> Dan, I was also awake during my vitrectomy (my choice), although they
> used propofol IV to administer the retrobulbar block (local
> anesthesia). The propofol left me in a state of elation, which lasted
> for most of the vitrectomy, and the retrobulbar block eliminated all
> sensation in my eye (although I could see--and was able to watch the
> surgery). By contrast, the topical drops for cataract surgery
> eliminated pain but I could still feel pressure. And without the
> residual high from the propofol, the cataract surgery was much less
> pleasant.

> On Jun 28, 10:48 pm, "Ms.Brainy" <mikabra...[at]gmail.com> wrote On Jun 27, 1:50 pm, Neil Brooks <neil0...[at]yahoo.com> wrote:
> > > > > Keep us posted on the progress!
> Another note: Finally I too have some floaters, though very few and
> only occassionally. I believe they have been there all along but due
> to my poor vision I couldn't even see them...

> I'm not brave, just curious. I had read so much about cataract
> surgery that I didn't want to miss anything by being sedated.

> On Jun 27, 1:50 pm, Neil Brooks <neil0...[at]yahoo.com> wrote:
> > > > Keep us posted on the progress!
Another note: Finally I too have some floaters, though very few and

> I think you will be pleased with your AcrySof IQ. It's Alcon's
> aspheric IOL, the type of lens that Dr. Stacy recommended to you on
> this forum.

> I really don't understand why so
> many people suggest that you should delay cataract surgery until it's
> really needed so that the drawbacks of having IOLs are easier
> tolerate. (What drawbacks?)

> My surgical experience was a lot easier than yours. I opted to skip
> the sedation and had topical anesthesia only. I didn't have any pain
> and I didn't need a bandage or patch.

> > > Other than itching ... how would you say it went ...

> Sorry about the itching. Can they give you anything (Benadryl OTC) if
> it hasn't stopped?

> Did you/didn't you go with the topical anesthesia PLUS the sedative??

> > > Keep us posted on the progress!

> I'm grateful that they're aiming as high as they are, though I know
> 20/20 would be much, much better. I hope the lens settles well,
> orients itself comfortably to its new home, and gives you crisp clear
> vision.
> Although, technically, you're now "on the threshold of myopia."
> Have you read about "plus lens therapy?"

> > People have told me that a cat surgery is a piece of cake compared to
> > what I have been through. Well, I am still waiting for the
> > cake... :-) My next followup is next Tuesday.
> Devil's food okay?

> Good luck on Tuesday :-)

