What Your Cataract Surgeon Never Told You | FIVE Common *Secret* Side Effects Of Cataract Surgery!
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 26 มิ.ย. 2024
- In this video, we chat about a few things your cataract surgeon never told you about cataract surgery and common side effects you should expect after surgery. I go through a few cataract surgery “secrets” that you probably should know and what you need to know about them!
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Introduction
01:03 Secret 1
01:57 Secret 2
02:54 Secret 3
04:03 Secret 4
04:52 Secret 5
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#cataract #ophthalmology #eyesurgery
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Hi! My name is Michele Lee, and I am a board-certified ophthalmologist and fellowship-trained cornea, cataract, and refractive surgeon. Please hit the subscribe button if you like my videos, and thanks for following me on my TH-cam journey!
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9811 N 95th St., Suite 101, Scottsdale, AZ 85258
Phone: 480-947-4493
www.tozerleeeye.com
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Disclaimer: This TH-cam channel is not intended to provide diagnosis, treatment, or medical advice. Content provided on this TH-cam channel is for informational purposes only. Please consult with a physician or other healthcare professional regarding any medical diagnosis or treatment options as information on this TH-cam channel should not be considered as a substitute for advice from a healthcare professional. The statements made about specific products are not to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease. - วิทยาศาสตร์และเทคโนโลยี
I am a surgical tech who assists with mainly cataract surgery. When I started at the surgery center I'm at now, I was taking a step down from doing really major, "life changing" surgeries and thought cataracts were so minor and not a big deal compared to what I'm used to. Until we did surgery on a patient with the whitest cataract ever. The results were immediate for her once we turned the OR lights back on, she started reading our whiteboard and was astonished that she could see it. She started to get emotional right there in the OR with us, and I felt myself tear up. It was the coolest moment ever, and it gave me a much deeper appreciation for what I do.
Thanks for sharing your experience as a surgical tech!!!
Yes I teared up after getting my left eye done on May 3rd. When I drove away from my eye doctor's office and saw everything so clear. It was a great moment for me.. ❤
@@lisatownsend3513 p 5:38
Aawww! God bless her.
@@florencevaneltsi8294I also had an appointment but I canceled after watching a few videos and the negative comments..heartbreaking. Do a little more research on the bad affects. God bless you
Do you see her complete honesty? THIS is the type of doctor you want working on you! Awesome video! I appreciate doctors like you!
I appreciate your kind words :)
I agree, and though not every patient will accept truth and reality as well as we do, I agree, this is the sort of doctor I want.
@@MicheleLeeMD Youre are very welcome. Youve earned it. I really appreciate a Physician who is possesses honesty integrity.
I had Cataract Surgery 2 years ago and my Opthmoligist never explained any of these before either of my Cataract Surgeries!
My vision is 100% perfect now.
Very few Floaters now, had quite a few before Surgery.
No Flashes now, had constant Flashes before Surgery.
No more Glasses EXCEPT for very small news print.
I tend to have the opposite of DRY Eye's!
Tears in the outside edge of both eyes, not excessive.
My Opthomopoligist said this is not serious.
100% agree! My doctor is highly experienced and everything went great with the surgery--- but--- ahead of time he told me NONE of this.... only handed me a 4 page printed brochure (that looks like it was printed years ago). I "dared" to ask a couple of questions because I was very nervous and he simply looked at me and said "well, if you want to see better you'll do it- your choice". I was so intimidated that I just said "OK". I'm not sorry I had it, both eyes, but I do wish I had known more what to expect- the first few days (especially inbetween surgeries) were pure misery. I appreciate you Dr Lee for helping so many people!
My mother had cataract surgery in her mid-70s. After the surgery she said she'd wished she'd never had it done because it changed her color perception. I asked her for specific examples and she said, well, the color of the spread and curtains she put in the guest bedroom - they now looked like this pukey teal color instead of the hunter's green she had chosen.
"Mom", I told her, "They ARE a pukey teal color. You are finally seeing colors as they actually are". She was HORRIFIED as she looked around her house. The upshot was having to correct her unintentional color mistakes through the entire house. 😄
That’s so funny! And a good result, once she knew.
I'm afraid I'm going to look into the mirror and see all the wrinkles that my cataracts had blurred into a pleasant presentation. 😨
😂I'm laughing because I was the same! Every color was different than what I had thought- for I guess all the years I had cataracts. As you said- the upside was getting to get some new things♥
Yes colour is incredible I didn't realise how dull everything was..it was hard to watch TV for a few days as it was so sharp..I'm 57 and had nt notice how bad it was getting till a year ago ..I still need reading glasses for small stuff but my long distance not thinking shadows were holes or vise versa..is amazing
😂😂😂❤
I had cataract surgery about 2 years ago, when I was 71, and I was completely satisfied with the outcome. I have worn glasses since I was 9 years old, and was terribly nearsighted with astigmatism. It's like a miracle to see clearly without glasses for the first time in 60 years. I had no idea the cataracts were obscuring my vision so much. Colors are brighter now too. I had the YAG laser surgery about a month ago, which resolved the secondary effects I was experiencing. I did experience a lot of floaters, but they gradually diminished. It's a lot to go through, and you need to make sure you've considered all the possible side effects, but overall, I'm 100% satisfied.
Thanks for sharing your experience ❤
I read some stories like yours, and also lots of comments from people saying "I wish I'd had it done years ago", so I did have it done "years ago", a few weeks ago! Both eyes at 62.
Loving the brighter colors and the distance vision. I already had quite a few floaters; if anything, fewer after surgery.
you must have been able to buy the "good" name brand lens.
I had the surgery when I was72. I am very pleased with the outcome.
Whew. Wonderful to hear your excellent results. Am 85, having surgery soon.
You are so right. Im two days post op cataract surgery. Wow i can see again. I feel like my surgeon is a hero. I had zero side effects and no inflammation. The Dr was blown away how good my eye looked in his post op visit. Prayers definitely work 🙏
Agree not all catharact surgery have side effects and it all depends whether the doctor is capable or not in performing the surgery.
