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Concerns about what my doctors is recommending
Hi Dr. Hagan,
I'm taking my time saying "yes" to cataract surgery because I'm not sure if I will be able to accept the
change my doctor is suggesting. I'm highly myopic RT: -12.00 -3.50 021 LT -10.00 -9.25 120.
I've never used a bifocal or progressive lense. To read or see the computer I simple slide my
distance glasses up and down my nose. My entire life I've had difficulity getting use to a new
perscription and any distortion on the lens edges.
My doctor is my glaucoma specialist. He has never asked me how I want to see and maybe that's good
because I don't what to expect when the surgery is finished. This bothers me greatly.
He told me he plans to use a plain -2 implant in each eye and does not plan to give me 20/20 vision.
The implant he said would allow me to read, use the computer and see some distance within a 10 x 10 or
12 room. I would need distance glasses for driving and distance but not achieve 20/20.
My concern is that I'm very used to seeing distance clear and close up blurry. I'm not certain I would
be able to adapt to such a major change in the way I see. Everyone I ask who has had their cataracts
removed have their distance clear without glasses and use reading glasses for close up work. This
seems to be the norm.
My eyes are everything to me. I've worn glasses since I was 5 and now am 73. Up until 2 years ago
all of my lenses were made our of glass to provide me with no distorsion. I've only used Ziess polycar
for the last 2 years.
No Surgery will be done for my glaucoma just removal of cataract. My doctor told me to forget about
how I see now because my sight will be totally different after the surgery. I'm not certain and afraid
if a small amount of distortion bothers me the changes he plans I will never overcome.
How do I make peace with his decision or know he is making the correct one for me. Why can't I be
normal when it comes to implants. Seems like my vision will be turned up-side-down.
Staying awake with worry.
Thank you for your response
Patsy3033
I'm taking my time saying "yes" to cataract surgery because I'm not sure if I will be able to accept the
change my doctor is suggesting. I'm highly myopic RT: -12.00 -3.50 021 LT -10.00 -9.25 120.
I've never used a bifocal or progressive lense. To read or see the computer I simple slide my
distance glasses up and down my nose. My entire life I've had difficulity getting use to a new
perscription and any distortion on the lens edges.
My doctor is my glaucoma specialist. He has never asked me how I want to see and maybe that's good
because I don't what to expect when the surgery is finished. This bothers me greatly.
He told me he plans to use a plain -2 implant in each eye and does not plan to give me 20/20 vision.
The implant he said would allow me to read, use the computer and see some distance within a 10 x 10 or
12 room. I would need distance glasses for driving and distance but not achieve 20/20.
My concern is that I'm very used to seeing distance clear and close up blurry. I'm not certain I would
be able to adapt to such a major change in the way I see. Everyone I ask who has had their cataracts
removed have their distance clear without glasses and use reading glasses for close up work. This
seems to be the norm.
My eyes are everything to me. I've worn glasses since I was 5 and now am 73. Up until 2 years ago
all of my lenses were made our of glass to provide me with no distorsion. I've only used Ziess polycar
for the last 2 years.
No Surgery will be done for my glaucoma just removal of cataract. My doctor told me to forget about
how I see now because my sight will be totally different after the surgery. I'm not certain and afraid
if a small amount of distortion bothers me the changes he plans I will never overcome.
How do I make peace with his decision or know he is making the correct one for me. Why can't I be
normal when it comes to implants. Seems like my vision will be turned up-side-down.
Staying awake with worry.
Thank you for your response
Patsy3033
No you do not have to "ask" for a second opinion. Low or normal tension glaucoma does not complicate cataract surgery nor does it make choosing IOL powers any more difficult.
Dr. Hagan,
Thank you for your response. Since my first posting to this website I have read all the papers that you suggest over and over again and made copies of them.
I have also seen 2 different cataract/refractive surgeons who when they find out I have normal tension glaucoma and who my doctor is say to me he is an excellent surgeon and they would defer to him.
I was referred to my current glaucoma specialist several years ago by Dr. Anderson at Bascom Palmer. I flew to Florida for a second opinion when the glaucoma doctor I was treating with wanted to do surgery on my eyes the second time he saw me. Dr. Anderson said I didn't need surgery I needed a new eye doctor.
Is it necessary that I tell a doctors I seek out for a second opinion that I'm treating for normal tension glaucoma? Once they find out they want to know who is treating me and I'll be out the door with another deferment.
Thank you again Dr. Hagan. I don't think words can express how much
your responses to our questions are appreciated. Your knowledge and kindness is greatly appreciated.
Thank you for your response. Since my first posting to this website I have read all the papers that you suggest over and over again and made copies of them.
I have also seen 2 different cataract/refractive surgeons who when they find out I have normal tension glaucoma and who my doctor is say to me he is an excellent surgeon and they would defer to him.
I was referred to my current glaucoma specialist several years ago by Dr. Anderson at Bascom Palmer. I flew to Florida for a second opinion when the glaucoma doctor I was treating with wanted to do surgery on my eyes the second time he saw me. Dr. Anderson said I didn't need surgery I needed a new eye doctor.
Is it necessary that I tell a doctors I seek out for a second opinion that I'm treating for normal tension glaucoma? Once they find out they want to know who is treating me and I'll be out the door with another deferment.
Thank you again Dr. Hagan. I don't think words can express how much
your responses to our questions are appreciated. Your knowledge and kindness is greatly appreciated.
Based on what you've presented this seems poor advice and quite patronizing sort of "doctor knows best". Since you are not having glaucoma surgery done at the same time you could easily have the surgery done by a cataract/refractive surgeon. I would say you should consider getting a minimum of 2 or 3 other opinions from different highly regarded cataract and refractive surgery surgeons. This isn't emergency surgery and this forum is full of people that wish they had taken their time to consider other options. Be sure you've read my posting http://www.medhelp.org/user_journals/show/1648102/Consider-ALL-the-Options-Before-Your-Cataract-Surgery-Working-Through-Whats-Best-For-You ; To proceed without getting other opinions and suggestions from cataract/refractive/cornea surgeons would be a mistake
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