Let's talk about cataract surgery.....

[Pieter12]

I needed cataract surgery for two reasons, both related to my profession at the time. I was an art director. First, the cataracts were starting to affect my perception and ability to fine-tune colors as well ad huge the efforts of others--something key to my position. Second, my eye doctor told me he could no longer correct my vision to 20/20 because of the cataracts. Neither issue was very bad, but I needed to be at the top of my game especially with young people nipping at my heels.

 

[VinceInMT]

If you have good eye care options locally, be grateful for that. Where I live, eye care, along with the rest of it, has become rather sketchy. There is a high turnover at the hospital clinic and if you get an appointment it’s 6 months away and before that date arrives, the provider leaves and you are starting over. My wife sees a retinal specialist who is now retiring and there doesn’t seem to be a replacement. Denver is a long way. The eye care provider I had seen for years told me I had a cataract forming and would probably looking at getting it fixed in the future. In the meantime I saw them for double and blurred vision and got a shrug. I switched to another place who gave me a correction (prism) in that eye and that does help some. They did find an issue with the retina and said if I should see a flasher to come in immediately. I did see a series of them but I was on a cross country motorcycle trip and was in the middle of nowhere in the Midwest. Where was I supposed to go? Again, if you have good quality care, be thankful for that.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I needed cataract surgery for two reasons, both related to my profession at the time. I was an art director. First, the cataracts were starting to affect my perception and ability to fine-tune colors as well ad huge the efforts of others--something key to my position. Second, my eye doctor told me he could no longer correct my vision to 20/20 because of the cataracts. Neither issue was very bad, but I needed to be at the top of my game especially with young people nipping at my heels.

Color was not a factor before the first cataract was removed but it was five years before the second one was removed. Because of operating scheduling conflicts after four years I had to wait almost a year to finally get the last one done. During that year the difference in perceived color between my eye was noticeable and obnoxious.

 

[Sirius Glass]

If you have good eye care options locally, be grateful for that. Where I live, eye care, along with the rest of it, has become rather sketchy. There is a high turnover at the hospital clinic and if you get an appointment it’s 6 months away and before that date arrives, the provider leaves and you are starting over. My wife sees a retinal specialist who is now retiring and there doesn’t seem to be a replacement. Denver is a long way. The eye care provider I had seen for years told me I had a cataract forming and would probably looking at getting it fixed in the future. In the meantime I saw them for double and blurred vision and got a shrug. I switched to another place who gave me a correction (prism) in that eye and that does help some. They did find an issue with the retina and said if I should see a flasher to come in immediately. I did see a series of them but I was on a cross country motorcycle trip and was in the middle of nowhere in the Midwest. Where was I supposed to go? Again, if you have good quality care, be thankful for that.

I have a friend who lives outside of Boulder and he has similar problems getting medical care appointments. Maybe he and you should move back to Los Angeles.

 

[benjiboy]

The the two cataract surgeries I had twenty years apart were both completely painless, and my vision improved immediately, and except for having to use eye drops to prevent infections that stung a little for ten days it was no problem.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Now that I have had both cataracts removed, I no longer have to remove contact lenses to go swimming. I do not even pause before diving into a pool since I do not need to be concerned about storing the lenses and then finding lens fluid to reinsert them.

 

[wiltw]

I have a friend who lives outside of Boulder and he has similar problems getting medical care appointments. Maybe he and you should move back to Los Angeles.

Just had conversation with daughter who is a Nurse Practioner in Boulder, about difficulty in Boulder (a surprise to me)...she verified the issue is that one hospital is the tertiary level facility servicing a number of states in the region, so appointments for certain procedures is indeed booked up and hard to get...she cited a one year wait for surgery for a certain type of case involving a patient of hers!
This serves as a warning for those who contemplate moving to a new area for retirement leaving a major metropolitan center...get the work done before you move, or be prepared to wait longer.

 

[VinceInMT]

I have a friend who lives outside of Boulder and he has similar problems getting medical care appointments. Maybe he and you should move back to Los Angeles.

I get back to Southern California occasionally and it only takes me about 2 days to fully remember why I left it -> traffic. When I moved to Montana 33 years ago instead of spending 3 hours a day in the commute, I lived 8 minutes from the school I taught at for the next 21 years so I gained that much free time in my day. That is priceless. That said, 6 years ago I was diagnosed with cancer and I didn’t mess around. I flew to Cleveland for treatment. I was diagnosed here, made a call, and 4 weeks later I was there. Almost no waiting.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Just had conversation with daughter who is a Nurse Practioner in Boulder, about difficulty in Boulder (a surprise to me)...she verified the issue is that one hospital is the tertiary level facility servicing a number of states in the region, so appointments for certain procedures is indeed booked up and hard to get...she cited a one year wait for surgery for a certain type of case involving a patient of hers!
This serves as a warning for those who contemplate moving to a new area for retirement leaving a major metropolitan center...get the work done before you move, or be prepared to wait longer.