I am so happy it went well for you I need it done but I just been hesitant about the whole procedure well congratulations to you and your doctor God bless have a great day 🙏❤️😊
@@maryperea4077me too. Am just so freaking scared. One eye is way worse and just want the best dang surgeon and want it perfect and anything short of that well I don’t want….they are my eyes
Does it hurt?? Im scared😢😢
Pray for all ophth surgeons. TKS
I was so fortunate to have Dr. Lee do my cataract surgeries when she was at University of Washington. She is a brilliant surgeon! So knowledgeable and kind!
Hi, and thank you for your kind words! I'm so glad to have met you and honored to have performed your surgery ❤
I wish I had her as my doctor. I had my left eye done yesterday. My doctor did a good job, as far as I can tell at this point, but as far as being personable or explaining anything, he sucks. Also, I had an IV sedative. Had I known this was not necessary, with respectful, open communication from the clinic, I wouldn't have had it done. I don't do drugs unless absolutely necessary. Normally only an occasional aspirin. So I won't be having any sedation with the right eye next month. Doctors and other health care givers need to give their patients the courtesy of full, open, simple -language honest communication.
Thank you, Dr Lee, for your honesty. I had surgery 14 years ago on 1 eye for a cataract. The Dr installed a B&L Crystal Lens HD Multifocal lens. I have had almost everything possible go wrong, including retinal detachment. My retina was restored repairing 18 tears in it. I also now have a band wrapped around my eye to reshape my eyeball. I tell anyone who asks me about my surgery, to never, under any circumstances, allow someone to talk you into a multifocal lens. They all have glare issues, and have more problems than they are worth. Keep all multifocal devices on the outside of your eyeball.
Thank you! My elderly dad had his cataracts removed a few months ago. He is very happy. Before the surgery he was buying the brightest lightest lightulbs he could find and would carry a small flashlight with him everywhere. After the surgery he kept commenting on how much brighter everything was, and that colors looked brighter too. I'm so happy for him :)
Thanks for sharing - how wonderful :)
My dry eye got so much worse, its costing a small fortune for drops.
@@vallee3140 I'm so sorry to hear about your dry eye. You should let your provider know about the high cost of drops - there may be other options that are less expensive. Best of luck!
@@MicheleLeeMD thanks but doubt I would get anywhere the UK we have a bad medical system now. I feel so miserable about it.
@@vallee3140 There’s huge upsides in Nationalised Health and downsides and vice versa as in United States Insurance Health system. My wife’s sister is American and I can assure you it’s not exactly a bed of roses there.
I learnt a lot from watching this video. Extremely interesting. And by and large most people seem extremely happy after cataract surgery. Of course there’s always some exceptions.
Cheers NZ.
Yeah they tore the lens capsule and dropped the old lens in the back of my eye. I spent 5 days in hospital before they could get it out. I could not have even sedation as my heart rate dropped to 30 during my prior surgery. So all done local anaesthetic, they took out the vitreous humour and replaced with I don’t know what. After I got out of hospital things went badly and I got an infection. It’s all settled now and I love that I can read and write and oh the colours. So vibrant. It was worth all the suffering. My other eye cataract surgery done first, was uncomplicated in my opinion but I then found out I had macula degeneration. I have regular shots into the vitreous humour (back of eye) for that. I am so grateful for my surgeons for what they did and I’ve even forgiven the one who dropped the lens into the back of my eye. I know it was an accident. It is truly a miracle to be able to see again, the colours… It just blows my mind. No one can understand unless you’ve had your eyes fixed. I was legally blind before my surgeries. I would go through it all again in a heartbeat. So if you are thinking about having cataract surgery go ahead, what happened to me was rare. They are not likely to drop your lens in the back of your eye. I just want to say I didn’t move. It wasn’t my fault. Regards from Australia
Thanks for sharing your long but positive experience with eye surgery! I'm so glad you are seeing better ♥
❤
I was totally blown away with the clarity after the surgery! I was living in a fog, and I mean fog every day for two years. After the surgery the next day, I looked in the mirror, and I began to cry. I could see myself again, I could see color again, I could see the grass blades on my lawn again, no more seeing blobs, I could now see details. I threw my glasses away and will never take my site for granted again. It’s been one year and I am still amazed at the results!
The only side effects I experienced was my eyes always seem to be tired even till this day. My eyelids are not droopy, but they seem tired 80% of the time. But I don’t mind, if I did not get the surgery, I would be legally blind by now. I now have 2020 vision without glasses! I was once blind but now I see!!!
Isn't cataract surgery amazing? So happy for you!!!
I am.due to have mine done brefore it gets worse
@@jeanmerron1918 I wish you well… everything will work out!
@@jeanmerron1918 Best of luck! I hope everything goes well ❤
My eyes are tired all time i blame it on my mobile staring into it how do you go on with your mobile
I had my second cataract surgery a few days ago. My surgeon explained the risks to me before my first cataract surgery a couple months ago. The results of the surgery were amazing! I have not seen this well in over twenty years. I am currently 62 years old.
So happy to hear about your amazing results! Thanks for sharing ❤️
I had the same experience. The change was... Biblical. I do believe my cataract surgeon is one of the happiest people I have ever met. He does cataract surgery exclusively, has done thousands of them (did a few years in the VA) and he said it never gets old seeing how being able to see again effects people.
@@johnswoodgadgets9819 Thanks for sharing!
@@johnswoodgadgets9819 I was nearly blind in one eye so the surgery was life changing for me but I do have very dry eyes now. Also, as a once avid reader I can no longer read for long because my eyes have a hard time focusing together now, especially if I am looking side to side or up and down. I find myself closing one eye after a while, which gets old fast!
@@CharGC123 I only have one eye so I won't have to close one to be comfortable reading. But I do need cataract surgery. If something goes really wrong, I'd need to learn braille. I have to admit, I'm scared.
The cautionary advice I would give based on my experience is that since the need for cataract surgery is highly likely for most of us, one should absolutely avoid any vanity surgeries such as RK or lasik. Unless wearing glasses or contacts is simply not feasible, such surgeries add an unnecessary risk of a poor outcome with subsequent cataract surgery. My ophthalmologist did a fantastic job on my cataract surgery and I would have better than 20/20 in each eye except for having had RK surgery in my 20s that led to severe refractive effects within the corneas. As a result, I now have to wear scleral contacts (no diopter correction needed, just a smoothing of the surface of the corneas) if I want to see clearly. And it's all because I thought if I could just ditch the glasses, my life would be perfect. Now, I would gladly wear glasses if they could correct my defective vision.
