I've finally been given the crisp long distance vision I've longed for my entire life as a person with severe myopia.

[LiberalLoner]

Had my second eye operated on to remove a cataract, yesterday.

My first eye was done two weeks ago.

My vision has literally never been this great. I’ve worn hard contacts, soft contacts, had LASIK, and nothing compares to the astonishing vision I have now.

And the colors are so bright and clean! Blues are so beautiful now that they are not muddy looking.

It really feels like a miracle to me, and I will say, if you are hesitant to have a recommended cataract surgery, please don’t be afraid! It was painless, quick, the recovery at least for me has been painless, and the clear vision is such a wonderful thing!

I had no idea just how bad my vision had gotten, until I was given the technis eyehance lenses to replace my bad lenses that had hypermature cataracts.

Because it’s easy for us to adjust to slowly worsening things, even vision going bad, and not realize how truly bad things have gotten.

[erronis]

1. Thanks for this positive news. I'm guessing cataract surgery is in my future.

[LiberalLoner]

13. I've heard that it's inevitable if we all live long enough. I needed surgery a bit sooner than normal because of Lasik

And high myopia, but I’m not unhappy with that at all.

My husband and I were saying how wonderful it would have been if I could have had these wonderful lenses my whole life instead of having to wait past 60!

And the surgery was so easy and painless! Much easier than having a tooth cavity filled, even!

[Polly Hennessey]

2. Had mine and everything you said is true. The colors are wonderful.

Had no idea how “muddy” my world was before cataract surgery. 🤗

[LiberalLoner]

16. I kept telling the doctor, it was like a miracle! I'm sure he thought I was a babbling fool!

And watching TV is a joy again, as is seeing everything outside, and looking at pictures. I just keep saying, wow, wow, wow!

The world is so beautiful!

[Alice Kramden]

3. Much appreciated - mine are coming up imminently

I'm having cataract surgery within the next month,and I sincerely appreciate your encouraging first-person experience

[LiberalLoner]

18. I wish you the best of luck, it is an extremely routine surgery, although of course we are naturally a bit

Apprehensive because, well, it is our eyes!

Please keep us updated, and please post about how wonderful your vision is again, afterwards!

I spent some time on the Reddit board about cataract surgery and learned about lenses, etc. and all the wonderful things said about the J&J technis eyehance lens seemed to be true! That is what I have in my eyes and I know I don’t have anything to compare them to, but I feel they must be the best lenses in the world!

The second eye, I was not fully asleep for, so I remember all of it, but I was so pleasantly drugged up that I was disappointed the surgery only took maybe ten minutes because I was having so much fun looking at the bright light kaleidoscope colors (that’s all you see, nothing scary) and being all stoned, LOL. I was disappointed it was over so fast because I was enjoying the experience so much!

I was just lying there all wrapped in warm blankets, having fun. I have to say it really was a pleasant experience! Crazy as that sounds!

Before the surgery begins, they give you a series of eye drops to numb your eye (the first drop stings ever so slightly and then in a few seconds you feel nothing, and continue to feel nothing while they give you the series of numbing and pupil dilating eyedrops and gel.)

They also put an IV in, and that’s always the hardest part of any surgery, really. And that’s really not a very big deal, all in all.

Some people afterwards feel mild eye irritation, but I didn’t have that experience. No discomfort whatsoever.

They give you eyedrops to use after surgery that it is important to use as directed. They don’t hurt, at least I didn’t feel any discomfort.

I had my husband put them in for me the first day because my one eye was dilated for a full day so I couldn’t see as well as I needed to, for a day.

I can honestly say these surgeries were the easiest surgeries I have ever had, by FAR, and produced such wonderful benefits, I wish every surgery could be like these surgeries!

You will do just great, and I look forward to you posting afterwards about how excellent your restored vision is!

[Figarosmom]

80. I told the doctor

It was quite some light show.

[LogDog75]

4. My optometrist I'll probably need cataract on my left eye.

My vision in my right eye is clear and sharp but a cataract has grown in my left eye and will probably have to be removed sometime this year. It really doesn't bother me as much as all the floaters in the left eye. I'm hoping an ophthalmologist will be able to do something about them.

