I was told I could benefit from cataract surgery at any time I wanted to do it. Sounds fine be me. But, how can I find a surgeon with the best reputation for cataract surgery specifically ? Or is the surgery so simple that it doesn't matter for the most part which surgeon does the surgery ? Is it simple like getting a cavity filled, or does the surgeon actually matter that much if at all ? Do I need to be as careful about picking a cataract eye surgeon as say a brain surgeon ? Or just go with someone my neighbor recommends, like a plumber or electrician ? I'm asking because my wife had cataract surgery a few months ago, now she's having trouble with certain lighting causing strain and irritation. That's my understanding. I'm thinking maybe she should have found a better surgeon. I don't know. The guy she used is a very big eye doctor in the area, but I don't know how often "big volume" doctor equates to "good surgery outcome". And I don't know if cataract surgery is considered a specialty, or if it's so simple that it's basically a given that any eye doctor can do it with best outcomes.

Cataract surgery is very common these days.
Not all doctors and practices are equal.
The biggest decision is the replacement lenses you choose.
Message me where you live and I could make some suggestions

I had cataract surgery on both eyes 6 months apart a year ago in 2021. I interviewed 5 different ophthalmologists (eye surgeons) before I found one that would do what I wanted done. Be aware that my pricing info is for Medicare recipients like myself

I wanted one eye with a long focus and one eye for reading. And that happens to be the least expensive way to get cataract surgery in my case paid for by Medicare at 100%. I received quotes from other eye doctors for up to $10,000 after Medicare paid with fancy lenses like multi focal, etc.

Apparently Medicare will only pay simple lenses. You must pay for any special features. The special features frequently come with problems such as glaring headlights, etc. And still you will likely have to wear cheaters for small print if you are sold special features.

You will likely be told that with different prescriptions, you will have trouble going up and down stairs and be unable to tell how far a distant feature is. I found that not true.

My son-in-law at 57 had cataract surgery in both eyes with all the bells and whistles - $9800.00. He has problems with glaring headlights, poor night vision and still has to use drug store cheap glasses to read small print. You may get a disclaimer citing all these potential problems about 20 minutes before you get put down for the surgery.

My results were excellent. I can read #9 print without glasses or a magnifying glass. I have no difficulty with distance vision. From my apartment 38 miles away, I can determine which way military jets are turning (left or right) by watching contrails. I do have to refocus a rifle scope or move my head forward or back to get the best sight picture depending if I am shooting right handed or left handed. An easy trade off.

In choosing a surgeon, I would ask him or the front desk how many eyes has he has done. My guy volunteered 35870 eyes. He was 65 plus. There was only mild resistance to doing it my way. Older experienced surgeons have less need for upselling and lots of experience. In addition ask for the surgery package (containing the declaration of possible poor results that you will sign) at the time you interview the doc.

Email me if you wish further discussion.

EasyFire

when i had both done 3 years , i went with the highest recommended eye facility local to me.

do your research about the different eye surgeons that you might consider... ask friend /family /etc as to their experiencies.... In our area there is one Eye Care Surgeon that there is not enough money in Ft. Knox to get me to even let them look at any of my family members or friends.. Due to personal experiencies of major misdiagnosis and from horror stories about people whos problems were worse after surgery and some of these results could not be repaired by other surgeons...... Do your research....About 1 1/2 year ago wife had cataract surgurey in both eyes with great results...................... drill sgt.

I am about to have my 2nd eye done next Tuesday. I got lucky, the partner of the Dr that I had been seeing (now retired) is a teaching Dr. He always has several interns and residents working with him. Typically Dr's in those roles are very competent in their field.

The procedure is very straight forward and quick with modern technology. The prep takes a few hours, the surgery about 10 minutes. The key is a surgeon that can properly evaluate your eye vs. your sight goals, do the calculations properly for the correct lens, then install it in the correct place.

As far as volume, my current surgeon won't do more than 18-20 patients a day when he does surgery. That will give you an idea of how fast it is. You only have 1 pair of eyes, choose wisely.

As far as what to expect:
What cataract surgery will do..
- remove the yellow haze/tint
= improve your quality of vision
- Remove the rainbow halo around points of light
- With the right lens, can improve astigmatism

What cataract surgery won't do
- Make your vision like it was when you were 19
- improve night vision
- Improve/enhance color vision (other than by removing yellow haze
- Improve how fast you focus near to far
- Eliminate the need for corrective lenses


Optical issues due to normal aging are not correctable with cataract surgery

quote:

Originally posted by EasyFire:

20 minutes before you get put down for the surgery.

"Put down?" Are you referring to anesthesia? My cataracts were done with numbing eye drops. Valium was offered, but I declined.

quote:

Put down?" Are you referring to anesthesia? My cataracts were done with numbing eye drops. Valium was offered, but I declined

^^^^^^
I think he was referring to Euthanasia.

quote:

Originally posted by ZSMICHAEL:

quote:

Put down?" Are you referring to anesthesia? My cataracts were done with numbing eye drops. Valium was offered, but I declined

^^^^^^
I think he was referring to Euthanasia.

They do cataract surgery on dead people?

