Cataracts***I Can SEE!!!

Well it's a little early to write this now as it's only been 4wks for the first eye and 3wks for the second eye. Since there's a current question on the subject, I decided to go ahead and post my results.

WOW, WOW again, as I've worn glasses for over 50yrs and now don't need glasses for any distance or puter usage. I lost my great close-up vision that I had, about 6" away without any aids. NO night time halo's or stars. It appears that I may be "sun" sensitive, so I need sunglasses.

I went thru 3 eye Doc's in 2yrs before finding my current eye Doc. One was bait & switch, told me I'd have 20/20 "if" the eye was capable of 20/20, then told me the day before surgery it would cost me another $2200 plus the original fees, for each eye, too see 20/20. I walked out "bitc*ing" to say the least.

Two eye Doc's, I didn't get that warm and fuzzy feeling that I thought that I should have. Again I walked away.

Then I found Dr Perkins in Mesa Az. Over 40,000 cataract surgery's and in his prime, about 45yrs old. Excellent very well educated staff. They have there OWN surgical staff and buildings, that's 4 buildings total, so as you can see, they do alot of eyes. About $600/eye total, my cost with only having Medicare A&B.

My right eye was blind from the cataract. I was told to wait until the cataract matured but no body defined "mature", so I went blind waiting. Dr Perkins says that you only need to wait until the cataract bothers your vision until you get them removed. This is due too new procedures, materials and equipment. Dr Perkins stated that I'd be lucky too see the big "E" on the chart. I can read line 6 on the chart. Dr Perkins stated in OR, " That's one big a$$ cataract", a very unusual comment from Dr Perkins according too the OR staff. I only seen Perkins one time before surgery, the day before, and during surgery. I saw other M.D.'s at all other times that were very qualified. I also had a retina test done, about $100 my cost for both eyes), as they thought I had retina damage. Nope!

Expensive Eye drops (3), one for 1wk, 1 for 2wks and one for 4wks. About $188 cash and included in the total cost of $600/eye.

In May 09, I had CHF that left me with minus 960 in my left eye. I had a terrible time seeing and could not drive. I had minus 450 before CHF.

My left eye was done 2wks after. The same final results. The lens was a Acrysoft model SN650WF, UV protected, both eyes.

In pre-OP about 45minutes where I was put too sleep for 2min then was given
a shot in the eye in four places. I asked the Doc when he was going to give me my shots, "I already did". I didn't feel a thing. Four patients waiting at one time. My head was strapped too the table.

In OR for about 15mins total where it took Perkins about 7min on the right eye and 5mins on the left eye and he was done. They lay a cloth over your face so you can't see what there doing and will lay still. I could see very little out of the eye He was working on. A cut about 3/32 long to remove and install the new lens. Laser to remove the cataract and the difference in time, then flush the cat out. Fold the new lens then shove it in, then unfold, then Superglue the cut, then water test for leakage and were done. No stitch's.

In post-OP care for 10min max. Care instructions given and more eye drops and sunglasses. Another 10min sitting in the coffee room. Were done in about 1hr15min each eye.

Out of hundreds of patients that I saw, I seen two with extra problems and have no idea why or what surgery they had, so it could have been normal conditions for there procedure.

I would have the procedure done again in a heartbeat. My only suggestion would be too see several Doctors before choosing one.

I figured with a name like "Perkins", He couldn't be all that bad. I was spot on!!! Tractor related don't you know

Learning to drive again after 3mths, was a challenge. About 20min on country roads solved that double vision problem. I had to twist my head from extreme side too side too retrain my eyes to focus while driving.

Comments?

T_Bone

Glad it worked out. My wife had cataract surgery on one eye in March, the other one doesn't quite need it yet. I will probably need it in 2 years? We have a good optometrist that looks at it during eye exams and keeps us informed. We don't have the Dr. problem you did. The one who told you it needed to be "ripe" was not current, they don't do that any more. We have two that do it here in SW Kansas. The one that did my wife was one of the first to use the modern procedure, been doing it for years. We are lucky to have him here in the boonies. He does several a day. For him it is routine surgery. Glad you can see, you were really misinformed by some of those so-called doctors.

I had mine done 3 years ago,I had too quit drivin,couldn't tell if stop lites were red or green til got to intersections,had a"lot"of close calls,unbeleivable difference,like goin from midnite to noonday!!

T-Bone,

Bob outside Luke AFB off Loop 303. I"m coming up for cataract surgery both eyes within the next six months. Would you email me the names of the Doctors you decided not to use. Might save me some time in selecting one as the Optomologist I was using is now retired.

