Well, since lots of folks here are posting about health issues, here's mine...

[calimary]

I’m having cataract surgery tomorrow in the left eye.

I have been blessed with good health all my life - except for the ol’ eyeballs. Myopia and assorted issues, detached retina, and now this. I’m told I have cataracts in both eyes, but the right one seems unaffected so far, especially by comparison!

I think I’ll put a mark on my left cheek to make sure they get the correct one. Wish me luck!

[AndyS]

1. Cataract surgery is a piece o cake.

I could have driven myself home after it but they forbade that.

[calimary]

22. So I hear - from several friends who've had it done.

Thanks for the morale booster!

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

2. good luck

[calimary]

23. Thanks!

[diva77]

3. Best wishes for a successful procedure tomorrow!

I like the idea of putting a mark by the correct eye -- once had an experience with a doctor trying to work on a dislocated limb -- only it was the other limb

[calimary]

24. Yeah, I'm gonna do something.

Make it obvious so they can’t miss!

[blm]

4. 🫶🏽

💐

[calimary]

27. Thanks!

[markie]

5. just finished my 2nd eye last week

I can now see better than I ever have... the surgery is quick and easy... a good doctor will mark the eye a bit before surgery and my doctor and nurses kept asking me so we all knew

good luck... easy peasey

[calimary]

29. That's what I hear. Takes about eight minutes, so I'm told.

[Diamond_Dog]

6. I had both eyes done last fall two weeks apart

It’s an easy surgery, as surgeries go. You’ll do great!

[calimary]

33. Thanks, Diamond_Dog!

I appreciate that!

[kozar]

7. Good vibes,

Funny about the check mark thing! When I had my knee done, the prep nurse checked marked my knee. I asked why, same reason. She said” sometimes they get too busy in there”.
Being it’s your cheek, maybe use a piece of med tape? Easier to clean after all will go well.
Vibes sent

KozandLilBit

[calimary]

36. Hah! I was wondering how to do that.

They already gave me a little zip bag with a pair of rather serious-looking sunglasses and two little rolls of tape. THAT’S what I’ll use tomorrow.

Thanks for the tip, though!

[Tracyjo]

8. Good luck

I hope all goes well.

[calimary]

37. I hear it's pretty routine.

I’ll post here to let everybody know.

And thanks, btw!

[debm55]

9. Best of luck to you. Will be thinking of you.

[calimary]

38. Awwwwww... thanks!

[LisaM]

10. They marked each of my eyes for mine.

I am so glad I had mine. The only bad thing was the bills that kept trickling in from various providers. It wasn't so much the amounts, it was that every time one came, I would think I was done paying, then another one would come. The doctor. The clinic. The surgery center. The anesthesiologist. One time they told me everything was paid and yet three weeks later, along came another one!

Other than that, it was great. Good luck.

[calimary]

40. Well, I appreciate the words-to-the-wise, LisaM!

I’m well aware they don’t give this stuff away for free!

[Ms. Toad]

70. If you're on Medicare -

be aware that they pay for new glasses (or at least sort of, kind of - there are limits and limited providers - but part of it is covered, unlike most eyeglasses).

[FakeNoose]

11. Good luck and speedy recovery!

[calimary]

41. Thanks, FakeNoose!

[JanLip]

12. My hubby

Had cataract surgery a couple of years ago. He said he couldn’t get over how bright colors were afterwards. Good luck tomorrow. Let us know how it turns out.

Jan

[calimary]

42. Yeah, so I hear! Thanks!

And I will report back.

[sheshe2]

13. You will be fine.

💙💙💙

[calimary]

43. Awwwww... thanks sheshe2!

This thread is great therapy, lemme tellya!

[Wicked Blue]

14. Good luck!

((((((((((((((((((( )))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

[calimary]

45. Thanks so much, Wicked Blue!

I’ll take all the reassurance I can get!

[wendyb-NC]

15. Cataract surgery has some amazing effects

I had cataract surgery on each eye in 2017, 2 weeks apart. It went well.

I too had myopia, and wore glasses since I was in 2 nd grade. I got to the point that it could not be corrected with a higher prescription of lenses.

