Cataract Surgery

Bavafongoul

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Just underwnet cataract surgery for my left eye on Monday.and my right eye is next as soon as the surgeon clears me.
I was legally blind for at least a day; discomfort and blurriness like I've never experienced before. Yesterday I had
a bit of improvement in blurriness subsiding & I saw my surgeon on a follow-up. Had a lot of optic pressure and the eye
was rock hard to touch so he numbed my eye & proceeded to cut a small slit that immediately relieved the pressure.

Day 3.....Hoy Cow....I am now excited. The difference in seeing is amazing. The world is bright again and colors are
so vivid. When I look only thru my right eye, it's dark and colors are dim. Do the same thing with the surgically corrected
left eye and it's like someone turned on the lights.....Wow. What a diffrence. I'm not even going to attempt to play pool
until both eyes are done and healed. But I know I can predict with absolute certainty that cataract surgery is going to be
enjoyable and helpful for playing pool. I had no idea how much light coming through my normal eye lense was being
affected by cataracts until my left eye's lense was replaced this past Monday.

There is a premium cataract surgery not covered by insurance that runs about $2400 per eye over what insuarance pays
It will eliminate any need for glasses the rest of your life, But I'm in my 70's and that pays for a whole lot of eyeglasses and
I can tell now I'll only need distance glasses since I can read and type without any glasses. when I only use my left eye to
view. In case anyone out there is considering cataract surgery, do it.....oh yeah, you gotta do it. The difference is astonishing
and until you experience it, you'll never fully appreciate how bad your eyesight was.


Matt B.
 

sjm

Older and Wiser
Silver Member
Glad to hear you had a good experience. I'v got cataracts, but have been told they are not affecting my vision enough that surgery is warranted. Of course, I'll likely need the surgery at some point.
 

DunnM1

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Had it done around a year ago. Best decision I have made regarding my vision.
 

gunzby

My light saber is LD
Silver Member
Hopefully you get the same results my grandmother got. She had cataract surgery at 95 I think and came out with 20/15 vision. Wish my eyes were that good
 

Tennesseejoe

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I had lens implants for cataracts and stigmatism about six or seven years ago. I'm 76 and looking back it was a great decision.
 

muskyed

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Had my first eye done Tuesday (yesterday), vision was horrible most of the day, but slightly improved by evening. I was ready to cancel my appointment for my other eye. This morning, much improved, and by the time I went in to see the Doc this afternoon, I could already see better, than with my uncorrected eye, and Doc said it will get a little better yet in the next few days. Can't wait to have my other eye done, and can only hope it turns out as well. My distance is good, and my correction has also allowed me to read at the same time. This was with the standard implant. I'm about 70, and I put this off for two years, should have had it done as soon as I was eligible.
 

HawaiianEye

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
That is good news.

Glad to hear your vision is better.

I had a retina detach a bit more than a year ago and my vision has deteriorated considerably. The good doctor fixed the detachment, but now the cataracts are forming and he told me that I would eventually need cataract surgery. The retina surgery was a long while back and he was thinking I'd probably need the cataract surgery soon. My vision is getting worse, little by little, and I have an appointment to see him again in July, if I don't need to make one sooner.

I'm expecting that he'll tell me that it's time for surgery or real close to it. He's already told me, "I'm going to make you like a newborn baby" and your eyes will be "brand new". He showed me the implants he is going to use and I think they cost about $5000 each. He claims they are what I would call "multi-focus" and says I shouldn't need glasses again, even for reading.

I'm looking forward to getting it done so that I can see better again. It is getting foggier and dimmer by the day and it irritates me.

Aloha
 

pt109

WO double hemlock
Silver Member
That is good news.

Glad to hear your vision is better.

I had a retina detach a bit more than a year ago and my vision has deteriorated considerably. The good doctor fixed the detachment, but now the cataracts are forming and he told me that I would eventually need cataract surgery. The retina surgery was a long while back and he was thinking I'd probably need the cataract surgery soon. My vision is getting worse, little by little, and I have an appointment to see him again in July, if I don't need to make one sooner.

I'm expecting that he'll tell me that it's time for surgery or real close to it. He's already told me, "I'm going to make you like a newborn baby" and your eyes will be "brand new". He showed me the implants he is going to use and I think they cost about $5000 each. He claims they are what I would call "multi-focus" and says I shouldn't need glasses again, even for reading.

I'm looking forward to getting it done so that I can see better again. It is getting foggier and dimmer by the day and it irritates me.

Aloha

You’ve got some good times to look forward to.
An old friend got this done....he came looking for me to get a cue...wants to play again.
....and he can now drive legally at night..
...says he can see like a teenager again.

Caveat...your pool opponents are really going to hate you
 

onepocketron

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
My experience was pretty much the same as yours, though I need readers to read, but see distance excellent. I was shocked at the difference about 2-3 days after the surgery. I could see excellent out of the eye that was worked on, and it was hazy and very yellow out of the still bad eye. Once both eyes were done, I can now see perfectly at distance, and only need weak readers for reading.

I did NOT opt for the premium lenses as they were 2400 an eye, and there was no guarantee. You might still need to wear glasses they told me. The guy I went to for follow up after the surgery was very happy as he told me it turned out very well for me. Now no glasses to play cue sports.:thumbup:
 

ctyhntr

RIP Kelly
Silver Member
Had a retina detachment over 25 years ago, and for years always wanted LASIK. However, my myopia (now -11) was always a step above what the FDA approved for LASIK.

