cateracts

Hi I have found this site and wish to post a question...
What is the worst that can happen if your cateracts are NOT removed? I have been to see a specialist and was told that I had two cateracts and he would remove them. I made the arrangements and then chickened out. I have ok vision middle and distance. Close up is poor but I can see with squinting. I have read a lot of the postings on this site and wonder if I am better with what I have now rather than risk any complications. I love to read which I do now with glasses and have not been able to drive at night for years which I find restrictive. My partner drinks at night some times more than others therefore we cant go out. I'm sure there is to be more to life than this. Do other people hesitate to have surgery or am I alone. I think once my lens has gone it has gone for good and that frightens me if surgery was a failure. Then there is the hugh decision on how to choose the right lens. can any one help me please.
Nana

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

The worse thing that can happen to your eye if a cataract is not removed is that the eye can become blind and painful.

Mind you that you asked the worse thing.

What if someone asked what's the worse thing that can happy each time you drive an automobile?  Right pain, suffering, death.

The difference is the worse thing doesn't happen that much with a cataract or an automobile

JCHMD

[farmerjon101]

thanks for the reply..I need to hear it. How long do you have to wait or is like asking how long a piece of string is?. How to select lens..I was give 4 options. the top of the range were crystalens and the cost for both eyes. is eleven  thousand dollars which made me hestitate. I do have a small insurance policy which is a blessing but wont go any where near covering the costs.  My eyes work well together but not that well individually. I am 68 years old and have always worn good sun glasses for protection since I was about 20 yrs old, but it looks like there may be something genetic coming through. Thanks

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

Your concerns have been discussed in detail here and if you will invest some time using the archives and search features you can get up to speed.

this is just my opinion but if I were having surgery today I would NOT spend the extra money for a so called "premium" mutifocal or accommodating IOL.

Reasons: extra expense, extra risk, poor night vision, still need glasses some or most of the time. Dr. Kutryb and I have published several articles in medical journals about patient dissatisfaction with premium IOLs,  the October Ophthalmology Times will have a review of our research.

I would choose a monofocal aspheric IOL like those made by Tecnis and  Alcon.

That's not to say some people aren't happy with spending that kind of money on the hope of being free from glasses, its just that they end up about 23 times more dissatisfied than monofocal IOLs in our study of these forums.

JCH MD

[farmerjon101]

thanks once again..I will peruse the archives. If I have any further queries I will post.

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

-

[caren123]

Would you care to elaborate?   I remember being told the risks were the same.
I chose crystalens after at least two months asking questions.  
I ended up with no distance or reading vision and complications (retinal edema that does not respond to drops so far - but this could have happened with any choice of lens as I understand it).
Thank you.

[farmerjon101]

Hi There
I have been thru the archives and am really impressed with the service that you carry out..thank you.
I found a lot of horror stories along with the positives. How do you know when the time is right for the surgery, I have never been a hero and would like to be knocked out for a few days, I know that's not going to happen but it's appealing at this stage.
It makes me wonder how the Fred Hollows Foundation could carry out surgery for such a minimum fee where here in Christchurcch New Zealand they charge the earth plus.
I have another appointment with a surgeon next month and will go there armed with some knowledge thanks to your site.
Thank you