Same thing happened to me. I had prk and rk surgery in the 1990’s. Cataract surgery in 2017. Now doctors can’t get my vision to 20/20 with corrective lenses. Along with having floaters, and distorted vision of light bouncing off the shape of my eyes I have been wearing colored lenses to stop the light from doing that. My vision to me looks as if I have small white smudges on my eye lens
@phish2767, thank you so much for sharing, I had RK surgery back in 1986 in my 20's and am regretting that now at age 61... cataract surgery will be very complicated per the opthalmologist I saw, I have 16 radial incisions on each eye... Do you know how many RK incisions you have from your RK surgery? Did your cataract surgery still improve your vision despite having to wear the scleral lenses to see clearly? I had scleral lenses for two years, now I have glasses only as my cataracts are getting progressively worse and I'm really nervous to have any further eye surgery at all even if my opthalmologist tells me he can try despite the complexity of the procedure for me. Sorry for all the questions but I really appreciate your response if you have time, I don't know any other person who has had RK back in the day and has also now had to deal with cataracts in their older years.
@@tonyafrehner6201I'm so sorry to hear about your complications...is your vision still better than it was before cataract surgery? I'm guessing that's a dumb question, floaters, distorted vision and smudges does not sound like an improvement... sorry for the questions but I appreciate you replying if you can, you and @phish2767 are the only other people I know who had RK and then cataracts in their older years...I have cloudiness now with my cataracts but I'm afraid of having massive complications like you are experiencing...my opthalmologist says it will be a very difficult cataract surgery due to my 16 incisions on each eye from the RK back in the day...
@@MrsBuzzard771 Yes, I have to say my vision is a little better after surgery. It definitely would have gotten worse without it and despite the atrocious resolution in one eye, it at least eliminated the dead zone squarely in the center of my field of view so I have a better ability to detect relative motion with that eye. The scleral lense work great when I can shove them in, but they present maintenance challenges I just do not have the luxury of time to deal with for the foreseeable future.
The best resolution (pun not intended) would be a replacement cornea. At present, synthetic materials appear to be out of the question due to the need for oxygen permeability. I am hoping that some work being done with using a patient's own stem cells to grow replacement corneas will result in a viable, affordable solution while I am still young enough to care and poses the least amount of risk of rejection or even more serious problems. But Dr. Lee or other opthalmalogists can comment on that much more knowledgeably than I can.
@@tonyafrehner6201 My vision varies from day to day. I see a smear of light from point light sources, which makes driving at night and especially in the rain a real white-knuckle proposition. I have found that yellow -tinted lenses help to a degree with that, but the sheer number of visual artifacts from sources of glare just make it dicey. Ironically, in low light conditions I can still see fairly well as long as there aren't any really brought sources or reflections of light in my field of view.
Oh, I forgot to mention my peripheral vision has narrowed and I occasionally see false movement in the periphery of my vision. Either that, or my house really is haunted.
When I had cataract surgery I could literally See Clearly immediately after the surgery it was life-changing I'm very thankful I didn't have any side effects
Thanks for sharing!!!
I can’t comprehend seeing “clearly immediately.” That seems impossible…just fantastic!
@@mollypitcher9380 I promise you it's true ! right after surgery still laying on the gurney in recovery ....I started to cry because I could see clearly after the surgery. My family and I went out to breakfast it was amazing. I had to have the cataract surgery because I had a detached retina they had to operate laser the tear and put a gas bubble in that's a long process I know the doctor knows what that's all about that gas bubble clouded the lens which caused me to have a cataract so this was an extensive situation but I can see perfectly and it's a blessing I Thank God 🙏
OK..i was prepared to have cataract surgery..but now after listening to her..i dont know if i want to...i pray that none of that will happen to me.. im very anxious about the surgery..
You have to do the op. It helps alot rather than the negative impact.
Success with the surgery! It takes only 5-15 minutes max! The laser cataract surgery is most by far the hitech non pain one.
I had cataract surgery on my left eye on May 1st and my right eye on May 31st. Both eyes are doing fine and I'm so happy right now. I struggled for a year not being able to see. I follow my doctors instructions on my eye drops.. 👍 I'm 54 years old and are having no problems. I consider my eye doctor my hero. She brought back my eye sight.. ❤
Thanks for sharing ❤️
My surgeon didn't spend any time with this info before I had my surgery. If they did it was not done verbally but buried in paperwork. I had significant floaters afterwards which scared the heck out of me. I wish they had spoken to me the way you just did in this video. Thanks for the way you presented this.
I developed a cataract after vitrectomy and laser treatment for a detached retina. This detachment was due to walking into a low hanging tree branch while distracted walking the dog. The cataract developed over a period of a couple of years after the initial treatment. The cataract surgery resulted in immediate clear vision and after rigorously following the eye drop routine for a fortnight, no problems were experienced. A couple of years later I needed some further laser treatment to clear away some cell regrowth over the replacement lens. Since then, no problems at all. All operations carry the risk of some side effects, but cataract surgery is one of the most common operations carried out and the benefits certainly outweigh the risks provided you follow the follow up care guidelines.
I agree that it is all about weighing out the risks and benefits. Thanks for sharing your experience!
This is a fantastic video, Dr. Lee! I am an ophthalmic technician and agree that when risks and benefits are discussed with patients prior to surgery, these 5 very common side effects are often not mentioned, or mentioned very briefly. I particularly appreciated your explanations of why these side effects might occur, and think patients would, too.
We sometimes spend a lot of time on the back end of surgery (post op visits) explaining these things after the patient has noticed or been bothered by them. An extra 5 minutes to provide this information during the consult would decrease that time on the back end and, more importantly, decrease some of the worry and anxiety patients might feel if they experience any of these side effects.
Thanks for posting this! I'll be using this for technician training, in the future!
