Cataract surgery

[Dan Druff]

Starting from around my 50th birthday, I noticed a weird phenomenon with my right eye.

If a room abruptly got dark (such as switching off a light at night), my night vision in my right eye would occasionally go to almost zero. This was scary the first time it happened, but if I turned the light back on, my vision would be normal again. This also only happened with the right eye, and only seemed to occur once in awhile. I never had night vision problems outside, such as when I was driving. This only seemed to occur from abrupt transitions from full light to darkness, such as turning off a light switch.

At a recent doctors appointment, I was told that eye has cataracts, though it's mild right now. That is highly likely to be the reason for what I'm experiencing. I just thought of it right now because it occurred a short time ago when I turned off the light in the room.

I know that you can get vision correction along with cataract surgery, where they can bring you back to 20/20, and it isn't likely to induce farsightedness at age 45+ the same way typical laser eye surgery does. (This is why they don't recommend laser eye surgery to correct nearsightedness once you reach middle age.)


I can live with this cataracts issue for now, since it really only tends to affect me when I'm about to go to bed anyway. As I said, it never happens to me while driving at night. However, eventually I will need to address this, and perhaps it would be better to do it soon, so I can also get the benefit of vision correction.

Has anyone done this before?

[Sanlmar]

My wife is blond and blue eyed and she had to get cataract surgery. I have not. I have brown eyes.

We both met while quite young and together have spent our lives in the sun. We were not too diligent about eye protection.

I wrote her cataracts off to the Scandinavian genes. A people who live there lives in darkness, thus the lack of pigmentation.


Would desert nomads like Druff’s people be less susceptible? Turns out there exists an argument that dark color attracts more light and heat and is more likely to suffer cataracts.

I really never went down this rabbit hole.


They recommend NOT getting both eyes done at the same time. I cannot immediately remember why but I thought it odd.

[Dan Druff]

I don't know if eye color has to do with it.

I have blue-green eyes, and Ben has blue eyes.

[Bilbodoggins]

I had lasik eye surgery in my 40's and it was the best medical decision I've ever made. I had worn glasses since 4th grade, 20/300, 20/400 vision.
Suddenly I was near 20/20. old fashaioned eye surgery was painful with a long recovery time but modern Lasik is much different. I had both eyes done at the same time (no real reason not to). Took about 20 minutes. I sat in a dark room for about 30 minutes after and that was it! My eyes were a little sore and gritty for a couple of days but the improvement in vision was truly miraculous.
I don't know about getting cataract and lasikat the same time. Do some google research.

[Sanlmar]

I don't know if eye color has to do with it.

I have blue-green eyes, and Ben has blue eyes.

Would appear not to, I guess.

Kids are better about bike helmets, sun glasses and water bottles than we were.

I lived a concussed life of perpetual dehydration and rarely used sun screen or sun glasses. Who knew?

[OK2]

Had an uncle younger than you at the time get this done a decade ago and he was A-OK after. Drives a ferry & other related work so was immediately necessary.

Probably not a fun time though.

I can hit him up for more feedback if you want

Tall, Handsome with brown eyes if San was curious.

[OK2]

I had lasik eye surgery in my 40's and it was the best medical decision I've ever made. I had worn glasses since 4th grade, 20/300, 20/400 vision.
Suddenly I was near 20/20. old fashaioned eye surgery was painful with a long recovery time but modern Lasik is much different. I had both eyes done at the same time (no real reason not to). Took about 20 minutes. I sat in a dark room for about 30 minutes after and that was it! My eyes were a little sore and gritty for a couple of days but the improvement in vision was truly miraculous.
I don't know about getting cataract and lasikat the same time. Do some google research.

20/400? Raise!

I have 20/1100 in both and still managed to represent my state at rugby when younger LOL. I did grab a kids head with headgear one time in a game with bad light thinking it was the ball. 80+ people including myself had a good laugh at me for that.

They can't do surgery for me last time I looked into it.

[Dan Druff]

I had lasik eye surgery in my 40's and it was the best medical decision I've ever made. I had worn glasses since 4th grade, 20/300, 20/400 vision.
Suddenly I was near 20/20. old fashaioned eye surgery was painful with a long recovery time but modern Lasik is much different. I had both eyes done at the same time (no real reason not to). Took about 20 minutes. I sat in a dark room for about 30 minutes after and that was it! My eyes were a little sore and gritty for a couple of days but the improvement in vision was truly miraculous.
I don't know about getting cataract and lasikat the same time. Do some google research.

Glad it worked out for you. The cataract surgery involves a lens replacement and is not the same as lasik.

