Third day after cataract surgery......

[Dave Ferris]

I posted this yesterday on my FB page.

 

With my "new eyes" I've discovered my keyboard sensory or proprioception skills are a bit off right now. My connection to the piano, especially on playing larger intervals, or making multiple octave jumps on the piano isn't the same. I'm reading ok with the temporary reader glasses but having some problems transferring or executing certain passages to the keyboard.

 

I'm guessing with more practice and just getting used to a different sense of space ( for lack of a better description) , things will smooth out with time. Right now though, things are a little disconcerting. Not automatic.

 

Today, day 3 post surgery, things are much improved. I did my first gig and I actually was sweating it a bit, as it's all reading. It was the Simi Church gig this morning. Not hard music but a lot of road maps that are always changing at the rehearsal an hour prior to the service. They're always changing the DSs, when to DC, Repeat signs, how many Xs on the repeat and Codas, it can be a reading nightmare in that respect. And the guitar play left, so now I'm the only chordal instrument. I brought my cheapie $10 Walmart temporary reader glasses. The charts were large/clear enough, along with my Aria stand light, that I didn't need them. Pretty amazing !

 

There were still a couple spots where my hands didn't quite cooperate with where I wanted them to go. But nothing glaring.,

 

At home I'm still needing glasses to write my chord voicings and lines out , pencil and notebook paper. Also reading out of the Bach WTC, a lotta notes going every which way, so it's still a bit slow going.

 

I'm excited to start working on my sight-reading again. I used to rate myself as pretty good, in a town of monster studio player readers. But in the past years, it had fallen to a shell of what I once could read. I basically quit working on it as it was so frustrating --like having a hard time distinguishing Flats from Naturals, picking out notes in a chord voicing. Essentially, between the extreme nearsightedness and the cataracts, things were so bad I couldn't have passed the DMV test -- with my glasses or contacts..

 

I've had two checkups so far- each the day after the surgery, a week apart. The Doc says everything looks perfect surgically speaking. I go for my final checkup this Wednesday. And a week later after things settle down get a prescription for my reading glasses.

 

I've worn glasses since the 4th Grade, so maybe 58 years ?!! This is like a miracle having this clarity of vision.

 

[Joe Muscara]

I saw your initial post about the issues you were having, Dave. I"m glad to see things are improving for you, and I hope they continue to do so!

[Tom Williams]

Great to hear that things are on the mend. Congrats on the (in process) enhanced visual clarity. Thanks for the update!

[mate stubb]

[MoodyBluesKeys]

I had both cataract and glaucoma surgery (a "pocket" under the upper eyelid to allow fluid to escape and reduce internal pressure) on 25 April. Vision was really blurry for a few days, got better enough to drive after about eight days (but NOT really good - it measured 20/70). Because of the glaucoma surgery, recovery took longer than it should for you Dave. About a month after the surgery, the Doctor removed the stiches for the cataract, the stiches for the glaucoma dissolved, but took longer - about two months. At that time, they did a refraction (measurement for lenses), they arrived mid-day this past Tuesday, and RADICALLY improved my vision - better than it had been for a couple of years at 20/30.

Just as important, the prescription for the lens also corrected the astigmatism - even if one didn't have that before, the "standard" lens implant is based on a spherical design, and there will be astigmatism. Also, the standard implant is available in certain diopters (power), and not fractions in-between - so one's vision without glasses may possibly be 20/20 or may not. Either way, since the implant does not change focal length like the original lens, vision will be best at some fixed distance, which may be far way, or considerably closer. Mine seems to be best without glasses at about three feet, although the astigmatism gives a kind of shadow of items seen a bit to the right. Interestingly, the vision without glasses has decreased since I started wearing the glasses. I chose to get Varilux lens (multi-focal length), and it gets pretty good results from infinity back to where I'm working on the computer screen (although I have to hold my head at an upward angle for clearer vision at the 18 or so inch distance. I do plan this coming week to get a single focal lens for a pair of half-glasses just for computer and closeup work - I've done that for quite a while, especially since my profession involves computers so I spend a good bit of time using them each week. Very small objects or type - I do need a magnifying glass. I bought a cheap pair of Walmart "readers" for $10, but the lenses are low quality and no astigmatism correction, so it is worth the extra to get something of high optical quality with the needed corrections.

By the time that you are fitted with proper prescription glasses, your piano skills and other motor skills should be back to normal. This long post is in the hope that it is helpful to you coming from someone who is on the same journey but a bit further along. Hey - this morning's service was the first time I've been able to really SEE the chord charts. I can now go into stores like the grocery and see the merchandise easily. I really feel blessed by the increase - should have done it several years ago at the beginning of the deterioration.

