Thread: Cataract eye surgery

Hi there.

As someone who has been through something similar, in the same locale as you (used to live in Moranbah and was going to be treated in Mackay until the private health screwed me over and had to fly to Brisbane to have emergency eye surgery after the specialist's referral) I might be able to shed some light. My experience is similar but everyone is different.

I suffered a detached retina in one eye. It went falsely diagnosed for 18 months, the optometrist refusing to refer me to an opthalmoligist because he said it was another condition which was temporary and would go away on its own (even went through an unsuccessful attempt to take action against him which failed but at least his reputation was forever tainted and I think he will think twice before making a similar mistake I'm sure). Even 3 years later after a terminator style implant in one eye (no it doesn't glow red but that would have been cool) I still have blurred vision in one eye.

From what I understand the risks are similar, there is a chance of "sympathetic opthalmia" which means your other eye can go blind on its own months after the operation. Although this is a small risk.

As for the recovery, which is your concern, I was lucky that I had the other eye, but in terms of the one that was operated on, the worst part was the discomfort in the eye socket which lasted about a week and a half, controlled with painkillers, just a result of the handling of the eyeball, plus the very blurred and sore vision for a few days. But I had to keep that eye covered and closed for 24 hours after, 2 eyes for you might be harder. I was not allowed to drive for a week even once the bandage was off, and was advised not to perform any task that involved a risk of impact to the head or eye for a couple of months. the worst part was, that for about 4 or 5 weeks after the op, my sensitivity to light in both eyes was greatly increased, so even with sunglasses on (hard when you wear prescription glasses) going outside, passengering in a car or doing anything with artificial lights on, including watching TV, was downright painful and very uncomfortable. I guess that you might experience this a bit more severely with cataracts, being that they block a lot of the incoming light and when removed will allow more in, so hightening the problem.

I would definitely say you would not be allowed/advised to drive after it for at least a few days. I don't think you'll feel much like doing anything for a week or so. I didn't work for a couple of weeks and pretty much avoided driving in that time too.

Hopefully that helps you somewhat. My advice - do what the experts suggest as they seem to know what they are on about (mostly)!

Good luck.

If you are going to receive implant lenses, this is usually done as day surgery. Doesn't take long. Are they going to do one eye first and the other some weeks later? Many people have the two done at the same time but this is probably not wise for someone on their own. You won't need glasses aftetrwards except for reading as the implant lenses will correct your vision. Very low risk surgery.

my Dad (90 this year and still drives...) had this done about 4 yrs ago..both eyes...about 2 weeks apart. Went in for a day procedure each time and needed eye drops for a few days. He lives by himself so stocked up on necessities prior, one of the grand kids drove him to/from the hospital. He resumed driving himself about 5 days later. He now has excellent medium /long distance vision.. but occasionally wears $15 "pharmacy specs" for close work and typing on his laptop

Originally Posted by olbod

I thought I needed new glasses but no, wont work.
I have cataracts on both eyes that need surgery. I know that that is not a big deal and not a big risk of having problems after it.
Has anyone here had this surgery and what time frame was involved in the recovery ? This is the bit that concerns me.
Would an olbod living on his own have trouble coping following the surgery ?
Even getting to and fro the hospital will be a problem if I cant drive immediately after.
Going to cost $1500 an eye or wait one to two years if go public !!!

Just for the moment I will gamble on dying first before I go blind, eh.

Thanks.

Robert.

One thing that i cannot understand is how come that organizations like Fred Hollows or the Cuban doctors overseas can do it so efficient and cheap and here in Oz people that have paid all the taxes have the difficult or expenses that you Robert have to face!!!
Sorry mate that I cannot help put put a bit of rant in your thread, you deserves a better service than 2 years wait

I have had one eye done building up the nerve for the other one But as said before its day surgery new lens and can see again no problems some drops and eye pad for 1 day then all ok. I know its a worry having someone operate on your eyes but its really no big deal when its over you wonder why you put if off for so long I did. its amazing what you can see after colours are better and you can read the street signs they very rarely do both eyes so recovery time is nothing as you still have one to see with but in my case the pad was on for one day then i could see again go for it

Originally Posted by olbod

Going to cost $1500 an eye or wait one to two years if go public !!!

