My eyes were always better than 2020 but about age 42 they started down hill. No major problems though other than the usual reading glasses.

My father recently had similar eye surgery and he's fine. He's a bit older (almost 80 now) and his eyes aren't very young or flexible but it still worked out very well. And he works at a computer every day.

One thing I think I've heard is that you may lose some range of focus, meaning you might end up needing more than one set of glasses. That's not too terrible, though.

Good luck with the "video eating", btw. I assume that was a typo but you should leave it.

Rob

No personal experience although in my other life I do get to talk with a lot of surgeons plus at some point my wife will need similar treatment. In her case all going well her eyesight will be better.

From what I've been told this surgery isn't pressing, you can wait until you feel you need it. Of course like all surgery in general the younger you are the easier it goes but a few years delay probably ins't going to have a significant impact. This is very routine surgery these days, complications are very rare.
I'm certain if you dig around you'll find the odd horror story but then again people have been killed walking along the footpath by having a piano fall on them. Well, in the case down here it was a huge block of concrete. Despite that I still walk on the footpath. You're doing the right thing by not focussing on the negative side and it really is so statistically insignificant that being hit by a car on the way to the hospital is more likely.

Bob.

No big deal... don't worry about it. Cataract surgery is an extremely common, everyday operation. My mother just had it done... my father last year, and believe it or not, my dog will have it done next month.

It's a wonder they haven't got a do-it-yourself kit out yet!

The surgery was pioneered with dogs. My own dog had both eyes done but it didn't help her read the eye charts as far as I could tell.

Rob

Thanks for the posts. Some funny stuff too.
Including a snafu...

"Good luck with the "video eating", btw. I assume that was a typo but you should leave it."

Uh, this is going to be a hard one since some of you know how obsessive I can get with details. I'll hold off correcting it for right now, but no guarantees I won't lapse and have to fix that hideously glaring, but kinda funny typeo :)

As to the issue at hand, I just found out my half sister had the same procedure done years ago. I'll be talking to her tonight. Should be helpful.

Last, thanks to John Meyer for his email too.

I know several people who have had cataract surgery and they all say the results are "wonderful!". Recent ones have had a flexible lens inserted that restored their focus accommodation. One potential problem is that you'll be dissatisfied with your previously finished CC.
"Monet's right cataract was removed in January, 1923, and works painted after this time show a return of the blues and violets to his artistic palette. "

Been there...done that. It should be no problem at all. Every doc is different, but my experience was as follows:

the eye patch is worn only when you sleep just for a few days to keep you from rubbing it in your sleep.

the very next day you will have to go back for an eye test.

if you had to wear glasses before the procedure, you may still have to depending on why you had to wear them in the first place. (I was under the mistaken opinion that I could throw my glasses away, but that was not the case).

you have seen those 'senior citizens' wearing those obnoxious dark glasses? Well, everything will be MUCH brighter after you get your new lens. (See, I thought they just sucked the cloudiness off of your existing lens, but they actually replace it with an artificial one). Absolutely no pain involved during the operation, just (in my case) some discomfort due to your eye being dialated and the use of an extremely bright light.

Good luck and hope some of this helps.

Bob

Serena,

CC and Monet thing, interesting. Well, we shall see if it will apply in my case (pun intended).

Bob,

Yes, it does help since I know little to nothing about it all at this juncture. As to the decision when to do it, the doc said that my condition could get substantially worse within 6 months. So might as well get it over and done with sooner than later.

I do have some problems with close up, but it's not bad. It's the increasing "Hey, everything is getting hazier..." thing happening when I look around the room or go outside that is why I finally went to get my eyes checked.

It kicked in a few months ago,

I can still write (obviously) and do some editing and even ride my Honda CBR street motorcycle (which is my only personal transportation). But I'll have to take buses for a little while during this process for sure.

Racing class bike, yeah, stupidity class rider, no.

And to hell with cataract support forums: I've got all the info I need here from you guys!
A most versatile and friendly place, indeed.

I had cataract surgery on both eyes, at a young age too.

Here's what I found:

1. Nationwide, the complication rate is 20%, i.e. 20% of surgeries have complications withing six months after the operation.

2. In Los Angeles and New York, less than 1% of cataract surgeries have complications. This is because the doctors there do 1-2 operations per day, vs. perhaps one every six months out in the boonies.

3. No matter where you are, it makes sense to do one eye at a time, preferably two years apart.

4. No pirate patches, only dark glasses for the rest of the day after surgery.

5. Normally you'll be able to see clearly no later than the day after the surgery.

6. You have to choose if you want good near vision or good far vision. I chose one of each, so that without glasses I can read or check an instrument panel, and I can also see anything far away clearly (with the other eye). For this to work in practice, the image size (depends on the lens strength) can't be more than 20% different, if not the brain can't merge the images when corrected, so you lose your stereo vision with glasses, which is very unpleasant.

Putting far vision in your right eye makes it much easier to work with a camera, assuming that's your viewfinder eye.

Soft cataract lenses (where you can use your own accommodation) didn't exist at the time of my surgery.

7. I got Zeiss lenses in both eyes now. These are as great as their camera lenses, I've got 20/15 vision now.

8. Acuity isn't the whole story though. You can and probably will get a number of other problems, but they'll be trivial compared to not being able to see.

9. Many patients need to go back for additional capsule surgeries later, as the rear side of the lens capsule gets cloudy with time.

10. When you choose eye glasses afterwards, spend some quality time choosing the shape of the near vision field vs. the total lens (in varifocal lenses). Don't get bifocals or trifocals, those are far inferior in comfort and utility.

