I have to have catarac surgery next week and I am terrified! I only made myself more afraid when I sought information and saw what can go wrong.
My catarac is very dense since I waited two yrs before having anything done about it. Now I find out that letting it get this advanced only makes matters worse for some reason. I can see light and shapes through the catarac but nothing else.

Has anyone here let theirs go that long before getting surgery? I'm making myself sick worrying about this.. Anyone else felt the same? Anyone here glad they did the surgery?

I was sorry I didn't wait longer to do it, but it sounds like you have waited so long that you will be nothing but delighted with the outcome.
You have reached the point where the benefits outweigh the risks, don't you think?
The surgery itself was no worse than getting a crown on a tooth, and maybe easier and less uncomfortable.

Have you expressed your fears to your doctor? Maybe he or she can help allay them.

Much thanks to both replies. I've heard good things about catarac surgery, so I'm trying to keep that in mind. My problem stems from knowing someone who lost their sight due to the surgery (in one eye and is fighting to keep sight in other eye which had to have cornea transplant). Its true, the fear of the unknown is usually much worse than the actual event.:D

I don't see a private doctor, I'm a member of Kaiser HMO and believe me, my doctor has no bed side manner whatsoever. I doubt he views me as a complete human being, I'm just another eyeball to him. :eek: Hopefully that attitude makes him an expert eye surgeon. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.;)

My mother is 77 and used to be brave. She needed cataract surgery, but was scared to go, even though my Dad said his cataract surgery was a breeze. Everyone at her assisted living said it was a breeze too. She asked me to go with her on her pre-operation and operation visits. I gladly went to give her support. Thank heavens I went to her pre-op appointments. On the day of the operation I sat next to her until they wheeled her in. She was absolutely terrified and I was able to calm her down with positive thinking. Within 20 minutes I was back sitting next to her while she beamed with joy at how easy it was and how she couldn't wait to have her other eye done.

Within two months I was back taking her in for the other eye. This time she wasn't scared. I just wish my cornea transplant was as easy as her cataract operation was.

Thanks to all.

Well its over with now. I had my catarac surgery on Dec 19th and it went well despite my fears. Yes I was a nervous wreck, and yes I was awake much of the time, but they were able to handle my fears and I felt no pain during or after. My eye felt scratchy for about three hours the next day, but was relieved with tylenol. No one had told me I could use artificial tears and the scratchy feeling was from the eye being so dry. Live and learn.

Its been two weeks tomorrow and so far so good. I am still using the drops they gave me which is a nusiance, but well worth it. I am being very careful not to bend over to pick something up as to not put any pressure on the eye. But all in all, I'm living my normal life other than leaving things on the floor for someone else to grab.;) I had one little scare yesterday at the store while looking at bread. As I looked straight ahead, I saw motion out of the corner of my eye. I can't explain it, but it seemed as if something moved and was brighter. I froze in fear, but it eventually stopped happening. Today I haven't experienced it again.

Thats it for now. Not sure when I'll need the other eye done, but will hold off as long as possible. I won't be as afraid the next time around though.:)

Lorene, not a single comment on how wonderfully clear everything is now and how well you can see again with that eye? :)

Thanks to all.

Well its over with now. I had my catarac surgery on Dec 19th and it went well despite my fears. Yes I was a nervous wreck, and yes I was awake much of the time, but they were able to handle my fears and I felt no pain during or after.
Thats it for now. Not sure when I'll need the other eye done, but will hold off as long as possible. I won't be as afraid the next time around though.:)
Come on now, tell us! How well can you see since your operation?:)

...I had one little scare yesterday at the store while looking at bread. As I looked straight ahead, I saw motion out of the corner of my eye. I can't explain it, but it seemed as if something moved and was brighter. I froze in fear, but it eventually stopped happening. Today I haven't experienced it again....
I had forgotten about that. For me it occurred on and off for quite awhile. I think it's because I was previously very nearsighted and wore glasses, so I didn't really ever have peripheral vision until after the surgery.

Just thought I'd let you know that it went very well. Yes I was scared to death, but the outcome was wonderful. Sometime during the surgery I saw the most beautiful colors and was moving my eye to see them better, but the surgeon didn't like that..:D He gruffly told me to hold my eye still. Okay okay I'll be good. :D Afterwards I only had three hours of discomfort from the eye being so dry. Later I found out that I could have used artificial tears and it would have cleared up right away. Oh well, it was managable. I had to use antibiotic drops four times daily and prednisone drops 6 times daily. No big deal at all.

I see just fine out of that eye now. (remember I was blind in that eye)
Went for new glasses yesterday and now I'm farsighted in the other eye and nearsighted in the operated eye.. :D I could care less.. I'm just so thankful that its over with and wasn't the horrible experience that I thought it would be and most of all, I CAN SEE OUT OF THAT EYE AGAIN..

I hope everyone who has catarac surgery gets the same results that I got.