I really appreciate your feedback, as well as the hard work you do as an ophthalmic technician!
I agree that we - the team of surgeons, co-managing eye doctors, and ophthalmic techs - end up doing a lot of explaining on the back end. In my practice, I've learned the hard way that setting expectations at the beginning is beneficial for everyone, including the patients and the team. Thanks again ❤
@@MicheleLeeMD 0
I’m having worry and anxiety already and just postponed cataract surgery because my doctor failed to answer my questions regarding color perception after surgery. I’m a professional artist with an MFA, having studied color for fifty years and I’m not prepared to see red as magenta. And no, I don’t see the world through a yellow haze as I do a lot of color matching in my work. Just passed my DMV vision test (without glasses)- distance is fine, but my reading glasses need stronger prescriptions! I read a lot and do a lot of color work, both things which are vital to my existence.
Am getting a second opinion with an eye doctor who is one of my collectors. Any info on the blue/purple/magenta cast after cataract surgery? This is really not acceptable in my line of work.
The cataract is a growth that has a color. I experienced it as a slight brownish stain. I had one eye done at a time so I was able to see the difference before and after surgery on one eye. One eye was different than the other Whites were clearer and brighter after surgery..I was good at color matching before my surgery and am still good at it.
I assume that you have no color blindness, war-painter, so consider your cataract as a yellowish filter that has grown more dense -- more yellow and "dirty" -- over time, making your eye and visual cortex adjust color perception to yield what you had learned to call a "neutral" or normal color balance, thus matching the color perception in your "good" eye. (That's why you don't believe you see through a yellow haze, only a neutral haze. Your visual system has, in effect, interposed a complementary blue-green filter to compensate for the yellow-ish cataract.) When the cataract is suddenly removed, the "cooler" acquired color temperature perception, sans "yellow" filter, temporarily makes for not only a brighter image, but one with a persistent, cooler, blue-green (cyan) hue. Over time, this compensation should normalize itself, and you should see, not "red" or magenta, but with what you consider a normal, or neutral, color balance, and the image will be, once again, so clear that you will wonder how you ever tolerated that cataract for as long as you did. Best wishes!
I am in the UK age 73. Under the NHS i have recently had cataract surgery with monovision. This has cost me nothing and am very pleased with the results. Thanks for your informative video.
Hi, I’m in U.K. and aged 74, I’m glad I saw your post as I was really concerned about having the procedure done after watching this!
@@anythingbootneckI'm also in the UK. Had cataract operation, on the NHS, in both eyes earlier this year. I'm 64. It's been brilliant - I can now see colours correctly, don't need glasses except for close work (reading, etc). It's life changing. Go for it!
@@simonknights7526 Thanks Simon, you’ve reassured me! I’ll defo go for it now!👍🏻. Glad it has made such a difference for you.
Life changing is exactly the word I would use. I remember my mum saying that her results were instant and I couldn't imagine that they wouldn't be blurry for a few days at least. When they wheeled me to recovery...I could see all around me! I could read posters on the walls and see clear faces - it was like I got new eyes. Because this was late 2020 and the situation the world was in, they wanted to do both eyes at the same time. Risky, yes but they just wanted people in and out as quickly and as few times as possible. I'm just so glad it worked well for me. I do still wear glasses because I feel funny without them but they're mostly glass, just a reading lens in the bottom.
Thanks for sharing your positive experience with cataract surgery!
Very informative video. I put off cataract surgery for years until I was 72 because I was afraid of all the potential complications. I had both eyes done about 2 weeks apart. The surgery corrected most of my astigmatism and I now need glasses just for reading. I was lucky. No complications other than a secondary cataract in one eye that required the YAG laser treatment. It’s now been six months and no further problems.
Thanks for sharing your experience with cataract surgery :)
Thank you for this. I had cataract surgery 10 months ago and still experience almost all of these symptoms. I would have appreciated knowing this before my surgery.
Thank you for sharing. I hope things got better for you!
Absolutely life changing, astigmatism reached the point where corrective lenses couldn't improve, left eye at age 80, instant change with Toric implant, right eye at 81, passed DMV test, zero restriction. Use 2.5 readers/prescription for books/e-reader or computer. zero correct for 36" or beyond, color saturation is so much better.
I just had cataract surgery about a month ago. I did notice that the eye with the new lens doesn't open as wide as before. Now I know what this is. Thank you!
I sure did find this helpful. I've had cataract surgery done 2+ years ago and my one eye has gone from 20/25 to 20/70 since December of last year. It's like looking through a glass of dried milk. Just found out about the YAG yesterday, appointment set for June. Anyway one of my questions was how often I would have to have it done and you just answered it. Thanks. This is a nice synchronicity, I wasn't even searching for the answer I just happened on your channel; catchy title. Consider yourself hugged.
THANK YOU! This is very scary, but it's what we need to hear. That way we are going into a surgery very informed and don't feel that information was withheld from us.
I had bilateral cataract surgery in my 50’s. No problems at all during the procedure and post-op recovery. So did my older sister and younger brother. Fortunately, none of us had any I’ll effects. I carry the cards I was issued stating the implants date, type and kind of implant in my wallet. In my late 60’s now and still no issues.
Thanks for sharing :)
Ill effects
@@NoName-zn1sb That’s a result of not reading before texting. I’m aware of the difference …
I’m 65 and had cataract surgery on both eyes last year. I’ve been sorry ever since. After being very nearsighted all my life I’m now extremely farsighted and have virtually no close vision. I can’t do anything without readers, not even cook. Plus I have separate glasses for my computer at work that take care of my mid distance, readers don’t work for that. Had a partial detachment in my right eye which caused severe floaters. Still have fluttering lights on the edge of that eye. My left eye got extreme dryness and discomfort and my surgeon did the YAG laser on that eye which caused me to now have poor night vision with halos around all lights, so I can barely drive at night as any light blinds me. Overall it’s been a very depressing experience and I wish I had never had the surgeries. 😢 Wish I had found this honest doctor beforehand. Thank you for letting me vent my frustration.
