What to expect, Thankks

I've had both my eyes done, about six years between the procedures. Both went well, although during the second operation a nurse had a hard time finding a vein for the IV (you're sedated) and another one was called in to help. She got it done and the rest went well. You're not scared (thanks to the sedation) and your eyes are properly anesthetized with eye drops. Basically you're just looking up at a light as the ophthalmologist does his thing and directs you to look up, down, to one side or the other. When everything is done, your pupil is dilated so for a few hours, you're going to wear some dark colored throwaway sunglasses. Afterwards, you'll be amazed at how bright and clear things have become and (if you're like me) you'll wonder why you didn't get this done sooner.

Over the next few days, you'll be restricted from swimming, but for me everything else was good to go (including shooting sporting clays). I didn't get corrective lenses, so the only pain I felt was having to shell out money to get a couple pair of new regular and shooting glasses because my RX had changed a bit.

With the new laser techniques, you'll be quite surprised by how simple and painless this procedure really is and (if you're like most people) amazed by how much better your vision is!

Expect halos around lights at night. They'll tell you that the effect diminishes over time. It does.
Dry eyes may require some drops. Some are stupid expensive but I found over the counter ones work just fine at a fraction of the cost.

If I have just one piece of advise it would be spring for the best lenses you can afford.
I got the multi focus lens and my eyesight is very good. I gave away all my reading glasses and can read very small print and see at a distance as well.

It takes some time for your mind to adjust but it will.

quote:

Originally posted by pulicords:

nurse had a hard time finding a vein for the IV (you're sedated)

I declined the Valium that was offered. Of course, eye drops were used to numb the eyes, but no other anesthetic or sedative. No pain at all, the only thing I felt was some pulling and tugging.

Actual time in the OR was less than ten minutes.

^^^^^
No Valium or eye drops during my cataract surgery. There was an IV that left me awake, but kind of out-of-it. If there were eye drops during surgery I didn’t notice. I got bifocal IOLs for distant, laptop screen, and reading books without glasses. No halos during nighttime driving. $6,500 for both eyes.

I had both eyes done last November. My vision has improved, especially at night. Still need readers though. Main drawback is my eyes now water pretty drastically when a cold wind blows against them.

wife had them done a couple years ago,

first was relatively easy, minor pain that day, kinda, more like out of it a bit, better then next,

I don't recall an IV but do recall a shot, + a couple rounds of drops in her eye,


next eye, they did not do as many drops, and she said she felt it, as in hurt, but recovery was the same,

she had the type of eyesight where she could read fine print up close, but not too good at distance or at night
now, she needs low powered readers for computer, otherwise good to go,

she got the Vivity lenses,

she did tell me that first summer that she had never seen the leaves on the trees, trees to her looked like a bit green blob, now she can see each leaf

I had mine done about 20 years ago and I consider it a miracle as my vision was so bad.

Find a Dr who does a lot of them! Not someone who does a few each week. Go to a bigger town if need be.

Watch out for the up selling!
I didn't see it coming and had needless work done so that the original eye DR. could install the more expensive lens. I was NOT happy with the ring like prism effect the multi lens gave me.
I waited a year to have the problem fixed because I was told it would clear up, it did not. I was then told I was too picky when I continued to complain about it.
Make sure the DR. tells you everything about the minuses of the multi. like the ring when lights are shined at you, the loss of 15% of night vision because you are basically putting sunglasses on at night. This might work for some people but not all.
I ended up at the Cole Eye Clinic at the Cleveland Clinic.The Dr. there ex-amend and tested the eye and told me the first Dr. did serious damage to my right dominant eye.He removed the multi lens and replaced it with a regular lens. $3000+ down the hole but my vision was much better.The DR. told me my right eye would never be as good as my left eye because of the work the first DR did. I went back a month later and he did my left eye with a regular lens.He did not use any anesthesia because I had come there alone and did not have a driver to take me back to my Hotel.He flushed my eye with a numbing agent, I felt no pain.
I can't speak highly enough about the Cole Eye Clinic, or the Cleveland Clinic.

I am almost hesitant to discuss my experiences (both eyes, separate times) because I know not everyone is as happy with their results as I am.

But. I originally told the surgeon that I wanted as good distant vision in my dominant eye as possible and wanted good close distance vision in the other. Based on my Internet research I knew there were fancier lenses that offered performance better than a traditional lens that was chosen based on the examinations of my eyes, but I decided I didn’t want the possible complications. The doctor agreed with me.

My dominant eye vision had been deteriorating for some time, to include astigmatic-like blurriness of Aimpoint red dot reticles. I have a spotting scope with internal reticle, but no way to adjust that focus, so it was getting blurry.

That turned out as well as I hoped. In somewhat dim light I have 20/20 plus usually a mistake or two in reading the letters. Outdoors, however, everything from 4-5 yards is in sharp focus, and the red dots are nice defined circles. The spotting scope reticle is sharp and clear again as well.

When I had the other eye done, I expected better close vision that how it turned out; I was expecting to be able to read common book print without glasses. The vision is closer and by concentrating and in good light I can read things like instructions on food packages, but not good enough to not use reading glasses for books. My nondominant vision goes fuzzy after about 6-7 yards, but it’s about ideal as a pairing with my other eye. As I sit typing on my computer I don’t need glasses. I don’t know why my close vision isn’t as good as I wanted, but I’m happy now that it isn’t.

