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I posted this concern I have in a recent thread on vision issues but I thought I should start a new post. I have worn glasses since I was very young. I’m very near sighted (-15 and -8). Also have astigmatism. I had a detached retina 5 years ago and cataract surgery following it which gave me 20/80 vision in my worse eye. I was always warned it could happen due to my elongated eye from Myopia. I have developed cataracts in my other eye and my Ophthalmologist will not do surgery due to the higher risk of a detached retina in that eye. This is going on 2 years now and I went for a second opinion at a major eye center at a University hospital several hours away. The Dr there said he’d perform it. Said I do have a higher risk. It’s scheduled for next Monday and now I’m panicking. On one hand I know if the cataracts continue to get worse it could be harder to perform the surgery and also can impair my vision. On the other hand, the fear of detachment or worse is scaring me. I would love to hear stories and experiences to reassure me.
My wife just had a cornea transplant and cataract removed (one eye at a time). She didn't have your issues but she was super concerned. Where it comes to your eyes it's understandable.
She is extremely happy right now. With the other eye still needing done she can clearly see far better in the transplanted eye.
She says it's like watching a regular TV with one eye and a HD TV out of the other.
Eye surgery is far more common today and the success rates seem to be very high.
We-ll, it did change my outlook on life, stopped a bad habit or two. Because of the cataracts which told me I was a Type II, I stopped drinking Cold Turkey.
As it is, to each their own. In my case, my cataracts were making me blind. Before my operations, I was grounded for weeks on the ranch for I eventually could not drive. The operations and the possibilities may have been scaring the heck out of me......but there was no alternative. I wouldn't do laser before because of the risk, but now, there was no choice.
I have ended up with near perfect distant vision. Need store bought cheaters to read close up and fine print. But no longer glasses to see day to day life, to be able to drive.
BUT, 3 things at least. I see my specialist eye doctor monthly for injections directly to the eyeballs to prevent macro degradation. They found that when they were diagnosing my cataracts. Thank god for insurance but what really scares me is how much I am toast if society ever goes south.
Next, I wear dark glasses practically everywhere I go. I have always been plenty sun aware but now, even more so. My sunglasses, my bush hats, long hair. Anti UV for the eyes, for the skin. And of course, part of that, is the slow realization that I am older and certain things I thought I might still do....I can't. With all the floaters I now am seeing. this is knowing that I am doing my last job.
But, my eyes were worked on so one is far vision, one is near vision. I told my doctors especially how I shoot, with one eye sighting and one scanning the background, and they worked it that way. In Texas, telling one's Doctors that you shoot is probably not the problem it might be in other States.
All in all and overall, fortune has been with me, such as having the house built in the sun's shadow (so visits with dilation and the rest of the day off isn't painful) long before I knew I was a diabetic, to now being able to drive without searching the house for where I dropped my glasses.......but, OH!, the adventures it took to get here.
I am scheduled to have cataract surgery on April 2nd and the other eye April 9th. Kind of scares me but they do a lot of these surgeries with great success. Hoping I can ditch glasses and just use readers as needed.
DH had a similar situation years ago - maybe 15-18 years ago. Very very bad astigmatism and nearsighted, had a detached retina fifteen years before his cataracts became bad enough that they were interfering with his life. He was about 60 years old.
Regular Ophthalmologist declined to do the surgery. We lived in Phoenix at the time and Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale agreed to do his cataract surgery. (In retrospect, there were better eye hospitals to go to out of the Phoenix area. Had I known about them, we probably would have gone to one of them.)
Did the eye that didn't have the detached retina first. Totally wonderful result. Two weeks later, had the other one done. Another totally wonderful result. He still needs glasses, but it's nowhere near the prior correction.
Scary, but worth it. I'm sending my best that your results are the same.
DH had a similar situation years ago - maybe 15-18 years ago. Very very bad astigmatism and nearsighted, had a detached retina fifteen years before his cataracts became bad enough that they were interfering with his life. He was about 60 years old.
Regular Ophthalmologist declined to do the surgery. We lived in Phoenix at the time and Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale agreed to do his cataract surgery. (In retrospect, there were better eye hospitals to go to out of the Phoenix area. Had I known about them, we probably would have gone to one of them.)
Did the eye that didn't have the detached retina first. Totally wonderful result. Two weeks later, had the other one done. Another totally wonderful result. He still needs glasses, but it's nowhere near the prior correction.
Scary, but worth it. I'm sending my best that your results are the same.
My wife just had a cornea transplant and cataract removed (one eye at a time). She didn't have your issues but she was super concerned. Where it comes to your eyes it's understandable.
She is extremely happy right now. With the other eye still needing done she can clearly see far better in the transplanted eye.
She says it's like watching a regular TV with one eye and a HD TV out of the other.
Eye surgery is far more common today and the success rates seem to be very high.
Makes me feel more confident. Glad she’s doing so well.
I hope you're still reading here, saralvr. We have similar histories. I have posted here before about my cataract surgery & my fear of it.
I started wearing thick glasses at age 8, then soft contacts as a adult, very myopic with astigmatism, & was always phobic about my vision. I had a torn retina on left eye due to elongnation of the eyeball, had the laser retina surgery before it detached. Then, I had a vision-threatening infection on the cornea of the same eye.
So, when I needed cataract surgery, I was terrified, I didn't even want to think about it. Spouse had already had it, & for him it was a breeze. For myself, I needed to go to a different surgeon who specialized in more at-risk patients. I had the surgery on the left eye, the one with issues, July 2023 & the right eye August 2023.
I did have a problem with increased pressure & possible glaucoma in the left eye, but it's being monitored & OK for now. But, I'm so glad I was able to get past my fear, as my QOL has improved so much. I can see everything, with no glasses or contacts, for the first time, since age 8. I only need OTC readers for very small print! It's amazing!
I was terrified of going blind. I researched this surgeon & was confident in his skill level & then just had to let it go. And, it turned out all right. But, wow, was I scared, & hearing about how "easy" cataract surgery was for others, wasn't a comfort for me.
So, I get it, but what I also can say is, it turned out OK for me & it will for you, too. Just try to manage your fear in any way possible & remember there are others, like me, who were also afraid. I hope you can do your surgery, your life will be better, I will be thinking about you. You can do it!
I had a miserable experience with cataract surgery, but did not have your retinal issues beforehand. It was just plain old "routine" cataract surgery. You are smart to go to a major eye center. I hope all goes well for you.
About 8 years ago I had a detached retina. The following year a cataract. I did the surgery and have no regrets. It has allowed me to have better vision especially at night.
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