If you want the counterpart video to this series, check out this next video on Unexpected Benefits Of Cataract Surgery: th-cam.com/video/3OS0lJwuQqw/w-d-xo.html
Thanks for watching ❤
Does the Life of an Ophthalmologist video feature a loyal scribe? If not, can I audition for it?😉
@@AznJsn82091 YES!!! As you know, we can't do anything without our loyal scribes (I wish I were joking, but it's so true) 😂
@@MicheleLeeMD I can’t tell you the amount of nodding I do on a daily basis when scribing for my ophthalmologist! We truly make their lives easier!🤣
I had cataract surgery just over 4 years ago, left eye then right eye a month apart. I have had no lasting side effects, other than occasional dry eyes. There was some temporary discomfort for a few weeks after each surgery. I'm certainly pleased with the results.
By the way, my eye surgeon explained the possible complications beforehand. This is also the reason for not doing both eyes together. Had there been serious complications after doing the worst eye, the other one would have still been usable.
Just an additional comment on the level of pain and discomfort during the procedure. Pain pretty much zero. All done under local anaesthetic. No sedation was used, although a cannula was put in the back of my hand and a couple of monitor pads taped on my chest. I presume that this was in case I panicked, or had an adverse reaction to any of the drugs used. Removing the tapes holding these in place was the most painful part of the whole procedure 😆. The overall level of discomfort was about the same as, or less than having a filling done at the dentist.
I'm 71. I had my left eye done two weeks ago. My right eye was done about a year ago. I couldn't be happier with the outcome. I had zero issues. When I did the first eye, I opted for the insurance paid 3 different eyedrops every day. I don't like eye drops and found this a real PIA. So, on the second eye, I opted to pay OOP for the single drop method. The cost was only $85. Well worth it. My surgeon, his staff and facility are excellent. When someone is operating on your eyes, they need to check all these boxes. I'm having eyelid surgery in 3 weeks and I'm very excited about that. Life is short and good eyesight essential to quality of life. I'm happy I had both eyes done as soon as the need reached the point where insurance would approve.
So glad I saw this video. Have cataracts and am considering surgery. Never knew about these side effects. Thanks for informing. A bit nervous now and need to take into consideration.
Increased risk of retina detachment after cataract surgery is not understood by cataract surgery patients. I had a detached retina in both eyes after cataract surgery. The reattachment surgery is extremely painful and recover time is 1 to 3 months.
I'm so sorry to hear about your retinal detachments and your difficult recovery ❤
I had cataract surgery because 12 months before I had a Pvd and then two days after I was diagnosed with a detached retina. Couldn't drive for 5 weeks, and had poor vision in the affected eye till the cataract was done. Then last year I noticed vision getting blurry again and had a YAG operation and vision now crystal clear.
@@keithhobbs1 Thanks for sharing your experience! I'm so sorry to hear about your detached retina, and I'm glad to hear that your vision is clear!
I work with an ophthalmologist and optometrist. I've seen a couple of patients who complained about having new ptosis after surgery, and the dry eyes are for sure a real problem too. Thanks for an informative video.
The Dr who performed my Cataract surgery explained all of your points even down to floaters and possibly the post op need for a bit of Laser work, I had absolutely no discomfort or problems.
I have nothing but praise for my Dr.
From Aus
I had both eyes done about 18 months ago and haven't seen any changes yet. I had some irritation on the day of surgery but it cleared up. I had droopy eyelids before surgery (from contacts) and they haven't gotten worse. In the right light I can see the outline of the lens as a whiteish circle. I no longer have to wear glasses except for close up work. I'm very pleased.
Thanks for sharing ❤️
Thank you very much for the complete information given to everybody for free. You are one of a kind ,special human being. God bless you!❤
Thanks for your kind words ❤️
Thanks for being honest, I am left with lasting dysphotopsia and thick lines in my vision after having surgery six years ago. The cataract is removed, but the jagged lenses do not suit everyone - my sight is worse now. Be aware of any risks involved. ⭐️
Thanks for sharing your experience, and I'm sorry your quality of vision was not good after surgery. I hope things eventually get better for you ♥
hope your sight gets better, mine has been a disaster, it does not help that the doctor has treated me awful on top of dealing with loss of vision.
@@dryan3261 I'm so sorry to hear about your experience with cataract surgery. Thanks for sharing your experience
The descriptions you see online of dysphotopsia don't do it justice! Mine feels like someone went at my cornea with a black marker pen, and the worst part is it moves around based on where I am trying to focus! Not enjoying the result at all!
@@lordlucan529 I'm so sorry to hear about your dysphotopsias. It can be really frustrating! I hope it gets better for you ♥
Its rather amazing what has been shown concerning cataracts and vitamin C deficiencies. Great material out there with Dr. Thomas Levy leading the way.
I got cataracts early in life at 46 years old. I had previously taken corticosteroids for asthma ( which I no longer have ) and I am told that this can lead to early onset cataracts.
In my earlier life I had photo refractive kerotectomy on both eyes for short sightedness and was in the pilot study for this with astigmatism computer correction during my laser treatment, which was very successful at the time. The early oblation of my eyes however caused the calculation for my cataract prescription first inserted lens to be wrong and the result was medium short sight in my first eye. From the experience of my first operated eye, the surgeon got the second eye prescription bang on for good long sight. Thus by serendipity, I have one eye good for reading and one good for long distance, with the less able eye in each scenario ' filling in '. A lot of people can't put up with the disparity between eyes, causing headaches but I had no such problems and it has been perfect for 17 years now. The cataract operation has been better than glasses, contact lenses or oblation for me ! I also had a capsulotomy done at the time with a yag laser to prevent them from getting cloudy as well with a hole blasted through.
Thanks for sharing your story with us :)
I got a cataract at 50, It started in the middle of my eye. It looked like I had a cotton ball in my eye. They fixed & I was amazed at just how blind I had been. Then I got the secondary, which they fixed immediately. Although, many people thought I was crazy when I told them.This video was very educational & easy to understand.
I had cataract surgery in sept and oct this year. My eyesight was HORRIBLE. I am so glad I had the surgery!
Thanks for sharing!
Excellent video! Clear explanation and pictures. Not so much, mumble jumble, over explaining . Thank you!
