I had cataract surgery yesterday. UPDATED

[joet67]

Last edited Sun Sep 16, 2018, 04:37 AM - Edit history (2)

I'm trying to stay positive, but I sure hope this irritation subsides quickly. It's working my nerves. Hard to sleep. I understand now why they gave me an eye patch thingy. * edit: thank you all for the kind words Of encouragement. I’m just resting. I’m sorry I couldn’t respond individually. Thank you all!

Update: Two days later, and I am feeling much better! I was skeptical, but the various drops and lots of rest have done wonders. I want this first one to continue to heal quickly because I start the drops on the other eye tomorrow, for surgery Thursday. Asking for continued prayers, thoughts or vibes, whatever is your thing. Peace ✌

[Jane Austin]

1. Be sure to use all the drops they prescribed.

Any discomfort passes quickly, and you will start seeing things you'd forgotten you couldn't see.

I never realized how dirty my baseboards were! (Thanks, dogs.)

[watoos]

2. I'm having it done in October.

There are procedures now where you don't even need eye drops after the surgery.

At 2k dollars an eye, out of pocket, they better get it right. I'm going to a well known clinic that has a very good reputation.

[pangaia]

10. I had both eyes done-- Co-pay was about $350@ with medicare and my advantage plan..

[elleng]

23. Medicare's much less expensive!

The procedure works very well.

[KatyaR]

30. Me, too.

I've had to reschedule twice. I pinched a nerve in my leg and knew I wouldn't be able to lay still because of the pain. I'm paying a freaking fortune for lenses, it had better be worth it.

[DonCoquixote]

3. there will be adjustments

I was nearsighted alll of my life, and then became farsighted. I use glasses to read, but my brain had to stop thinking that if I just pulled things close, I could read them.

However, I truly do see the difference, especially when I go outside and can see leaves, as opposed to green blobs. People would be frustrated givign me dorections, as they told me to look for streetsigns. I realized that I was never able to read those before.

[steventh]

4. The prescription drops should take care of the irritation. If not,

contact your surgeon and ask for something to help.

The eye patch is to keep you from rubbing your eye while you sleep.

Do you have a visit with the surgeon 24 hours post surgery? I did. And 10 days afterward. And 30 days afterward. It was reassuring to know that everything was fine.

I was given wrap-around awesome sunglasses right after the surgery. Now that my vision is unobstructed by cataracts I appreciate and wear them on very sunny days. Everything is so much brighter now.

It's so wonderful to see clearly, 20/20 for the first time in my life, all the hassles, drops on my face that didn't quite make it in my eye, feeling scared of the unknown, are all so worth it. I hope that's your outcome as well.

Hang in there.

[Omaha Steve]

5. Get well ASAP

[CelticWinter]

6. hope you feel better soon

hubby had cataract surgery yesterday too and has his patch on and cant wait for 1:00 when they take it off we know how you feel in this house but it is so worth it when its all done. Good luck to you.

[gibraltar72]

7. Had both done in July.

Amazing worn glasses for 60 plus years. Only really need cheaters now. The colors are so vivid. Angry with myself for not doing it much sooner. Recommend it highly.

[Jane Austin]

9. I thought I didn't like the white-blossomed crepe myrtle trees.

Being driven to the doc for my 24-hourcheckup, I realized how sparkling white and beautiful they were.

I hadn't liked them because they looked dingey to me through my cataract-afflicted eyes.

[Fritz Walter]

8. Awaiting my turn

My SIL had surgery a while back, and said how vastly improved her eyesight is now.

While my Ophth says my need for surgery is still low (a “1” on the 10-scale), I’m starting to look forward to it. Up until a year or so ago, the prospect of letting someone anywhere near my eyes with a sharp object was the stuff of nightmares. Now? Not so much...

Get well soon, joet67!

[calimary]

11. Take care and take it easy.

I had LASIK surgery years ago. They gave me goggles to wear, for sleep and while awake if needed. Glad they did. Healing was swift and without incident and I didn’t fidget or try to rub my eyes. The goggles helped keep me reminded not to touch.

Follow your instructions but by all means communicate with your doctor if some problem persists.

Times like this (or when I’d get sick or something) always made me meditate on the whole idea of surrender. Which is what I’d finally wind up doing when there was realistically nothing TO do except follow doctors’ orders and CHILL THE HELL OUT!