I had the surgery done and it not only corrected my blurry hazy vision, it corrected the myopia. I wear glasses to read, but I have near.perfect distance vision. You can't beat that.

Best wishes, take care and let us.know how you do.

[Rebl2]

19. I had

it two years ago, two weeks apart. It was great at first, but for about a year now the lens have clouded over and need laser treatment to clear it up. My BIL had to have the same laser treatment about a year after his cataract surgery. Like you, have worn glasses since 2nd or 3rd grade.

[calimary]

48. Fourth grade for me.

Until then, I just assumed the world was blurry. It was so startling to discover there were sharp, clean edges everywhere! Who knew?

[multigraincracker]

16. I'm on hold.

See my doc every 6 months to see if they are ready yet. I’m aware of the thicker they are, the easier they are to remove. In the mean time I’ve about given up on driving at night.

[calimary]

71. Well, we'll be heading over to the surgical center soon.

So I’m as ready as I’ll ever be.

[MagickMuffin]

78. I have a friend who waited too late and he can't get the surgery

So, I guess there is some sort of timeframe for the procedure.

I was told back in the 80s I would need it done at some point down the road, still wondering when that road comes around.

[multigraincracker]

87. I think they have to be a certain

thickness to make it easier to remove them for the surgery.
The doc keeps checking me for glaucoma. I was on med for it and she doesn’t think I have it, so keeps checking my pressure and I have terrible floaters from an older surgery she checks too. So I go every 6 months.

[MagickMuffin]

90. I guess that's why I've been waiting around for

But reading the responses here I want it now 🫣

I’d love to see brighter colors and maybe not need reading glasses. Also driving at night would surely be an improvement, currently a little blurry vision especially at night.

[canetoad]

17. Best wishes

Hope it all goes well.

[calimary]

72. Thanks, canetoad!

[Cha]

18. Best of Luck!🤷‍♀️💙

[calimary]

74. Thank you, Cha!

[Progressive dog]

20. Good luck

I had both eyes done (2 weeks apart) about two years ago. MY distance vision is as good as it ever was with glasses and I can still read books without glasses. They have multi focus lenses now.
I do have high pressure in both eyes now but have prescription eye drops that correct it. I'm glad that I had it done.

[calimary]

75. Thanks. Just doing the left eye first.

We’ll see about the right eye - no pun intended…

[malaise]

21. This surgery has really improved

All the best

[calimary]

76. So I hear. And that is encouraging.

I’m just a worrier. Thanks, malaise!

[malaise]

80. One of my sisters had both eyes done last year

She’s very happy with the results. You’ll be fine - just follow instructions fully post surgery.😀

[Trueblue Texan]

25. I had a vitrectomy last week to correct complications from cataract surgery...

...you'll be glad to know they put a big X above my right eye to make sure they were operating on the correct eye. I think that is actually common practice in many types of surgeries.

[Trueblue Texan]

26. Oh! And good luck! nt

[calimary]

77. Well, I put a bandaid above my left eyebrow

just to make sure.

[OMGWTF]

28. I had both eyes done 18 months ago and it was so easy!

I now have nearly 20/20 vision and colors are so much prettier.

[calimary]

81. Well, the garden's blooming, so I look forward to enjoying that

in a new clear-eyed way.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

30. Cataracts were the best thing that ever happened to my eyes.

In first grade I couldn't see the blackboard. Got glasses. At 16 I got contact lenses. Hard ones at first, eventually soft ones.

Around the time I turned 45 eye doctor told me I was beginning to grow cataracts. They didn't progress much for quite a while, and then very suddenly I had vision changes which turned out the cataracts had progressed to the point where I needed the surgery. I was 63, relatively young. The surgeries went very well.

What I like best is that when I wake up in the morning I can SEE. I can look across the room and read the clock. I feel as if I can read small signs on distant hills. No more contact lenses.

I understand cataract surgery is by far the most common surgery in this country.

I think you will be very pleased.

[calimary]

82. Yeah, I know exactly how that is.

When you’re born with it, you just assume everything’s blurry, cuz that’s how you see it. It was a real revelation when I discovered everything had crisp, sharp, well-delineated edges! I seriously had no idea!