Very helpful…thank you!
Dr Lee, Thank you for being very honest for telling all the side effects that may incurred from the cataract surgery that most other doctors won't tell. I had my left eye done 5 years ago and have developed many problems ever since including both negative and positive dysphotopsia, the eye floaters, secondary-cataract and severe dry eye. I wished the doctor who did the surgery for me had told me what could possibly happen after the surgery.
Hi Bonnie, I'm so sorry that you have experienced side effects from your cataract surgery. While the dysphotopsias and floaters typically settle down but may not completely disappear (at least I hope you can get used to it!) ,the secondary cataracts and dry eye might be treated. Have you discussed these issues with your eye doctor?
Thanks for sharing your experience, and I hope you get relief soon!
Yes Exactly much research is suppressed because there is alot of money in cataract surgery and its high qudos
Should've left the cataract in. Life would be even more enjoyable not being able to see with the cataracts still in your eyes, right?
Thanks Bonnie, me too. Permanent lines in my vision for the last six years. Good luck with your problems. 🌈
You probably didn't notice the floaters when you had the cataracts and now your brain has a hard time ignoring them.
Very helpful, thank you.
Very informative, thank you Dr. Lee.
Thanks for the honesty
My Dr. Told me about the risk. I was fumbling around with bad cataracts and nearly blind. I had the surgery because I couldn't see. NOW I can except for mid and close vision I need glasses, I am fine with that. It is a Blessing.💒
Thanks for sharing your experience!
The day after the cataract surgery was amazing. Blacks were black. Whites were white. But a week later things went bad. The central vision deteriorated a bit like looking through a ground glass. It turned out to be inflamation of the retina. It did cure after more than a month. Exactly the same happened after the second eye was done. But the long term result is amazingly good. If had to be blind for two months ( I wasn't but you get the idea) it would still have been well worth it for the longer term gains.
Thank you for sharing your experience! It sounds like you had post-operative cystoid macular edema, a possible side effect of surgery. I'm glad you are doing well ❤
Thanx for uploading this very interesting info.
I had cataract surgery on one eye about a year and a half ago, and I couldn't be happier. My night vision is now fantastic, making driving at night so much easier. My good eye was far-sighted, so I got a lens that matched that characteristic. I still have to wear readers for near vision, but my distance vision is so good I passed my driver's license vision test with ease, with no glasses. That was one thing that had driven me to get the surgery done - my driver's license exam was coming up, and I knew I'd never pass the vision part in my bad eye. I was nervous about the surgery, but it was a total breeze. The ONLY thing I felt was a slight sting when they first put the numbing drops in my eye. The procedure only took about 15-20 minutes. I never had any pain or discomfort in that eye afterward. Amazingly, as early as that evening I could see my TV set so clearly in that eye, through the little holes in my protective plastic eye patch. My followup appointment was the very next day, and although I was supposed to have a friend drive me to the doctor's office, my vision was close to 20/20 by then, and so I just drove myself there. If and when the time comes for my other eye to undergo cataract surgery someday, I won't hesitate for a second. To me it felt even easier than a normal trip to the dentist.
I am a young male who had Cataract surgery in Scottsdale a year and half ago. I got a detached retina last week.. I am very disappointed but even with a 3%+ risk for this as a young male I would do cataract surgery again.
It was Fun while it lastest!
Now I may be permanently blind in my left eye..
Very informative! I haven't had cataract surgery yet but probably will in the next year or so. This video is a heads up for what to expect but hopefully most of these won't occur or last long. Thanks. Jenny
I had cataract surgery and have not had any of these symptoms!!! Makes me smile!!! Glad I ran across this info!!
Thanks for sharing 🥰
Very helpful thank you
I wish I had not seen this video. It is scarring me from having my cataract surgery in a couple of weeks.
I didn't mean to scar you! Cataract surgery can be very positive and life-changing. While some people have some issues like dry eye, etc. most do not regret their decision. Best of luck!
Please keep us updated, I see the surgeon in Nov for a post op. I'm scared!
Having worn glasses from age 5 i now see the world clearer than ever. Dance into surgery its wonderful. I never knew the world had such sharp edges and that the color white so beautiful 😍 20/20 + 20/30
I go in tomorrow to see I am scared to now I was looking forward to it
@@tammielarrison3455 My eye doctor told me that the test she did showed my cataract were bigger than what she saw, so I went to a Cataract Specialist and he said my cataracts were to small for surgery and Medicare wouldn't cover it unless they were bigger, he gave me a new prescription for glasses... I'm really glad I didn't need the surgery, because my left eye is partially blind {been like that since I was little} and if something ever happens to my right eye, I would be screwed.
I now see vibrantly. I am only 2 weeks post op and will have the other eye done soon.
Thanks for sharing your experience!!! Best of luck with the second eye ♥
Excellent video. I work at an eye surgery center and this is information every patient should know, but unfortunately, most do not.
Thank you for your supportive comment - I appreciate you and all the work you do at your surgery center ❤
Thank you for your post. I had cataract surgery in 2019 and a couple months ago visited an ophthalmologist for a routine follow up. During the examination the doctor discovered scaring of the cornea as you mentioned. Laser treatment has removed the scaring and I'm thankful for that.
Thanks for sharing your experience!
@MicheleLeeMD
Hey doctor Michele A lady commented
Above this comment Shelley Needing you to help her out with her mom what has happened To her mom is really sad would be nice Read that And see if you can help her out. Thank you
But anyhow listening to this video Yes it's very helpful but at the same time why would you even have it done With all these Problems afterwards And do they ever go away I was listening to some of the comments. You would think in our time with all the technology as years went on We wouldn't have these issues after the fact. This lady said she had it done in the fifties her and her 2 siblings and they did great. And that's in the fifties so now in our time Why would you have all these problems still❓️
After 2 cataract surgeries my eyes got slightly blurry ( I could not read street signs), so after 5-7 years I went back and the doctor did a simple YAG lazer . I'm back to 20/20 again. Doctors rarely tell you that your eyes could get cloudy again, but it can be corrected.
Thanks for these honest discussions. I had my gall bladder removed several years ago and the surgeon never discussed any issues with me beforehand, only asked if I had questions.
