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Cataract surgery can be fun
By Karen Shreefter
What if someone said that following 20 minutes or so of painless (for most people) surgery, you could dramatically improve your eyesight? Sound like a deal with the devil? Well, it was quite the opposite for me.
I knew I had bad night vision when people who drove in the car with me at night clutched their seats and armrests, and pointed out trees, walls, and garage doors that I was about to hit. Actually, I did eventually hit a garage door.
I dealt with my night driving problems by changing contact lens prescriptions often. I even bought a pair of glasses to wear over my contact lenses, hoping that would help. It did, for about a month.
As for reading, few light bulbs were strong enough, while fluorescent or bright lights felt glaring.
The problem came to a head —luckily not a head on collision —when I began driving 90 minutes to class several nights a week. Every time there was oncoming traffic I almost had to close my eyes, the lights were so blinding.
I knew something was wrong so I consulted an ophthalmologist, who confirmed that I had cataracts. I then did some research. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, “A cataract is a clouding of the normally clear lens of the eye. It can be compared to a window that is frosted or yellowed. Over 1.4 million people have cataract surgery each year in the United States, and more than 95% of those surgeries are performed with no complication.”
The statistics sounded good, plus in my case, if all went well, I wouldn’t need glasses or contact lenses for distance, so I said, "Let’s do it as soon as possible."
The doctor explained the operation was day surgery and used ultrasound. I decided, given my over-active imagination, not to view the doctor’s video about cataracts and cataract surgery. The doctor stressed that the video gave important details and suggested I view it to answer any questions. My only question was — since I had to be awake for the procedure — could they give me enough sedation so I wouldn’t feel or care about anything? I was told yes, and so I decided I didn’t need to know anything else for now.
I arrived at 6 a.m. for surgery. The nurse asked some questions, sat me in a very comfortable chair, gave me a Valium and started me on eye drops and an I.V. with additional sedation. In about 45 minutes when I was ready and very relaxed, they folded the chair down flat and off I went to the operating room.
During the operation, I felt some pressure, saw wonderful colors, and just felt good. It was soon over, and they returned me to my room for a delicious breakfast. Although some people may experience mild discomfort, for which Tylenol is recommended, I felt no pain either during or after the surgery. I also was able to see shortly after my surgery was done. (I was so relaxed; I don’t remember exactly how long it was until I could see.) I was given a clear plastic patch to wear during naps and sleeping to ensure I didn’t rub my eye. This came in handy because I slept much of the rest of the day, and on and off for the next few days. I felted rested as I had been on vacation.
Needless to say everyone is different, but from my experience and that of everyone I know who has had basic cataract surgery, I can definitely state, “If you are having difficulty seeing, visit your eye doctor, and you will enjoy the view!”
Preparation Tips for Cataract Surgery
The tips below are not from a medical professional, but rather steps that I found helpful:
Food
• Since you may be a little sleepy for a few days, cook ahead and freeze some meals and/or have someone bring you food.Bending
I was told by my doctor not to bend (that is place my head below my heart) for about a week, so I suggest the following:
• Place on countertops all items such as vitamins, washing up liquid, pots or pans, etc. located on shelves below your waist.
• Do laundry before surgery.
• If you have pets, and can’t do deep knee bends to feed them, have someone feed them for a week.Sedation
• I asked for as much sedation as possible, but not so much that it would hinder the doctor’s abilities..