And BTW, having good distant vision in one eye and close vision in the other is known as monovision. I had that most of my life, but for people who aren’t used to it, it can be a major annoyance, so I certainly don’t recommend it for everyone.

What to expect? Exam visits and use of an eye drop medication many days before and after surgery.

At the OR the anesthesiologist told me, “We can’t put you totally out, but what we give you will make you not care.” That was true plus I literally felt nothing during the surgery, and only saw a sort of bright light against a black background in my vision field. As I tell people, having a tooth filled was more stressful than the surgery itself. I do get sort of a halo around points of light, especially after dark (headlights), but otherwise my vision is virtually as good as it ever was, and in some ways better.

All the best with your decisions.

Had a mildly annoying yellow in the center of my eye. Found a surgeon with an outstanding reputation. Have had many friends who had outstanding results. Not me, went from 20/30 to 20/200. Surgery can fix a problem and unfortunately worsen a problem.

Good luck with yours.

If it goes like mine expect no pain, the minor temporary inconvenience afterward of not lifting much or exerting yourself and possibly eye drops 4 times a day.
Also seeing vivid color, crisp images, night vision, no more reading glasses, and being able to shoot with open sights again.

I had my left eye done 2 weeks ago and the other will be done soon. Surgery via laser went well with no pain/discomfort. I went home with a patch which was taken off next day at doctor office during day after exam. I was given plastic eye protector to wear over eye for a week while sleeping. Told no lifting over 10 pounds and avoid bending forward for a week. While vision could improve markedly after surgery it won't be optimal for a few weeks or so until swelling from the procedure has gone down I was told. The brightness that I see with my left eye is significantly more than my right eye now. I never used eye drops before bad was told it would be a good idea to use from now on so I bought some Systane Ultra to try and so far so good. Still using the prescription drops on the left eye too for another couple weeks.

Be sure to find out bout IOL implants options and pros/cons of choices including costs as insurance will only cover monofocal IOLs. I opted for multifocal IOLs, Clarion Panoptix Pro which just became available mid year 2025. I have never had to wear glasses except for driving for a brief time and don't want to again if I don't have too. Already I can clearly read text messages on my smart watch with my left eye which was not possible before and can read ingredients on labels in the supermarket without having to use my flashlight. My night vision for driving was becoming very problematic. It has improved with the left eye done though I still see larger starbursts around headlights which supposedly will decrease over time and could take almost a year via neuroadaption from what I have been reading but noticed I can already read street signs much better as well as the see lines in the road. If someone has a high priority for night driving vision excellence however, monofocal IOLs will be the best choice and discuss with doctor.

BTW I found out that supposedly 30-50 percent will develop symptoms of "secondary cataracts" posterior capsular opacification within a few months to a few years which can be corrected in office with laser surgery.

https://my.clevelandclinic.org...psular-opacification

Good luck.

https://www.myalcon.com/profes...ry/iols/clareon-iol/ --- Clarion IOL options

This message has been edited. Last edited by: grumpy1,

My wife had hers done last year after her vision had declined to the point of making it impossible for her to see well enough to drive. she was terrified of it and postponed it as long as she could.

She could no be happier with the result. Very easy procedure done at the University of Michigan eye center. she is now a strong advocate for anyone inquiring about it. She had worn glasses since she was 3 years old and can now see better than she can ever remember, using glasses only for distance.

Took longer to fill out the paper work than to do the surgery

I had both eyes done seven years ago, the operation is painless and short. The drops are annoying for a few days but having my sight restored to near perfect was worth it. The biggest benefit to me was the restoration of color, I was stunned after the first one when I looked a the exit sign in the recovery room.

I did need to go back to have one of my eyes cleaned up, took about ten minutes and was simple.

quote:

Originally posted by grumpy1:
BTW I found out that supposedly 30-50 percent will develop symptoms of "secondary cataracts" posterior capsular opacification within a few months to a few years which can be corrected in office with laser surgery.

That was something I’d forgotten about until you mentioned it here. I was told that I have a bit of that and it could be corrected, but after reading that there could be complications (as with anything) and because it doesn’t seem to affect my vision, I’ve decided to hold off for now.

I had my done, they did one eye at a time.

I had halos for a few days.

I chose the multi focal lenses.

Everything went fine.

I was seeing 20/20 when I fully recovered.

I developed "secondary cataracts" posterior capsular opacification after a few years.

They zapped it with a laser and I was seeing good again.

Wife and I both had excellent results. Great surgeon, multifocal lenses, no pain during or after, halos all but disappeared after a while. Neither of us have noticed a decrease in night vision.

I had both done, about six weeks apart, and that was circa 2021. Marvelous results.

Much like Appliance Brad's wife, I had worn very thick glasses since the fifth grade. Now I only wear readers to read, and if the print isn't microscopic, I can get by without.

Numerous family members had it done before me so I was not terrified, but you can't help but worrying a little. I had a doctor who was highly recommended and he did great.

I asked him about multi-focal lenses. He said his experience is that they don't do anything well so get the ones for distant vision. No regrets.