Cataract Surgery...has anyone had it?
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TV ClubHouse: Archives: Cataract Surgery...has anyone had it?

Kstme

Wednesday, November 13, 2002 - 07:31 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Some of you know, I don't see so well and really struggle along at a turtle's pace. I have macular degeneration, loss of depth perception and cataracts. (please, no sympathy, I've had this condition a LONG time!)

On Friday, I am supposed to give either a "yea" or "ney" to cataract surgery. This would be fine IF it weren't for other health issues...the lupus/fibro junk.

The odds of recovery and good sight aren't in my favor and I could end up blind. I feel my doctor is pushing me towards the surgery and I'm not comfortable with this. Trust me, I believe in saying "NO" when backed into a corner! I think the main reason he wants me to "try" the surgery is to get me off the predisone drops I take once a day. I've explained to him that the sight I have is better than no sight at all!

A long way of asking, but has anyone in our group had cataract surgery? Has anyone had it with "health issues" even remotely related to mine?

Thanks for ANY input! (i've had other opinions on this and have not been comfortable with their answers either)

Wargod

Wednesday, November 13, 2002 - 09:46 am EditMoveDeleteIP
My aunt just had her second eye done yesterday, Kstme. She is diabtic and years old, so the circumstances are very different from yours, but I'll tell you about her story.

3 years ago, she finally gave in to the pressures of old age and admitted she was near to blind, and driving at the same time. Mom got her to the doctor and they ran a bunch of test. This was the same time we found she was diabetic. She was, oh about 80% blind in one eye, and the other was about 50%.

Jump forward a bit, the diabetes is being treated, she went through major workup and test before they'd do either eye. Then they did the first eye. They decided that since sometimes doing one eye is enough they left the other alone. Within a week or so, she was seeing great. There was still medical issues, but she was seeing great.

Like I said, she had the second one yesterday...again with alot of test and workup from her general practinioner first.

Don't know if that will help you though. Can you get a second opinion? Big hugs coming your way, Kstme!

Zachsmom

Wednesday, November 13, 2002 - 10:08 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Will removing the cataracts help with the vision? I know some people who have Macular Degeneration cannot be helped by surgery and I do believe I heard from someone at one time (years ago) that surgery can exacerbate the MD with surgery. I'd get a second opinion and see if your doctor can give you any names from others who have had this surgery (with similar medical history as yours) and speak with them.

Kstme

Wednesday, November 13, 2002 - 10:54 am EditMoveDeleteIP
War...thanks so much!

Zmom and War...I've had "fourth" opinions and it's the lupus plus the MD that is the major roadblock...that's what makes the odds so bad.

Eight years ago, I was temporarily almost completely blind due to hemorrhaging in one eye and swelling of vessels in the other. Massive amounts of cortisone and a whole lot of good luck, my vision bounced back, after 9 months, to where it is now. I quit driving then but unbelievably, still have a license!! It was those massive doses that caused the cataracts!

Fortunately, eye problems such as mine are VERY uncommon and rare in Lupus patients, so it would extremely hard to talk to someone about this. That's why I thought I'd try this data base. My m-i-l (the vitch) had cataract surgery and doesn't understand what the big deal is...LOL. Hers was a breeze, very much like your Aunt, War. I'm so glad her surgery went well!!

Thanks again so much you two!

Theowl

Wednesday, November 13, 2002 - 11:21 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Oh My Gawd Kstme!! Have you ever heard of Pars Planitis???? It sounds like you have what I have!! I don't have Lupus though. My problem started in 1981 and with the corisone shots (Yes, shot directly into the eyeball!!) it has stopped. There is SOOO much that you said that sounds like me, it's unbelievable. PP is very rare, and when I got it, only 4 people in the country had it. I was going to the best retina specialist in the country at Univ. of Mich. in Ann Arbor. I had cryo treatment (sometimes worse than the shots!!) and different surgerys. THEN about 6 years ago, the distorted vision was becoming blurry. I had cataracts. The first one took a while for me to see a difference, but it did work. 3 years ago, I had the other eye done. It really made a BIG difference. The blurry, distorted vision was sooo much clearer. It sounds stupid, but it really was an improvement. It's funny that you broght this up now, because I just went to my eye dr. yesterday. He did all the usual tests and everything is still stable. Do you have Glaucoma? That is another big problem with this disease. I'm on inflammatory drops in both eyes twice a day for the rest of my life. Does any of this sound familiar are help you at all??