[Rhiannon12866]

31. Best wishes with this!

My grandmother had both eyes done when she was in her 90s and she did just fine, so you will, too.

[calimary]

84. Thanks, my friend!

Yep, I’ve heard nothing but good things.

[pazzyanne]

32. My Mom had cataract surgery after being denied her driver's license renewal.

I took her to the hospital for her surgery, and my sister met us there. She complained the whole time we were in the waiting room. On the way home, she started seeing blades of grass in the ditch, and then noticed things she "hadn't seen for years". She went from complaining about "being forced to have unnecessary surgery" to enjoying rediscovering her world.

Hope things go as well for you, calimary!

[calimary]

85. Thanks, pazzyanne!

I’m just glad there’s such a long track Re it’s of success with these things.

[H2O Man]

34. Good luck!

(Recommended)

You will do just fine. They've gotten very good at this.

[calimary]

86. Thanks, H2O Man.

I’m counting on it.

[LoisB]

35. Good luck and good vision.

[calimary]

88. I'll be seein' ya...

[pandr32]

39. Wishing you luck!

[calimary]

89. Thanks so much!

I REALLY appreciate the encouragement!

[Hekate]

44. Mine's coming up in a few weeks. I was nervous until I read a DU thread from happy people...

…who were overjoyed to be able to see colors brightly again.

I started wearing hard contact lenses at age 21, each eye individually corrected to 20/20, and had great success. My right eye has always been many times weaker than my left, making glasses a lot less than perfect, but what a difference contacts made.

When I hit middle age my contact lens prescription was changed so distance was left and reading was right and my brain adjusted for it. Middle age was when I needed reading glasses anyway.

In my early 50s, LASIK advanced to the point that I became a good candidate for the procedure, and family and friends talked me into it. Once again, mono-vision. Once again, after a period of adjustment. I don’t mind using reading glasses and driving glasses — but the great thing was I didn’t need to all the time.

That was some 20 years ago, and now it’s time for cataract surgery, with the same surgeon as for the LASIK. Again, the left will be the distance eye and the right will be the close-up eye. As the doc points out, my brain has been adjusted to it for over 30 years. My expectations are that I will have supplemental glasses for fine detail — and as I have worn glasses since I was about 9 years old, I am fine with that.

Cheers to us! And God bless medical science!

[calimary]

91. Yeah, I had LASIK surgery. I remember that clock on the far wall.

They pointed it out to me as we were getting set for the surgery, and I could only see a blur on the wall at the other end of the room. They said “we’re gonna ask you about it afterwards.”

And they did. And when they tilted the surgical chair back upright, they said “can you see that clock on the wall?” And without even thinking, I blurted out the time (“it’s 10:40.”). And then I gasped. And then I cried!

And they smiled and said - “they all do that!”

What an amazing day that was!!!

[peppertree]

46. St. Lucia be with you

[calimary]

93. Oh yeah! St. Lucy with the eyes on the tray.

She was martyred, blinded before being killed, as the story goes. Ahhh… Catholic school…

[Hope22]

47. The best to you!

It will feel good to have the surgery behind you! 👍🏼💗

[calimary]

94. Now, THAT'S what I'm looking forward to, most.

Pardon the pun!

[Hope22]

119. Lol! You got this!

My friend had both of his done last winter. He was a contact wearer! He is so happy to be free from all of that now! Enjoy!😊💗💗

[WinstonSmith4740]

49. It's a cake walk!!

Had both of mine done last summer. I've been really near-sighted since I was about 12, and today I've got 20/20! Had them done a week apart, and the results are amazing. Everything is so bright!! Back in the day, they just took off the cataract, now they remove the lens and replace it. And I wasn't watching a clock, but the surgery couldn't have taken more than 15 minutes.

Let us know how you do! It takes a day or so for everything to settle in, so don't be surprised if you get "halos" around lights for a couple of hours.

[calimary]

95. Hey, I'm used to funky vision. It's been a lifelong adventure.

They told me eight minutes. And I’ll be kinda “twilighted out”. So it shouldn’t be too bad.

