Tamsulosin and Cataract Surgery: SUCCESS!

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I have been stressing-out about having cataract surgery on my one-and-only eye for years because of the additional risk from taking Tamsulosin/Flomax for years. Tamsulosin can cause a condition known as "Floppy iris syndrome". I had seen pictures of early cataract surgeries where the pupil had spilled out of the incision caused by Flomax. Not pretty! The surgeon I used does 1,000 surgeries per year, and he assured me that he knew how to handle this risk.

I finally had my surgery on 8/31/2022.

I also chose to have my implant lens targeted for near vision instead of distance. Most people choose to have the standard distance vision implant. My reasoning was that more than 90% of what I use my only eye 👁‍🗨 for is reading on the computer. So, I asked the surgeon to implant a lens targeted for about 20 inches. It has worked beautifully and is getting better every day.

I was expecting to need glasses for distance. To my surprise, after only one week, I am able to see perfectly on the computer, and almost perfectly at a distance. Things look so much brighter now!

Like I said earlier, I have only my right eye. The left eye was lost to botched surgeries for a detached retina in 2003.

I am SO THANKFUL TO GOD!

 

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Congratulations on the results of your surgery. You now have better vision than I do! hope things continue to improve for you!

 

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Very good share and congratulations.

 

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Wonderful news!!

I can say I had been extremely anxious had two ad cataracts in both eyes.
I avoided surgery for the longest due to anxiety.

I talked myself into understanding it was not my job to DO surgery but to relax and it was completely painless and no down time.
Vision was amazing like having a super power first couple weeks but did settle to a "normal" level after awhile.
I join the 100 percent of people who told me it's painless easy and no problem immediate recovery.
Seriously just do it.

 

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Wonderful news and great decision.

I had cataract surgery and paid $5,000 above insurance to have multi focal lenses. I need reading glasses for everything - distance is good.

 

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I had cataract surgery in my early 50s. It turns out that people with very poor vision (me)tend to develop cataracts earlier. I was shaking and trying not to cry when my doctor told me about the implanted lens and that it would correct my vision. I still could cry every time I think about how incredible it is to see clearly for the first time in my life. And it was so easy! So I am celebrating with you, Meza, about your success

 

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The Lord is as the Lord does! How wonderful that He has provided such wonderful healing for you - may He continue to provide strength and healing as your vision continues to improve.

I second what MayMay, LeeC, thudson1965, Stuart and laalaauk say. It is a time for celebration!

Blessings In Christ,
Honeeecombs

 

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Thank you all for sharing in my blessing.

While the doctor was doing the surgery, he shared some information with me that you might find as interesting as I did:

It wasn't until the 1950's that lens implants were available. They could remove the cataracted lens, but had nothing to replace it with, so people had to get very thick glasses.

It was an Air Force flight surgeon that noticed that the airplane canopy material (polycarbonate) that had been embedded in a pilot's eye would not be rejected by the body. That was the beginning of the development of the interocular lens implants we have today.

I mentioned that I had seen a documentary on TV that said the Romans would use a pointed, brass tube to suck the cataract out. He added that the Egyptians would push the cataract into the eye and leave it there. (They had no anesthesia back then!) :O

 

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I forgot to congratulate YOU on your journey of courage to get the surgery! CONGRATULATIONS

 

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Thank you, @Maymay941 .

 

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@MezaJarJarBinks - That is wonderful. So happy for you!

 

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Cataract surgery best thing I've done. After wearing glasses for close to 50 yrs. O went with the distance lens. Use cheaters for computer. Happy that this has all worked out for you.

 

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@PatRnFl ,

Thank you.

 

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I just heard that one of the women in our church had cataract surgery, but she has some kind of complication. I did not hear what the complication was. She will have to have another surgery.

 

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I don’t know what her issue is, but I needed a follow-up surgery also - kind of a touch up. It was just a few minutes, easier than the cataract surgery was (and cataract surgery is a breeze) I believe they did both eyes at once and there was no recovery, if I remember correctly!

 

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@LeeC ,

I'm wondering if this is what happened to you?

As you may know, in about 20-50% of cataract patients, a condition develops that feels like the cataract has returned. This can happen within weeks to years after the original surgery.

The cataract has not actually returned since the natural lens was chewed up and sucked out during the original surgery. Sometimes a microscopic piece of the original lens managed to hang on in the lens capsule. Since the cells are still living, they can continue to reproduce, and over time, a haze covers the interior capsule wall. So, to the patient, it appears like the cataract has returned.

The treatment is simple and quick. The procedure is called "YAG Laser Capsulotomy". The surgeon uses the YAG laser to cut a hole in the hazy interior capsule wall, which lets you see clearly again. Since this does not happen to every patient, it is paid for only if it becomes necessary in the future. (I am prepared for this possibility.)

I was fascinated by how God designed the eye so cleverly! The eye lens actually hangs inside this bag-like capsule. The lens and capsule cells have no nucleus or blood. They receive nourishment from the vitreous gel in the scleral chamber. This is getting long now, so I'll stop here.

 

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That sounds like what happened. I had YAG Laser surgery. It was pretty soon after the original surgery. Quick and easy