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I agree with bpollen's suggestions. I do live in a larger metropolitan area so there are more options. If you haven't already done so, I suggest you ask the doctor's office what options they have. Your questions are perfectly reasonable.
In terms of cataracts, my eye doctor told me a year ago I had some small ones. A year later he said they hadn't changed. My friends have had theirs for years and they still don't need surgery. So, if you need the surgery right now (which may not be the case), the ask the doctor's staff what the options are. If not, you'll have some time to do your own research.
My experience with three Cataract implant surgeries
Quote:
Originally Posted by Wartrace
My eye doctor discovered a cataract yesterday during an exam. I am going to have it evaluated in August by a specialist. I've been reading up on the procedure and noticed they require someone to be there with you and stay with you after the procedure.
My problem is I live in a rural area and the nearest surgery center that my eye doctor recommends is 70 miles away in Chattanooga. I have no nearby relatives and am not close enough to anyone to ask they give up a full day and drive me down there and stay with me overnight.
I wasn't planning on driving afterward but instead getting a hotel room and uber or taxi to/from the surgery. Apparently, they do not allow that.
Has anyone else faced this problem? I might not need the procedure soon; it all depends on the evaluation.
Any ideas?
No anesthetic and no bandages or impaired vision. Surgery center is playing CYA. No Driver needed.
Location: Was Midvalley Oregon; Now Eastside Seattle area
13,060 posts, read 7,497,585 times
Reputation: 9787
You only need to have some one pick you up and take you home. Your Doctor's rules may be different.
They use a general anesthesia. They absolutely don't want you driving till the next day. No pickup-no surgery. I imagine the office you deal with have their own rules and restrictions. You are not to bend over or lift heavy objects since it will put pressure on the eye. You will be instructed to wear an eye patch at night for 1 week, so that you don't rub your eye. You otherwise function normally, Surgery itself is fairly quick, about 20 minutes. Its getting you sedated and recovery that takes time, total about 80 minutes.
This was my experience with my eye doctor Jan and March 2022.
age 72.
Last edited by leastprime; 06-22-2022 at 08:47 PM..
Can you fly a couple of days after this surgery? I'm thinking of having my cataract surgery done in another city/state, where my sister lives, for precisely the reason OP discussed. At least then my sister could take care of me. But I don't think I could stay gone a full week.
Another option, OP, is to contact a home health care company in your community. I live in a rural area, but a women has her own home health care company about 10 miles away from me, and (2 years ago) I called her to find out if she or one of her staff could drive me to and from dental surgery apt. in a nearby city. She did offer this service, and it all went quite smoothly. So this is an option for your cataract surgery.
Location: Was Midvalley Oregon; Now Eastside Seattle area
13,060 posts, read 7,497,585 times
Reputation: 9787
^really nothing to take care of. Don't know about flying.
1st Day is to have some one take you home. Don't rub your eye. Avoid getting your eye wet in the shower or washing face. Wear your eye patch for 24 hours, there after only at night. Dont Bend over, lift anything of substantial mass. Use eyedrops as directed. 30 days.
2-6nd Day. Wear your patch at night. No Heavy lifting. Use eyedops as directed,
7 day. followup exam.
30 day. followup exam.
Don't give people the evil eye.
Don't be surprised with anything that will make you "bug-eye"
YEMV
Last edited by leastprime; 06-22-2022 at 10:13 PM..
My eye doctor discovered a cataract yesterday during an exam. I am going to have it evaluated in August by a specialist. I've been reading up on the procedure and noticed they require someone to be there with you and stay with you after the procedure.
My problem is I live in a rural area and the nearest surgery center that my eye doctor recommends is 70 miles away in Chattanooga. I have no nearby relatives and am not close enough to anyone to ask they give up a full day and drive me down there and stay with me overnight.
I wasn't planning on driving afterward but instead getting a hotel room and uber or taxi to/from the surgery. Apparently, they do not allow that.
Has anyone else faced this problem? I might not need the procedure soon; it all depends on the evaluation.
Any ideas?
First, verify the exact rules for the exact surgeon/clinic who is doing the procedure. There are general industry standards and guidelines and then there are what the actual rules are for where you are having this done.
For friends and family who I have discussed this with (I am a candidate for cataract surgery), each of them was required to have a ride set up for afterward - it could not be a taxi service or taking public transit. Someone pre-identified had to come into the clinic, present ID, sign papers and walk them out to the car. This was the same requirement for colonoscopies that I have had. For the people I know who have had cataract surgery, the followup was not needed the following day but later (two weeks?) when they could drive themselves (this surgery amazes me as I still have memories of my grandmother having it in 1970 - the days of scalpels - and being in a hospital bed for two weeks with her head immobilized while it healed ... I know that was 50 years ago, but ...).
Are you a member of a church? Homebrew club? Book club? Is there someone who would like to hit Chattanooga for a nice lunch? Perhaps your employer has people traveling there on a regular basis and you can schedule the surgery to coincide with that?
This rule applies to any medical-procedure where you have anesthesia, not just a
vision-related procedure.
I have no problem with the requirement of having a ride home/no-driving after a
medical-procedure that involves anesthesia.....beyond that, it is just stupid overreach, IMHO.
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My experience with three Cataract implant surgeries