Thanks

Bob

Hi T bone. I'm from near Wickenburg Az.You sound very satisfied. Any chance info of the doctors you used are available? My e-mail is open. Thanks JH

CNKS- Are you talking about Dr FRYE in Garden City??
My Mother had hers done with him- excellent results. I still live not far from GC

My first one was done the old fashioned way, with about two weeks of not working, a medicinal "worm" squirted in the eye several times a day, no driving for 3 weeks, sun glasses, Dr. check-ups constantly. But, with all that, it healed up nicely and i could see very good. Several years later, a younger Dr. did the other eye, with the new procedurs! Wow! What a difference! No worm in the eye, just drops, had to sit around for several weeks, but it healed up quicker than the first one, and i am now at least 8 years since that one. Both eyes are now very good. I still wear glasses, to protect my eyes when i am working on tractors, and they are tri-focals, because i cannot do the fine work sometimes without the lower lens slice. And, i need the middle lens slice for close work, and reading, etc. The sun did bother me at first, but now, with working outside all day, it doesn't seem to bother me much! I carry sun glasses, but only use them sometimes for driving.
One warning:! When, or if, they warn you about doing any heavy lifting, or other heavy work, better not until some time has passed. I've known several friends who helped move heavy furniture, and did damage the eyes, requiring another fix!

When my Grandmother had her cataracts treated, she was
hospitalized for a couple weeks and for part of that time her
head was held in place with sandbags so she couldn't move it.

When my Dad had his cataracts removed, it was an outpatient
procedure with only one eye done the first time as the second
eye wasn't severe enough yet. He wore dark sunglasses for a
while and we had newspaper taped on some windows.

The improvements in cataract surgery truly are amazing. Just
imagine what the cost would be if it was still done the old way.

email sent

email sent

Hi T_Bone,

That's terrific news. I'm really happy to hear that it's worked so well for you.

I remember reading, a long time ago, that the concept of allowing cataracts to "ripen" was something that developed in a time when even the best treatment for cataracts couldn't provide a great deal of improvement. By postponing treatment until the condition was virtually intolerable, even indifferent results seemed wonderful by comparison. But of course doctors couldn't very well tell patients that they needed to let the condition become really bad so that the little they could do would seem relatively dramatic. So the term letting cataracts "ripen" was used to create the impression that it was a medical necessity, not inadequate technology. Kind of has that dismal ring of truth about it, doesn't it?

All the best, Stan

Hi Rustyj,

The only restriction was I could not lift more than 20lbs and don't swim or submerse my head for 2wks.

I asked about high power target shooting, the recoil of. Perkins said after 2wks your good too go.

T_Bone

Ohh Rusty, please describe the worm method ?

T_Bone

Boy ain't that the truth Stan.

Thanks

T_Bone

A friend of mine dropped by where I was working on a truck yesterday afternoon and I asked if he"d had his cataract surgery done yet? He said he had his left eye done and couldn"t believe the difference! I asked him if I looked any better or not and he declined to answer. He"s an over the road truck driver and said he was going to get his right eye done shortly as that one wasn"t quite as bad as his left. He can read the whole eye chart now (no glasses) with his left eye! Ihope I never have to have it done but if I do, I know who to see. Its nice seeing good positive news on this site.

God Blessed you T-Bone.

Is that Acrylsoft lens one that allows your eye to focus near and far?

Congratulations! I'm happy to hear this procedure worked well for you. I've delt with chronic iritis for 25 years and had the gaumut of tests run to find out what is causing this. Even the Wilmer eye institute in Baltimore is stumped. But anyway in the past few years my vision has gotten progressively worse to the point it is adversely affecting my welding. So now I'm back to where I started at the Gutrie Clinic with the same doctor I started with 25 years ago. I'm using 2 different eye drops to calm the iritis down for 3 months and then he will first go after the right eye which is essentually blind to remove a large cataract. Then later he'll do the left eye which has a smaller cataract and not nearly as bad. When I bought my first syncro-wave years ago, I could infact run a bead down the side of a beer can. Now I tac and fit tubing and hope favorite daughter will be home from college on the weekend to burn them for me. So things are going to change. Hopefully by January, maybe sooner.

T-bone that is some great news for ya, not the easiest thing to consider, allowing someone to work on your eyes.

I think like many professions, it can be difficult to find a doctor or medical professional that practices with genuine concern for the patient and their ability to do the best they can. Seems to be a lot of mediocrity in peoples attitudes today, go to a parts counter for something simple, not what you would expect, same with some of the medical professionals, often times treat you like a number.

