Recovering from cataract surgery

[chucketn]

I had cataract surgery this morning. I’m home trying to keep busy, as the eye is getting uncomfortable now. I have a plastic bubble taped over it to dim/diffuse the bright light. My good wife is applying the requisite drops for me. I see double and the affected eye seems to be out of alignment.
While the surgery was less uncomfortable than I expected, the aftermath sux! I was told I’d see an immediate improvement, but immediate must mean more than the 4 ½ hours since the surgery so far. The affected eye is still dilated, and much more light sensitive than when they were both dilated for the initial exam.
I have a follow up appointment again tomorrow morning.
I am keeping busy trying to find stuff to read that is machining related as I won’t be allowed in the shop for at least a week.
Anyone been through this? Any encouraging words?
Chuck in E. TN

 

[rudydubya]

Chuck, I had both eyes done about 10 years ago, a few months apart. Before the surgery I could hardly see outside in bright sunlight because of the glare off the cataracts. Even accused the wife of not adding enough bleach to the washing machine because my skivvies looked so dingy and gray. But when I went back after the surgery and got the patch off, I couldn't believe how bright and vibrant the colors were, and my vision from that eye was so much better. And as it turned out my underwear wasn't dingy and gray after all. Hang in there, it's sure to get better.

Regards,
Rudy

 

[bearcar1]

Say Chuck, hang in there. I did not have cataracts done but did suffer through an almost complete retinal detachment. The drops, the laser procedures, and the installation of what they call, a 'buckle' (a permanent plastic band around the eyeball) so I can relate to your discomfort. My suggestion would be to relax, put on some music and take a nap. Let the eyeball settle back down and by all means, keep faithful to the drops regimen. Tomorrow things will be a little bit better and the following day even better. These things take some time but in the long run you will be better off than before. To prevent eye strain, I would also recommend not reading a lot of fine print for a day or so. Best of luck at the doc tomorrow.

BC1
Jim

 

[mklotz]

... To prevent eye strain, I would also recommend reading a lot of fine print for a day or so....

Huh?!

 

[bearcar1]

My bad, message edited to reflect what you thought I was thinking. :big:

BC1
Jim

 

[steamer]

Get well soon Chuck!

Dave

 

[dgjessing]

No personal experience,but my mom had one eye done a few years ago and was very pleased with the result.

 

[rake60]

My cousin had cataract surgery a few months ago.

He was back to normal in a matter of days.

OK, my cousin was never, nor will ever be "normal", but he WAS seeing
normally in a matter of days.

Rick

 

[Stan]

I have multiple eye problems and the eye doc was reluctant to do cataract surgery. She finally agreed to do one and it made a tremendous improvement. I had the eye covered for 24 hours and then the doctor removed the patch and did her thing with the colored lights and microscope and declared me good to go. I just had to use drops (along with the usual drops) for a few days.

For me, the biggest thing was being able to pass the eye test for my driver's license. Losing the ability to drive is one of the worst things about old age.

 

[chucketn]

Update. I went to the follow-up appointment this morning wondering if I had done the right thing. Still had halos around car headlights, some light sensitivity, and cloudy vision in the operated eye. It wasn't until the nurse tested my vision, asking me to read the smallest line, and then showing me what I had tested to prior to surgery, that I realized there was a tremendous improvement. Dr. said the cloudiness will dissipate and my vision in the operative eye was now way better than my previously 'good eye'. I was so relieved and impressed; I asked how soon can I have the other eye done. He said 4 weeks!
I was actually cleared to return to work Monday with a 10 lb. lifting restriction.
Guess I was over anxious.
Chuck in E. TN

 

[jpeter]

I had that surgery in 1983, one eye only. At the time I was the youngest guy in Michigan to get an implant. They hadn't yet had a chance to develop any longevity data on plastic implants and because of my young age, 40ish, weren't sure they wanted to give me one. I'm sure glad I found a willing Dr. Those were the days when a cataract was allowed to get really "ripe" before taking action and I was getting really blind. Anyway, the result was the best it could be. I went in blind and a day or two later I was seeing as well as ever. Well maybe more than a day or two. If I remember it took a while for the len to "settle in." I needed a few weeks to get a good set of glasses. Yeah, I do have some glare issues and that eye does get tired quicker. But hey, I sure don't relish the thought of the alternative.

BTW, did you get the modern adaptable, flexable len, the one that uses your eye muscle to adjust its shape?

 

[Rockytime]

I wish you great success with the surgery. I had cataracts removed about a year ago. I was unable to drive after dark and reading was difficult. I had nearly immediate success seeing after the surgery. Hang in there. Recovery will come quickly.

 

[chucketn]

I guess I was way to ancious. It's been 3 hours since I saw the Dr. I can see improvement already.
I don't really know what type of lense I have, but I do know the cheap reading glaasses I've been using aren't going to work anymore...
Looking forward now to having the second eye done!
Thanks for all the replies, folks.

Chuck in E. TN

 

[Foozer]

I guess I was way to ancious. It's been 3 hours since I saw the Dr. I can see improvement already.

Chuck in E. TN

I have bad corneas, been so for 30 plus years. Too chicken to have em replaced. Use of hard contacts brings vision back to clear, hate em, wont use em. Biggest problem with the sudden vision change back to "normal" is the amount of detail my poor brain has to process leaves me blind. I can see it but just doesn't seem to process. I have stared at and walked into walls on more than one occasion.

Course I have to take em out so I can recognize the Bride as the wonderful blurred sweetie I married and not the Oh boy, another one of them nights, what did I do. . .


Robert

 

[Stan]

You will know your vision is as good as it is going to get when you can read the serial number on the implant.

 

[chucketn]

LOL, Stan, I'll consider myself lucky if I can read the bill without glasses!

Chuck in E. TN

PS: I'm sure the bill will be in big type!

 

[Stan]

I joked with the eye doc when she gave me a little card with the serial number and told me to keep it so that other doctors could look up the data on the lens. I told her that the number must be on her side, because i couldn't see it on my side.

My wife is now scheduled for surgery in June and July for rather iffy results. Doc says she will do the worst eye first and if it is not successful she will not do the other eye which still has marginal vision. If the first eye is successful, she will then do the better eye. Along with cataracts, she has quite advanced dry macular degeneration.