West Los Angeles has at two level one hospitals: Cedars Sinai and UCLA. My sister in Prescott Arizona has to drive over two hours to Phoenix for level one care. The problem is that doctors want to be in large metropolitan communities and that leave large less dense communities with level three hospitals and doctors. There are no quick fixes for those who do not want to live in large metropolitan areas.

 

[AERO]

Here in the UK I was refered to the hospital eye dept for surgery to remove a cataract and was having it removed two weeks later. The second eye was done 2 months after the first....
*and it was via the UK medical sytem of paying into a National Pension/medical Insurance scheme from salary..

 

[VinceInMT]

…..This serves as a warning for those who contemplate moving to a new area for retirement leaving a major metropolitan center...get the work done before you move, or be prepared to wait longer.

When I decided to relocate from Southern California, we spent about 5 years in the planning process, making a list of what we wanted and didn’t want in the next place. This was over 35 years ago so using the Internet wasn’t really a tool for that at the time. We were decidedly younger and access to medical did not appear on our list.

What was on the list were things like a population of 60,000 or greater (for some level of economic efficiency), a nearby college or university, a well-regarded school system, mountains within an hour or two drive, the lack rush hour traffic, no unbearable heat in the summer or heavy humidity, and affordable housing. We did some traveling and decided that Billings, MT or Spokane, WA would be a good fit. I went back to school, got my teaching license in order to do the career change, and had a job offer in Billings. I could just as easily gone to Spokane.

Now, 33 years later, retired, empty nesters, we are again discussing relocating. The main driver this time is better access to health care, especially for specialities. We still like where we are but the climate (cultural, not weather) has changed and the welcome mat we found when we moved here has been removed along with a revolving door of medical providers. We’ve been looking and have our eye on western Pennsylvania. Access to medical is great either in Pittsburgh or Cleveland which is reasonably close, at least closer than Bozeman which is where some of the specialists from here have moved.

Some/many/most people tend to live in the same place all their lives or close to where they started. I’ve, so far, had 23 addresses in my life, living, not just visiting, as far west as Honolulu and as far east as central Germany along with many places in between so my roots are quite shallow.

 

[Arthurwg]

If you have good eye care options locally, be grateful for that. Where I live, eye care, along with the rest of it, has become rather sketchy.

It's truly amazing what's happened to healthcare in America. Long waits, few options. You might consider Eye Associates in Santa Fe NM. They do a great job.

 

[MartinCrabtree]

Had mine done a couple years ago outpatient. The improvement was instant and wonderful. I no longer have to wear coke bottle bottoms to see.

 

[Pieter12]

I had both eyes done, several weeks apart--but that was because of me, not an availability issue. My older brother in Montreal had both eyes done at the same time. All cataract surgery is outpatient as far as I know. My doctor was even given free use of an advanced piece of equipment that helped to correct my astigmatism during the surgery rather than using a special lens implant.

 

[Roger Cole]

About cataract surgery outcomes: I started wearing eyeglasses when I was 12 and have needed them or contact lenses ever since. Now that I am well away from the surgery recovery I now realize how great it is to wake up in the morning and clearly see every thing in focus just by opening my eyes. I am just so glad that I had the surgery and that this feeling is there before I reach to pick up a camera.

What kind of lens implants did you get? I continue to hear that the toric lenses and such work pretty well if you really want to avoid glasses, but those who want the absolute crispest vision possible should go with single focus for distance and use reading glasses.

I have the start of cataracts but not very bothersome yet. In the meantime, having had my right hip replaced in 2022 I now need the left one replaced as well. Sigh. "Gettin' older ain't for sissies" as my sister says.

 

[Pieter12]

What kind of lens implants did you get? I continue to hear that the toric lenses and such work pretty well if you really want to avoid glasses, but those who want the absolute crispest vision possible should go with single focus for distance and use reading glasses.

I have the start of cataracts but not very bothersome yet. In the meantime, having had my right hip replaced in 2022 I now need the left one replaced as well. Sigh. "Gettin' older ain't for sissies" as my sister says.

My understanding is that toric implants are to correct for astigmatism.

 

[Roger Cole]

My understanding is that toric implants are to correct for astigmatism.

Hum. Wrong term maybe though most astigmatism comes from the natural eye lens which is removed though I suppose it could be due to uneven curvature of the cornea. Maybe another term for them but the lenses that are intended to give acceptably good vision at both near and far (but I’ve read don’t give the absolutely best vision at either.)

 

[Pieter12]

Hum. Wrong term maybe though most astigmatism comes from the natural eye lens which is removed though I suppose it could be due to uneven curvature of the cornea. Maybe another term for them but the lenses that are intended to give acceptably good vision at both near and far (but I’ve read don’t give the absolutely best vision at either.)

Astigmatism can be cause by lens distortion and that can be corrected with normal lens replacement but it is also (and I believe more commonly) caused by corneal distortion that requires a special toric lens. It can also be corrected by special procedures done during cataract surgery. Another thing that can be done is called monovision, correcting one eye for distance and the other for close vision. Not everyone can adapt to monovision, and it does not by itself do anything for astigmatism without one of the previous procedures.

