OT: Cataract Surgery

blainejennifer

I have cataract surgery scheduled for 8:00 tomorrow morning, and I am tripping with anxiety.

I know it's fast, almost painless, and necessary if I want to drive safely. Seeing well again would also be nice.

Has anybody here had cataract surgery? Please tell me good stories. If you have baaaad stories, how about we wait until after I get both eyes done to read them? Because I am a Giant Baby.

Thanks,

Jennifer

MARIONSGIRL

I had one eye done in November and the second in December. I hate eye stuff and was very nervous. It was a piece of cake! I was shocked that it was fast and painless. Don't need my reading glasses anymore! When I got home from the first eye, I was stunned at how dirty my bathroom looked! I couldn't see all the cobwebs etc before surgery. Good luck!

blainejennifer

Thanks, MG. You've uncovered a new wrinkle. Will I be motivated to clean after the surgeries?

Oh, No.

Or, will I just note the dirt, and quickly look at something else?

Mominator

Everyone I know who has had cataract surgery has done very well.

My Dad was so excited afterwards that he doesn't need glasses any more! 

Best wishes, Madelyn 

ElleOnWheels

I'm having this surgery at the end of the month.

I did have Lasik many, many years ago and I was TERRIFIED. So terrified I almost backed out. It was so quick and easy it was ridiculous.

Good luck!! I can't wait to get it done, my vision is awful. I'm most afraid of looking in the mirror afterwards....

Meg101

I had cataract surgery two years ago. It was a breeze. No pain at all. You will be prescribed 3 different eye drops to apply three times a day. That was the only annoying part for me. After you heal, you'll see halos around lights at night. No biggy. This will diminish with time. Good luck.

marylark

Hi Jennifer,

My husband had cataract surgery this past Tuesday. He was very frightened because he lost sight in his other eye due to a detached retina with a boatload of complications. The cataract surgery was a snap and he can't believe how bright and shiny the world is. He waited far too long for the surgery due to his fear and the cataract was terrible. He is so glad he did it. Surgery took about 20 minutes and he went home half an hour later with all kinds of drops and back to work the next day.

Mary

intothewoods

Jennifer, my dad's cataract surgery was a piece of cake. I hope you are gaining some confidence with the good stories. And I love your sense of humor!!!

Lisa

JKL2017

If you want a good story, I'm your girl. I had cataract surgery plus lasik AND PRK (my eye surgeon is a perfectionist) & all were simple & painfree. I can now go without glasses or contacts (except to read) for the first time in more than 50 years! You've survived a breast cancer diagnosis, chemo & hormonals - cataract surgery will be a piece of cake!!

blainejennifer

You guys are the best. Thanks for talking me down. I'm still anxious, but have regained the feeling in my hands (when I get super stressed, my fingers get all tingly and cold, have been doing that since I was five).

I will be showing up at the Surgi-Care site, 8:00 in the morning, all clean with no lotions, perfume, make-up, deodorant or nail polish. Due to the no make up rule, I am hoping the improved vision doesn't kick in right away. There are things that have been unseen for most of a year now - yikes.

FYI for those of us with a port: They don't want to use it. Blurg. They claim it's because they like to see if the vein perfuses, but I suspect they just don't want to deal with port access, flushing and removal.

Thanks again. This is just another reason why our forum keeps me sane. What we do isn't easy, but your support and wisdom sure does make it better.

blainejennifer

That keening sound you hear on the wind? Me, getting ready to go to the surgery. I'm obsessing about getting the right lens out of my glasses so that I'll have something to wear today.

I'll check in after the surgery, so that I can fill you guys in on what a ninny I will have been.

Jennfier

ElleOnWheels

Good luck, Jennifer!

blainejennifer

I'm home. As y'all said, it was very easy. I went in, laid down on a gurney, had three series of four eyedrops (one of which was a bit stingy). Talked to the surgeon and the anesthesiologist. The nurses started a line, popped in some drugs and the next thing I remember is waking up.

I'll have my follow up tomorrow morning, where the eye patch will be removed and I'll get to start on a fairly rigorous schedule of drops. I think I can manage it.

I'll get to do it again next week for the other eye. And then, they tell me that for the first time since I was five, I won't need to wear glasses to see past my hands. I didn't opt for any fancy lenses, so I will need reading glasses for close up work, which is the exact opposite of my life now. I take off my glasses to read and hand-sew.

Thanks again, guys. You got me into that surgical room in a decent state of mind.

ElleOnWheels

Excellent news!! Glad it went so smoothly and was easy peasy.

One down, one to go....