A good friend of mine has cataract surgeries scheduled for both eyes coming up pretty soon - not both done at the same time however. He is a bit nervous about getting this done & I don't blame him. My Dad had one of his eyes done when he was in his early 80's & I don't really remember how good the result was - he didn't talk much about it.

Anyway, I know I'll need this procedure some day - my eye doctor said I have some forming.

So what have your experiences been (obviously for those of you that have had this done)? Are there different types of remedies? Different methods of surgery? Did your vision return to normal & without problems afterword? Please tell!

I had mine done 7 years ago and the results were fantastic. No pain and it was done quickly and clear sight came back super fast.I didn't realize how bad my sight had gotten. Everything was bright and clear like a whole new world. Today I had cloudy lens zapped. It took about three minutes and again my sight sharpened up tremendously. Next Tuesday I get the other eye done. The procedure is called YAG. What has happened over the years is a kind of film grew over my lenses and caused my sight to get blurry. It sneaks up on you and you don't notice until it gets bad. This is something that normally happens years after the cataract surgery and is very easy to fix. Once its done the film can't ever come back. Tell your friend to relax and don't worry. It's well worth the day or two aggravation. Be prepared to be amazed at the change.

I had mine done a couple of years ago Had one done, waited a couple of weeks and then had the other done. Excellent results. Everyone I know who has had this done is very happy.

Just finished this up. There a lot more things to consider than just removing the cataracts. I have SS and a supplemental plan. They gave me 3 options on the type of lens. Out of pocket cost ranged from $0 - $10K. The type of lens determains if you want to wear glasses and what kind of glasses, or no glasses at all.

Surgery was simple. Numbing eye drops and some kind of anesthesia. I had 1 eye done with anesthesia, procedure seemed to last 5 min. Felt bad afterwards with the anesthesia. Second eye, no anesthesia, no pain, but the procedure seemed to last forever. Crazy thing was you could see the new lens being placed in

I had both eyes done and am very pleased with the results. As mentioned in an earlier post, there are 3 levels of lens with a wide range of cost. In my case, I chose the 'distance' lens with supplemental reading glasses for close work.

I'm very squeamish and was worried about being awake. I was put into a 'twilight sleep' and only recall one event during the procedures. No trouble at all.

You'll find a dramatic improvement to your eyesight after the work is done.

I've had both eyes done and have been VERY happy with the results of both. Mine were done about 3 years apart. The surgery was quick and simple, no pain whatsoever. Both eyes were 20/50 vision before surgery, both surgeries were done mid-day. I had to go in the first thing next morning for the recheck after both surgeries, and the first surgery, that eye went to 20/20 at recheck and the 2nd went to 20/15. Both have remained at that for my distance vision. I can read the VIN on a Gnats leg at 200 yards....lol. I still have to wear my glasses to read for any extended period, but I can see close up plenty good enough to return a text, etc. They did offer to put in a lense on the second eye to correct that, but I declined because I don't mind wearing reading glasses. I'd do it again in a heartbeat if I had to, so tell your friend to go in fearless and enjoy his renewed vision afterwards.

Guess it's about 3 years since mine, brought on by a detached retina in my left eye; learned a lot from my ophthalmologist & surgeons:

Our eyes change shape over time, everyone will get cataracts to some degree, and I'm still blown away at how eyes work.
Corrective lens in rt eye is OK, but still need reading glasses - depending on your eyesight, may not be worth additional cost.
Medicare & my Plan G (Mutual of Omaha) covered surgery; corrective lens I paid for, think it was $1000.
The post-surgery eye drops are covered if you have med coverage - kinda spendy.
Those eye drops and the 1st day or so after surgery keeping your face down, no exertion, aren't particularly fun but not a big deal vs. having good eyesight.
The improvement in colors you'll see afterwards - more blue, basically - is pretty amazing.
During surgery - zero pain, and actually pretty psychedelic vision - 1st one, I was narrating to them and was apparently entertaining them, until the Doc finally had to tell me to be quiet
Take the recovery seriously and the odds are very high - 90-some percent - you'll be better off. Nothing to fear.