 

[VinceInMT]

While I’m not ready for cataract surgery, although I’m told it’s probably in my future, a procure to correct astigmatism might get my interest. I have double vision on one eye. Adding something to the prescription of my glasses helped, some, but it’s getting worse. Where it is a problem is when I am drawing, which I do a lot, and I see double and not sure where to put a dot. I might try some of those magnifiers worn over the head, like jewelers or electronic techs use. And, yes, focusing the enlarger is impacted as well but I try to use the other eye for that.

 

[Sirius Glass]

What kind of lens implants did you get? I continue to hear that the toric lenses and such work pretty well if you really want to avoid glasses, but those who want the absolute crispest vision possible should go with single focus for distance and use reading glasses.

I have the start of cataracts but not very bothersome yet. In the meantime, having had my right hip replaced in 2022 I now need the left one replaced as well. Sigh. "Gettin' older ain't for sissies" as my sister says.

I talked to my ophthalmologist about all the options. Cost was not a concern, and the ophthalmologist recommended the one covered by Medicare which would correct the astigmatism. The implants corrected the astigmatism to almost nothing. Laser surgery could have corrected any residual astigmatism, but that has not been necessary. I cannot at this time give you the product name, but when I get home in February I can get it off the medical card with all the details. For now I have to concentrate on my trip. I am just going to Antarctica - a cruise to the peninsula from the tip crossing the Antarctic Circle and further towards the mainland but I will not get to the mainland. The cruise line is Hurtigruten.

 

[Roger Cole]

I talked to my ophthalmologist about all the options. Cost was not a concern, and the ophthalmologist recommended the one covered by Medicare which would correct the astigmatism. The implants corrected the astigmatism to almost nothing. Laser surgery could have corrected any residual astigmatism, but that has not been necessary. I cannot at this time give you the product name, but when I get home in February I can get it off the medical card with all the details. For now I have to concentrate on my trip. I am just going to Antarctica - a cruise to the peninsula from the tip crossing the Antarctic Circle and further towards the mainland but I will not get to the mainland. The cruise line is Hurtigruten.

Do you see well, like 20/20, at distance but need reading glasses now? That would be the expected result for single focus lenses.

I've always been such a myope, I still prop my glasses on my forehead and stick stuff under my nose to see very fine detail. Some people don't get it, and my sister even tried to ARGUE with me that I needed bifocals ("these are progressives," I replied) then "then you need them changed!" Uh, no. The optometrist told me "we'll never be able to do as good up close as what God gave you."

this is more than occasionally handy as I can see almost ANYTHING small, no matter how tiny, if I get it close enough. I say I could count the hairs on a fly's leg but I actually think I probably could. It'll be a shame to lose that bionic level close up vision, but worth it for clear distance without lenses - not to mention cataracts will eventually rob that close up as well as correct distance so...

 

[Sirius Glass]

Do you see well, like 20/20, at distance but need reading glasses now? That would be the expected result for single focus lenses.

I've always been such a myope, I still prop my glasses on my forehead and stick stuff under my nose to see very fine detail. Some people don't get it, and my sister even tried to ARGUE with me that I needed bifocals ("these are progressives," I replied) then "then you need them changed!" Uh, no. The optometrist told me "we'll never be able to do as good up close as what God gave you."

this is more than occasionally handy as I can see almost ANYTHING small, no matter how tiny, if I get it close enough. I say I could count the hairs on a fly's leg but I actually think I probably could. It'll be a shame to lose that bionic level close up vision, but worth it for clear distance without lenses - not to mention cataracts will eventually rob that close up as well as correct distance so...

I see 20/20, at distance and do not need reading glasses.

 

[Sirius Glass]

A new positive reason for cataract surgery: Because of a series of accidents caused by seniors, a few years ago California had passed a law requiring any driver 70 years old or older to have to come into the DMV and have an eye test and a written test. The written test was taken to court and the judge ruled that the requirement for the written test was age discrimination and removed as a requirement for renewal, but the eye test was legal. I recently had to renew my driver's license. Because of the cataract surgery I passed the eye test without the need for contact lenses or eye glasses. Now for the first time every I have a driver's license without any eye restrictions!

 

[pentaxuser]

California had passed a law requiring any driver 70 years old or older to have to come into the DMV and have an eye test and a written test. The written test was taken to court and the judge ruled that the requirement for the written test was age discrimination and removed as a requirement for renewal,

Just out of curiosity what did the written test, test?

Thanks

pentaxuser

 

[Pieter12]

Just out of curiosity what did the written test, test?

Thanks

pentaxuser

Rules of the road, driving in different conditions and situations, some obscure stuff like blood alchohol levels for DUI. Common sense things like driving while distracted, stopping at stop signs, stopping for pedestrians, safe following distance at speed. It was a big mistake to remove the requirement for seniors. Drivers in CA (and most of the country ) don't necessarily know or obey these things. And seniors can be some of the worst offenders.