Y'all Are in Trouble Now

[arnaldo]

Whether or not it was any part of Lou's intention in creating this thread -- Lou is a well-credentialed longtime member -- I greatly respect the fact that his very positive report (and the informative replies) will unquestionably motivate a percentage of formerly hesitant, cataract-afflicted viewers of any age, to "bite the bullet" and follow Lou's (and all responders') example. At the very least -- if you love performing our beloved sport optimally -- consult with a regionally well-regarded specialist and determine the facts and personal appropriateness of the very easy procedure.

Even those us who've experienced the result, remain in awe of the fact that such a complex process has even been made possible and has been so technologically refined, advanced, and "simplified" (if that's not an overly-odd way describe the reality of it).

Arnaldo

 

[decent dennis]

Thanks to all for the good wishes.

This morning I had my one day followup and the doc says everything looks great. And just walking to the hospital I could tell I was seeing better out of my right eye than I ever had. I had a contact lense in my left eye and even though my right was still slightly dilated it could give my left the seven and the breaks in terms of sharp vision.

Certainly the whole thing is a very odd and somewhat unsettling process, but not painful. I've probably had more drops put into my right eye the last 24 hours than in both eyes my entire life. It was also kinda weird, after numbing drops and anesthesia, to have the surgeon come up to me with what looked like a felt pen and draw two dots on my eye. Then I got put on a stretcher with a very stiff three sided head rest complete with the Frankenstein leather head strap to restrict movement. Then a vacuum kinda thing that looked like one piece of a swimming goggle was put on my eyeball and then a large laser machine was swiveled over my head and it broke up the cataract while the goggle thingie suctioned up the debris. THEN I got wheeled into surgery where some small incisions were made and the new lens was inserted.

I can't say I felt anything during the procedure nor was there any freak out moments so that was all good. Afterwards I did feel like I'd accidentally popped myself in the eye so I took a Tylenol and that's pretty much been it. I have to wear a plastic eye shield at night while I sleep and when I take a shower; I have three different bottles of eye drops to administer for a week; two more follow up appointments; and then that eye is done. Then it's on to the left eye.

The good news is that I think i'll be able to play pool tomorrow : -)

Lou F

Had cataract surgery this morning on my right eye, left to follow on the 5th.

For the last few years my eye doc has been saying, "Don't know how you play pool with that big honkin' cataract on your right eye."

We shall "see," lol.

Love and thanks to Gail at my bedside though the whole thing.

Lou Figueroa

Lou,
What were your symptoms, how long did you put up with it?
My left has been blurry for about a month, been told i have dry eye and a corrosive cornea.
It's like looking through bubble wrap at times.
Glad to hear you have found relief.

 

[HawaiianEye]

Thanks to all for the good wishes.

This morning I had my one day followup and the doc says everything looks great. And just walking to the hospital I could tell I was seeing better out of my right eye than I ever had. I had a contact lense in my left eye and even though my right was still slightly dilated it could give my left the seven and the breaks in terms of sharp vision.

Certainly the whole thing is a very odd and somewhat unsettling process, but not painful. I've probably had more drops put into my right eye the last 24 hours than in both eyes my entire life. It was also kinda weird, after numbing drops and anesthesia, to have the surgeon come up to me with what looked like a felt pen and draw two dots on my eye. Then I got put on a stretcher with a very stiff three sided head rest complete with the Frankenstein leather head strap to restrict movement. Then a vacuum kinda thing that looked like one piece of a swimming goggle was put on my eyeball and then a large laser machine was swiveled over my head and it broke up the cataract while the goggle thingie suctioned up the debris. THEN I got wheeled into surgery where some small incisions were made and the new lens was inserted.

I can't say I felt anything during the procedure nor was there any freak out moments so that was all good. Afterwards I did feel like I'd accidentally popped myself in the eye so I took a Tylenol and that's pretty much been it. I have to wear a plastic eye shield at night while I sleep and when I take a shower; I have three different bottles of eye drops to administer for a week; two more follow up appointments; and then that eye is done. Then it's on to the left eye.

The good news is that I think i'll be able to play pool tomorrow : -)

Lou Figueroa

Thanks for the update.

It will get better day by day.

