Well, Rich’s cataract removal surgery was fourteen months ago – October 2024. How did it work out?

What are Cataracts?

Cataract

Cataracts grow slowly. The gradual reduction in visual acuity is a little like the frog in boiling water. Declining vision is slow but relentless. When is the time to choose surgery…….and does it work?

“My vision gradually diminished. The world looked slightly foggy and I’d see sparkly halos around lights, especially headlights when I’d drive after dark,” Rich remarked.

His Ophthalmologist, Dr. Brian Privett, watched his cataracts slowly grow over several annual routine eye tests. Finally, they both agreed it was time.

Surgery

The surgery was short and easy, at least for Rich. He was lightly sedated. Dr. Privett removed the right eye cataract. A week later he did the same on his left eye. Recovery involved a series of eye drops several times a day for about a month. Then it was all over. Dr. Privett had not only removed the cataracts but improved visual clarity at the same time.

Improvements!

Rich’s vision was much improved, and the halo radiating outward from headlights was reduced. Then, over time, vision began declining. At his annual checkup Dr. Privett found cloudy substances that form under the new cataract lenses. He prescribed a simple laser procedure called a Yag Cap to remove them. One eye this week and another next week.

More than a month’s gone by and Rich says his vision is the best in his life. Driving after dark is spectacularly clear. He only has a bit of occasional cloudiness in his left eye and an occasional floater that Dr. Privett says will vanish in time.

Back Story

Rich’s vision was poor from birth. In adulthood it was around 10/600. “I would have had trouble telling Marion from my brother ten feet away without my glasses,” he said.

Laser surgery in 1997 improved his vision, although he still needed to wear glasses for light corrections. Now, following the subsequent cataract surgery and a little more laser work, he no longer needs to wear glasses. The exception is for very close up work and reading.

Here are things he’s noticed:

• It feels strange not putting on glasses. Sometimes he puts them on out of habit.
• For years his glasses would fog up when he’d come inside on a cold day. That’s no longer an issue.
• Even when glasses correct vision to 20/20, they still slightly degrade vision because there’s always some glare and the lenses gather dust and dirt.
• Because he doesn’t need to wear glasses all the time, he puts them on and takes them off from time to time. He noted, “I’m worried I might put them down and forget where….so they’d be lost.” This was never a problem when wearing them was absolutely necessary every minute.

Safety Reasons to Wear Glasses

Safety glasses

There remains a strong reason to wear glasses, even when they’re not needed for visual acuity. Safety. Rich often operates power saws, drills, mowers, and other tools.

They can flip a wood chip or piece of debris in the eyes. So, he invested in a quality pair of safety glasses. They have a bifocal type lens that allows reading or seeing things closely but no correction.  Safety glasses are inexpensive.

Conclusion

So, at age 76 Rich is enjoying good vision. The best in his life. “My original laser surgery and later cataract removal freed me from glasses and let me see spectacularly well. It’s almost miraculous,” he exclaimed.

For information:  Dr. Privett is at the Iowa Eye Center at iowaeyecenter.com.