• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Sparkly Bright Eyes

Owl-ways look on the bright side of life!

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Health
  • Marriage
  • Working from home
  • Parenting
  • About
  • Contact

Having Cataract surgery – a patient’s view with cataracts

29/04/2018 By Savanna Robinson 7 Comments

Having Cataract surgery a patient’s view eye surgery woman with sunglasses after surgery

I just had cataract surgery yesterday on my left eye, for a cataract that’s been there since 2005 when I had glaucoma surgery. It’s been something I’ve been mulling over for a few years. Every medical specialist who looks at my eyes always pointed out the lovely star shaped cataract sitting there, and were amazed that I could actually see through it. So seeing there are probably a lot of others out there waiting to have the same procedure, I thought I’d write a quick post about having cataract surgery – a patient’s view with cataracts. What it’s like to experience it.

What are cataracts?

Cataracts are a clouding of the natural lens of the eye. It’s more common than other eye conditions and the leading cause of blindness worldwide. There are numerous conditions that can cause the formation of cataracts including high myopia, eye surgery, prolonged corticosteroid use, previous eye injury or inflammation. I’ve had all of those (along with my other conditions), but my optometrist is of the opinion it was caused by the glaucoma surgery.

Deciding on surgery

When you are first deciding to have (or told you need to have) cataract surgery you will be given a lot of literature about the procedure, and possibly even shown a video describing the procedure used by your doctor. It can be a lot of information to take in, and seem a little scary too with some of the risks.

Your eye specialist will take quite a few measurements of your eye/s to check suitability for the procedure they have in mind. And then more measurements for the artificial lens to be ordered. You may be given a choice of a few types of lenses that will replace your natural lens, or you may only be suited to one type. (Upon reflection given my previous surgery and ongoing glaucoma, my doctor decided that lenses fixed for distance vision were best for me).

Having Cataract surgery a patient’s view eye surgery woman with glasses for short sightness before surgery and woman with eye patch after first cataract removed
The morning of surgery. Last moments wearing contacts or prescription glasses.

Surgery Day

On your surgery day you will be required to fast prior to your booked time, due to sedation being used in the procedure. It’s only a light sedation with some local injected around the eye…they don’t want you moving during this delicate procedure. You may be required to finalise some paperwork on arrival.

You then have a nurse see you for preparing you for surgery. I was given a gown over my comfy day clothes and a cap to cover my hair. Then some local anaesthetic drops were placed in my eye. Next a tiny sponge with dilation solution was inserted in my lower lid (apparently my eyes are a bit slow to dilate as they had to put extra in a little later).

After a little wait, I was then put on a surgery bed and was visited by the anaesthetist. A canula was put in one hand, and some sedation administered. After that you get quite a bit groggy. Awake, but not really feeling anything much and wheeled into the surgery.

They tape your other eye closed and you have a surgical drape over your head. But with so much anaesthetic around your eye and the sedation, your eyes really can’t see anything while the surgery takes place. For which I think we’re all thankful. We don’t really want to see all that they’re doing while we’re still awake.

It wasn’t a terribly long operation. Around 30 minutes. Most of the time is spent in the pre and post operation activity.

Post-surgery care

After the surgery had finished, I was wheeled back out and a nurse put some ointment in my eye (which I could not really feel to know if I really was closing it for her) and an eye patch on.

A bit of time waiting there and then I was helped up and out to another room to have some sandwiches (the staple of hospital food). And given my list of post-surgery instructions. Be sure to ask any questions you may have in regards to medications to take after, or other instructions. I take a set of eye drops already for my glaucoma at night, so checked I still took those as usual after my post-operation set of 3 eye drops.

You will need to be driven home by someone else after surgery, as you can’t drive for 24 hours afterwards. If your other eye needs glasses or a contact lens, you can still manage those. I had my right contact lens in (as my myopia is so severe I wouldn’t be able to do anything). But in the evening when I took that out for overnight cleaning, I was able to place my glasses on over the eye patch…enough to see.

All the sedation takes a while to wear off, but afterwards you may need some painkillers. You did just have delicate surgery to your eye after all! I had Panadol in the evening and again in the morning after. So far I haven’t needed anything more. I did find the eye patch most uncomfortable for the night, and didn’t really sleep well with it (though a toddler sharing my bed could have been keeping me more awake too). Next time I may ask for some sleeping tablets to help with that first night. (I’m due to get my right eye done in two weeks time).