11. Remarkably, this cataract surgery is performed absolutely identically to how it was done by Ayurvedic surgeons in India 5,000 years ago.

I read translations of an old medical manual for surgeons from back then and compared it with the modern equivalent. Same thing, including the instructions for how the surgeon should correct mistakes. Those surgeons of old had a standardized collection of 120 stainless steel instruments to perform everything from brain surgery to advanced cosmetic surgery.

12. The "stainless steel" in those surgical tools wasn't an alloy as it is today, it was pure iron. It just didn't rust, and even today nobody knows how they did it.

If you want to see this material up close, go to Old Delhi (adjacent to New Guess-What) and check out the very popular 100-year old iron pole that has been spectrographically analyzed to be something like 99.99% iron, but won't rust.

Legend says that if you put your back against this pole and are able to clasp your hands behind the pole, you can get any wish granted.

I got mine :O).

"If you want to see this material up close, go to Old Delhi (adjacent to New Guess-What) and check out the very popular 100-year old iron pole that has been spectrographically analyzed to be something like 99.99% iron, but won't rust."

Having seen that pole first hand and spent a few days inhaling Delhi air I have to say devising anything metallic that will not corrode in that city is quite an achievement, even today!

Bob.

It is not my intention to get off topic, but in regard to what Course and Bob said, I spent some time in the Punjab state of India (mainly Chandigarh) and everyday I would return to my home and go for the kleenex box. I would blow my noise and pure black was all I got. I would clean my ears and eyes and around my mouth and leave black marks on the tissue... it is amazing that everyone over there does not die from breathing that air.

j razz

The two-stroke engines are a major plague there.

Here in the U.S., these are today mainly used for leaf blowers and lawn mowers.
Recent studies have found that running one of these for one hour generates as much smog as an SUV in daily use for one year.

Coursedesign,

Thorough and interesting post, as well as histo-geographical travelogue.

I live in Los Angeles, but having to depend on Medicare and local Stated insurance, I ain't going to some Beverly Hills eye specialist. I take the cards that are dealt -- which will probably be one or the other of two local hospitals.

As stated, I don't want to read the word 'complications.'

I have a form of anxiety disability (hence why I have only government medical insurance) and have learned to be very vigilant with my thought processes on the subtlest levels. The last thing I need is to go to one of my "dark places" before, during or after surgeries.

There is a link between mind and body. I need to optimize that connection to be as un-polluted with what-ifs as possible.

This doesn't mean to live in Pollyanna, just deal with the realities of how I'm wired. I have already informed the doctor's office that I may request an extra dose of whatever to get me through the surgeries.

-------------------------------

'Nuf said. Return to your regular programming of interesting histo-geographical and motorized emissions facts, people :)

The surgery used to be a big deal, but is now a very ordinary procedure. Developments lead by http://www.ignitehealth.org.au/index.php?type=page&ID=893Fred Hollows[/link] improved the procedure so that it could be effectively performed readily in "third world" societies. So in the USA you will have "no worries, mate!"

EDIT: Should you want to read something that provides some simple guidance I think this contains useful tips for making the most of your talks with your doctor http://www.rcophth.ac.uk/about/public/cataractRoyal College of Ophthalmologists[/link]

Thanks, Serena.

I looked at the relevant parts in the RCO, but I really cannot go and read anymore due to the above stated reasons. I know this procedure is now routine, but I simply never have dealt with stress well.

For all the valid reasons not to worry about this, it is nonetheless stressful on a certain level regardless of self-discipline. So the less statistical data and such my mind takes in the better.

In fact, as much as I have and do appreciate all the feedback received here (and commented to friends about how nice everyone has been here, I would simply prefer to close the topic..

I have an appointment on Monday to start the scheduling process, I'll deal with it then.

So to everyone here: Thanksfor your input. You have been most kind.
But let's move on to other things.

Sonic... I respect your wish to drop this and will say nothing technical. I just want you to know that I am in the Southland too and in the exact same situation as you. Because of legal disability l too have Medical.

The very best treatment is available with Medical - better than private - because you have access to the top teaching hospitals - if you search then out. I'm having my surgeries done at the world renowned Shiley Eye Hospital that is part of the University of California at San Diego. Your anxiety will go down the more you trust and feel comfortable with the surgeon.

While I too am on Medical I am told that if I contribute US$1900 per eye I can have the crystaline implants that are the newest "tilt" technology that allows eye accommodation. My surgeon says it will likely mean I will not need correction for film and screen work.

Good luck,

Mike
Edited for gramer

Thanks, Mike, I appreciate the info and will add it to my questions to the doc. I don't know if UCLA or USC do that and the money amount you state is prohibitive for me.

Sonic,

Just know that you are in perhaps the best place in the world for this surgery. No matter which hospital or clinic you go to, you can expect the surgeons to have lots of experience.

I did my first surgery at a clinic run by UCLA in Santa Monica, didn't even have to go to their main hospital for it. There were 20 patients in the waiting room on the morning I was there, most of them having the same cataract surgery.

My Uncle had cataract surgery at the Cleveland Clinic. They got the wrong eye and had to do it over again. They said they were sorry. They did the other eye also. Now once a month he has to go in to get stuff sucked out of both eyes because of macular degeneration. He gets really uptight about the needle being stuck through the center of the eye to suck out the stuff. He finally decided to check other sources for information. I told him that I could see that and that he should see a lawyer to collect his 5 million while he is still alive.
JJK

JJK, that is exactly the sort of information Sonic asked not be posted. You might delete. Also macular degeneration isn't related to cataracts or the surgery.

Having seen that pole first hand...

So, Bob, I hear your wish was to get the best NLE in the entire world.

And now, with Vegas, you got it!

:O)