My father has been fortunate to have kept up on some circulatory issues and other medical problems, is doing well, still working, but he found a doctor in Florida that just stood out well beyond ones he's gone to in the past, and has really been helpful in addressing the needs of things he has been dealing with. He was really impressed with the improvement of his health, and attributes it to her professionalism and absolute patient concern and penchant attitude to get to the bottom of things as much as possible. He resides in NY but will fly there for appointments, sometimes he spends time there in the winter, but anyone who will board a plane to see a specific doctor, must have a darned good reason.

Very good to hear of this news for you.

My great aunt and uncle were treated for cataracts maybe the 50's or early 60's hard to say, but the doctor did more harm than good, they both became blind, hard to figure how things have changed since then knowing nothing about it, but my relatives always blamed the doctor for the outcome.

Hi s.crum,

I never heard of chronic iritis. From a quick goggle, doesn't sound good. You might want too call Perkins just too see what he says. He might be able too steer you in another direction on your end.

Perkins did not recognize cataracts as a workmen's comp problem as the USA doesn't. Canada, France, England and Germany all do! Welding causes cataracts from steel in the eyes as well as flash burns.

I got a chuckle and a smile out of your daughter comment. My daughter was a good welder when she took a welding course in HS and would try too teach other "boys" the ropes. She was in the class too bag a "stud" as she put it. I told her "too much info" for Daddy to here. It didn't take much too figure out what she was doing tho as she dropped 30lbs and bought a pair of "hip huggers" to wear in class.

T_Bone

Hi Billy,

You might want too tell your uncle & aunt that I seen a guy with a blotched surgery(someone else than Perkins) that got there vision back form a new surgery.

Was glad too here your friend was improving

T_Bone

They have long since passed, nice to know and have some confidence in these procedures today, cannot imagine trying to decide about it back then. Yes, I think your right about Perkins, a solid performer both mechanically and medically LOL !

Yes, me too, I have not been over to visit him, figured a few days to rest up, no shop talk or discussion of same, let him relax, he bounced back and is healing up again. It's just those darned veins/arteries, they are weak, and can break again, he has no choice but to relax and avoid any kind of work. Sure made him sick the last time, and there is a risk of infection as well, I think he realizes how serious and delicate his situation is, time to retire, which does not sit well with him, and I hate seeing that too, don't really have a choice, so I'll do the deliveries for him keep the customers happy, and they'll figure out how to deal with the corn, hard to say what will happen with the tractors and equipment, his son will probably weigh in on that, whether he wants to still do this kind of work after the regular gig. We could keep things going but there sure is not a lot of money in it, but do still enjoy the work.

Hi mj,

No it's not. I have a astigmatism and couldn't use that type of lens.

This Doc says they found that they run about 50% complaints with the bi-lens(about $2500 extra). Most who want that type of vision will usually choose one eye for distance, one eye for close up, included in the original cost.

Remember that with the distance lens only, I can clearly see my puter screen, keyboard letters/numbers, read a prescription label(not small print), see the TV remote L/N, read the TV at 10ft away, read some of my wireless agreement(not very fine print), read a USPS mailer, what would be classified as today's medium print, some small print(color dependent), road and street signage, stop lights(all colors), etc;.

What I have trouble with:
cellphone small print and numbers, magazine/catalog small print, HF sale flyers(print only), fine print, small/medium print on box labels(depending on the colors), some print on a yellow Bayer aspirin bottle, etc;

If you have something you want to know about, ask me and I'll see if I have the same thing on my end, as in reading a type of print.

My wife says " if I can see her beauty, then all is good"

T_Bone

Good for you T=Bone, glad you have your sight back, nothing like seeing what your looking at,
good news is always welcome,,,

Well, it wasn't a real worm! Just the tube of salve they gave me to have my wife squirt it into my eye.
did you think it was an earth-worm? (giggle)
the stuff dissolved and went into the eye socket.
Since the first operation, things changed immensely. The second op i was under anesthetic and out, but the first one, i was kind of awake, no pain or feeling, but i could see the Dr. doing the operation, and hear them talking. I just laid there, and watched them moving around.
After that op, i had to sit still, no driving, no heavy lifting, no exertions. I could walk around, but, with my artificial leg, i was unsteady on my feet, so i used a cane to walk. Took two weeks!
The second eye, i had to sit or walk slowly, no lifting, or driving for a week, then i got it all back. The second eye, i could see good thru it the second day.
A cousin was all worried about having the op, so i went out to cheer him up. I could see things a hundred yards away that he had no idea they were there! I could count the pickets in the neighbors fence, that he couldn't! I even pointed out a bird sitting on a cross-arm of the electric tower 200 yards away!
He had the op, and is happy as a lark--the one he couldn't see on the tower!

Great news, my friend!

it must be nice to be rich.I could'nt take a airplane so
I took my car to the doc and got a
crappy job. was recommended by my eye doctor, all done reading