Cataracts, please, with sugar

[whicker]

Please give me feedback on cataract surgery. I had the first eye done about a week ago. I am still a blurry eyed mess.

Saw the surgeon yesterday. He said that this is normal for the restor lens people. He said that in Va my sight would be good enough for a driving lic. That’s scary! I can’t read road signs. No wonder we follow people on the road who go so slow. Now I have empathy!

It is suppose to improve as the swelling goes down over the next couple of weeks. I am cleared to ride and garden, but I feel so weird- like a bad frat party.

[myforx4]

Hi!

What type of sx did you have?

Last year I was in the same exact position- I couldn’t even see the color of the traffic lights until I got right under them!

I had lens replacement surgery on the first eye last July and the second done in August. IIFC it was a week or so before I could really see clearly. When I went in for my re-check I had already developed scar tissue and had to go in for laser sx- they did both eyes at the same time and it took longer- a couple of weeks- before the “floaties” disappeared and I could see clearly.

Hope this helps a bit…

-Liss

[TrueGrit]

2 heaping teaspoons!!

I asked DH about cataract healing last nite, and he assured me that what your experiencing is quite normal, and you’ll be eagle-eyed in no time! …maybe a few weeks. Caveat though, DH is not an eye specialist, but sees many patients in his dental practice - OK, but his work IS focussed above the neck - and they do chat with him about all kinds of medical procedures, not just dental related. You’d be surprised what he hears sometimes - not “haidresser worthy”, but interesting nonetheless… lots of Jeopardy style “medical trivia”.

So in short, from much anecdotal evidence, it DOES improve dramatically over a period of a couple of weeks. Worry not, and reminisce about your college days… it’ll remind you why you’re glad they’re over! :winkgrin:

[sk_pacer]

You seem to be progressing normally, from what I have been told and my experiences with my mother when she had hers done - took about 6 weeks to restore normal vision. A hopeful story for you - an elderly man in the district had his first cataract surgery last fall, and the next eye done shortly after. Well, when I saw him a few weeks later, I did not recognise him because for the first time in 50+ years, I saw the man without glasses. He told me his eyesight is better than it was years ago. Now he still needs glasses to read but not to drive and navigate. I do think, however, that he cheated and had lasik (sp) done as well, but he is glad he had the cataracts done.

[whicker]

Snivel, sniff, sniff…

Thanks, I know I am whining instead of enduring stoically, but I thought that I would be all bright and shiny new immediately after like Lazik. My eyesight has never been this bad, so it is scary as it changes through out the day. It throws my reflexes off, especially the close work, as that is the worst focal range.

Myforx4, what is sx?

[KLS]

sx = surgery

Poster was just asking which procedure you had. Best of luck dealing with the recovery!

[myforx4]

Thanks KLS!

[whicker]

It was just pop off the original- came- with- the- owner lens and replace it with the “Restor” multi-focal lens.

So far everyone I have talked to today has said that the end result is super. It just takes a variable amount of time to get there. Worst case I’ve heard is 2-3 months. Best is immediately after the bandage is taken off.

I have also heard that one eye can react totally differently in speed of recovery from the other. so there is hope!

[mtk9122]

I hope that your eyesight will improve as soon as possible… as we discussed in PM’s, I think my recovery was uber quick with great results but judging from the surgeon’s remarks, other folks with same Restor lens surgery took more time.

Wishing you well!

[whicker]

You all are wonderfully supportive

Thank you for the hand holding! You all come through so well for calming the first panic of changed expectations.

I have a major event coming up and I really do need to be able to see for it. I am going to the Dressage Tool Box Symposium in Michigan. It is going to be a spectacular opportunity to learn from great instructors who like to teach well. I am very excited to be going!

[Bicoastal]

Hi Whicker,

I’ve popped onto the forum today and saw your struggles with cataract sx. You have been immensely supportive to me :sadsmile: so I’d like to pass some support to you, though this thread is a bit dated.

I hope your vision is improving/has improved. I know you’ll have a great time at the Tool Box Symposium next weekend. That’s something to “look” forward to (pun sooo intended)!

[whicker]

Thanks, Bicoastal!

I had the second eye done last Monday. I am having a hard time, as the 1st eye hasn’t improved much. Now they don’t want to track together or my brain is fighting to go back and forth between them. The 2nd one has better focus, so I am pushing it to carry the job.

I just came in from my first ride since the sx. Ruby was feeling comfortable and confident on the trail, both leading and following Mason on his big tb, Tali. She was going well enough that we popped over a humongous double log jump. It was a maximum height and spread- 16" high by 2’ wide. Serious 4* material cavaletti :winkgrin::lol:
I’m hoping to have her confidence and training basics solid enough to aim for hilltopping this Fall. With schooling dressage this summer, she should be well on her way to being the complete ladies partner. Maybe I could ask for a clinic with Peter Atkins, :lol:

[Trying]

Have had both eyes done. The second one was a disaster but wuth the help of a retinologist, I see 20/20 but wear glasses to prevent fatigue and to read. Hey I can see!! Should be OK but often need glasses to get both eyes to focus correctly and to adjust for distance. They never tell you things lie that.

[whicker]

Trying, tell me more

What does the retinologist do? I was told that the liquid in front of the optic nerve would slowly dissipate within a month. I can still see the dot in my pupil with my 2nd eye, when I look in a mirror. This is getting very old. I am worried. Especially since my surgeon said there isn’t anything to do but wait. I am stall walking and kicking.

Feel free to P.M. me

[pintopiaffe]

Have you looked into nutraceuticals as well?

There seem to be quite a bit of vitamins/minerals that are good for eye, eye healing etc., but I also think of some of the stuff that helps with ‘serum’, like Bromelain?

I’m far from an expert. But I’ve seen results in horses using Mother Nature… and they can’t have placebo responses.

Hoping things get better soon. What a drag.

(And I’m All About your 4* Cavelletti. Just about my speed. LOFF me some ‘mini’ x-country. All about the question, not the height/spread. :lol: )

[DressageGeek_Ribbon]

So hard to hurry up and wait, isn’t it? Jingling that it just keeps getting better for you.

[myhorsefly]

Good thread. I’m due to have both eyes done, next fall, and I’ve been told none of any of this. Are there different kinds of cataract surgery?
What’s been suggested to me is the replacement lens surgery. I don’t know what it’s called. Would love to hear more info about it.

[Bogey2]

ok, why did they do both eyes so close together? I am in the Boston area and had my surgery done by the best in the business. I was dignosed at 45 and had one eye done. I could not believe how improved my vision was within a week. I had none of the symptoms you describe. They like to wait on the second eye as long as possible so you can still have some close up vision. I had the second eye done a year and a half later when I could not stand the fuzziness any longer. I now wear reading glasses and could get glasses for distance if needed but I am doing fine without.
It does take some adjusting but I think you should not have a dot.
Get a second opinion.

[myhorsefly]

I was told they do them close together, as people have a hard time adjusting with one done and not the other. I asked, what’s wrong with just wearing one contact or one lense in a pair of glasses, and was told the same thing. I do know that the brain will shut off info from a bad eye, and once disconnected, it’s hard to reverse it. I’m not sure if that applies here, or just in the case of childhood strabismus.

[Tiki]

Wow. I am apparently looking at cataract surgery some time in the future, don’t know if it’s near or far future. Right now I have extremely dry eyes and sometimes things are sooooo burry I can’t read a single word on a page. I live alone. How on earth do you get about after cataract surgery/lens replacement (huh! thought they just removed the cataracts) if you can’t see to drive??? How on earth would I get to work or do work or anything?