I'm glad the Lasik worked out for you. Many people who got it in their 40s now have farsightedness issues, and need reading glasses.

Being nearsighted, it's actually impossible for me to get very farsighted. My close vision is still good (though not as good as in my 20s/30s), but it's terrible when I have my glasses on to correct the nearsightedness. The only solution is to get those glasses which have graduated lenses, but I find those annoying so I won't do it. I just take my glasses off when I need to see close up.

[Cerveza Fria]

So, I had PRK on both eyes back in 2000. this is not the same as Cataract Surgery. PRK is similar to LASIK, involving the reshaping of a lens. Cataract Surgery, if done by a competent Doc, is relatively simple and painless and has a high success rate. I know several people who have done it and were able to resume normal activities within a day or so. Don't do it until you NEED to and don't do both eyes at the same time (in case something goes wrong).

[BCR]

Both my parents have had cataract surgery in last few years. I’m sure it’s in my future but probably a few decades away.

Neither got vision corrected. My only recommendation as you seem to get tilted by offices that run poorly, is pick a good time as possible. Ask when they are least busy. Really ask about best time options. My father has gotten a little impatient as he’s gotten older and it really took me damn near putting my hand on his shoulder to sit him back down as he was ready to bolt before, after, every pre-appointment despite it being illogical. They also did the one eye at a time thing just in case there is some adverse effect they don’t anticipate, so it makes whole process a pain in the ass. Me telling my dad of course you have to go have second done because he was grumpy at the whole process.

When you get into cataract surgery and knee replacements and shit like that, it’s really the medial industrial complex. These doctors print money and tend to schedule all these procedures on top of each and squeeze more patients than they should into each day they’re doing it. The appointments leading up to the procedure were the same. Every step was a hours long wait and it felt like they were herding cattle. It’s one of the rare times you’ll feel quite young though as you’re on low end of cataract surgery. My area is really old and the highly rated guys are super busy, so maybe better where you’re at.

Also get a detailed breakdown of every single cost. My mom caught some large bill after that wasn’t detailed despite having good insurance and being covered a few different ways in addition to Medicare and spent a few days trying to get it ironed out. I know if you pop up with some bill that you didn’t expect after you’ve paid in full, you’ll be going to war. Anything that caters to mostly seniors is a racket.



As far as lasik, I’ve been looking at it again recently. I had glasses in second grade, every sports picture from my childhood I look like Kurt Rambis with the glasses and strap. My vision was really bad young and my parents always had to pay for special lenses so they wouldn’t be six inches thick. I transitioned to contacts at like 12, never had an issue, but strangely my vision has improved on every visit since about 35. Struck me as weird, but they say it’s fairly common.

But like two years ago, I just all of a sudden couldn’t read texts. It went that quick. Typical presbyopia where I’d need cheaters, but got the contacts that are multi focal lenses. One contact for dominant and all that.

They work great for like three months, but you never get them quite right. It’s like a paradoxical effect where you almost have to give up a little far sight to retain near sight. I can read 98% of shit, but super fine print on stuff I’m guessing or pulling up app on phone to blow it up.

So I didn’t think it was corrected by lasik, I was under that belief for some reason, but it is.

I’ve always put off lasik for 20+ years because I didn’t want to be the 1 in a hundred with the issues and halo effect shit that persists and contacts worked fine, but I’ve been researching them again and pretty sure I’ll pull the trigger when the weather gets better. I don’t like the local guys, so I’ll go to Pittsburgh and don’t want to catch weather. I’m shocked I’ve put it off this many years, but I’m pulling the trigger this time because I can tell they’re never going to get these bifocal contact lenses right in a way that lasts beyond a few months

I miss the old days on NWP where I felt like the old guy at early 30s. It’s now an AARP forum where we kvetch about our aging related maladies.

[Sanlmar]

@BCR

I was truly struck by the high volume assembly line during my wife’s cataract experience. Line of people in and line of people marching out.

Kind of a New England ramble for country978. Our family has gone to the same eye doctor forever. Didn’t think much about the choice. Noticed a huge decline in care post Covid. During Covid the doctors couldn’t work and they all drifted off. Eye care was not considered critical and all eye appointments were cancelled. I truly hate going there and remain only because I know good medical care is a unicorn and I’m likely to never find anything better.

These eye practices all have the eye glass sales for incremental revenue but outfits like Warby Parker are rewriting the pricing.

Cataract and Lasik surgery are a cash cow.

Ernie Boch Jr is the scion of a car dealership dynasty in our area. He’s worth $600m by some estimates. I have a buddy who married into the family and was a subcontractor for sound installation and such. Boch hooked him up sweet with all their work. My friend is very wealthy in his own right through his association with Boch.