When I was still working, there were days when I’d lose my voice and you can’t go on the radio if you can’t talk. Nothing to do but look at it as a kind of “enforced vacation.” As though perhaps you’re supposed to surrender to these circumstances, rather than fight. Then you kinda have to try to relax about it, or you’ll stress yourself out. Hard to do if you’re a natural worrier like I am, or get impatient, like I can. But I always have to remind myself that it won’t help anything or speed up the healing to stress out about it. The healing happens as it happens.

Here’s what REALLY helps me sometimes. Just remember: the Earth turns.

The Earth turns. Our planet rotates. Constantly. It’s always turning. And that means the sun will come up and then march across the sky and then set. And then it will come up again a little later after that, meaning another day has come. Inevitably. Because the Earth keeps turning. And time IS passing. And soon you’re gonna be another day farther past when the discomfort started. And your body will have been working on healing. And time passes. And the Earth turns. And time will always be moving because the Earth is gonna keep turning.

And you inevitably WILL get beyond this.

Because the Earth keeps turning.

[samnsara]

12. yikes! I had both eyes done about 2 months apart and i had no irritation...

...just make sure you use the drops. Maybe they can give you something else for the scratchiness..

[Left-over]

13. I have had both eyes done

Hang in there. You will be forever glad that you had the surgery.

[AllyCat]

14. Oh boy, I am scheduled for next month

Hope this resolved soon for you.

[Chalco]

15. My husband had cataract surgery a few months ago...

Had some of the same issues but kept up with all the meds. His vision is now 20/20!

Prior to surgery he kept getting new glasses with different prescriptions for near and far. Now
he doesn't have to wear glasses!

Huge success. He did the laser version of cataract surgery.

[Wounded Bear]

16. Had both eyes done a few years back, a couple of months apart...

was best thing I ever did. Went from wearing glasses since I was 7 or 8 to 20/20 vision. Had a little irritation post-op, but not too much. Well worth it, though. Loving life glasses free (well, almost glasses free, I still need readers ).

[Frustratedlady]

17. You'll be SO glad you had it done once you get past the first few days with drops.

I had mine done 7 or so years ago and just had my eyes checked on Tuesday. I'm still at 20/20, but wear glasses because I am so used to them and feel more secure with them on.

My glaucoma reading had been rising and I had the laser treatment for that. The readings have dropped from 25 to 17, so I'm in better condition than ever.

Don't fight it. You'll be glad you had it done. Colors are brighter and truer, everything is cleaner and it's like a new day from the get-go.

My grandmother was legally blind, but it was because of the cataracts...long before they started cataract surgery.

[better]

18. Also, don't hesitate to call the surgeon's office

I work for an Ophthalmologist, and can tell you that both they and their staff are usually quite happy to answer any questions and provide any prescriptions necessary to alleviate post-op discomfort.

[elleng]

22. Good advice; thanks.

I had no irritation, so unfamiliar with such, but I'd always adhere to your advice.

[better]

24. As a random aside

The gig at the doctor's office is my side hustle.

My day job is IT management for an optometry/ophthalmology patient education software company. If you were shown videos or simulations about cataracts and cataract treatment, there's a very good chance they were ours. Same with the digital signage systems in the waiting rooms that play videos about all the various conditions.

You could say I'm up to my eyeballs in media about eye conditions!

[elleng]

25. Very cool!

I can see clearly now!

[better]

28. It's a living!

This is what I'm working on this week...

[elleng]

29. WOW!

[FloridaBlues]

19. It gets less irritated after a day or two keep using eye drops as directed

[oasis]

20. Do your best to relax. That's half of the battle.

get well soon.

[elleng]

21. Sorry you have irritation;

I've had 2 eyes done, and had no irritation. Just went for my 1-year after check up (after 2d surgery,) and all's well.

DO use the drops 'religiously.'

[appleannie1943]

26. Wear the dark glasses they gave you and do all the eye drops. You will be amazed at the difference

I did not drive at night for months before I had mine done and when I could get out of it, did not drive during the day either. It was like looking through glass smeared with vaseline and everything was drab and dark. I still have to wear sunglasses during the day when outdoors since everything is so bright.

[redstatebluegirl]

27. It will get better just use the drops they gave you until they tell you to stop.

The irritation goes away after a while. I would do it again in a hot minute.