If you had cataract surgery, what was your experience?

It was a positive experience. There was minimal anesthesia, beyond the eye itself. The first eye took about three days to get to where I could see OK. The second was good enough I could drive the second day. I got bad enough that I couldn't get strong enough correction to pass the driver's license test. I've always needed strong glasses or max available correction in contacts. I see 20/20+ and see better than I've ever been able to see in my life. Night driving is easy now. I use reading glasses. I can fly and am able to land better than ever in my 50+ years in aviation.

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the doctor said my eyes were so bad that I should not have been driving. It wasn't my fault I couldn't get an earlier appointment and kept finding the wrong doctors, I didn't know what was wrong with me.

The whole thing took less than 15 minutes in its entirety from my being brought into the operation area, the questions, the shot, the time letting the shot stuff make the area numb (only the eye area is numbed and you're awake). Afterward someone has to drive you home. You get a packet of goodies that included a piece of plastic to put over the eye when you sleep so the eye doesn't get injured. I had no pain at all. I had one eye done and several days later the other eye. The one eye saw brightly and clearly immediately. The other eye saw what looked like rice from the beginning but then cleared up. The day after the operation you need to get checked out by your doctor. And a couple of weeks later you go back and then a month later you go back and then a year later you go back.

I wore glasses since age 9 so to see my feet clearly and to drive without glasses was just glorious. The eyes settle down and you may need to wear glasses. I have to use glasses for driving because my vision couldn't be fixed to 20/20. I don't need glasses for the internet, but I can't do reading without them. I know some people get the one eye near and one eye far lenses put in, but mine were different as with both eyes I see great middle vision and also can see my feet so I don't fall.

A cataract operation is to remove the bad lense in there. This occurs from several things over the years like strong sunlight, poor nutrition, maybe could be from illnesses and medications as well. nevertheless it has to be changed out. Now if you're looking for lasic, well lasic is totally different than cataract surgery (as well as the cost is way different).

My cataract surgery was 9 years ago and I'm fine. My sister had hers and was older and came down with macular degeneration which is hereditary for us. So I suspect it depends on your age when you get the cataracts removed, and what you have in your dna.

The doctors probably say it's easy because it is that easy, and probably say it's perfect because you need to get it done or you'll go blind.

My vision was blurry and couldn't be corrected with glasses. The surgery itself was a piece of cake - didn't feel a thing and it was over in a flash. Wore a patch a few days and vision was almost perfect. Shouldn't have had the second eye done - vision was blurry again but I didn't need to wear glasses anymore except to read with.

Here's the kicker - My vision continued to get blurry which I found out can happen to a certain percentage of people. Went in for a laser procedure - noticed no improvement.

Still - I see better than I did before the surgery and I still don't need glasses to see to drive or for long distances. It's just that I expected 20/20 and didn't get it and so was disappointed.

I need to use eye drops for dry eyes - don't know if that has anything to do with the cataracts or not but it's no big thing. Also it is VERY important to wear good sunglasses which go around to the side of the frame; your eyes will be sensitive to light.

I didn't really have the blurry vision others have talked about, but I experienced the "halo" effect around all lights, which was so annoying, especially at night. The surgery itself was entirely painless. They numb your eye and in my case, they put in some sort of artificial cornea, can't describe it. I only had to use the eye drops for a couple of days. The second one I had done was about a year later and went about the same, only this time I had to wear a plastic eye patch for a couple of days. Unfortunately, I happen to be one of the few people who get the blurry vision again after cataract surgery and I should have a laser procedure, but since Medicare won't pay for it and it doesn't bother me all that much, I've decided to let it go for now. I've switched to an e-reader and the only time I drive is during the daytime, so it's not really causing me any discomfort. If it's something you're considering, go for it. The problem I spoke of with my vision in one eye deteriorating only happens rarely and it's really not that big a deal.

edit - as Flower said, it was a plastic lens they put in both times, not a cornea, as I stated.

It started out with blurring visions so the doctor said time for cataract surgery in both eyes.

The surgery was very simple and very painless which was a shock to me since I didn't feel anything at all. Did one eye first wait a couple of weeks and did the other one and did wear a patch over the eye to let it heal and to keep the sun out.

Afterward I did feel the affect of the brightness of the sun so wear sunglasses a lot whenever I go outside (sometime even 2 pairs!) but glad it was over with and can see better, I can see on the computer without glasses!

I was 70, never had surgery in my life, and promised myself that I never would....oops!

It got to the point that driving was becoming dangerous because of my cataracts...so

as my wife was being fitted for glasses, I asked about cataract surgery (Ihad aready been diagnosed as needing it). and they quoted a price(Medicare covers most of it). My out of pocket expense was a little more than $2000...The surgeries were a piece of cake. My first eye, they knocked me out, woke me up and asked if I wanted a coke or O.J....and I'm going ,what just happened?

Eye # 2, I've had a local, I'm on a gurney and my doctor is performing surgery on this one and were conversing at the same time.

Bottom line...Iwould have paid whatever the cost to restore my eyesight from what it was with cataracts to what is today...and luckily, it was quite affordable.

I had it last year on one eye. It got to where I was looking through a fog and was hard to see while driving at night. The surgery was a snap. No worries. They change your vision a little if you are near sited to be improved with glasses because you still have to wear them anyway for the other eye. I have been told not to wait too long until you need cataract surgery. Why should you? You will eventually need it anyway. Get the benefits early.

It was quick about 20 minutes. Had to use drops for a month afterward. The eye did not feel anything. I chose the long distance lens so I still need glasses for reading. Mine were not too bad but things were getting fuzzy in the mid-to far range that eyeglasses could not correct. I could see ok up close but not far away without glasses and now it's the opposite.

Both eyes easy only 2 days after i could drive again and 3 months between eyes

i now done need glasses except for reading

and I have about 20 pairs donated Including My Triple Gold Rimed I loved them But riding the Motorcycle without glasses again is Great

I've had both eyes done. Painless with no problems after. I now have mono-vision and don't need glasses even to read phone book or newspaper.. Medicare and my supplemental insurance covered all cost.