I appreciate you ♥
Never heard about this. Very helpful. Thank you!
Thank you for posting this.
I am planning to film a Cataract Q&A Video in the next few weeks and would love to answer some of your questions about cataract surgery! Please feel free to comment below with any general questions you have, and I will do my best to answer them for you.
Thanks for supporting this channel 🙏
Thank you very much for caring, will continue to watch your video !
@@michellechang2538 Thank you for your kind words ❤
@@3100fps That is a fantastic question! You are absolutely right - healing time can range from 1 day to 1 week to even months. I'll include that in the Q&A video for you :)
Hello Michele Lee.. i'm stage 3 blind, profound contrast impaired, mono-ocular due to 2 failed vitrectomies in my right eye. (no vision left in Right side) My cataract in my only eye (L) has gotten to the point if looks like i'm in a heavy fog.. Cold or hot weather makes it worse..
If the surgery goes well, it may improve my vision. If there is a complication, i may be left completely blind. It is no longer a 50/50 proposition that patients with two functioning eye have. And i have concerns about being able to put the multiple drops in after surgery.. And the fact that i will have a patch over my one eye, makes it impossible for me to monitor my blood sugars and draw insulin.. Not everyone has a caregiver or family member.
Under informed consent, what are my actual risk? and because i have already had laser for PDR in that eye, does that run up the risk factor.. I need someone to be honest and give me the facts.. OHSU CaseyEye won't tell me how to get after surgery care to monitor my glucose levels or take insulin. They tell me to contact the Oregon Blind Foundation, and the OBF said, We can't help because your diabetes is medically related, it poses a liability. What do i do..?
I was diagnosed with cataracts in Dec 2019, just before the pandemic. I'm also dealing with a bad flare up of my psoriasis. My question: will active psoriasis (mostly on my legs, a few small spots on my face) be a problem when having cataract surgery since it’s an inflammatory disease?
VERY interesting information! Thank you for being so thorough!
Thanks for your feedback ❤️
Thank you for this video. My ophthalmologist just told me during a regular eye exam that she found my lenses started "yellowing". She said I still don't need surgery now but I want to know every risk of surgery from now, to prepare myself. I have myopia, astigmatism, presbyopia, thinning retina, bad floaters, and now cataracts. I'm just 50.
My 2nd video from Dr. Lee. TY again for explaining more about the POSSIBLE effects of surgery. I think it gives a patient Knowledge so IF a complication comes up, t he patient will KNOW to tell the Dr.. , Or not to panic if one happens and to have more an idea what is happening. WHAT a great free consultation from Dr. Lee !! LOL I will continue to seek advice from my own Dr. and Dr. Lee as needed. Such a gift ! Thank You !! 😊😊⭐⭐
Since my cataract surgery I can not drive a car in the evening when is dark. Reflections of light are huge and obstruct my view. I do have floats as well. When I saw a doctor 2 months ago he told me that as soon as I see flash lights to go to emergency room.
I have not been warned about side effects before surgery. I had a cataract surgery in 2015 and I have been using eye drops for dry eyes since then. In addition my eyes are always reddish.
Thanks for sharing your experience after cataract surgery. I'm so sorry to hear about your dry eyes, floaters, and red eyes - have you asked your eye doctor if you would benefit from a prescription-strength treatment for dry eyes? I hope things get better for you!
Thank you Doctor for this information. Would have helped to be told this before I had my cataract surgery. Many surgeries after that. Including a detached retina. I have subscribed and I will try to educate myself further as my left eye now is clouding over. The surgeon came highly recommended but like you said he didn't share much information with me.
Dr. Lee, I was a patient of yours when you were starting out in Chandler. I was surprised to see your videos and am glad you are still in the area.
I'm getting ready for the surgery myself and am so excited! I never imagined at 71 I'd be able to see clearly as its been foggy for so long. I can't even see the TV clearly so yes I'm excited!
I had cataract surgery a year ago and I should have had it much sooner. An amazing side effect was that my perspective vision returned! I had been living without it for so long that I forgotten things had depth. The three kinds of eye drops were a pain, however.
“Eye hope you found this video helpful…”
Love it! lol
Eye appreciate it 😂
Thank you. I just had surgery, my first on my left eye. Good to know what might possibly be ahead for me and during recovery.
Very interesting. You discussed some topics that are very important to me and pertant, too. I'm getting closer to the time of needing my cataracts taken off and I have droopy eyelids, too. So I was very interested in what you had to say. Thank you for sharing this information. It is greatly appreciatec.
Thank you for this. I've had cataract surgery in both eyes. And also retina detached in both eyes requiring vitrectomy surgery. As a result I have terrible dry eye syndrome. I also got scared tissue behind one of my new lenses requiring the YAG laser. I wish that more patients considering cataract surgery were made more aware of these possible side effects. Thank you for your honesty and transparency. I'm super happy now with my vision but wow, I had a lot to go through.
Thanks for sharing your experience and I'm glad you are doing well now!
ditto & I required a scleral band on my eye
@@maddscientist3170 yes. Me too on both eyes. I think that's standard practice. Unfortunately it took away my good long distance vision and made me short sighted!
After a lifetime of near-sightedness with astigmatism I had several eye operations. After the first cataract job, I was really freaked out -- I was very, very aware of being awake during the procedure and decided I would not even have the second one. Doc did not appreciate my criticism at the day-after followup visit. I did get the second surgery because he promised to take me more "out of it." Recovery went ok and colors were very vibrant. I had Lasik from the same doctor and did not need glasses for about 5 years, but the whole time I needed a magnifying glass to read a newspaper, magazine or a book. Had 2 YAG procedures in there somewhere, too.
Then I had both vitreous sacs collapse about 6 months apart. I was warned to be aware that retinas may detach after the vitreous collapses.
Within a few years I did have both retinas detach. First surgeon was really, really good at explaining what was going to happen before, and then very helpful after the surgery. Second time I wanted the same surgeon but it wasn't his turn in the rotation. This second surgeon was not as good. He explained things in somewhat broken English, even ignoring some of my questions. I asked him about seeing stuff in my periferal vision afterward and he told me to pay no attention to it. After 5 weeks I was still having pain in the outboard corner of the eye and he put off telling me to come in. I finally insisted that I be seen, and guess what? He needed to remove a stitch from my eye -- the source of the extreme irritation.
So glad that Costco sells 5-packs of artificial tears that help with extreme dry eye, I have those little green bottles all over the house. If I read a book it takes about a year to finish it due to dry eye. I stopped driving at night about 6 years ago, and actually stopped all highway driving about 2 years ago. (I'm 71 now.) Now I wear no-line bifocals again, and they need to be updated almost every year, just like before all the surgeries, but it's a much lighter prescription than before Lasik surgery.
That's it; I got a little verbose there.
@@jac3054 I'm so sorry to hear about your experience with cataract surgery. I'm glad everything is OK at the end ❤
Had mine done 12 years ago. Went from pop bottle thick glasses to perfect 20-20 vision.
Whatever you do, follow the instructions regarding the eye drops after your operation to the letter to avoid infection and inflammation.
Thank you for sharing!
Thank you for that explanation, it’s very clear and precise.
I'm 68 years old. Had Lasik 15 years ago. The Lasik was with Monovision correction in one eye for reading. Myopia was about -6 both eyes before Lasik.
Just had my second IOL implanted 4 days ago. I have the Symfony OptiBlue Toric lens. BOTH lenses are corrected for DISTANCE preference now. I haven't had any of the negative effects you spoke about. As everyone says, colors are like twice as vibrant now. My distance vision is outstanding now. Also my near vision is BETTER than before the surgeries. I can read my iPhone nearly perfectly at about 20 inches. So well so, I don't need reading glasses now. Maybe if it's super fine print in dim light would I look to put on reading glasses. As I sit at my computer now, it STUNNING just how BLACK the text on the screen is. Before the cataract surgeries, text on the computer screen was very grey.
I walked outside last night and could actually see the stars in focus for the first time in YEARS. You just don't realize how bad your vision has gotten, because it happens so SLOWLY, you just get used to it. It's quite shocking to have it instantly corrected.
I've read some of the comments talking about poor outcomes. Boy, you oughta watch TH-cam videos on "The History of Cataract Surgery". Woof. That'll put things in perspective. As they say, "Growing old is not for the faint of heart."
I had cataract surgery 12 years ago at age 67. It came out much much better than anticipated or even than the doctor promised. I have had none of these problems except the follow up Lag laser treatment which was like nothing.
Thanks for sharing your experience ❤️
I'm glad to hear that your YAG was without complications.
Thank you... Very informative
Thanks for watching!
Amazing🙏🏼👏🏼 Answered all my “whys”! Knowledge is definitely relief
Thanks for watching! I'm so glad it was helpful :)
Very good honest statements. I wish all my doctors were honest too, like this one.
I am totally freaked out......
Please don't freak out! This video was not intended to scare or freak out anyone. These are some side effects that may happen after cataract surgery - most of these are treatable. While no surgery is 0 risk, cataract surgery can be life-changing and positive overall!
Hey Linda, no need to be scared. The operation is a wonder!
@@mnfarkas is either do or die.
I had the same reaction! It seems like the risks could outweigh the benefits especially if your eyes are worse then before you had surgery.
Absolutely....@@karenmonson9893
Thank you. I feel better for knowing this.
Thanks for watching!
Interesting and worthwhile video.
I had cataract surgery bilaterally a few years ago followed by laser treatment three years later. I was pleased to hear that I should now enjoy good and clear vision going forward and no further laser should be required.
I'm a 68 year old female and I've had cataracts for a decade. At my last eye exam a month ago, I was told I was still a long ways off from being considered a candidate for the surgery. After seeing this I'm very grateful I'm not eligible. Thanks so much for the information.
Thanks for your feedback! Hopefully you will be OK without cataract surgery for a while, and when the time comes, I hope your cataract surgery goes smoothly.
@@MicheleLeeMD Thanks. It''s always such a challenge to get ALL the information you need to make an informed decision. I appreciate your honesty.
candid and comprehensive information regarding possible side effects. This Opthalmologist seems to genuinely have the well being of her patients at heart, providing the info they need to make a truly informed decision regarding this procedure and putting it out there on the internet for all to see.
@@catherinehazur7336 I really appreciate your kind words ♥
Thank you!!!fo your Integrity !
Thanks for watching ❤
Thank you for the video and information. Blessings to you.
It's very helpful information especially I'm planning on have Cataract surgery next year ! It's also scary to hear all of the side affect after surgery !
I appreciate your feedback! I made this video for people who want to know about all the possible side effects - not everyone has all or any of these side effects. If/when you need cataract surgery, you will weigh all the pros and cons and make a decision with your surgeon about timing and when to move forward.
Thanks again for watching, and best of luck!
@@MicheleLeeMD thank you for being so genuinely helping people to decide for themselves on cataract surgery
Thank you so much
Thanks for bringing this video to us.Very Informed.
You are so welcome! Thank you for watching ❤️
thank you for your channel and your videos which are very informative🙏🏻
A day or so after my cataract surgery, when I looked at a point source of light (say a chandelier bulb or car headlight) I saw a beam of light passing through it
Kind of like a lens flare in a camera. Or if you shone a flashlight through some milky water. It eventually dissipated. Then a week later I woke up seeing a burst of black dots which was followed by floaters. I still have a Weiss Ring floater a year later. People said that it would go away or I wouldn't notice it after awhile. It didn't go away but generally I have managed to not let it bother me too much. I also had the "secondary cataract" but the laser treatment fixed it.
Thanks for sharing your experience!
I don't have cataracts right now, and hope I don''t in the future. But in the event I do, I want you as my surgeon.
I appreciate you ❤️
Thank you. Scarey stuff, but I am glad you are so forthcoming...
This video helped my thought process regarding my need for cataract surgery. One thing now I am convinced to only do one eye at a time. Thanks Doc..
You are a honest and at the same time good eye doctor ! If I ever don't see you talking I would say you are an American or Ang English woman doctor . Your words are very clear ! Thank you !
Thank you ❤️