Just for the moment I will gamble on dying first before I go blind, eh.

Thanks.
Robert.

Can't see much point in being the richest blind man in the cemetry.

Had a similiar condition as pfillery a couple of years ago and when that was sorted my pre existing cataract had worsened.
The cataract surgery was a piece of ****. Normally done under a local I noted that I didn't want to look at the surgeons knife from the 'wrong' side so was knocked out instead.
Nothing to it, wheeled in, small ***** on back of hand and woke up two hours later. No pain, no discomfort no drama. Eye patch for 24 hours and back to eye doctor who gave the all clear.
Thats it!! Easy as falling off a log.
Certainly can't drive home afterwards so you'll need transport or book a local motel and take a couple of books or sit on your bum for a day or two might be an option ?
For me the cataract surgery was an absolute non event (trauma wise). With the emergency surgery for the detached retina (twice), a bout laser surgery added to the cost of the cataract surgery, it cost a bloody fortune.
At $3K for both eyes, I reckon you've got a bargain. Go for it.

Deano

Originally Posted by Chucaro

One thing that i cannot understand is how come that organizations like Fred Hollows or the Cuban doctors overseas can do it so efficient and cheap and here in Oz people that have paid all the taxes have the difficult or expenses that you Robert have to face!!!
Sorry mate that I cannot help put put a bit of rant in your thread, you deserves a better service than 2 years wait

Because the Hollow's Foundation set-up and fund manufacturing plants for the lenses with money donated by us, so they don't need to recover the costs of building and make a profit. Most of the opthalmic surgeons donate their services to run clinics which are staffed by local assistants receiving local minimal pay rates, the clinics don't have high rental costs and are not privately owned by private companies wanting to make a profit.

That is why they can do it so cheaply, if you don't like our system, either wait in the queue for a vacancy in the public hospital system or pay a private surgeon and private for profit hospital to get it done.

Of course you could go to Africa and join their waiting list, you will probably be required to walk several hundred kilometres and wait a number of years for that service as well. You need to discuss the operation and available options with your GP and opthalmic surgeon, get a second opinion if you still feel uneasy. It is usually day surgery as mentioned above.

Olbod = Robert

Don't get too disturbed by the horror story related by pfillery, a detatched retina is quite different to a lens extraction and replacement in cataract surgery, in fact a different part of the eye completely.

(Cataracts: If you think of the lens in your eye as an onion which grows the wrong way, the inner layers laid down first and then as you age, new layers are laid on the outside. The problem is that the inner layers also age, and just like perspex, they go opaque so you can't see through the lens any more.

What the surgeon does in a lens extraction is scoop out the inner layers and insert a soft replacement lens. While it is soft, it will never accommodate in the same way that a natural lens does, so you will likely need glasses for long or short distance. Some surgeons will fit a long and a short distance lens, so you have sort of monocular long distance vision in one eye and sort of monocular short/reading distance vision in the other.

Some people experience problems with the drops, like headaches etc.)

Thank you all for the replies.
I have not been putting it off as I only found out yesterday. I had delayed going into get tested for new galasses as I hate going into Mackay for any
reason and I just recently started having trouble. I read heaps ( being a hermit I have plenty of time ) but recently I started to get headaches after an hour or so because the old glasses are useless now. I dont wear glasses when on the computer, I have a 20 inch moniter and a few weeks ago I had to zoom into the 125 setting to remain comfortable. Have to be careful
when typing and check for mistakes hitting wrong key. Have no trouble driving, things just not quite sharp.
So time to look into it, so I went.
I dont know what it will involve as I have yet to see the specialist. I think just lens replacement, one or both at the same time I dont know. If he insists on doing both at the same time I would be rat****, being on my own. No one to call on to assist and I would not bother anyway. I could cope if one done at a time and I could catch a cab to and fro I guess, even tho it costs about 150-200 each way from here.
I will wait and see what he says and decide then, besides I discovered E books today. Zoom in, ta da.
Not in the least concerned about having the op as I have had a couple of those before after accidents etc, and Betty had heaps of risky ones with no real problems.
My concern was for recovery time.

Cheers.

Robert.