I had absolutely no problems after having either of my eyes done and never felt a thing.

I have had way more invasive surgeries on my eyes than my cataract surgeries and my doctor is fantastic.

I think the biggest hassle of all the surgeries was remembering to put all those damn drops in at the prescribed times.

Hope your other eye surgery goes just as well as your first.

 

[Dan White]

Had cataract surgery this morning on my right eye, left to follow on the 5th.

For the last few years my eye doc has been saying, "Don't know how you play pool with that big honkin' cataract on your right eye."

We shall "see," lol.

Love and thanks to Gail at my bedside though the whole thing.

Lou Figueroa

Good luck, Lou! You seem to have all the old farts coming out of the woodwork in this thread!

 

[sjm]

Congrats on your successful surgery, Lou.

 

[bud green]

Heal up and give 'em hell.

 

[jasonlaus]

Hopefully after both eyes are done you can see when some of us are messing with you

See this post for clarification.

Seriously, good luck

 

[Quesports]

Hope you have a great outcome Lou. Seeing clearly after not being able to for so long ought to be life changing.. Hell, I get excited just buying new glasses! Keep us old guys up on your progress I see this in my future as well...

 

[lfigueroa]

Whether or not it was any part of Lou's intention in creating this thread -- Lou is a well-credentialed longtime member -- I greatly respect the fact that his very positive report (and the informative replies) will unquestionably motivate a percentage of formerly hesitant, cataract-afflicted viewers of any age, to "bite the bullet" and follow Lou's (and all responders') example. At the very least -- if you love performing our beloved sport optimally -- consult with a regionally well-regarded specialist and determine the facts and personal appropriateness of the very easy procedure.

Even those us who've experienced the result, remain in awe of the fact that such a complex process has even been made possible and has been so technologically refined, advanced, and "simplified" (if that's not an overly-odd way describe the reality of it).

Arnaldo

Thanks, Arnaldo.

BTW, I got a new lens implanted that's only been out since February but should be perfect for pool players.

After giving my surgeon a long winded speech on how I played pool and it was important to me to be corrected from 2' to 10' he dryly explains about this new lens telling me it kicks in at 24" =:-o He says I'll need reading glasses but I'm think whadahey, sounds perfect. I'm going to try out the right eye today.

Lou Figueroa

 

[lfigueroa]

Lou,
What were your symptoms, how long did you put up with it?
My left has been blurry for about a month, been told i have dry eye and a corrosive cornea.
It's like looking through bubble wrap at times.
Glad to hear you have found relief.

My optometrist has been telling me about my cataracts for about four or five years now but I always felt I could still see good enough.

Then I started having trouble reading street signs. Then I start having trouble reading freeway signs. Then I started having trouble reading the really BIG freeway signs. Lastly, I knew I had to have it done when driving at night all the tail lights and oncoming headlights were blurry and I knew I was a hazard on the road.

Now, with one eye done and wearing a contact lens in the other i would say the difference is like having Saran Wrap over the eye with the contact lens.

Lou Figueroa

 

[lfigueroa]

Thanks for the update.

It will get better day by day.

I had absolutely no problems after having either of my eyes done and never felt a thing.

I have had way more invasive surgeries on my eyes than my cataract surgeries and my doctor is fantastic.

I think the biggest hassle of all the surgeries was remembering to put all those damn drops in at the prescribed times.

Hope your other eye surgery goes just as well as your first.

Thank you, HE.

Yes, the drops and bandaging up the eye for showers and at night is a hassle but all that will pass. I have three eye drop vials for the next week. Just in time for the other eye to start it up all over again.

Lou Figueroa

 

[lfigueroa]

Good luck, Lou! You seem to have all the old farts coming out of the woodwork in this thread!

Ha, ha -- one day you will be the old fart you young whipper snapper.

Lou Figueroa

 

[cookie man]

Thanks, Arnaldo.

BTW, I got a new lens implanted that's only been out since February but should be perfect for pool players.

After giving my surgeon a long winded speech on how I played pool and it was important to me to be corrected from 2' to 10' he dryly explains about this new lens telling me it kicks in at 24" =:-o He says I'll need reading glasses but I'm think whadahey, sounds perfect. I'm going to try out the right eye today.