[LiberalLoner]

19. I wish you the best of luck and I am certain you will have such a great result!

I haven’t had problems with floaters, but one person said they had surgery for the floaters, and described it as a laser surgery that went “zap zap” so that didn’t sound too bad. They said, no more floaters.

[defacto7]

72. Interesting.

My optometrist said there is nothing that can be done about floaters. Maybe I need another opinion. They are a real nuisance.

[defacto7]

73. I was just reading up on floater ablation.

I guess my optometrist was wrong.

[LiberalLoner]

76. He may not be aware of the latest surgical advances, because ophthalmology and optometry are really

Very separate fields, even though it feels as if they should be more connected.

I think he probably was just not up to the latest procedures ophthalmology offers.

But what good news that you can get the floaters treated!

[defacto7]

82. Yay. n/t

[CousinIT]

5. That's awesome! Congratulations! I have cataract surgery in my future and will ask about their lenses

I'm looking at the Tecnis Odyssy (I went googling for the lens you mentioned ) - there is a new one coming out in 2025, or maybe it is out.

I know that insurance won't cover some of these ie, toric, or multifocal lenses, so I expect out-of-pocket cost will be high though.

[LiberalLoner]

21. Thank you! I have heard good things about that new lens and I am hoping you will have amazing results! Yeah, it's not

Cheap. I guess that’s true of all medical care. My total out of pocket expense ended up being about 4,000 because I needed toric, very specialized lenses.

I thought, well, I will save money not having to ever buy glasses for myopia, now. So it didn’t seem so bad, looking at it that way.

And the excellent vision! Wow! That felt like it was worth every penny and much more!

People pay thousands for a luxury car, or nice clothing, or jewelry, but true luxury is having excellent vision, I think!

So at least for me, I felt it was more than worth the expense.

This is by far the best vision I have ever had in my whole life!

Best of luck to you, I hope you will keep us updated!

💙💙💙💙💙

[EarthAbides]

6. Me, too!

I had cataract surgery 23 years ago, I was only 45 and my eyesight was highly myopic, too. I cried when the first patch was removed and I could see across the room.

[LiberalLoner]

22. I am so glad you had an excellent result too! They say those of us with myopia end up being the most grateful because

It feels like our whole lives, we are chasing after that clear distance vision. Sometimes we get corrected to twenty twenty, it’s always what they aim for, but almost immediately our myopia progresses so we spend I don’t know what, 90% of our lives with mildly bad to really quite bad, distance vision.

So what a relief it is, what a dream come true, to have excellent distance vision!

I didn’t cry, but I felt every bit as emotional and joyful.

I asked the surgeon, how do I keep this good vision, I am scared I will turn myopic again. He said nope, that won’t happen, these lenses are plastic, they won’t change, and your eyeball won’t continue to grow longer now that you are over 60.

I hope that is true, because I have wanted vision like this my whole life and it feels like a miracle to have it!

💙💙💙💙💙

[EarthAbides]

43. Actually

My eye sight went a little bad a year ago, not horrible, so I had to get glasses again. But I love these glasses! Very light weight and no thick lenses.

A year after I got my cataract surgery I had a film build up on my lenses that had to get lasered off. I was told it was pretty common. My left eye was clean after a few zaps, (and I mean zaps!) but my right eye took at least 3 dozen zaps (the eye doctor counted). Every time he zapped my eye I would actually feel a little shock, a little worse than static electricity. A nurse had to come and hold my head because I was starting to jerk after each zap. Fun times! But, boy could I see again after that was done! I am not sure the lenses are the same as they were 20 years ago.

[LiberalLoner]

47. I'm so sorry your vision worsened again...do you mean you became myopic again?

[AllyCat]

44. You are making me feel really encouraged here.

Thank you.

[LiberalLoner]

48. you will love the results! It's normal to feel some apprehension, but this is such a routine procedure, and you will do

Great! 💙💙💙

[LiberalLoner]

79. I have had over a dozen surgeries now for various things, and I can tell you, this is by far the easiest surgery, the

Easiest to recover from, the most painless. Truly easier and less painful than getting a cavity filled at the dentists office, which I think most people have experienced, and will probably agree is not a difficult procedure to endure.

