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Medical Forum / General / Vision / January 2007Cataract surgery, two eyes on the same day?
Hi, I'll have cataract surgery, and I have a couple of questions. First, I'm running a business and I'd rather have everything done in a short period then doing it twice. In a 2002 posting to this group I found that the reason they do one eye at a time is infection, and the risk of infection going from one eye to the other. My questions: What's the odds that if you have an infection, your other eye will get infected also? What's the risk, in any case, if you already have a chronic coniunctivitis, mostly allergic? What's the risk of postponing the surgery, assuming I can see well enough to drive? My mom had the same surgery 10 years ago, her brother also had cataract, what's the odds of my kids getting it too? I'm 52, healthy, near-sighted, non smoking (couldn't if I wanted to because that's what triggers the coniunctivitis). I've asked my doctor, but he wasn't interested in properly answering my questions. I'll file a complaint and I'll see another doctor in January. In the mean time, I thought I'd find some info here :-) dag Xtine >Hi, >I'll have cataract surgery, and I have a couple of questions. [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] >eye will get infected also? > A lot higher if both eyes are done at once, because whatever caused the first eye to get infected is more likely to be hanging around the operatory. Let's say a solution used was contaminated; it's very likely the same solution will be used in the 2nd eye, whereas if you do the second eye a month later, much less likely, because all the solutions will have been changed by then. And if it's the surgeon's bad technique, you have a chance to dump him/her in favor of another one for the other eye. >What's the risk, in any case, if you already have a chronic >coniunctivitis, mostly allergic? > Somewhat higher. Makes it real important to vigorously scrub those lids and lashes for a week before surgery, and to start antibiotic drops (like Zymar) a couple of days pre-op. >What's the risk of postponing the surgery, assuming I can see well >enough to drive? > No risk. >My mom had the same surgery 10 years ago, her brother also had >cataract, what's the odds of my kids getting it too? > > Everyone gets them if they live long enough. >I'm 52, healthy, near-sighted, non smoking (couldn't if I wanted >to because that's what triggers the coniunctivitis). [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > For you, there are 2 significant risks, neither of which is very pleasant. Intraocular infection and retinal detachment are both best avoided by choosing a surgeon who is very good technically, no matter how flippant he might seem to you. Some of the best surgeons have pretty poor communication skills. w.stacy, o.d. One other thing, I'm scared to death to have surgery done to my eyes while I'm still conscious, seeing and hearing it all. It gives me nightmares. Any other part of my body is ok, I've actually had surgery that most people do under narcosis, I've had it done as an outpatient, just local anaesthesia. But my eyes. I don't know if I can do it. Fortunately, it doesn't take long. It's actually the main reason that I'd want it done in one day. If it turns out to be scary, I don't know if I can stand a second time. I'm certainly not a whimp, I just hate spiders and eye surgery. I'm sorry to plunge into this newsgroup and bother you with al my newbie questions. dag Xtine > One other thing, I'm scared to death to have surgery done to my > eyes while I'm still conscious, seeing and hearing it all. It [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > I'm sorry to plunge into this newsgroup and bother you with al my > newbie questions. It's good to talk about it. Unfortunalety, not being off work long and not being aware of the surgery aren't compatible. With my second cataract surgery, the doctor said I could go to work the next day. I was off three days. She didn't believe in tranquilizers. With my first cataract surgery, I was told that I would be off two days. I didn't go into work the second day, but worked from home. I had a two hour eye surgery about a year ago. I asked for lots of tranks. I was awake the whole time and it went great. Be sure to talk to your doctors about anesthia before hand. >One other thing, I'm scared to death to have surgery done to my >eyes while I'm still conscious, seeing and hearing it all. It [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] >turns out to be scary, I don't know if I can stand a second time. >I'm certainly not a whimp, I just hate spiders and eye surgery. I've only had eye surgery lately on an eyeless socket which is different but I had one surgery done with sedation. I didn't actually like the feeling of being woozy and wouldn't do it again but most people say it's great. I'd prefer to be totally aware but that's just me. Others who have had cataracts done under local anaesthetic have always said it's fine and not like you imagine. Ann : I've only had eye surgery lately on an eyeless socket which is : different but I had one surgery done with sedation. I didn't actually : like the feeling of being woozy and wouldn't do it again but most : people say it's great. I'd prefer to be totally aware but that's just : me. Others who have had cataracts done under local anaesthetic have : always said it's fine and not like you imagine. In general, I prefer local aneasthesia. I've had surgery (not on my eyes) that most people do under sedatoin, with local anaesthesia only, It saved me a couple of days in hospital and months of side effects. So I guess I won't do sedation now, in fact I'm pretty sure I won't, but it does scare me. A lot. dag Xtine > : I've only had eye surgery lately on an eyeless socket which is > : different but I had one surgery done with sedation. I didn't actually [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > I guess I won't do sedation now, in fact I'm pretty sure I won't, but it > does scare me. A lot. I've sent you a virtual hug. I would recommend enough sedation to make you comfortable, but not more. For my last eye surgery, I went home about a half hour afterwards. I don't understand about having months of side effects, but maybe you react differently. : I've sent you a virtual hug. I would recommend enough sedation to make : you comfortable, but not more. For my last eye surgery, I went home : about a half hour afterwards. I don't understand about having months of : side effects, but maybe you react differently. I was referring to surgery I've had, like total anaesthisia for two hours, then I kept being tired a lot for a couple of months, before the stuff they put in my body seemed to have worn off. That's why, when they needed to make some "corrections", I preferred to stay fully awake. I guess I'll take no sedation, just local anaesthesia, and hope the best, hope that I won't panic. Thanks for the hug, I felt it before I read it here :-) hugs Xtine > I guess I'll take no sedation, just local anaesthesia, and hope the > best, hope that I won't panic. I agree with local anesthesia being the best, but I really appreciated the Versed they put into my IV. Drowsy, but relaxed, and more importantly, willing and able to follow instructions (like "look over there"). No after effects for me from the Versed, which is really I guess more of an amnesia drug (it probably hurt, but I can't remember...) Big chicken that I am, I also appreciated the Valium tablet they gave me before putting in the IV line. w.stacy, o.d. > > I guess I'll take no sedation, just local anaesthesia, and hope the > > best, hope that I won't panic. [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > Big chicken that I am, I also appreciated the Valium tablet they gave me > before putting in the IV line. I have to agree. I have changed doctors (OMD), because the previous doctor didn't believe in tranquilizers. I was miserable. As Dr Stacy has posted above, there is the local, the tranks and the general. The local has fewer side effects, gets you out earlier and has less risk. The general has significant risk. A local plus tranks works for me. I had a two hour eye surgery about a year ago. They used a topical local plus tranks, and I was happy as a clam. >I'll have cataract surgery, and I have a couple of questions. >First, I'm running a business and I'd rather have everything done >in a short period then doing it twice. > By the way, you don't really need to lose much time. You should be able to work the next day after each surgery. If you plan it right and get a good result, nobody will even notice you had it done. What's your present spectacle and/or CL Rx? It seems that what the surgeon (and patient) learn from the first eye procedure can make for a more successful 2nd eye procedure. Don W. : By the way, you don't really need to lose much time. You should be able : to work the next day after each surgery. If you plan it right and get a : good result, nobody will even notice you had it done. Thanks, for the other answers too. I'm running a tech business which is in a kind of critical phase, also we're moving it from Europe to the US. I don't want to loose too much time, but I don't want to risk to loose sight either. No sight, no work. Is flying a risk? : What's your present spectacle and/or CL Rx? it's -4.5 both sides, but apart from the cataract I do think I'd need new glasses, like -5 or so. again, thanks for the answers. dag Xtine > it's -4.5 both sides, but apart from the cataract I do think I'd > need new glasses, like -5 or so. Generally, as part of the procedure, they will fix your vision so you won't need glasses for distance, or close. Take your pick. You will lose all ability to focus, so if you pick distance, then you will need reading glasses. If you pick close, then you will need glasses to see distance. You can certainly choose to need -5D also, but why? : > it's -4.5 both sides, but apart from the cataract I do think I'd : > need new glasses, like -5 or so. : Generally, as part of the procedure, they will fix your vision so you : won't need glasses for distance, or close. Take your pick. You will : lose all ability to focus, so if you pick distance, then you will need : reading glasses. If you pick close, then you will need glasses to see : distance. You can certainly choose to need -5D also, but why? I didn't express myself clearly. I meant to say that currently, I'd see better with glasses -5 or -5.5 because that's what the optometrist said before I knew that I have cataract. I think I'll opt for having glasses for reading, rather than for seeing in the distance. dag Xtine >> it's -4.5 both sides, but apart from the cataract I do think I'd >> need new glasses, like -5 or so. [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > lose all ability to focus, so if you pick distance, then you will need > reading glasses. What's the depth of field for distance vision? In other words, how close is infinity? > If you pick close, then you will need glasses to see > distance. You can certainly choose to need -5D also, but why?  