I’ve been invited to some Boch family parties thanks to my friend. The luxury and wealth that Boch and his kids experience is still incomprehensible to me. Their lives have absolutely nothing in common with ours. I could go on forever about the house and the luxury appointments you would never think of. They live in a parallel universe. They share none of our concerns and values. Very very interesting to witness first hand.

Who do I meet at the first Boch party? The owner of the eye practice we go to. He is an eye doctor, as well, like his father before him. The eye doctor has the kind of wealth that permits him access to this insane circle. Eye care is clearly a good gig.

Took every ounce of restraint not to tell him his office sucks cock now.

[ftpjesus]

I don't know if eye color has to do with it.

I have blue-green eyes, and Ben has blue eyes.

I can’t say for sure but my mom just had both eyes done for cataracts age 75 and blue eyes. Likely some genetic component as my grandmother her mother had similar done in early to mid 70s. (Same with both hips needing to be replaced around 70). Which likely explains my own back issues somewhat. Mother grandmother uncle (moms sister) aunt (moms sister) all have had back surgery some younger rhen others although in my case it was intiated by bloody ferno manual stretchers used in medic units in the 1990s and then significant work injury in 2004 which I should’ve had a decompression for and ultimately the half of flight of stairs in 2011 where I finished destroying the disc in my lower back and cracked the vertebrae. Also I guess given my grandfather and uncle and now my older cousin having soem male issues I can look forward to prostate bullshit in 10 yrs when I approach 60.

[FRANKRIZZO]

You should go see an Opthalmologist right away. Both my wife and I wear glasses. Was guided to eye doctor by person checking my vision. Said nothing he could do for me there are cells lacking, this was over 10 years ago my vision is luckily okay. All the best. I have a stigmatism in one eye I have bifocals not noticeable Surprised my son has 20/2o vision. Used to wear contacts started irritating me slept with them seven days then took out for a day. Not that vain anymore.

[sonatine]

how to test if you need lasik;

tilt your screen, then close one eye.

[GrenadaRoger]

I don't know if eye color has to do with it.

I have blue-green eyes, and Ben has blue eyes.

according to my eye doctor, blue eyed people are more likely to require cataract surgery

everyone has some cataract, but many are not severely impacted by it

what is of risk to most people is macular degeneration...if caught early it can be stopped...annual check up recommended starting at age 50

[AhoosierA]

Time for you to start smoking weed druff.

[dmndkutr]

Druff after negotiating to use a coupon for his surgery:

[Dan Druff]

I don't know if eye color has to do with it.

I have blue-green eyes, and Ben has blue eyes.

according to my eye doctor, blue eyed people are more likely to require cataract surgery

everyone has some cataract, but many are not severely impacted by it

what is of risk to most people is macular degeneration...if caught early it can be stopped...annual check up recommended starting at age 50

Yes this is why I am on the fence about doing anything about my right eye cataract. Impact to my life is extremely minimal at this time. It's basically just that weird sensation which occurs only once in awhile when I abruptly turn off a light in my bedroom. But as I said, if I turn the light back on, it's back to normal, and my driving is never affected (the transition to outdoor darkness is more gradual and usually less dark).

On the plus side though, I will get my vision corrected, at least in that eye.

But not sure I want to do a whole lens replacement thing when it's not really necessary right now. My dad eventually needed it (significant cataracts on both eyes), so it's probably just a matter of time.

[Sloppy Joe]

Druff at 2023 WSOP:



Sadly it appears that Hal Lubaraky has fallen on hard times and that blind poker is about as profitable as crimming it up to 'advantage play' slots at shitbag casinos.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/ntba8-help-hal

Give generously.

[Dan Druff]

While Hal was an inspiring story in the 2000s, I am always leery of these healthcare-related Gofundme drives.

This is because poor people qualify for full and free healthcare (and have long before Obamacare), and even the semi-poor get insurance for free. I don't know anything about post-surgery treatments for kidney transplants, but knowing what I do of health insurance, I am surprised none of that is covered. I don't feel like looking it up, but I'm guessing there might be more to this story.

Often you can negotiate with these hospitals and clinics, as well, especially if you are broke and need critical care. Some people either don't know they can do this, or just don't feel like it, and prefer others just foot the bill.

I don't know Hal's exact story and I won't bother to guess, but needless to say I've made it a policy never to donate to medical Gofundmes. And in the few cases where friends or friendly acquaintances have expressed to me that they can't afford some surgery or procedure, my first question is always involving the full details of the situation, to where I can possibly help them to bring the cost way down.