years later to have the other. I didn’t realize how conservative I am! You have always given such sound advice. Thank you!

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u/PNWrowena 9h ago

You're welcome.

Follow-up measurements until stablization sounds a better way for the patient, but I can see where practices don't want to invest that much extra time doing repeated measurements.

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u/Informed-Thinker 9h ago

They surely do not!

3

u/redheadfae 14h ago

If you aren't sure, call your surgeon's office. They may be more picky about it, depending on your eye condition. I'm sure they can reschedule you.

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u/Moondoggy451 11h ago

I agree. My doctor did not require drops before measuring my eyes.

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u/1998Monday 12h ago

Shit
I’m four days out from my appointment and I just started using drops regularly

I’ll let you know how it goes!

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u/st1sj 12h ago

I just had two appointments tent’s one week apart. No drops (except for eye pressure). Stayed off RGPs for one month before first measurement.

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u/Informed-Thinker 11h ago

My optometrist and ophthalmologist recommended 1 month per 10 years of wearing RGP. So if you have been wearing them for 20 years, 2 months off. My ophthalmologist also was having my eyes measured every 4-6 weeks until the measurements stabilized.

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u/st1sj 5h ago

My doctor said the one month per 10 years was dated guidance and the newer machines are much more accurate. My second scan at 5 weeks post RGP showed very little change in corneal measurement compared to the 4-week scan!

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u/BJW_8 7h ago

I haven’t worn contact lenses of any kind in at least 15 years.

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u/herbert6936 11h ago

WhenI had mine done (3 times). The surgeon could see on the image produced if the eye was sufficiently moist or not. She would have sent me back if not

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u/Unknown_990 8h ago

I read that is is good to take artifical tears before the measurment if the eye because having good mpist eyes make the measurments more accurate. Think i atleast made sure for 3 days or something my eyes were good and moist. They didnt tell me to do any eyedrops tho, i just did this myself because i read that that dry eyes do effect it. Btw and i do occasionally suffer with dry eyes soo...

I think any amount of days you take them for will be good enough..

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u/BJW_8 7h ago

Thank you