68 now and my eye doctor has been watching my cataracts for five years or so. I have a little trouble driving in the rain especially with these damn bright headlights. But I hear a lot of guys complaining about that. 4 years ago she noticed my vent hole in my eyes were closing and pressure was going up. She sent my to a specialist three miles away and he used a laser to make a new vent (drain) hole In each eye one week apart. Zero issues with that. Same guy will probably be doing my cataracts when needed.

i would need to be put to sleep, as i can't stand anyone touching my eyes except myself.
it is tough just letting my eye doctor touch my eyes for the glaucoma [?] test they do...........
i have cataracts forming in both eyes, and believe it or not, they are allowing my eyes to see distance now without needing my glasses !
i still need "cheaters" to read and work up [kinda'] close, so i have about a hunderd of them [] scattered about the house and shop, as well as a few pairs in "the bus" and several jackets and coats.

^^^ That's what I thought too, but they don't want that.
Eye needs to be open & not moving, for obvious reasons.
No worries, I didn't feel a thing.
It was actually fascinating.

Recent eye exam about 4-5 weeks ago showed that the pressure in my eyes is also elevated - like around 22-23. They want it under 20. Both eyes have been like this since at least 1-1/2 years ago. Now my eye doc is sending me to a glaucoma specialist. I see her on 10/4. Fingers crossed I am not into the onset of glaucoma. She also does cataracts. My eye doc appointment a year & a half ago showed I have cataracts forming. There are some things where you just can't defeat the clock!

My wife going next week for both, scared to death, I might be next this year. Both 75

I had both done several years ago.

The doctor choose to do them separately, I think it was about three weeks apart.

I got the "standard" lenses and they have been just fine and have had zero problems. I did follow all the post op instructions faithfully.

I too was very apprehensive for the first one but after the drugs they gave me I could have cared less. It was over before I knew it.

The Anesthesiologist said during the second operation I fell asleep and was snoring. I guess that is a good sign that was not worried about anything.

A local old guy, Vietnam vet had both eyes done on consecutive days and he is happier than all heck now on the results, brighter colors and a lot more details seen now by him

Had my eyes (lenses) lasered twice. One for far vision at like 40. Best thing I ever did. Then by 55 my near vison was terrible and I HATE READERS (wearing them now). I had my one eye lasered for close vision the 2nd time. They call that mono vision. Doc said its not for everyone. Took about a year for my brain to rewire so I didn't think what eye to use. But was never a big deal. Now 7 years later, at 62. I need new lenses. My close vision is shot again. Not everyone gets new lenses because of cataracts. The lenses get hard and wont flex (focus anymore). Thats what I'm up against now. I looked at all the fancy lenses but all had limitations like needing glasses for either near or far or they caused halos or poor night vision. I was kinda thinking I'll probably do the mono vision again with the low tech cheapo lenses, but I still need to confirm.

I had my eyes dont at a place in Grand Blanc, MI. First time I went there the place was PACKED with cars. I walked into the wrong door/area and it was like a triage. Many, many OLD people (like us). Doctor told me they do 200 lense surgeries a day on Thursdays. They have like 12 doctors. Place is owned by a husband and wife othamologist team $$$$$ I'll probably use them again. Least I know they have EXPERIENCE

Had both eyes done. I'm 60 and had them done 4 and 6 years ago. Have many eye issues so my answer will be a bit different. I've had detached retina's and tears so they left a lot of floaters. Due to the damage, doctor told me I'd have cataracts sooner than normal. Have noticed 3 problems. First, floaters are much more in focus. Second, I've notice that with the new lenses, I have distance issues. I tend now to need to look down and watch where I'm walking a lot more. Third is not a big deal but many times, about a year after getting the new lense, you will need to go back and get about 15 zaps with a laser. A film starts growing on the lense. Once zapped, it should never come back. Lucky me I had it on both lenses. Due to eye surgeries I was used to getting zapped so no big deal.

maybe all i need are the "good drugs" ?.................

Have heard that "secondary cataract" issue where when a foreign object is put in your eyes (the new lenses) they will try to grow fibers over it. Kinda like scar tissue. Then you have to go BACK under the knife and have it removed - by laser. Doesn't happen to everyone but common enough.

LOL, yep I could have cared less that they where touching my eye, you will be fine!

No knife involved just a quick 2minute zap. Did it Tuesday and no issues at all. Bowled my regular league today being able to see much much better. No knife ever involved in cataract surgery just a laser .