Catact surgery- Yes or No ?

[frwbeach]

   Just some input from someone that had complications from cataract surgery.
Let me start by saying that I agree with the statement that complications are rare.
The only part left out for me was that- there are quite a few factors that can effect that %.

      I do know of many that are extremely happy after cataract surgery  and only a few outside these sites that are not .  My current doc is by his own admission very conservative in his approach.  He did have some interesting and what I feel excellant observations that I have not read in any posts or in any artiicles.

      He said that when evaluating patients he looks at working age patients a bit differently than older retired patients.
Not because of age but because that patients that are of working age seem to have more problems adjusting to implants and reading vision where as  many older patients are very happy with much improved distance vision and those that do require distance correction many time don't even bother to wear glasses. Also as far as reading many of the older patients are already dealing with reading glasses and bi foculs and to them any new reading glasses are just that--only new glasses.  He also said that although complications are rare-if there are some- the older patients handle them much better--again because the drops for dry eye  and other acuity related issues are just not that important at that stage of their lifes.    

       I am not saying that this doc is a genius or anything but it really seems to make a lot of sense to me.   I have had complications and resulting severe dry eye-  The drops I take ( Celluvisc- only ones that work and tryed dozens and yes there are dozens out there ) leave me with really unusable vision for about 15-20 mins. and blurry for about
3/4 of an hour ( my vision is 20-50 20-60 to start with and doc says that makes it worse so I do not know how it effects 20-20 vision )   . I cannot drive or work right now so when I take my drops its a relief and just listen to music or sit outside for a while until I can watch Tv or be on comp.   If I were retired It would be no big deal-- however I was 52 and lost a very good job and company car-- and that is a big deal because disability does not recognize eyesight issues unless your legally blind ( I am not ) or lost quite a bit of your periferal vision ( I have only lost 10 -15 % ).

I guess what I am saying is that if you are of working age at least consider the situation at length. My vision before catarct surgery was giving me problems and making  work a bit difficult at times-- now I can't work at all .  I should have waited till retirement if I could have ( no way of knowing how long I could have but wasn't at that point yet )

   I believe that  Dr J is from Kansas and I must say while searching for help in employment for sight impaired. the only state with any kind of real help was Kansas. I actually found a site that would place low vision professional people in job situations that are adjusted to ones ability. I wish I could name the organization but I was searching in my home state ( no luck ) and don't have it-- But for people like me that need large monitor - large fonts to function on the computer-its no problem and they even have jobs adjusted to the lenght of time you can work- I can only work an hour or two tops without eye pain and must rest- flush eyes and take Celluvisc.  I have had a few responses to on line resumes and some could and would take care of the special equipment--but the time factor and logistics  was a problem and of yet have not had any luck in my state .

      PS  Disability sent me to an eye doc who listed all the obvious conditions and even said that it is understandable that I cannot do my job ( 32 years working with numbers ) but that my vision isn't that bad and there must be something I can do. So make dag gone sure you will be able to do your job after any surgery .
    

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

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[JodieJ]

I have some experience with disability claims from the work I do.  I'm not sure whether my information will be of any use to you, but I'm going to send you a private message.

[frwbeach]

   Thanks for your concern. I actually was very depressed and had trouble dealing with not working after 30 some years and puting in 50-60 hours a week ( by choice ) I went to a professional and am doing much better. I am not disabled due to the mental aspect and if I could see more clearly without pain I could work . My Orthopedic surgeon went bonkers when he heard I was declined- you see I have very bad joints due to a severe knee injury- torn rotator cuff- and arthritis of the right hand as well as something else I can't spell LOL .   He said they see patients every day on disability due to arthritis that isn't near as severe as mine. He did a physical assesment report and wrote a letter to the disability people .  My laywer may use it but I am ticked because I worked many years bone on bone in my right knee with pain so bad I crawled up the steps at night--I refused to let them fuse the joint and put me on disability years ago and continued to work in pain. In fact my last x-ray shows nearly half my knee cap worn away from walking bone on bone and with a bad joint.  Point is that it wasn't my knee that made me unable to work--It was my sight and I feel sorry for any eye doctor that can't take the time to understand someones pain and limitations and at least rty to help ( as my Orthopedic Doc has done without being asked )  Then for any doctor to say that a patient  in constant pain and low vision " isn't that bad "  has totally forgotten his oath.
My latest doc who actually has helped with both vision and comfort level at least initialed
a exam update with some  mention of limitations and the discomforts . ( but not a formal letter )

   I have spent tens of thousands of dollars--seen nearly a dozen specialists--spent over $ 1,200 on various glasses in order to try and get to a level were I can work at least part time.  I have e-mailed specialists asking for them to give an expert opinion on  some of the diagnosis and procedures  as they relate to function and they will not. I am not looking for a  Orthopedic doc or Mental Health expert to get me approved-- I am just looking for an honest , concerned eye specialist to write a letter on how the various
diagnosed problems effect ones ability to function .  I even had one Glaucoma specialist tell me that he understands the problems and not just the ones from Glaucoma but he
doesn't have time for all paperwork , He said " I can't do everything "   Even my PCP who suggested Disability and even gave me the phone # for the local office , 6 months before I applied said she was not qualifies to get involved.  I told her " Well then when a patient comes to you for nerve medicine because of the stress from not being able to do most of the job they have done for 30 years, don't recommend disability because your not qualified "     sorry for the rant- I just came upstairs after ruining a project I have been working on for a month because I couldn't see to get things lined up and missed  some holes and the project went crashing to the floor ( now I have several projects at once lol )
Oh well-      I  do feel we are our brothers keepers and dispite burning through all the money I saved working 30+ years and a negative cash flow-- My wife and I are donating
large print hymnals to a local church for the elderly that cannot read the reg hymnals .
Again very sorry for the rant--Thanks for the suggestion but win or lose I am going to
go about it from the honest aspect--sight . Its like a fellow from Florida told me one time--
If you are not falling over things-running into things- and look otherwise normal it really doesn't matter how poor your vision is-you are normal to everyone else .

[JodieJ]

I was sorry to read about your truly unfortunate experience.  You may not be eligible for disability benefits based on your vision loss, but you might be eligible for those benefits based on the depression it has caused.  You would need a sympathetic mental health professional to do the paperwork.  If your disability were approved, you would then be eligible for (at no cost to you) vocational rehabilitation--i.e., whatever it takes to retrain you in another line of work.