My Experience

After successful treatment for wet macular degeneration in my right eye, I then needed cataract surgery to allow for better vision in the eye.

The retina specialist recommended the surgeon that would do the cataract surgery. I made an appointment to meet with him and got a complete medical evaluation and was given very detailed instructions, including medications, a plastic patch to be used for one week following the surgery when I slept, large dark glasses to be used for eye protection, a video describing the surgery and a pamphlet with details about the surgery. I made another appointment a week before the surgery and a week after the surgery. It was all very well organized.

I was told to start taking certain eye drops the day before the surgery and not to eat after midnight. The day of the surgery I had to take different eye drops 30 minutes apart for two hours before the surgery.

The receptionist was very pleasant and graciously took all the necessary information needed on the day of surgery. I waited a short time before going into another room where I was told to wash by face and was given a cap to cover my head. I was then told where to sit and they took my blood pressure. I was then brought to a bed with a warm blanket. I was given more eye drops and medication to numb the eye and the area around the eye.

I then met with my surgeon; I liked his warm sense of humor and easy manner, it was very confidence-inspiring. I had a lot of questions and he took the time to answer each question in detail. I was given medication that put me in a semi-conscious state and twenty minutes later I was awakened and did not feel anything; the procedure was painless. I was given something to drink and after a short time the nurse went through the post-surgery instructions once again.

I stayed home that day and rested. The next day I went to my scheduled appointment with the surgeon who said everything looked good. I went with a friend to lunch and the next day went back to work. There was a little discomfort in the eye for the first couple of days but I continued to use the eye drops every four hours as instructed.

The following week I went back to my appointment with the surgeon and only needed to take the eye drops twice a day for the next three weeks. I have another appointment scheduled for next week with the surgeon when I will be getting a new prescription for glasses. Two weeks ago I had an appointment with the retina specialist and was able to read two additional lines on the eye chart. This was a big improvement as I was not sure how much of my vision was lost due to the macular degeneration or due to the cataract that developed in the eye. Until I get the new prescription glasses I will not appreciate the full change in my vision.