Cataract surgery? Far easier than even that!

[Ocelot II]

7. Crazy, isn't it?

Got the second eye done a couple of weeks ago. I've been blind as a bat since I was seven, probably always, but that's when my teacher noticed that I couldn't see the blackboard. What a change! I will still get glasses for a remaining minor correction for astigmatism in the left eye, though I did get the toric implant that fixed most of that problem (it had been very, very bad), and with a reading correction so I don't have to keep putting on/taking off reading glasses. But OMG, the light and the colors!

[LiberalLoner]

49. I'm so happy you have had an excellent result, too! I think I may get reading glasses that I won't have to take off

As well. I am guessing they can make progressive lenses that are reading glasses at the bottom and just clear glass towards the top.

I feel so amazed at how clear my vision is, I can’t stop marveling at it!

[marble falls]

8. Isn't the immediate benefit totaly just crazy?

[LiberalLoner]

50. It is! Really amazing! And I discovered how truly poor my vision had become! I am so happy with my vision!

[marble falls]

53. I was giddy. Could not believe it when I took the cover off the first one. And to see detail at night. My surgery got ..

... put off because of Covid. I'd sit out on the deck and the only thing I could see was black and huge flairs where the HEB parking lot is about a half mile down the road. Now its like they put dimmers on the lights and I can see animals going through the bushes by the creek.

I'm glad yours came out well: ENJOY!

[LiberalLoner]

81. How wonderful! My night vision also seems excellent, I do not seem to have lost any contrast sensitivity or anything.

It really is such a wonderful thing!

I hope anyone reading this will feel reassured, if they are facing cataract surgery!

[Silent Type]

9. Same here, -11 Diopters. After cataract surgery I could see my feet in the shower for first time, don't need glasses

to see my dreams (OK, slight exaggeration), can walk in the rain, etc.

I never could wear contacts for more than an hour, though I tried a bizzilion times. Think I had dry eye before it was a thing.

Had I known it would be this much better, I might have paid for it myself decades ago, assuming I could find a doc to do it early.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

36. Funny, Donald Trump's eyesight is fine, but ...

... he still can't see his feet in the shower.

My wife just had cataract surgery, had to pay for one lens to correct astigmatism. She opted for the single-vision so she can now see well at distance, but has to wear drugstore "cheater" glasses to read. All in all, very successful, thanks Medicare.

[LiberalLoner]

55. LOL at the Trump joke! I'm so glad your wife also had excellent results!

[LiberalLoner]

51. I'm so glad you are thrilled with your vision now, too! I actually do wish I could have had an IOL placed

Decades ago. I was able to adapt to contacts, but got the occasional eye infection which was awful.

[William Seger]

10. Ditto in my experience

I really felt dumb for waiting so long, struggling with reading.

[LiberalLoner]

52. 💙💙💙 I need reading glasses now, but really everyone my age does as well, so it's no big deal.

[JMCKUSICK]

11. That is such a wonderful testimonial

and recommendation LiberalLoner. Thank you for taking the time to share your positive experience. It is to often we only hear about really negative results. I am so thrilled for your renewed ability to enjoy vibrant colors and all that they entail! That may be the very best thing I've heard/read today. Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

[LiberalLoner]

56. Thank you so so much! 💙💙💙💙. I am looking forward to playing with my soft pastels again once both eyes are

Well healed up, maybe in four weeks or so.

I did want to post my positive results here because I felt others might be facing this surgery as well and might be anxious.

[dflprincess]

12. I spent the two weeks between the surgeries

Covering each eye in turn and marveling at the improvement. It was like I had a piece of yellow cellophane over the eye that hadn't been done.

I stuck with the standard lens so I still need glasses for reading and to correct mild astigmatism but I've worn them so long it doesn't bother me.

[William Seger]

46. What I noticed was that the eye that hadn't been done ...

... was as dark as the eye that had been done when looking through sunglasses.

