Daspydyr 

The cataract has finally grown large enough that the insurance will authorize getting the lens replaced. Have you had the surgery, is it best to stay off the bike for a while. Let me know what you experience is. The doctor has said just protect the eye. I always wear eye protection.


I know, do what the doctor says. But she is busy and moves fast, give terse 1 sentence answers. Its a treadmill type office. Go from station to station and don't slow down, we have more people to run through the treadmill.

berner

I was ready to get back on the bike surprisingly fast. There was only minor discomfort for a few days and the eye has to be covered with gause for a few days. the surgeon had a look some days later to make sure there were no complications. The second eye was operated on several weeks later. This is a procedure they have nailed down.

RonH

I had my left eye done in July 2012 and the right eye in Sept 2012. I was awake during the entire procedure, which was "weird". There's no pain other than the 15 different drops they put in your eye just before the surgery. It sort of burns.
My vision was blurry for 3 days. Like looking thru a sheet of waxed paper by day 3. By day 5 I could see ok. The doc said I could get back on the bike after a week.

rydabent

My wife just had both eyes done. Her vision is greatly improved.

John_V 

Had my right eye done a few years ago. Nothing to it. As RonH said, the biggest PIA were the eye drops. I was off the bike for about 4 days, tops. It was kind of weird when I took the patch off after getting home from the surgery. I was seeing double and split images of everything. They didn't tell me that was going to be normal and I thought the guy screwed up. Took about an hour or so to clear up and get back to normal.

doctor j

I've had both of my eyes done, two weeks apart. I kept warting the doc with questions about how soon I could get back on the bike. Finally, in exasperation, he said, "don't fall!" I think it was 4 or 5 days until I got back on the bike. Apparently, there is tissue that grows into or around the lens to hold it in place, and he didn't want the lens to get displaced before everything got "set".

After surgery, he placed hard, clear-plastic perforated "cup" over my eye, which had to remain in place for 24 hours. After that, I slept with a little plastic eye protector for a few nights so that I wouldn't be scratching my eye.

Mine have worked out well, and I'm glad I had the work done.

rdmjr

I'll address a different issue - if the doctor can't or won't take the time to talk about your condition in more than terse single sentence statements, it's time to find a new doctor. They may have the training and the knowledge, but we're still the customers. I wouldn't take that sort of treatment at a car repair establishment, and I won't take it from a doctor, either. If they're that busy and that overbooked, then they don't need my patronage.

Northwestrider

+ 1 It's easier said than done I know, but I feel the same way . ^^^

Daspydyr 

This group of doctors was referred, but I will never refer them. It is assembly line medical care. I feel less than like a cow being ushered to the slaughter. It will be over by tomorrow afternoon.


I appreciate everyone's comments. I hope to flat less once I can see what I am riding over.

NYMXer

I not only wish you the best of luck tomorrow, but for the rest of your life too!
While I tend to think this surgery is now commonplace, it is still surgery. All the best and good luck.

JanMM

When I started working as an LPN in the mid-'70s, we took care of cataract patients on our ortho floor. They were commonly hospitalized flat in bed for a day or two post-op. Things have changed.

jmiked

When I had my cataract surgery done almost two years ago, I went through a period of having little flickers of light around the peripheries of the lens implants. It was very annoying, especially when I was reading. I was told it would go away as my brain learned to filter it out. Sure enough, after several months, it did.

The biggest decision was having to decide whether I wanted to be far-sighted or near-sighted after the procedure. It's nice to know that I will be able to pass my next driver's license eye inspection now. I would not have been able to before the surgery.

Terex

One of my brother-in-laws learned how to do a radial keratotomy in Russia with a doctor who actually performed them on patients placed on a large turn table. Talk about assembly line!

Pamestique 

I had the surgery in late 2014 (left eye) and early 2015 (right eye); plus Lasix (late 2015) to correct my vision. I so wish I pushed the doctor to do the surgery sooner. For the first time in my life, now my vision is 20/20. I actually had a Crystalens implanted (so basically I can see far and close as well).

That said; while I felt great and within a day could see; I tried to do what the doctor said about restricting physical activity. I was release to ride (after two weeks); but no climbing or anything hard or long. One complication I experienced; after a short time, in my right then left eye my vision started to shimmer. I tried to explain this to the doctor and they just refused to do anything. Finally went to a retinal specialist and found out I had an issued caused by cataract surgery (fairly common - treatment is steroid drops). It went away after treatment and now except for some dryness; my eyes and vision are awesome.


PS: While the result was immediately noticeable; I would say that it took a year plus to settle now and become 20/20.

Terex

It's also fairly typical to have post operative posterior capsule opacity that can be cleared up with a YAG laser. I had it done to both of my eyes a year or two later. Cataract Surgery Complications - AllAboutVision.com

Daspydyr 

Good to see you Pam! My right eye is now 20/20. I could read the bathroom scale without my glasses. A whole new world has opened up, the colors are brighter, details are sharper, people have eyes, two of them, not just blurs. This is great. I am going to try a calm ride this evening. But am going on the River MT Loop around Lake Mead Sunday. They didn't give me any restrictions. Your comments have made me stop and think. Maybe I should take some time.

macd55

Had surgery 2 days ago on my right eye. Had a little discomfort but no pain after. I went from 20/70 before to 20/25 after when I went in for a follow up the next day. I was told to limit strenuous activity for about a week.

Side note. I wore a JUST RIDE shirt and the doc asked what kind of bike I rode. Had a nice conversation about bike riding.