Cataract Surgery

[morgandawn]

 I've done some reading online but no one is answering these questions. My mom is gong for cataract surgery on both eyes. Eye 1 will be first and then a month later eye 2 She is nearsighted and needs to wear glasses to walk, eat, drive, watch TV, move about safely

1. During the one month between the 2 operations - how will she see? Her old glasses will not work on Operated Eye. I've read some people had to pop out the one lens of the old glasses so they can see

2. During the weeks after Second Eye surgery she will have even worse vision. Neither eyes will be able to see through her old glasses. They will give her a new prescription BUT.......

The doctor told her they will not give her a new prescription until one month after her second surgery. It will then take another 4-6 weeks for those new glasses to be made. What is she supposed to do for those 2 months? She is a senior at risk for falls and relies on good vision to walk safely

The new lens will most likely be fixed to give her 20/20 long distance vision.  She will have to use reading glasses or bifocals to read. She will also have problems with computer work - most progressives offer too small a 'slice' for middle vision (computer work)

Comments

[goss]

(*waves hi* - here via network)

I've read some people had to pop out the one lens of the old glasses so they can see

*nods* My dad did this when he first had the procedure done on one eye.


What is she supposed to do for those 2 months?

I am surprised that the surgeries for both eyes are scheduled only one month apart.

My two parents (aged 73 and 80) have each had cataract surgery (my mother is actually a retired nurse who specialized in assisting with eye surgeries) and they did both eyes like 6 months apart, so as to prevent having to deal with such a situation.

[morgandawn]

Thank you.

I am leaning towards having my Mom's fixed lens set to "reading" - that way she can use bifocals for driving/watching TV (top) and reading speedometer/using the microwave/looking inside the fridge (bottom).

To read, she's remove her glasses

These same bifocals would also work for her at work/office.

There is pressure to get the fixed lens set to long distance, but then for driving she's had to have odd bifocals - nothing at the top and middle range (speedometer) bottom. Then yet a second pair with middle (top) and reading (bottom).

She will not be driving for much longer. She is 84

She does not do well with progressives.

[catalenamara]

Wow, interesting. Most of the people I know (in their 60s and 70s) had the operations done on Fridays and went back to driving to work the following Mondays. I don't know what their vision acuity was, however.