[Joinfortmill]

50. Best of luck. When I had mine, the doc asked me to point to the eye he was to operate on.

You'd think he would know wouldn't you? So, your idea is a pretty good one.

[calimary]

96. Sometimes doctors have - uh -shall we say quirky moods?

[AmBlue]

51. Wishing you all the best

And a speedy recovery!!

[calimary]

97. Thank you so much! You and me both!

Fingers crossed. NOT eyes!

[marybourg]

52. At my eye surgeon, they have days on which

the operate on right eyes, and days on which they operate on left eyes. I wonder what calamity precipitated that regimen.

[moonscape]

55. Hilarious! Talk about assembly line :)

[marybourg]

67. Yes it really is. Although my surgeon is warm and personable.

Medicare doesn’t pay all that much for cataract surgery, so it pretty much has to be an assembly line.

[calimary]

98. Ooooh, don't even wanna think about it!

But it sounds like a VERY good system! Even so, I still put the bandaid on above my left eyebrow. Don’t wanna leave anything to chance!

[housecat]

53. Easy procedure. Just remember to put a mark on the cheek.

[calimary]

99. Bandaid on the forehead above the left eye. Done!

Check!

[marble falls]

54. Had mine done last year. What a wonderful difference! the surgery itself was only about 20 minutes.

[calimary]

100. Well, I will report back as promptly as possible.

I DEEPLY appreciate all the encouragement on this thread!

[marble falls]

122. The new lens is an acrylic that is exceptionally clear. It's incredible how clear they are.

[yonder]

56. You'll do fine. And the improved vision and colors are amazing.

The biggest pain-in-the-ass are the eyedrops. PITA or not, I'd do it again in a blink of the eye.

[calimary]

101. Yep. So I hear, from many experienced squinters!

[alwaysinasnit]

57. Hugs to you calimary and wishes for a speedy recovery.

[calimary]

102. Thanks, so much!

Here’s lookin’ atcha!

[Murphyb849]

58. You will do GREAT 🍀🍀🍀🍀

[calimary]

103. I'm counting on it, my friend.

This thread is very encouraging. Thankful for it - and for everybody here!

[mgardener]

59. Good luck!

My husband was so glad he had it done.
It was his first ever surgery.

[calimary]

104. Well, I hear nothing but good things about it.

And good results.

[DownriverDem]

60. Had both eyes done

You will be amazed at how well you will be able to see. Just do the drops as prescribed.

[calimary]

105. Got it.

I’m pretty good at following instructions. And my husband is my backstop.

[Evolve Dammit]

61. Good idea to mark the eye. They have this down now. Sending love your way. Best, ED

[calimary]

106. Thanks, ED. Yeah. Bandaid is immediately above my left eyebrow.

I don’t like leaving anything to chance. Only got two of these-here eye things.

[Evolve Dammit]

121. Indeed. All the best to you!

[calimary]

124. Back atcha!

[mountain grammy]

62. Good luck calimary

All the best to you.

[calimary]

107. Thanks! This thread is very calming.

We’re sitting in the waiting room of the surgical center as I (hope to) finish this thread.

[Hortensis]

63. Congrats on living now. My husband and son have had

both done, easy-peasy and virtually painless. Our eye surgery practice has two waiting rooms, both always in use.

My own first one of two's scheduled for next month. Unfortunately, my eyes aren't right for a tri-lens implant, so I'll have distance vision lenses implanted and wear reading glasses. Plus side, it saved me from having to decide whether to spend an extra $4-6K for the tri- lenses, and Medicare will cover the whole basic thing.

Look forward to hearing from you after.

[calimary]

109. Oh MAN! Truer words have never been spoken!

I find myself thinking that a lot. So good to live in this day ‘n’ age! A grateful relief, really.

[electric_blue68]

64. The best Good Luck! Successful Surgery! Full Recovery! 👍

[calimary]

110. Aww, thanks!

Deeply appreciated!

[Solly Mack]

65. Well wishes!

[calimary]

111. Well I'll take 'em! Thanks!

[TdeV]

66. Good luck. And the day after surgery, are you going to be surprised!

[calimary]

112. Looking forward to it - pardon the pun!

Eye-yi-yi…

[area51]

68. I was worried when I had my cataract surgery,

but it went great. Sending hugs.

