Yesterday I had Cataract surgery on my right eye. I had this done at the VA and they only do one eye at a time.

They cut the side of the eye and remove the lens then clean the area and finally put in a new lens that is made of plastic. What I found amazing is that everything was brighter today when I went back to have the patch removed. It was like I had been living with a 40w bulb and changed it out for a 100w bulb, everything is bright. The other thing and even more important is that my vision is 20/30 and should improve as my eye heals. For the first time in my memory I can see without the aid of classes.

I go back next week to have the stitch removed and three weeks later I will be fitted for the left eye and a week after that the left eye will get the same treatment as the right eye.

I can't wait as when this is done and the eyes healed I will need reading glasses but distance will be better then I have ever had.

On the way home today I bought sun glasses, real cool ones that wrap around the face and they work quite well. Never had a pair like that, ever.

So if your in your 60's and the doc says you have Cataracts, get the surgery and see what you have been missing.

River

Great to hear!

They tell me lights sparkle at night and its sometimes annoying if you are driving.

but this is good news. Take it easy for a few days.

BTW - Everyone I know has had them done 3 or 4 weeks apart.

Riverwind (imported) wrote: Fri Sep 13, 2013 7:24 pm Yesterday I had Cataract surgery on my right eye. I had this done at the VA and they only do one eye at a time.

They cut the side of the eye and remove the lens then clean the area and finally put in a new lens that is made of plastic. What I found amazing is that everything was brighter today when I went back to have the patch removed. It was like I had been living with a 40w bulb and changed it out for a 100w bulb, everything is bright. The other thing and even more important is that my vision is 20/30 and should improve as my eye heals. For the first time in my memory I can see without the aid of classes.

I go back next week to have the stitch removed and three weeks later I will be fitted for the left eye and a week after that the left eye will get the same treatment as the right eye.

I can't wait as when this is done and the eyes healed I will need reading glasses but distance will be better then I have ever had.

On the way home today I bought sun glasses, real cool ones that wrap around the face and they work quite well. Never had a pair like that, ever.

So if your in your 60's and the doc says you have Cataracts, get the surgery and see what you have been missing.

River

Your not alone with this River. All elderly members in family(both sides) suffered from cataracts so I assume it'll come to me once im older aswell. Ive heard it can accelerate if eyes are under constant expose to direct sunlight. Something to do with the sunlight reflecting against the cornea and exacerbating wear of the lenses

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/19 ... 074446.htm

NB: travel with cool shades everyday, all yr round. Like the men in black series tehe.you'll be agent K and i'll play the role as "slick". I won't forget to carry the "noisy cricket" pistol

My eye is still a bit sensitive to just about everything the sun light is brighter then I ever remember.

It is something that most people will get in their senior years and let me add when its your turn you will love the results.

One of the things I have done is remove the lens from both my reading and distant glasses, it looks funny but works.

River

Glad your vision is being restored. I am sure you are using your drops and following aftercare instructions. Cataract surgery used to be an inpatient procedure. You would have to keep your head still between sandbags. When my mom had hers done both times we stopped at restaurants and had lunch on the way home.

Not everyone has to wait til they are in their 60's to need cataract surgery. I had both done when I was 47. I had reached the point my vision was like 20/200 and could no longer see traffic lights. The change was amazing, although i do find those damned halogen headlights really bother me at night. I also get told all the time that my eyes really sparkle.

Good luck with the other, and to any who need it go for it its well worth it.

Raymar

raymar2020 (imported) wrote: Sat Sep 14, 2013 7:36 am Not everyone has to wait til they are in their 60's to need cataract surgery. I had both done when I was 47. I had reached the point my vision was like 20/200 and could no longer see traffic lights. The change was amazing, although i do find those damned halogen headlights really bother me at night. I also get told all the time that my eyes really sparkle.

Good luck with the other, and to any who need it go for it its well worth it.

Raymar

If you can, locate a clinic that uses Laposcopic surgical technique: no stitches etc. Just simple procedure.

Have it done. Makes all the difference in the world to see what can be seen. With Laposcopic approach,

they do the other eye two days latter avoiding waiting weeks.

Riverwind (imported) wrote: Fri Sep 13, 2013 7:24 pm Yesterday I had Cataract surgery on my right eye. I had this done at the VA and they only do one eye at a time.

They cut the side of the eye and remove the lens then clean the area and finally put in a new lens that is made of plastic. What I found amazing is that everything was brighter today when I went back to have the patch removed. It was like I had been living with a 40w bulb and changed it out for a 100w bulb, everything is bright. The other thing and even more important is that my vision is 20/30 and should improve as my eye heals. For the first time in my memory I can see without the aid of classes.

I go back next week to have the stitch removed and three weeks later I will be fitted for the left eye and a week after that the left eye will get the same treatment as the right eye.

I can't wait as when this is done and the eyes healed I will need reading glasses but distance will be better then I have ever had.

On the way home today I bought sun glasses, real cool ones that wrap around the face and they work quite well. Never had a pair like that, ever.

So if your in your 60's and the doc says you have Cataracts, get the surgery and see what you have been missing.

River

Dad has his done in his 80's. He never used glasses again. He read the newspaper without glasses and claimed that he could see as well as he did as a child. You should have no more trouble seeing now. It is conservative to do only 1 at a time and let the one heal completely before doing the other. This is just in case something happens it does not affect both eyes.

Two things, with the VA (Veterans Administration) you play by their rules, that being said, it is a lot cheaper doing it through them. First you must be a Vet, then wait several months for an appointment, then its a two step process by design but the cost? its free.

River