[LiberalLoner]

57. Yes, I had noticed that too, I kept closing one eye then the other, to see the difference! Now both eyes are

Perfect, no more smoky lens to look through unless I put on sunglasses!

[usonian]

14. How is your close vision?

I am highly myopic and 76, so it's coming soon. I remove my glasses countless times a day to see up close.

Phone? I'm doing it now. Camera display panel, fine print, you name it.

I would need strong readers to do this, and actually get along fine at home with 2 diopters less power than my distant glasses ( about the same as distant vision equal to a computer monitor distance)

Even reading music on my piano would need reading glasses. I do not subscribe to "one eye close and one eye distant". An optometrist tried that and my head felt like a slip-strike earthquake fault. One side going north and the other side going south.

Lots to decide. Cataracts do not yet hinder normal life. Even lots of photography.

I am not sure about/if "progressive" lenses would work. I'd need 2 diopters or more to see close objects.

Keeping a close 👁️ on things.

I did optical engineering for some years, hence the terminology.

Zoom and autofocus work great on cameras but not on people. We got freakin AI instead.

Ain't fair!!!

[LiberalLoner]

63. I do need reading glasses, but I don't find them a hassle at all. If you have a lens like I have,

with a bit of extended depth in field of vision, and you set them for distance, you will likely need reading glasses for anything arm’s length away and closer. I haven’t driven yet but I do think I could see the dashboard without reading glasses.

I ended up with a bit of mini monovision, as my right eye is -.7 and my left eye was targeted for closer to Plano. So there is likely a slight difference between my two eyes.

I think the new lenses that are progressive seem promising, but it is a difficult decision facing each of us, which lens will work best for each of us.

So cool that you did optical engineering, what a fascinating profession!

I’ve always been interested in vision, because of the myopia I have had since early childhood.

[wryter2000]

15. I also had great success with cataract surgery

Seemed almost miraculous

[LiberalLoner]

64. Yes, miraculous is the word I use, too! So glad you had an excellent result as well!

[LisaM]

17. I have been so happy with mine!

My vision had gradually gotten to what I called "smeary". I saw colors fine, but reading was getting harder, and sometimes even walking or bike riding had challenges because I was afraid I wouldn't see pot holes or other obstacles. And forget about restaurant menus.

All that's in the past. I just had my two year checkup. Best decision I ever made!

[LiberalLoner]

65. I'm so glad you also got a great result! 😍

[llmart]

20. Your story is the same as mine minus the Lasik.

I am 75 and had both eyes done in August. Such a painless and easy process and the results are amazing. However, that really intense vision and colors will gradually settle down a bit. When I got home from having my second eye done I swear I could see each individual blade of grass in my yard. I told the doctor that he failed to tell me the worse side effect - that now I can see how old I really look in the mirror.

My vision in my right eye is better than perfect and is now 20/15. I chose to sacrifice my up close vision for distance. My left eye will never be much better because I have wet AMD in that eye, but it did improve my peripheral vision in that eye.

Anyone on here who is even considering whether or not to do it, please don't hesitate. Yes, it will cost you something out of pocket depending on your insurance but it is well worth it. I was afraid to drive anywhere at night or anywhere I wasn't familiar with because I couldn't read road signs well enough.

[LiberalLoner]

66. Thank you for sharing your experience, I am so glad it was a great one, too!

[Arrgh]

23. Having my first eye done next week.

I've been very lucky, with very good vision up until my late 50s. Cataracts aren't that bad but it's difficult to drive at night with the oncoming traffic glare. I also have to bring a very bright stand light if I'm playing in the orchestra pit.

I have a small tear in my right retina that will probably need repair eventually, and If you get the cataract surgery done first you don't have to go through all the post-op positional stuff.

[LiberalLoner]

83. I wish you the best of luck in the repair of the retinal tear, and cataract surgery! I am sure both will be a great

Success and you will be pleased with your vision!

It’s scary not to have perfect vision while driving at night! I think you will feel very pleased with the final results.