Kstme

Wednesday, November 13, 2002 - 11:41 am EditMoveDeleteIP
OWL! YES! I swore I would NEVER have those shots again as long as I live!!! Sometimes, my left eye STILL waters and drives me insane! I think they damaged a tear duct, but they won't admit it!

As for what it was called, I'm not sure. With so many problems with Uvitis and Iritis and cells seperating here and there, I've lost track.

What do you take? I still use Pred Forte 1% and have since 1985. If I try to quit, the eye begins hemorrhaging again.

Owl, I was told IF the eye heals...Lupus inhibits healing...I "may" or "may not" see. The MD will still be there and may worsen, the loss of depth preception won't go away and may also worsen. BUT...on the upside...LOL...there IS a 30% chance I will see, as you described, "better." I'm just not sure I like having only a 30% chance of "any" success.

Thank goodness your eyes are stable!!!!!! Makes for a HAPPY DAY in my book!and No, I do not have glaucoma! Thankfully!

Calamity

Wednesday, November 13, 2002 - 11:41 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Kstm: My grandmother and two of my great-aunts have had the operation. My grandma had it done on both eyes (separate surgeries), and despite being diabetic, ended up with almost perfect 20/20 vision.

Her younger sister had it done on one eye and still needs glasses most of the time but her case is complicated by ocular rosacea.

Earlier this year, her older sister had it done on one eye. She also has macular degeneration. While her vision is still very poor, she can once again distinguish colors and her depth perception has improved slightly.

So all three benefited to some degree from the surgery. Every case is different though, of course, and I think doing anything to the eye has to be considered quite risky. You shouldn't let yourself be pressured into undergoing any procedure that you are concerned about.

You might want to look at Yahoogroups or usenet forums for people with lupus/fibromyalgia to find out about how those conditions might affect the surgery.

Best of luck to you :) .

Kstme

Wednesday, November 13, 2002 - 11:46 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Calamity...THANKS for your input! Because ot the rarity in Lupus/Fibro patients those boards haven't been much help over the last month. Crunch time is now and I have to make a decision. What absolutely wonderful news for your sister!! Does she think she will have the other eye done also?

Zachsmom

Wednesday, November 13, 2002 - 11:47 am EditMoveDeleteIP
In all honesty Kstme..30% chance is not a great number..and I don't want to be negative..but Lupus can be a very serious illness. I know the meds that you must be taking can be a pain to take right now..but if you go through with this surgery are you willing to take the greater risk and lose all of your eyesight? Think long and hard about it..because it's not reversable.

If they were telling you 90% chance I'd be more encouraging for you to try the surgery..but it's seems like such a small number and a greater risk..

Kstme

Wednesday, November 13, 2002 - 11:52 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Zmom...I'm taking a STRONG lean towards saying "no" at this time. We've been bouncing this around for two years and I think the dr. has finally decided "it's p*ss or get off the pot"...LOL The ONLY meds I take are for my eyes and for some reason have not had an allergic reaction to the drops! <crossing fingers and holding my breath> I think if I heard some REALLY positive feedback, I'd be a "tiny bit" more willing to go forward.

Calamity

Wednesday, November 13, 2002 - 12:07 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Hi Kstme: I doubt my great-aunt who has MD will have the other eye done. It won't improve her vision enough that risking surgery is worth it (she's quite elderly). The younger one, though, may have the other eye done sometime in the future. It depends on her ocular rosacea. That makes the eye very dry which interferes with the healing process.

We have a family friend with MS and she says she has found a lot of "real-life" information and advice on the mailings lists. I just did a quick check on Yahoogroups and there are quite a few support lists for people with lupus. They might offer you more help.

Kstme

Friday, November 15, 2002 - 07:47 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Update...visit this morning with eye doc. He was in an excellent mood this morning and it was EARLY! It was a good news, bad news situation, but it worked out great for me. We've postponed any further discussion of cataract surgery until next May. We'll revaluate at that time.

Thanks again for everyone's input! Calamity, I've been to a TON of those sites and unfortunately, my problem is so rare most Lupus/fibro patients think I'm from Mars, but thanks anyway.