Cataract surgery is the option doctors have given me. However, my cataracts aren't bad enough for insurance to cover. If you can afford the upgrade, I would strongly look into multi-focus.
 

muskyed

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
My cataract's weren't quite at the point where they were covered yet, as they were still able to reasonably correct my vision with glasses, but because I had so much trouble driving at night, because of glare, they sent me to a specialist for a glare test, and because of that they ended up approving the surgery. You may want to ask your eye Dr about having a glare test done, if you are having trouble at night, and it may get approved that way.
 

JB Cases

www.jbcases.com
Silver Member
looking into it now. had lasik in 2002 and it has been great but now I need to do the cataract surgery.
 

Bavafongoul

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
John,


Visit this website (https://www.eyecarefresno.com). I used Dr. Stephen Fogg of Fogg, Maxwell, Lanier & Remington.
He's been doing Lasik surgeries for over 20 yrs. and cataracts are easy to fix. Just click on the topic & it explains everything.


Matt
 

Bavafongoul

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Alleluliah.........Follow-up With My Surgeon One Wk Post Surgery.

Saw my surgeon yesterday one week after my left eye had cataract surgery.
On Sat, I tried pool despite that I wanted to wait til both my eyes were done.

Well, even though only my left eye has had the lens replaced, the diffreence was
actually startling, Tossed 15 balls on the table to see how it would feel and look
and 15 balls got pocketed I did it again and consecutively pocketed another 15.

Normally that's not how I would practice but my eye still feels a little scratchy and
the blurriness is gone but my rt eye is still causing the image to be a little off. The
good news is my surgeon scheduled my right eye for the 2nd week in June and I
am excited because not only is everyday life so much better with only the left eye
corrected but imagining what vision will be like after both eyes are done is thrilling.

Anyone out there thinking about cataract surgery really should look into it. As far as
how it will help my pool game, my surgeon said that after he's done both of my eyes,
my vision should be close to 20/20 and that's without having to upgrade the lens to
the premium version that insurance doesn;t pay for. Both eyes will cost be under $1k
using my Medicare Health Insurance (Blue Shield 65+), The premium lens would have
cost me $2300 more per eye. So when Dr. Fogg told me I'll be close to 20/20 using the
standard lens, I am kicking my heels I passed up getting the upgraded cataract eye lens.

I am so lookin forward to playing pool, even with my defective right shoulder that is now
awaiting surgery #5 and it hurts all the time but know what? If I can see, I can play, at least
until I cannot hold a cue any longer. Having one's vision restored truly rejuvenates your
desire to play pool, even when there is a lot of discomfort......Get your eyes fixed ASAP.

Matt B.
 

Sedog

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Had the surgery 2 years ago, both eyes, sprung for the multi focal lens. Now have 20/20 in both eyes. Don’t have to use glasses and my pool game is much better. A very good decision!
 

Bavafongoul

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Alleluiah.....Thank You Dr. Steven Fogg

Just had my right eye surgery yesterday and had my post surgery follow-up with
my surgeon.today. Wow, my left eye must have been just awful becasue my right
eye is essentially healed, not actually since it takes a week, but the vision was
restored in less than 12 hrs after surgery. Dr. Fogg tested my vision today, 24 hrs.
after having my last cataract surgery for my right eye and it was 20/20. He's still
referring me to see my opthalmologist for confirmation of my vision two weeks
from now but today my vision is 20/20. Now my reading, distance & pool glasses
can stay at home. Thank goodness for black tint Ray Ban Aviators because bright
sunlight is a definiate challeneg at the present. Can't wait to play pool in a few
more days just to be safe but clarity & colors are exploding everyday, Let me tell
you it is amazing. I expect it will help my pool game because even with just my
left eye's cataracts surgically corrected, my game noticeably improved but I still
had to use my billiard glasses to play. But not any more and suddenly life is good
again. Having keen eyesight restored to what it was once was is too hard to explain.
You must experience this to truly appreciate how it was to understand how it now is.



Matt B.
 
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HawaiianEye

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Just had my right eye surgery yesterday and had my post surgery follow-up with
my surgeon.today. Wow, my left eye must have been just awful becasue my right
eye is essentially healed, not actually since it takes a week, but the vision was
restored in less than 12 hrs after surgery. Dr. Fogg tested my vision today, 24 hrs.
after having my last cataract surgery for my right eye and it was 20/20. He's still
referring me to see my opthalmologist for confirmation of my vision two weeks
from now but today my vision is 20/20. Now my reading, distance & pool glasses
can stay at home. Thank goodness for black tint Ray Ban Aviators because bright
sunlight is a definiate challeneg at the present. Can't wait to play pool in a few
more days just to be safe but clarity & colors are exploding everyday, Let me tell
you it is amazing. I expect it will help my pool game because even with just my
left eye's cataracts surgically corrected, my game noticeably improved but I still
had to use my billiard glasses to play. But not any more and suddenly life is good
again. Having keen eyesight restored to what it was once was is too hard to explain.
You must experience this to truly appreciate how it was to understand how it now is.



Matt B.

GOOD FOR YOU!

I'm really happy to hear it worked out perfectly.

I will see the doctor in a month, or so, and I'll find out when my surgery will be done.

It all depends upon how far my cataracts have developed. It's been a few months since I saw him last.

I hope mine works out as well as yours.

Aloha
 

PoolBum

Ace in the side.
Silver Member
I just had my pre-op exam today for cataract surgery. I'll be having the surgery probably within the next few weeks.

My ophthalmologist has recommended monofocal lenses rather than multifocal lenses, to avoid any possible problems with the fact that I have dry eyes, and how that might affect the clarity of my vision after the surgery. I will be getting the lenses that correct for distance vision, but not close up vision.

I'm curious if anyone out there has gotten the monofocal lenses, or know someone who has, and if so, how easy have you/they found it to see well enough to play pool afterward?
 
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