[SeattleVet]

24. Cataract surgery was amazing to me...

As someone else commented, it was sort of like having yellow cellophane taken off of my eyes. White is actually *white* again, and the sky isn't really a muddy blue-ish color.

I opted for the Vivity lenses which give me really good distance and midrange vision. I now need some cheap readers for close stuff, but I can read the computer screen at about 18-24". Medicare would only pay for the single-vision lenses (choose either distance or close, and wear glasses for the other). It came in at close to $4K per eye, but I think it was worth every penny to go for the type I went with.

This is the most commonly performed surgery in the US, and they have it down pretty well. For me it was a very fast procedure with zero pain, sharp vision within a few days (it takes the brain a little bit of time to catch up, it seems).

Congratulations to your newly found clear vision! To anyone else reading this message thread, take the comments to heart - it's well worth it to have this procedure, and when your opthalmologist recommends it - just do it!

[LiberalLoner]

84. It really is amazing, and such an easy surgery to undergo! I am so glad you and others have kindly posted that

It is best to have the surgery as soon as the ophthalmologist recommends!

Yes, the first thing I noticed was how white, white is! And all the blue colors or blue-adjacent colors, were so beautiful again!

[Paladin]

25. Had my cataracts taken care of, a couple of years ago.

I cannot recommend the corrective work highly enough---absolutely stunning improvement in my vision.

[LiberalLoner]

85. Thank you for posting this, to encourage others facing surgery! I am so glad your result was also excellent!

[iluvtennis]

26. Wow, great news. Thanks for sharing this info here on DU. n/t

[LiberalLoner]

86. 😍😍😍

[Clouds Passing]

27. So glad you made it to the bright side LL 👀

[LiberalLoner]

87. Thank you 😍😍😍

[orleans]

28. i'm really happy for you. this is wonderful! nt

[LiberalLoner]

88. Thank you! 💙💙💙

[mahatmakanejeeves]

29. I've been hesitant. Everyone says to get it over with.

Thanks.

[MotownPgh]

30. Thanks for posting your story. My neighbor

had his 2nd eye done at the VA on Thursday and has been in agony. Nothing like the first eye. He went in and got more drops yesterday but still in pain today (Saturday)

[Itchinjim]

31. Had it done in 2014 at 54 after a near life time of being legally blind.

It is literally one of the best things that has ever happened to me. It was like going from watching a movie on a VHS tape to watching the same movie in 8K. The sharpness of vision was jaw dropping to me.I hadn't be able to that well since I was 5 years old.

[MissouriDem47]

32. Also had a great experience with Cataract surgery

2 years ago had a great experience with my cataract surgeries. Both surgeries were painless and the results were astounding. After more than 40 years of having to correctives lenses to drive I can now drive without anything. Recently had a follow-up appointment and my sight has not deteriorated. I wish I had these eyes 50 years ago when I playing ball and golf.

[Evolve Dammit]

33. Great news! Good info as well. Makes a big difference in quality of life. nt

[murielm99]

34. Amazing, isn't it?

I had mine done ten years ago. I use reading glasses, but that is all. My husband is having one of his eyes done at the end of the month, and the other one about ten days later. He has no idea how much he will love this.

[ShazamIam]

35. Dear LiberalLoner, one of the things I thank the universe for is my ability to see. I celebrate your vision and will

never stop being grateful that mine even with glasses for many years for myopia, now no longer needed except for driving.
I am happy for you.

[Hekate]

37. Sorry mine is not perfect (all my trees have leaves, but not birds & nests, if you know what I mean) .BUT...

The color came back into my life!

I have a piece of Huichol art that I inherited from a dear friend, and it began to look so gray that I thought I was going to have it professionally cleaned & restored. The day after surgery #1 I went around my house just looking at things — and the colors in that art-piece just about knocked my socks off.

Joy!

[AllyCat]

38. Can I send you a direct message about this? I have a similar issue

And am terrified of the surgery.

I’m so glad you are doing well! I think I need reassurance.