Lou Figueroa

So you are saying it's like a performance enhancing drug, lol. Seriously, dealing with eyes always seems to be such a scary thing. Hopefully everything comes out perfectly for you.

 

[WGDave]

This thread has to be JB’s worst nightmare.

There’s no way he’d want any action from you now that you can see the center to edge clearly and perform the pivot properly.

And yea, I am just joking around you zealots, calm down.

Best of luck with your recovery and second round of Saran Wrap removal surgery.

 

[DynoDan]

My optometrist has been telling me about my cataracts for about four or five years now but I always felt I could still see good enough.

Then I started having trouble reading street signs. Then I start having trouble reading freeway signs. Then I started having trouble reading the really BIG freeway signs. Lastly, I knew I had to have it done when driving at night all the tail lights and oncoming headlights were blurry and I knew I was a hazard on the road.

Now, with one eye done and wearing a contact lens in the other i would say the difference is like having Saran Wrap over the eye with the contact lens.

Lou Figueroa

‘Handwriting On The Wall’ (with double edges) for me too. I’m just waiting for that day when I finally can’t pass the driving license eye exam.

 

[bbb]

lou
congrats on your successfull surgey
i hope the other eye does as well or better
what lens did they insert?

 

[Sealegs50]

Until this summer, I had cataracts in both lenses. Playing pool was very difficult in the past because I was shooting at blurred object balls and had to guess where to aim. Worse than that was my golf game. I couldn’t see the ball leave my club and could only guess based on feel of the hit where the ball might have gone. I could only play a round with my wife because it would have been punishment for someone to be my partner and have to help me find my ball each shot. I couldn’t see a ball 20 yards ahead even if it was in the fairway.

I had both lenses replaced this summer. Pretty stunning the difference. The first couple days post surgery, my vision was the sharpest I recall ever having. Over the new 4-5 months, my eyes have lost a bit of that acuity. But still, I can drive without glasses. Road signs are no problem. Driving at night is so much better. No glare and headlights are just single sources of light, not the round circles I saw with the cataracts. My golf game is much improved and much less frustrating. Now I am the person in the group who can best find balls in the rough. Pool is completely different now that the object balls are sharply in focus.

I did have a retinal tear about 6 weeks post surgery. I am extremely nearsighted in both eyes. They zapped me with a laser to stop the tear and it appears to have worked for me. I thought I was starting to have a similar problem in the other eye just before Thanksgiving. My doctor checked, said there was no retinal problems, and the symptoms have subsided.

 

[pwd72s]

My optometrist has been telling me about my cataracts for about four or five years now but I always felt I could still see good enough.

Then I started having trouble reading street signs. Then I start having trouble reading freeway signs. Then I started having trouble reading the really BIG freeway signs. Lastly, I knew I had to have it done when driving at night all the tail lights and oncoming headlights were blurry and I knew I was a hazard on the road.

Now, with one eye done and wearing a contact lens in the other i would say the difference is like having Saran Wrap over the eye with the contact lens.

Lou Figueroa

That's where I'm at now...the symptoms. It's kind of like everything gets dimmer accompanied by ever increasing near sightedness...far away objects get increasingly blurry despite glasses. Absolutely scary driving at night, so I don't do it. Only short drives locally when I absolutely must be somewhere. I'm complicating things by also having AMD (Age related Macular degeneration) and glaucoma. See my ophthalmologist again in a few months. He's concerned about my current pressure readings. Dunno why the delay, I'm ready. He also mentioned bringing in some "heavy hitters", whatever that means. Other specialists, I assume.

 

[Riley Pitchford]

I had both eyes done abought 10 years ago by an ophthalmologist that played snooker and billiiards. He understood what I needed. If you are considering this surgery, find a guy like that to discuss your options.

 

[ShootingArts]

‘Handwriting On The Wall’ (with double edges) for me too. I’m just waiting for that day when I finally can’t pass the driving license eye exam.

I find it far easier to pass the eye exam on the internet renewal site. (there ain't one!) I am good for another four years driving without glasses. Being a graduate of the Mr Magoo school of high performance driving I don't need glasses anyway!

Hu