Thread: Cataract eye surgery

Was looking through " General Chat>Interesting-Odd-Funny-Pics " and on post #3189 is my eye surgeon! Honestly. Right here in Mansfield, Ohio, USA. He is also a "shirttail" cousin! Really did me a good job.

Sincerely,
Les

Originally Posted by vnx205

I'll let you know about it in a week's time.

After being on the waiting list for twelve months, I am booked in to have my left eye done next Wednesday and the right eye a further twelve months later.

Here is the report I promised last week.

Not everyone will have the same experience, of course.

My cataracts weren't too bad. I could still read a newspaper in daylight without my glasses, although I needed good light at night.

I was put on the waiting list exactly twelve months ago. That wasn't a problem as the cataracts were not having much impact on my lifestyle.

I spent about an hour waiting at the hospital and getting the admission forms filled in. Then another half hour or so having drops put in my eyes, including local anaesthetic drops. I also had a cannula in my hand so that I could be given a mild sedative.

The operation took something like 10 minutes. I had no sensation of anyone interfering with my eye.

I then returned to a recovery room for a very welcome cup of tea and a plate of sandwiches. I had been required to fast from midnight.

A post op checkup by the ophthalmologist a few hours later pronounced everything OK.

I have to continue putting drops in my eye for a month and have to avoid things like swimming and dusty environments.

I was due for a regular eye test about now and the ophthalmologist suggested that after my next appointment with him in about 4 weeks would be a sensible time. I assume that means that everything will have settled down by then.

I have had more irritation in the past when I had dust in my eye than I am experiencing after the operation.

I was given a list of things that I was advised not to do for 24 hours after the operation. I believe that was because of the mild sedative I had been given. The list included driving, operating machinery, making important business decisions, signing cheques and (the one I liked) operating household appliances.

I was told by a doctor friend this morning that a few years ago, before they had some of the technology available today, that it used to be a 2 hour operation under general anaesthetic.

The surgeon did 15 of us on Wednesday and had another 15 to do on Thursday.