 

[Dr Nursers]

Love good news stories like these, glad your recovery is going well

[Adan]

Best wishes, Dave. Both my parents had the surgery and both said they wished they could have done it sooner. Unfortunately, I inherited their eyes. You know you're very nearsighted when you're optho says things to you like "my god, you're blind as a bat!" And I have the begininngs of cataracts, so this is in my future.

[16251]

:like:

[RudyS]

Glad it"s getting better! All the best Dave!

[Joe Muscara]

Happy birthday, Dave!!!!

[Bobadohshe]

Things are just going to get better and better I bet Dave. I'm sure you were a little freaked about the whole thing.

 

Also:: HAPPY BIRTHDAY

[Michael Wright]

[Jazz+]

My left eye has a mid field torric lens done by Kaiser. The torric corrects astigmatism and the cataract.

My right eye has a multi focal lens and a little keratotomy applied for astigmatism (the 3 way lens is good for distance and near field... it's not a torric).

They are two very different design lenses.

After about 9 months my brain has integrated the two perfectly. Never need glasses now except over the counter 1.75 strength readers for fine print. The colors are brilliant.

I highly recommend cataract surgery for anybody showing any signs of a cataract. Kaiser was excellent at it.

[o0Ampy0o]

Dave Ferris, MoodyBluesKeys, Jazz+ and anyone else, would you please describe your experiences of the procedures/surgical process? I have advanced cataracts and surgery is projected out 3 years max and this is something you are better off doing sooner than later. However our company lost a healthcare group with my prized regular doctor and seemingly the best doctors all around. I am hoping the group is part of our plan next year as I hope I do not have to see a doctor this year. There are rumors they will be back in 2020. If so I am signing on for the surgery.

 

Melodrama alert:

The thought of them cutting into my eyes let alone while I am awake is a nightmare. I have heard the medication has you doing anything they want and many forget the procedure when the medication works its way out of your system. Compounding the nightmare is the potential for it to go wrong or not take and losing use of one or more eyes. I know they do them separately but if I lose the first total blindness is a possibility.

 

A friend had a slipped cornea. The surgery did not work. She had to repeat it another 3 times before she gave up. She lost the use of one eye. She lost her career.

 

Happy to read of everyone's successes and recoveries of course!

 

Jazz+ ...do you have any distortion or problems with perceiving depth and location in space? You have described two distinctly different traits characterizing each eye. I am thinking that would give you headaches at the very least. Does the brain adjust / accommodate / compensate resulting in accurate perception of form and depth?

[Raymb1]

I had cataract surgery on both eyes last year. Now colors are more vivid and I can see better when it is dark. For both surgeries I had a sedative and felt nothing. A tetanus shot is more painful. After I had the first eye done, I could do A-B testing. With the just operated on eye, a white object was white, with the other un-operated eye the white object had a light tan color to it. The operations were the easiest things I've ever gone through.

[Joe Muscara]

The thought of them cutting into my eyes let alone while I am awake is a nightmare. I have heard the medication has you doing anything they want and many forget the procedure when the medication works its way out of your system. Compounding the nightmare is the potential for it to go wrong or not take and losing use of one or more eyes. I know they do them separately but if I lose the first total blindness is a possibility.

 

A friend had a slipped cornea. The surgery did not work. She had to repeat it another 3 times before she gave up. She lost the use of one eye. She lost her career.

I had LASIK back around 2001. It went well. I had more pain after the surgery because I wasn't using the drops enough to keep the eyes moist. My wife also had it, and she was fine as well.

 

No surgery is without risk. It may make you feel better if instead of looking at anecdotal info from a few bad experiences, look at the overall stats about percentage of successes out there. I would guess (and admittedly, I haven't looked up the data myself), that a high percentage of people do fine with the surgery.

[The Real MC]

Glad the surgery made your vision better, Dave. My elderly mother had it earlier this year and she said it was like someone pulled the shades back and everything was brighter.

 

I can relate to the adjustment playing the piano. Five years ago I started wearing prescription eyeware. But I also couldn't play as accurately as I did. Since I am nearsighted anyway, I simply didn't wear them while playing the piano.

[Al Quinn]

Dave, congrats on your improved eyes. My mom had this operation a couple of years ago and it was a great success. She"s so happy that she can see clearly and loves seeing colors vividly.

[Doerfler]

good for you, Dave.

[MoodyBluesKeys]

I had cataract surgery on both eyes last year. Now colors are more vivid and I can see better when it is dark. For both surgeries I had a sedative and felt nothing. A tetanus shot is more painful. After I had the first eye done, I could do A-B testing. With the just operated on eye, a white object was white, with the other un-operated eye the white object had a light tan color to it. The operations were the easiest things I've ever gone through.