But back on topic, if you want to eliminate reading glasses with no side effects, consider getting Mono Vision lenses when you get the surgery.

choosing your eye doc is a local thing so no help on that. As already suggested, selecting a lens is also very important and a good doc can guide you with the. My advice on lens is don't skimp and settle for single focus lens unless this is doc suggested or you've researched the pros and cons and still feel single focus is best for you. I know quite a few people (my sister for one) that did that and regret it when they figure out they still need to wear glasses for certain tasks like looking at a computer screen, reading and even driving. Of course you can find those that have gotten premium multi focus lens that their eyes never adjusted to, giving them some night vision issues. That is a very small percentage, and it's not like they can't see, but rather see some starbursts when looking directly at a street light and such. I had some night vision issues early on which is normal, but my eyes adjusted in a couple of weeks and there's no issues now for some 15 years.

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:

quote:

Originally posted by EasyFire:

20 minutes before you get put down for the surgery.

"Put down?" Are you referring to anesthesia? My cataracts were done with numbing eye drops. Valium was offered, but I declined.

I had anesthesia. At some point, I must have started coming to and I could hear the doctor say so. Then I went back down.

quote:

Originally posted by wrightd:
But, how can I find a surgeon with the best reputation for cataract surgery specifically ?

Go to their place of business. The nicer it is, the more volume they've done and the more experienced they are. Even better if they are part owner of the facility where they will work on you.

Only successful doctors (no insurance pay outs, lots of experience, focused) can mostly afford a nice place that would draw more business for them.

quote:

Go to their place of business. The nicer it is, the more volume they've done and the more experienced they are. Even better if they are part owner of the facility where they will work on you.

Only successful doctors (no insurance pay outs, lots of experience, focused) can mostly afford a nice place that would draw more business for them.

^^^^^^^^^^
Do you buy a car based on the showroom? There are plenty of ways to check out an eyedoc. These are the places to avoid in my opinion. A volume clinic is to be avoided at all costs. Talking to former patients is an easy way.

quote:

They do cataract surgery on dead people?

^^^^^^^^^^^
Corneal transplants are harvested in this manner.

From my experience, talk with the doctor and a few folks who have had recent experience with the kind of replacement ocular lenses that you are considering. With improved technology and quality control, they keep improving over time. Some issues that people experienced years ago with replacement lenses may no longer exist.

About 15 years ago, as part of my cataract removal procedure, I had the lens in my right eye replaced with a multi-focal length lens. Returning home from surgery, my vision was much improved. I felt like I received a new eye. The only issue that I experienced were "stars" from bright light, especially from artificial lights at night. It was annoying, but since my left eye was unaffected, I could compensate by learning to consciously shift eye dominance to the unaffected eye when the "stars" were present.

At that time, the FAA had many concerns about multi-focal lenses, and I was required to carry glasses whenever I flew. I understand those restrictions no longer exist. Check with your doctor and the FAA if this is a concern for you.

About 7 years ago I had the left lens replaced with a multi-focal lens which had improved with newer technology. I have none of the bright light stars in the left eye and since my sight has normalized to the current lens combination. I am happy with my vision now.

I have only a small issue remaining. I use cheap reader glasses to help with a kind of "dead zone" where my focus is less than crystal sharp. It is a small zone just beyond the distance I sit to the computer monitor. Then, a few inches beyond that, my eyes are fine again. The eye doctor was aware of this issue and apparently had options to choose the approximate distance where this small zone would occur. For this reason, he asked all kinds of questions about my occupation, spare time activities and how I used my vision for critical activities.

One other small issue. Over time, as you normalize your vision and how the lenses work with your brain, the speed at which your vision focuses on objects at various distances continues improve until it approaches the speed of your normal vision. I'm talking very small amounts of time (perhaps nano-seconds). For me, there are times when driving a golf ball down the fairway (on a good day), I may lose sight of the ball in the sky. I now have less chance of reacquiring sight of the ball in the sky and appreciate the assistance of a friend to help me find the ball on the ground. (I wish I could say it was because I am driving the ball farther). I only use this example to illustrate that the way the multi-focal length lenses work with your brain to focus at various distances requires just a little additional processing time. Fortunately, this is not noticeable during routine activities.

quote:

Originally posted by ZSMICHAEL:

quote:

They do cataract surgery on dead people?

^^^^^^^^^^^
Corneal transplants are harvested in this manner.

There's a HUGE difference between corneal transplants and cataract surgery.

NO kidding. Sometimes people do not get the joke. Read the whole thread or as Monkey would say I cannot understand it for you.

Great surgery with several options for outcomes …

1) Set both for distance
2) Set both for near
3) Monovision ( one distance & one near )
4) Multifocal

All have pros / cons - depends what you want to accomplish and how much you want to spend

MDS

wrightd, after my surgery my surgeon told me that after a few months or so scar tissue would form over the implants, make vision a little fuzzy, and would need to be cleaned off by a laser. Mine developed earlier than that so I went in and had the laser cleanup. It took about 10 seconds per eye. That could be your wife's problem and won't hurt to get it checked out.

quote:

Originally posted by ZSMICHAEL:
NO kidding. Sometimes people do not get the joke. Read the whole thread or as Monkey would say I cannot understand it for you.

I've read the whole thread 3 times. Quit being a horses patoot.

I also suggest you reread the thread. Either you lack reading comprehension or you have no sense of humor...or both.