Cataracts - what do I need to know about them? My eye doctor just told me I have them, but they won't be ready for surgery for a couple more years. I have noticed I need a lot more light, and rooms look dark to me. I have about 5 extra lights in my sewing room. Is there anything I can do besides surgery? Thanks, Jan

wow what an interesting topic, one I enjoyed reading about. My dear old Mum died being blind..the Dr had her on the table to do this opp but she was too jittery and he said it was impossible to do her, it was such a shame. she was 85. So now I know what to look for or should I say what I won't see....I notice this condition gets worse within a year with most people.. maybe Ocuvite may just be a preventive as mentioned here...and yes I do wear glasses.

Well - I got my call today - my surgery is scheduled for the 8th of April. I go next week for the measurments - so, I am on my way. My left eye is worse than the right, but I will learn next week when the right one will be done. It will be so good to have eyes that always seem "blurry". I love to read, and have not been able to do that much for some time. Good luck to the rest of you.

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by kezza2sew 25 Mar 2013

that's good news for you then...all the best for the surgery.

Rays 94 year old mum had cataract surgery three/four years ago, both eyes done by laser, 6 months apart, and her eyesight improved so much she didn't need her reading glasses any more and she can still see far better than I can. She still doesn't need glasses for normal vision only reading glasses, the same prescription lenses she was using before the cataract surgery.
My best advice would be to have cool daylight LED globes in all the light fittings you use to work by and have at least one really good, flexible magnifying light, (the kind where the light is a circular LED or fluorescent surrounding the magnifying glass), to use right beside you for close up work.
I purchased one similar to the photo below, it wasn't cheap, but it came with two different strength magnifying glasses so if my eyesight gets worse I can change over to the stronger glass. I would be lost without mine now.
hugs n roses, Meg

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For those of us not to this point yet, the most important thing to know is always wear sunglasses in sunshine! What can make the cataracts thicken really fast? Steroids. (You have been warned...)

Also, everybody - to help protect against macular degeneration, a permanent vision loss, take Ocuvite (by Bausch and Lomb) vitamins as your daily multi vitamin. So simple, and proven to help. It tends to run in families, so that was a heads up for me.

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by anangel 22 Mar 2013

So true, I believe, about the Steroids! After the doctor telling me I would probably never have to have cataract surgery, as they grew slowly, and mine were just beginning. Well, after an illness and taking strong round of steroids, the next annual checkup showed the cataracts had grown considerably in that short time frame!
Angel

I have it too, the Dr. told me I have to wait it is in a very early stage. This is one of those third age thing LOL>

Hi Jan, Christief has had surgery onboth eyes with wonderful results. I do not know if there is anything at the healthfood store that can help this condition. I think I need to check it out, since I am seeing in the dark so to speak myself. Thank you for the conversation.

one word of caution. Give yourself time between each surgery, to make sure there are no complictions. My brother had his done 11 days apart, even though he complained that the eye sight was fuzzy after the first surgery, they went ahead and did the second. He developed blood clots behind the eyes and lost 95% of his eye sight. Had there been a longer wait time, they would have have found that out before the second surgery and he would have been able to keep the eye sight in one of his eyes.

I will wait at least 6 months between surgeries. Just to be safe.

Jan,
I had cataract surgery done a couple of years ago on both eyes, about 5 months apart. A year earlier, the doctor had found the slight beginning of cataracts in one eye, and only a bit more in the other. He said, since cataracts usually grow slowly, I would probably never have to have surgery, considering my age. But, on my next annual checkup, he stated the cararacts had grown rapidly in one eye. After surgery on it, my vision was almost 20/20. The difference in vision in the other eye bothered me then, so after he documented (for the insurance co.) my complaints on a few visits, surgery on the other eye was done, too. I love being able to not have to wear glasses now, except for truly tiny print. I do have to wear sunglasses with a yellow tint, whenever I am in sunlight or driving, as I now have no natural UV protection with these artificial lenses.
If rooms are appearing dark, I would be inclined to think your cataracts have rather advanced already. There was a noticeable increase in color concept after my surgery. Due to genetics related to Downs, Cindy had to have cataract surgery on both eyes several years ago. I felt like crying, when I was driving home after the doctor removed her eye patch the day after surgery, and she stated, " Oh, mama, the colors are so pretty!" She had surgery on her eyes six weeks apart.
Hugs, Angel

Jan - I have several friends that have had the op and they all say the same thing - wonderful.

They have to be of a certain thickness before insurance will cover the costs. Otherwise they can be removed at any time if your willing to pay the full cost. My mom had both her eyes done when she was in her 80's and did very well. Mine need to be done when they are thick enough. I also have glaucoma and now have special contact lens so I don't get the halo and fussy look especially around lights. This is a simple outpatient surgery unless you have health issues that need to be monitored.

I was told last year that I had them, but didn't need surgery yet. Now this year he says I need surgery for them. He seemed surprised that they had changed so fast.
I want to wait a little longer before getting it done.

Well - I was diagnosed with them in February, and am scheduling the surgery after I have one more test. I do have them in both eyes, but the left eye is worse. My DH had the surgery several years ago - he was quite young really, but his were on the back of the eyes. And I think things being dark are common symptom. My doctor says that I do not have to wait, like so many have, so guess that is a good thing. I can not drive at night, for can not see like I did, and my eyes don't seem to want to focus. I will be glad to get this one thing done and over - I have had too many things hit me the last few months. Gosh, it hurts to get older!

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by airyfairy 21 Mar 2013

My DH always says 'getting old is not for sissies'

I'm in the same boat. Just waiting.... My DH had the surgery and was thrilled with the results, so it seems like a really good thing.

surgery is a breeze...and you won't believe how vibrant colors are again once you have it done....I had my first eye done 3 years ago and the other just would not get ready (for my ins. to pay)...I had the second one done in January and now I can see perfectly....only have to wear reading classes....so glad I did this....

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by hightechgrammy 20 Mar 2013

Thanks for the feedback of after the surgery! I was wondering why the wait... but I get it now, it's an insurance kind of thing! I would love for everything to be brighter again!

They just told me the same so we wait and try to see lol