Having Cataract surgery a patient’s view eye surgery woman with sunglasses woman after using stinging eyesdrops
It’s quite bright after surgery and those drops do sting for the first few days.

The days after surgery

The next day you may be booked in to go back to the specialist to have the eye patch removed, or be told to remove yourself if your next appointment is more than a day away. I had to remove mine at home, which I did gingerly as it felt like half my hair had got caught on the ends of it. I kept my eye closed for that as was a bit afraid of the result and what the vision would be like. When I had glaucoma surgery my vision had been blurry for a day or more after.

I then dashed off to a darker room to try opening my eye. And was pleasantly surprised at the clarity in the vision from my new lens. But opening that eye in a room with a light on hurt my eye and made it water, so I had to resort to wearing sunglasses inside for half the day. Not something you often get to do.

And it is true that you cannot adjust your sight in that eye with a new lens to be able to read. At first during the day, any writing I looked at I couldn’t make out head or tail about, except that I knew it was writing. Later on as I adjusted to it, I could make out some huge writing on things. But that was it. I’m hoping I won’t have to wait too long after my second operation to get reading glasses, as my jobs heavily rely upon it. Plus the fact I love reading for enjoyment too!

Having Cataract surgery a patient’s view eye surgery woman with reading glasses and before/after eye surgery
Two eyes done now and needing reading glasses to see small print and things on my mobile phone.

The drops I find a pain in the time it takes to do them, 5 minutes apart between each, but only one I find painful when put in the eye. All the rest are easy to do. Luckily after 14 years or so experience with glaucoma drops, and longer wearing contact lenses, I’m quite adept at doing multiple eye drops. If you are not, you may need to enlist someone’s help for the month you have use them.

Follow up visits

Next week I go back for the measurement for the other eye, and my second surgery will be 2 weeks after the first. (It’s not actually removing a cataract, but is replacing the lens as my vision was too great a difference to have nothing done with that eye). At least it shouldn’t be as scary as the first one was…worrying the night before and the wait during the day till my surgery time. I know now having experienced the first one. Hopefully this post has helped explain the procedure from a patient viewpoint and made it a little less scary for you too.

Having Cataract surgery a patient’s view eye surgery single eye reading glasses eye surgeon in surgery Quote Breath Just Breathe

Update

Now that I’ve had both eyes done, the vision is great for distance. I’m still adjusting to the need for reading glasses for small print, and finding the right size for using computers, but a very good result still!

Comment below if you have been considering surgery or had it yourself.

Reference http://www.allaboutvision.com/conditions/cataracts.htm

Living with MS – A day in the life of an MSer
What is MS? And what exactly does it feel like?
Reading with infants- tips to make reading with toddlers easier

Filed Under: Health Tagged With: invisible symptoms

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jennifer says

    05/05/2018 at 10:25 am

    This was very informative and I love how you shared your story. I’m not too familiar with cataract surgery so this is helpful.

    Reply
  2. Yen (Glossycover) says

    09/05/2018 at 8:32 am

    I’ve been wearing glasses all my life. I have an astigmatism but no cataracts. You are brave and kudos for getting the surgery. Heal well! XO

    Reply
  3. Sue says

    26/06/2018 at 11:33 am

    I had my first cataract procedure last week, and had quite a bit of anxiety over it. I just told myself it can’t be worse than a root canal, and it wasn’t. I’m also extremely near sighted, so it’s pretty amazing to not need a contact lens any longer. I knew it was time to take care of them when I barely passed the eye exam when I renewed my drivers license.

    Reply
    • Savanna Robinson says

      03/07/2018 at 1:20 pm

      It’s so amazing to have that great vision after years of glasses and contacts. Glad yours went well!

      Reply
  4. Carol says

    16/09/2018 at 12:46 am

    Thank you…I’m having my eyes done this Monday, (right) and left 2 weeks after. I’m very nervous but your article has help. Thank you.

    Reply
    • Savanna Robinson says

      11/10/2018 at 11:55 am

      I hope it all went smoothly Carol, and glad my post could be of help to you!

      Reply
  5. Kim says

    13/02/2021 at 9:28 am

    That is so helpful. Thank you for sharing

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

 

  • Having an MRI scan- what can you expect.  #SparklyBrightEyes #mri #ms #imaging #chronicillness
  • Reading with infants baby looking at picture book
Follow Me on Pinterest

Footer


Privacy Policy       Site Policies and Disclosure Statement

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram

Copyright © 2022 · Wellness Pro On Genesis Framework · Installed by SassySuiteLLC #empowersocial

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT