Cataract surgery, two eyes on the same day?

Hi,
I'll have cataract surgery, and I have a couple of questions.
First, I'm running a business and I'd rather have everything done
in a short period then doing it twice. In a 2002 posting to this
group I found that the reason they do one eye at a time is
infection, and the risk of infection going from one eye to the
other. My questions:

What's the odds that if you have an infection, your other
eye will get infected also?
What's the risk, in any case, if you already have a chronic
coniunctivitis, mostly allergic?
What's the risk of postponing the surgery, assuming I can see well
enough to drive?
My mom had the same surgery 10 years ago, her brother also had
cataract, what's the odds of my kids getting it too?

I'm 52, healthy, near-sighted, non smoking (couldn't if I wanted
to because that's what triggers the coniunctivitis).

I've asked my doctor, but he wasn't interested in properly
answering my questions. I'll file a complaint and I'll see
another doctor in January. In the mean time, I thought I'd
find some info here :-)

dag
Xtine

Christine wrote:

>Hi,
>I'll have cataract surgery, and I have a couple of questions.
>First, I'm running a business and I'd rather have everything done
>in a short period then doing it twice. In a 2002 posting to this
>group I found that the reason they do one eye at a time is
>infection, and the risk of infection going from one eye to the
>other. My questions:
>
>What's the odds that if you have an infection, your other
>eye will get infected also?
>
>
A lot higher if both eyes are done at once, because whatever caused the
first eye to get infected is more likely to be hanging around the
operatory. Let's say a solution used was contaminated; it's very
likely the same solution will be used in the 2nd eye, whereas if you do
the second eye a month later, much less likely, because all the
solutions will have been changed by then. And if it's the surgeon's bad
technique, you have a chance to dump him/her in favor of another one for
the other eye.

>What's the risk, in any case, if you already have a chronic
>coniunctivitis, mostly allergic?
>
>
Somewhat higher. Makes it real important to vigorously scrub those lids
and lashes for a week before surgery, and to start antibiotic drops
(like Zymar) a couple of days pre-op.

>What's the risk of postponing the surgery, assuming I can see well
>enough to drive?
>
>
No risk.

>My mom had the same surgery 10 years ago, her brother also had
>cataract, what's the odds of my kids getting it too?
>
>
>
Everyone gets them if they live long enough.

>I'm 52, healthy, near-sighted, non smoking (couldn't if I wanted
>to because that's what triggers the coniunctivitis).
>
>I've asked my doctor, but he wasn't interested in properly
>answering my questions. I'll file a complaint and I'll see
>another doctor in January. In the mean time, I thought I'd
>find some info here :-)
>
>
>
For you, there are 2 significant risks, neither of which is very
pleasant. Intraocular infection and retinal detachment are both best
avoided by choosing a surgeon who is very good technically, no matter
how flippant he might seem to you. Some of the best surgeons have pretty
poor communication skills.

w.stacy, o.d.

Christine wrote:

>I'll have cataract surgery, and I have a couple of questions.
>First, I'm running a business and I'd rather have everything done
>in a short period then doing it twice.
>
>

By the way, you don't really need to lose much time. You should be able
to work the next day after each surgery. If you plan it right and get a
good result, nobody will even notice you had it done. What's your
present spectacle and/or CL Rx?

In article <4589d33d$0$320$(E-Mail Removed)>,
Christine <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

> Hi,
> I'll have cataract surgery, and I have a couple of questions.
> First, I'm running a business and I'd rather have everything done
> in a short period then doing it twice. In a 2002 posting to this
> group I found that the reason they do one eye at a time is
> infection, and the risk of infection going from one eye to the
> other. My questions:


In my experience, they patch the operated eye for at least a day. If
you have both eyes done at the same time, you will be blind.

If it turns out that this surgery doesn't work for you, it won't work
for both eyes. Most of us can't afford to have both eyes screwed up.

If the surgery is done at different times, then you really won't be off
work very long.

It seems that what the surgeon (and patient) learn from the first eye
procedure can make for a more successful 2nd eye procedure.

Don W.

William Stacy <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:


: By the way, you don't really need to lose much time. You should be able
: to work the next day after each surgery. If you plan it right and get a
: good result, nobody will even notice you had it done.

Thanks, for the other answers too. I'm running a tech business
which is in a kind of critical phase, also we're moving it from
Europe to the US. I don't want to loose too much time, but I don't
want to risk to loose sight either. No sight, no work.
Is flying a risk?

: What's your present spectacle and/or CL Rx?

it's -4.5 both sides, but apart from the cataract I do think I'd
need new glasses, like -5 or so.

again, thanks for the answers.

dag
Xtine

Dan Abel <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

: If the surgery is done at different times, then you really won't be off
: work very long.

Different times, how long apart? They want to do it one month
apart.

dag
Xtine

One other thing, I'm scared to death to have surgery done to my
eyes while I'm still conscious, seeing and hearing it all. It
gives me nightmares. Any other part of my body is ok, I've
actually had surgery that most people do under narcosis, I've had
it done as an outpatient, just local anaesthesia. But my eyes. I
don't know if I can do it. Fortunately, it doesn't take long. It's
actually the main reason that I'd want it done in one day. If it
turns out to be scary, I don't know if I can stand a second time.
I'm certainly not a whimp, I just hate spiders and eye surgery.

I'm sorry to plunge into this newsgroup and bother you with al my
newbie questions.

dag
Xtine

In article <458db0eb$0$332$(E-Mail Removed)>,
Christine <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:


> it's -4.5 both sides, but apart from the cataract I do think I'd
> need new glasses, like -5 or so.

Generally, as part of the procedure, they will fix your vision so you
won't need glasses for distance, or close. Take your pick. You will
lose all ability to focus, so if you pick distance, then you will need
reading glasses. If you pick close, then you will need glasses to see
distance. You can certainly choose to need -5D also, but why?

In article <458db19d$0$332$(E-Mail Removed)>,
Christine <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

> Dan Abel <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
> : If the surgery is done at different times, then you really won't be off
> : work very long.
>
> Different times, how long apart? They want to do it one month
> apart.


Sounds like a plan to me. I had mine done five years apart, and that
caused some problems.