In my case, I postponed the eye surgery for several years because of fear. I have been blind in one eye since the age of five, which kind of ups the ante. In addition to the cataract, I also have glaucoma. The Doctor (whom I trust) told me that there was a less than one percent chance of problems that result in loss of sight in the remaining eye. I was still reluctant, until I looked up the percentage of probability that the glaucoma would make me blind. Found that was over 20%.

OK - 1% versus above 20% - made it a LOT easier to decide to go for it. Operation was performed 25 April of this year.

 

Yes, I was awake the whole time (but under conscious sedation). I actually could see the whole time. However, when the doctor removed the natural lens, since there was nothing at all to refract the light, all I could see was light. When the new lens was inserted, I could again see objects, although VERY blurry. They then covered my eye with gauze. Normally, that is left on for 24 hours (you will see the doctor the next day after the operation for checking things out). In my case, because of only having the one eye, the doctor said that I could remove the gauze after 3 to 4 hours; but I was still to wear the plastic shield at all times except when inserting the prescription eyedrops (three separate ones). After a week, I was permitted to remove the shield except at bedtime, but keep my eyes covered with my glasses (they replaced the right lens with a plain plastic lens, like the ones that come with glasses when on display at the doctor's office). Vision improved to a point that within eight days (the next appointment) of the operation, I could manage to drive with considerable care. Was still not optimum, but was better than I had been before the operation even with my glasses.

 

Recovery from cataract only is considerably quicker - I had both procedures done at the same time. I had regular appointments to be checked (no added charge - considered a part of the post-operative care). Approximately five weeks after operation, she removed the stiches that were used for the cataract replacement. The stiches for the trab (glaucoma) procedure gradually dissolved. After they completely dissolved, they did a refraction resulting in a prescription for new lens. Had that filled, and although not absolutely perfect (some damage from the glaucoma which can't be reversed), vision was better than I remember it in several years.

 

All through all of this - absolutely NO pain - not even any real feeling of it. During the operation, I could see times the surgical light was partially obscured, could hear the doctor and staff talking about the procedure. When stiches removed - she put an eyedrop in and about 15 minutes later got my chin on the prop, with the strong light and high power magnification. I felt a teeny tiny little pull when the stiches were actually pulled out, but NO pain.

 

Went into this long post just to give you one anecdotal experience. Yes - there is risk. OTOH, the cataract alone will eventually reach a point assuming you live long enough that your vision is so poor that you are effectively blind anyhow.

 

There are also quite a few special inter-ocular types of lenses (and different procedures, including some that use a laser for the cutting) - some of these are rather expensive and not covered any more than the standard by insurance; but you would be well served if in the position of affording any of them to be aware of them. Some are variable focal length, individually customized, and even astigmatism correcting right inside the eyr.

 

[Joe Muscara]

I just came across this article in the local paper's web site. Some quotes are below.

 

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/lifestyle/renew-houston/health/article/Cataract-symptoms-are-presenting-earlier-doctor-14007074.php?src=hp_totn

 

This June is National Cataracts Awareness Month.

 

Good news is that the surgery is common, safe and typically covered by most health insurance providers. Currently there"s no way to decrease or treat the formation of cataracts except for surgery.

 

'It"s important for people to be educated on what is out there for them and what people can do,' Al-Mohtaseb said. 'I did cataract surgery on a 93-year-old woman who lives alone at home, and she just wanted to watch TV and cook at the same time. It changed her life so she can continue living alone in her home.'

[GovernorSilver]

Glad to hear Dave, Jazz+ and anyone else I missed who had successful cataract procedures.

 

My own journey started with an retinal detachment that was discovered by my regular optometrist - at the time - during a routine vision check. She worked hard to get me set up for an emergency appointment with an ophthalmologist specializing in retina, even though my insurance was with Kaiser P. which she had nothing to do with. Shame I can't see her anymore because now I'm with ah different health insurance company and her office isn't "in network".

 

Anyway, as a result of the retinal procedure the eye developed a cataract. My then-optometrist said she was increasingly concerned about the difficulty of seeing my retina because of the cataract blocking her view more and more, so she referred me to an ophthalmologist specializing in cataract procedures,. I looked him up and was encouraged by the positive reviews. Contrary to the stereotype about surgeons, he was not eager to put me under the knife right away, but instead did an eye exam and then said he wanted to wait for several months. After those months passed, he did another eye exam and then made the call to operate.

