"You can survive this. Talk to others that have"

WhatsRight posted 11/26/2020 16:54 PM

I have mentioned that in the last month I’ve had both of my cataracts removed. When I first came out of the surgeries, I could see so much more clearly. The doctor warned me that blurriness would come and go and that I should not be concerned until 6 to 7 weeks post surgery.

So he has been right, things do get blurry and then less blurry throughout the day.

But, recently the vision seems to have set in one place.

The problem is that I asked to have my vision set at seeing clearly at a distance, which would mean that I would need “readers” for close up. I have noticed that anything more than 10 feet away from me is quite blurry, but I can count the hairs on my arm.

So I think that they set my eyes to be able to see close up clearly which means I will need glasses for everything else, including driving.

If I’m right, what does this mean? Am I just stuck with him doing it backwards?

But, here on Thanksgiving day, I want to be clear that I’m not complaining too badly. My dad was blind the last 25 years of his life, so I am thankful for the vision that I have.

I just so much wanted it to be the other way around.

[This message edited by WhatsRight at 4:58 PM, November 26th (Thursday)]

Questioningall posted 11/26/2020 18:05 PM

You get to choose? That’s so cool! I had no idea.

FaithFool posted 11/26/2020 19:32 PM

If I’m right, what does this mean? Am I just stuck with him doing it backwards?

I believe so. You can't 'undo' the lens implant as far as I know.

I had mine done for close-up as I don't like having to find readers all the time. I have a lighter progressive prescription for when I leave the house, and I'm fine with it.

When is your follow-up consult?

@Questioning, there are several options. You can also ask for one distance and one close-up combo, and your brain does a little dance to adjust. I didn't opt for that one.

There's also a $10,000 progressive (bifocal) option. Super fancy.

[This message edited by FaithFool at 7:34 PM, November 26th (Thursday)]

WhatsRight posted 11/26/2020 20:00 PM

Yeah, I had mono vision from lasik 20 years ago. The eye doctor was supposed to adjust it to both eyes seeing distance clearly when he did the cataract surgery.

Oh well. First world problem.

WhatsRight posted 11/26/2020 20:04 PM

I called the office on Tuesday to ask one of the nurses to call me to alleviate my concerns. I didn’t hear back yet.

My follow up is December 31.

Marriagesucks posted 11/27/2020 10:53 AM

When I first came out of the surgeries, I could see so much more clearly.

Did you end up using the toric IOL for astigmatism correction? The reason I ask is because the surgeon has to rotate them precisely for the correction. It's possible that one could have moved during the process of healing after you left.

With that said... I had the toric lenses in both eyes... done about 6 months apart. The second one I had blurred vision in that freaked me out bad enough that I went back about 2 weeks later to have it checked out.

One of the eye-drops you use is a steroid that combats the inflammation that you would most certainly have had (hence the blurred vision). Once the two weeks have passed most people have no problems. With me... it turned out I just had to wait longer for the eye to heal.

WhatsRight posted 11/27/2020 16:53 PM

There have been a couple of days since the surgeries that I just really screwed up on the drops. Didn’t take them in the right order, right number of times or maybe the right time of day. This was due to a crazy schedule where I just put them in whenever I could and hoped it was right because I didn’t have the papers with me.

I sure hope I’m not going to have to pay a really huge price for that. The rest of the time I’ve been very diligent to do the drops exactly as prescribed.

Anyway, thanks for the encouragement. I don’t mind waiting longer to get the desired result.

tushnurse posted 11/28/2020 10:24 AM

You have to be religious about the drops.
I seriously doubt the surgeon made a mistake. There are several checks and balances to avoid such things.
Keeping the eyes moist is key in seeing properly too. So test your vision acuity after using drops.

cissie posted 11/28/2020 21:18 PM

I have the opposite problem. I could see fine to drive etc before, except at night. I used glasses for reading and computer work.

It is not what was promised.

My distance vision is the same as it was before except the colors are brighter, and I still need glasses for close work, reading labels etc., in fact even more. The dazzle from headlights is much worse.

I lose glasses all the time when I am shopping, and that was one of my main problems.

WhatsRight posted 11/29/2020 14:34 PM

It sucks to go through all that and have your eyesight not be the result you wanted.

I actually asked for a clear vision at a distance, and I was willing to wear glasses to see up close like to read or using my phone, etc.

But now, up close is fuzzy, arms distance is clear, and far distance is fuzzy.

Still holding out for things to sharpen up since I’m only 2 and 3 weeks out respectively.

Cooley2here posted 11/29/2020 18:46 PM

There is a film that occurs after cataract surgery. Not everyone gets them but I did. They can correct it almost by blowing on them, a joke. No pain, no anesthesia just a quick procedure. It’s permanent. It won’t come back again.

plainsong posted 12/2/2020 08:28 AM

I'm so sorry to hear that the new lenses don't seem to be right. Glad to hear you called your doctor. My main advice is KEEP BUGGING THEM! It does take time for the correction to settle down, but this sounds unusual. Ask them to go over in detail what things can go wrong during a cataract operation and what the options are for correcting them. Good luck!

tushnurse posted 12/2/2020 10:25 AM

KEEP BUGGING THEM!

My MIL just had hers done in September, but she had a complication initally her vision was crystal clear and she didn't need readers or distance which for her is a miracle in itself, been in glasses since 2 years old due to a head injury..... .
Anyway I digress. Over the second month her vision deteriorated, and she couldn't drive at night at all, and was really struggling, I said call go back, she did, and she had actually developed some scarring and inflammation, and had to have a second procedure in each eye, and different steroid drops after.
Now she is thrilled with the result.
You will be too, when you get things worked out.

WhatsRight posted 12/2/2020 11:16 AM

From your mouth to God’s ears!

Someone actually asked me would I go through the whole thing two more times if that’s what has to be done to make it right. I thought about that long and hard, but I think I would. My mother’s father was 104 when he died, and my father’s parents were each 96 when they died. My mother 92. Although it seems to be going down by generation, Evidently, barring any unforeseen accident, I might have a few years to go.

And I certainly want to be able to see clearly. My dad was blind the last 25 years of his life, and I’m trying to avoid that at all cost.