[Ocelot II]

74. I was scared of the surgery, too; medical stuff freaks me out. I hate it. But -

this was a complete nothingburger. They give you a sedative, Versed, that not only relaxes you completely, but causes you to mostly forget the whole thing. You don't see any of what's going on - just some vague fuzzy lights - and you're so relaxed that you don't care. The surgery takes less than a half hour and in another 15 minutes or so the sedative wears off enough for you to feel pretty normal (they won't let you drive, though). Your eye might feel a little scratchy for the rest of the day but that sensation is gone by the next day. There was no actual pain at all. You don't need to be afraid of this procedure, and the improvement in your vision is just amazing.

[TNNurse]

39. when I went back for the second eye, I told the doc I felt like I had been looking at the world through a yellow lens

His response was " you have".
Glad you are having such a good response.

[niyad]

40. Oh, that is such wonderful news!!!! huggggggs. Enjoy your new view of

the world to the fullest!

[colorado_ufo]

41. Thank you! This is just what I needed to hear - especially which lenses you got!

[AllaN01Bear]

42. i had mine removed during covid on advice of my healt care worker.

the eye doc was taking ppl with pre existing conditions and i met the regulations . i was blind in one eye and going in the othr . did one eye the first week, then the secnd the next week. all i can say is wow. i live in a apartment complex where the whole building fire alarm goes off with lots of falsies . a goal i wanted was to not have to grab glasses as i exited my apartment. done . and the wow facter that i can see withoutt glasses that i missed with glasses .

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

45. Cataracts were the best thing that happened to my eyes.

Like so many here, I was very nearsighted from an early age. In first grade I could not read the blackboard, even sitting in the front row. I had the good fortune of having a relatively short time (a bit less than a year) from the diagnosis of cataracts to the surgery. How amazing.

[GiqueCee]

54. I'm having my right eye done next week...

... the left in early June. Nice to hear that it worked out so well for you. Hope I'm as lucky!

[samnsara]

58. i had both mine done as well but i traded crisp far vision

for increasing my reading glasses by two strengths. At can see the color white now instead of beige.

[Rebl2]

59. Glad it

went well for you. It’s amazing how clear and crisp things look afterwards isn’t it. I had mine done four years ago, unfortunately before I was on Medicare part B. Did they give you instructions for aftercare with the eye drops for after the surgery?

[LiberalLoner]

70. That's great you have clear vision now, too! I was given very good instructions...I slept in my recliner for the first

One for five days, then put on the eye cover and slept in a bed again.

I have been religious about following the eyedrop schedule and making sure not to touch anywhere near my eyes. Even my right eye, over two weeks past surgery, I still am not pressing on or washing. I wash around the eye, but remain at least half an inch away. I think when four weeks have gone past, I can gently use my eye wipes again.

Better safe than sorry!

[tblue37]

60. I had my left eye done on April 28.

[LiberalLoner]

69. Very good! How is your vision, now? I hope it is excellent!

[58Sunliner]

61. Good for you! A friend had his cataracts removed, had a similar experience. I finally got a hearing aid.

[LiberalLoner]

68. How wonderful, for both things! I hope your hearing is excellent now!

[Ziggysmom]

62. Pisses me off big time that Medicare will not cover the more advanced multi focal lenses.

We Americans deserve so much better. I am very happy for you that your vision has been restored.

[LiberalLoner]

67. Me too. Pisses me off they won't cover vision correction, dental care, hearing aids....but I'm very far left I suppose,

Thinking those things should be covered for every single citizen.

[AllaN01Bear]

71. isnt it grand . ?

i got medium distance , but can se far far awy and catch details i missed before w glasses .

[COL Mustard]

75. I had mine removed earlier this year...it's amazing!

My only complaint, and I'll take it anytime, is that my eyes are so sensitive now...I have to wear sunglasses a lot more than I did before. The good part about that is that my sunglasses now cost $25 instead of the $300 prescription ones I used to wear.

Oh, and I can see at night now!

[bif]

77. Welcome to the club.

As I mentioned before in the Artists Forum, I had mine done in the Fall. What a revelation! Can't wait to see the artwork you'll create with your new set of eyes!

[Figarosmom]

78. As the saying goes

I KNOW. RIGHT?