[calimary]

79. Thanks - I'm now where you were then.

[Ms. Toad]

69. You'll be awake - so you should be able to tell them if they head for the wrong one.

My spouse just ahd both done. She now wears glasses only for reading (after wearing glasses since she was very young).

[calimary]

73. I put a bandaid on my forehead above the left eye,

just to make sure.

[MagickMuffin]

83. Good luck today, let us know how it turns out

From the thread responses I too want to have the procedure, so far still in a holding pattern.

I’ve been told I’ll need it but not just yet.

However, I do have blurry vision and eye goo that I hope would no longer be an issue.


Best of luck 🤞

[calimary]

113. Thanks, MagickMuffin!

Hopefully I’LL be one of the experienced advisors by the time it’s your turn!

[Marthe48]

92. When I had cataract surgery

The prep included marking my forehead above my right eye. Good luck. Pay attention to the post-surgical instructions.

[RobinA]

108. Just Had My Second

eye done last week. The surgery is no big deal. The recovery has been a royal pain, but not because I had problems, which I did not. My second eye was supposed to be done a month after the first, but it was postponed for some reason. You need your glasses to see out of the unfixed eye and don't need them for the fixed eye. If you have an astigmatism the surgery won't fix that, so you'll be stuck with that while you recover. My close vision, for which I wore glasses but was not super bad is now terrible. My distance vision is better than it was. I will be fine once I get the right glasses, but that won't be for another month. So I've been unable to see well for three months now. I'm not overly happy with the result because of the reduced close vision, but the alternative is to stick with the cataracts, so there was no option.

I say this for one reason. At my doctor's, I asked about the between eye surgery time period since I wouldn't have workable glasses and they were like, No big deal. Well, it can be a big deal if you need (or want) to see. I thought I was doing something wrong until a friend of mine had the same surgery right after I did and had the same problems. If you can't see, your eyes tire after 5 minutes of trying to use a computer, or your eyes feel like they are in a pitched battle with each other in order to focus, it's not you.

[calimary]

115. Ooooooh, good to know!

I supposedly have cataracts in both eyes, but my right eye doesn’t seem to know that (or see it that way) yet.

[Hortensis]

117. Yes, it can be a big deal if you need to see to get things done.

Sorry you're having these delays finishing up getting your new vision.

My husband was unprepared for the visual differences between his eyes as his eye recovered, though he could get along longer than 5 minutes. Fortunately, he's retired and didn't have to do anything he couldn't put off while he waited first for vision to recover in the operated eye and then for his new reading glasses.

But it wasn't nothing.

[calimary]

114. Yep. I already put a bandaid there

on my forehead just above the left eye.

Just call me Lisa “Left-Eye” Lopes!

[calimary]

116. Since I think I've responded to everybody here for their kind posts,

I think I’ll sign off for awhile. Just waiting to be taken back to the surgical room…

[Hortensis]

118. :)

[calimary]

120. Okay! It's over, done, husband drove me home.

Took about just a few minutes. In at 10am, out by 11:30am.

Home by 12:30.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR KINDNESS AND AFFECTION and all the good wishes and your stories about your own eye surgery adventures. And the caring and concern.



And gee whiz - I get into bed and what’s in the TV?

Another shooting.

ANOTHER shooting. Atlanta. One dead, four wounded. Geeeez, it just never ends.

Maybe what the world needs is more DUers like all the kind, sweet, loving and compassionate people who were there for me at an uncomfortable, nervous, and worrisome moment.

You have lifted me up. Gratitude doesn’t even begin to describe OR label it.

I love you all. We need you all!

[calimary]

123. Update: I just finished my first-of-two post-op check-ups.

The doctor says surgery went well and everything looks good. I have another post-op visit in a couple of weeks.

DAYUM AM I GLAD THAT’S OOOOOOVER!!!

Thanks so much for building this thread with me. All your good wishes and supportive comments (and yes, the thoughts and prayers) were and still are HUGELY appreciated! I felt like I had DU in the room with me, with all that moral support. Seriously, it REALLY helped.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!