 

He went through the options with me. As may have been mentioned already, a cataract procedure basically destroys the natural lens and replaces it with an artificial one. The standard replacement is a single focus lens. For several thousands more, there is a multi-focus lens option. I chose to go with the "regular" replacement lens.

 

The surgeon explained that I would be given local anesthesia which would make me "mellow" but not knock me out like the general anesthesia did for my retinal procedure. By this time, I'd mostly overcome my fear of the eye being touched and whatnot. When my retinal surgeon said it was too late to fix the retina with a laser and he'd have to perform invasive surgery, I fainted for real, for the first time in my life - it was surprisingly painful in the chest, the ceiling and floor appeared to spin, etc.

 

But by the time I was up for cataract surgery, I had more a "Aight, bring it on! Let's go!" attitude. I don't remember how the local anesthesia was administered - I just remember a psychedelic lightshow, in which a pair of objects appeared to dance, kind of like a waltz, while changing shape, and there were various colors fading in and out like the colors in a Dario Argento movie. Next thing I knew, I was given a clear shield to tape over my eye at bedtime in case I was an eye-scratcher and told to get dressed.

 

The single-focus replacement lens isn't as restrictive as the description implies. I don't have to position a newspaper at an exact distance from my eye in order to read it. Admittedly having progressive lens eyeglasses helps a lot.

[Jazz+]

I found the procedure itself to be not stressful. They sedate you well, and gave me 3 options of sedation level to choose from, so the experience just floats by like in a dream. They wrap you in blankets and get you all cozy and dreamy well before they start. It feels like just a minute has passed. No pain. Flying is more stressful.

 

My depth perception seems fine to me. I'm not sure if it's the same as when I was a kid but it seems good to me.

 

I was dissatisfied with the multi at first, the mid range was lousy. But paired with the mono mid range it integrated well. No headaches. It did take up to a year to become "perfect".

 

I had the multi done 5 years ago, mid range was disappointing, and then went 2 years ago, which was earlier than needed, for the other eye with a mono mid range because I like good vision and hate glasses which I never wear now. The mono torric mid range is pretty amazing.

 

And I am someone who opted to not have Lasik ten years ago . So glad I didn't do that.

 

My retinas are healthy, that's a whole different area of the eye.

 

[RABid]

I've always worried about this. As soon as I started to read I started getting headaches so I got glasses when I was 4. Assumed that cataracts were in my future but it has not happened yet. Glad things are working out for you.

[GovernorSilver]

My Mom complained about pain associated with her own cataract surgery, which happened about a year after mine. But she might have been too old for anesthesia or something? For whatever reason, she was given less drugs (mostly eyedrops) than I was.

 

When I had my retinal issues, the most painful part was the fainting upon being informed it needed to happen. After the first procedure, my throat was sore as heck from the tube that was stuck into my mouth as part of the general anesthesia. 2nd retinal procedure (doc found 2 holes in the retina that needed patching up - which meant going through the whole thing again) was painless.

 

Cataract procedure was totally painless. I did have some minor soreness/itchin afterwards, but that's what the prescription eyedrops were for, as well as preventing infection.

[Joe Muscara]

I almost want cataracts so my vision can be corrected again. Ten+ years after I had the LASIK, my vision started to deteriorate. It's not horrible, optometrist said it was my choice so I didn't really think much about it. Then I started having problems driving at night. At first, I didn't realize why it made me uncomfortable. Then I decided to get a pair of glasses at Costco because my wife just had and they were cheap enough. I put the things on in the store and was embarrassed at how much better they made things. The drive home (which wasn't at night) was a completely different experience. I haven't driven without them since.

 

I'm also told I could use glasses for reading, but the readers I picked up that were the same strength as is on the prescription are too strong, nauseatingly so. I need to drop down a level or two and see if those work for me.

 

But I have really gotten used to life without glasses and except for the ability to see crap, I really hate the things.

 

[o0Ampy0o]

Thank you to everyone describing their experiences of the surgical procedure.

 

NOTE: I mistakenly described my friend's condition as a slipped cornea but it was a retinal detachment.

[jimkost2002]

Dave, wishing you a belated HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!

...... and sending you healing intention for COMPLETE recovery from your surgery!!

[Synthoid]

I found the procedure itself to be not stressful. They sedate you well, and gave me 3 options of sedation level to choose from

 

Hmmmm. I was disappointed with my sedation--no options. What they did give me just made me mildly relaxed.

 

Surgery was fine but I wanted to feel more goofy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Gary75]

Never had or offered sedation when I had mine done. Sedation seems to not be a thing in the UK. I found it very straightforward and not stressful. In contrast to retinal lasering where I was warned they were lasering so close to my optic nerve, if I moved it could blind me. Got the old sweaty palms going I can tell you.