SignatureCheers, Bev ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ No lawyering. Prosecutors will be violated. > >> it's -4.5 both sides, but apart from the cataract I do think I'd > >> need new glasses, like -5 or so. [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > What's the depth of field for distance vision? In other words, how > close is infinity? Depends on light level. The pros say that with good light, it is 20 feet. I get along just fine in the house with no glasses. I have to use reading glasses to use the computer or read. I normally wear reading glasses to eat, although I could do without. : What's the depth of field for distance vision? In other words, how : close is infinity? I went to another doctor today. These people were much friendlier and willing to advise me. Contrary to the previous doctor, this one told me where the cataract is and how bad it is. Also, he said that it's no problem to wait six months before getting the surgery. I won't wait six months, but at least now I can plan work and surgery so that the surgery won't get in the way of work too much. The cataract is in the middle of the lens (both eyes) which explains the -1 deterioration of my eyes in the last 12 months. I suppose that because it's more or less centered, this explains my double vision. A more amorphous cataract would cause blurry vision rather than sharp double vision, right? The doctor advised me to have -0.5 sight, if I choose to be far sighted after the surgery. I won't need glasses for the distance, and 0 is too much, he says, that would be hard for someone who has been near sighted all their life. I can choose to remain near sighted, but I don't think that's practical. I read a lot and I use a computer all day, I'd need glasses for either one of those anyway. Otoh, having been near sighted all my life, I'm not sure how I'll like it not to wear glasses outside. For sports of course, it's good to have no glasses. The coniunctivitis would not be a problem, unless it's very active at the time of the surgery. They said that recovery would take two or three weeks, before I can work normally. They want there to be a month between both eyes, I haven't argued about doing it on one day. I'm less afraid now, to have them cut in my eye, despite the fact that I saw "once upon a time in Mexico" last Saturday, which is not a good film for someone who is going to have eye surgery and who is afraid of it. Also, I recently saw a pic of the Bunuel film "Un chien Andalou". I saw that film a long time ago, it's horrible, if you're about to have eye surgery.... dag X10 I > suppose that because it's more or less centered, this explains my > double vision. A more amorphous cataract would cause blurry vision > rather than sharp double vision, right? a VERY astute observation, and a great way to describe it. I'll be using that. For sports of > course, it's good to have no glasses. Maybe some sports. Others it's a good thing to have protective eyewear. > The coniunctivitis would not be a problem, unless it's very active > at the time of the surgery. I disagree. ANY conjunctivits at the time of intraocular surgery is risky. Endophthalmitis is not something you want to tangle with. Make sure you do vigorous lid and lash scrubs everyday for a week before surgery, and use zymar drops or equivalent 4 times/day for a couple of days before surgery, right up to surgery time. w.stacy, o.d. > I went to another doctor today. These people were much friendlier > and willing to advise me. Contrary to the previous doctor, this [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > how I'll like it not to wear glasses outside. For sports of > course, it's good to have no glasses. I love having no glasses outside. They don't fog up, and rain doesn't affect them. > They said that recovery would take two or three weeks, before I > can work normally. They want there to be a month between both > eyes, I haven't argued about doing it on one day. I don't know what kind of work you do, but for most people, they should be able to work normally after a day or two. There will be problems, but if you have one eye done at a time, then the other eye will take over. > Hi, > I'll have cataract surgery, and I have a couple of questions. [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > infection, and the risk of infection going from one eye to the > other. My questions: In my experience, they patch the operated eye for at least a day. If you have both eyes done at the same time, you will be blind. If it turns out that this surgery doesn't work for you, it won't work for both eyes. Most of us can't afford to have both eyes screwed up. If the surgery is done at different times, then you really won't be off work very long. : If the surgery is done at different times, then you really won't be off : work very long. Different times, how long apart? They want to do it one month apart. dag Xtine > : If the surgery is done at different times, then you really won't be off > : work very long. > > Different times, how long apart? They want to do it one month > apart. Sounds like a plan to me. I had mine done five years apart, and that caused some problems. >In my experience, they patch the operated eye for at least a day. These procedures must differ because they didn't do that for me. I had my first cataract surgery in early Nov. and my second one four days ago. Neither time did they give me a patch to be used for a day or more. They "scotchtaped" an oval-shaped metal convering over my eye, like an egg cut in half lengthwise. It had many holes in it so that I could see through it. They told me to wear it for two hours after the surgery and to put it on for a week while I slept (to prevent me from inadvertently rubbing my eye). And for the OP, all in all, the surgeries were minimally intrusive in my life (a day interrupted for each surgery, no lifting more than thirty pounds for two weeks, and eyedrops for a month.) More pleasant for me than going to the dentist! Although I'll need glasses for reading, I'm overjoyed at being to see as clearly overall since before I got my first eyeglasses at ten years old. -- Regards, Dan |
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