> On Jun 28, 5:47 am, "Mike Tyner" <mty...[at]mindspring.com> wrote "Jane" <clinton6...[at]hotmail.com> wrote
> Hi,
> This poster will be useful I presume.
> WHAT IS CATARACT?
> Cataract is an opacity in the lens of the eye.In a camera, an object
> is focussed onto the film by a lens. Similarly, an object seen by the
> eye is focussed onto the retina by the it's lens. When the lens of our
> eye gets opaque, it is called CATARACT. The normal lens allows light
> to reach the retina. When it becomes opaque and does not allow light
> to reach the retina, we are unable to see clearly.
> To understand cataract better, imagine photographing through a camera
> with grease smeared onto it's lens. In such a case, the image formed
> is very hazy and blurred. Similar to grease smearing onto the lens of
> a camera, if the lens of the eye gets opaque, the image formed on the
> retina will be blurred and one will not see clearly.
> HISTORY OF CATARACT SURGERY
> The history of cataract dates back to 3000 years. The earliest
> cataract operation was performed by the famous surgeon of ancient
> India, SUSRUTA, a disciple of Danavantri. Even in that ancient era,
> Susruta described Cataract as an opacity of the lens. He had given an
> admirable account of the technique of its treatment by couching which
> he successfully practiced. In this operation he displaced the opaque
> cataractous lens away from the centre of the eye to another part of
> the eye. Today modern medical advances have made cataract surgery one
> of the most successful forms of surgery. New surgical techniques and
> Intraocular lenses can restore excellent vision in 97% of all cases.
> In the 1960's Dr.Charles Kelman from USA started a technique called
> Phacoemulsification in which cataracts were removed through a 3 mm
> incision, compared to a 12 mm incision in which the whole cataract was
> removed in toto. Then in 1998, Dr.Amar Agarwal from India started a
> technique called PHAKONIT in which cataracts were removed through a
> 1.0 mm opening. In the year 2001 a special lens was made which went
> through this small opening of 1 to 1.5 mm. This was called the
> Rollable Intraocular lens.
> WHY DOES CATARACT FORM?
> The causes of the formation of cataract are not fully known. It is
> basically an aging phenomenon. Just as our hair gets grey, so also
> does the lens of our eye get opaque. Next to old age come other
> factors like deficiency of food like proteins and vitamins, some toxic
> drugs, general diseases like diabetes, infections and injuries.
> Sometimes German measles in pregnant mothers causes cataract in the
> child.
> TIPS BENEFICIAL TO DELAY THE ONSET OF CATARACT
> 1]Take good and nourishing diet rich in proteins and vitamins. Food
> such as liver, eggs, milk products, carrots, cabbages and yeast are
> good.
> 2]Protect your eyes from excessive exposure to sunrays, X-rays,
> intense heat and injuries.
> 3]Diseases such as Diabetes and syphillis should be treated early
> and effectively.
> TREATMENT OF CATARACT
> THERE IS NO MEDICAL TREATMENT FOR CATARACT. THE ONLY TREATMENT IS
> SURGERY. The important question is when should one get operated for
> cataract. This depends on the occupation of the patient. If the
> patient is a pilot, he should be operated earlier for slight
> deterioration of vision will affect his work, whereas if the patient
> is a housewife, she can delay surgery for some time. When a person has
> a cataract and the decision is made to operate, then the diseased lens
> is removed and replaced by an artificial lens.
> ALTERNATIVES OF THE NATURAL LENS
> Once the cataract [diseased lens] is removed, there is no focussing
> ability of the eye as there is no lens in the eye. So one has to use
> an artificial lens to get the object focussed onto the retina. This
> can be either in the form of a spectacle, contact lens or an
> Intraocular lens.
> 1]Spectacles can be used but these are very heavy and not comfortable.
> Further, if one removes these glasses the person is blind. Other
> disadvantages of these glasses is that everything is magnified and the
> side view is very poor.
> 2]The second alternative is to use a Contact lens. This is an
> artificial lens placed on the eye. The disadvantage as with spectacles
> is that if we remove it the person is blind as there is no focussing
> ability. Another problem with contact lenses is that they have to be
> put on in the morning and removed at night which is difficult for an
> old person.
> 3]So, the best method is to give the patient an INTRAOCULAR LENS. This
> is an artificial lens that is placed in the eye at the time of
> surgery. It will remain in place till the end of life. By this all the
> problems of spectacles or contact lenses is removed. This lens does
> not irritate the eye.
> MANUAL CATARACT EXTRACTION TECHNIQUE
> The manual or the old technique for cataract removal use a 12 mm
> incision (cut) to remove the cataract. One technique called the
> INTRACAPSULAR CATARACT EXTRACTION has an incision of 12 mm. In this
> the entire cataract is removed with the capsule of the lens. The
> disadvantage of this technique is that the artificial lens called the
> Intraocular lens (IOL) is placed in the capsular bag with the capsule
> of the lens acting as a support for the lens. As the capsule is not
> present the IOL cannot be placed in the capsular bag position.
> Another manual technique is called the EXTRACAPSULAR CATARACT
> EXTRACTION TECHNIQUE. In this the incision is about 10 mm. In this the
> cataract is removed but the capsule of the lens is left behind. The
> advantage of this technique is that the artificial lens called the
> Intraocular lens (IOL) is placed in the capsular bag with the capsule
> of the lens acting as a support for the lens.
> The disadvantage of this technique is that the incision is quite large
> of about 10 mm which creates scarring in the eye. This means half the
> eye is cut open and then an IOL is inserted inside the eye. The IOL is
> about 6 mm and so easily goes inside the eye. Sutures are then placed
> and the patient admitted. The patient takes rest for 45 days and after
> that suitable glasses are prescribed. The patient is given spectacles
> for fine tuning after 45 days.
> PHACOEMULSIFICATION
> Dr.Charles Kelman from USA started a technique called
> phacoemulsification in the 60's to remove cataract through a 3 mm
> opening. Since then various new modalities have developed which have
> made this technique more refined. The machine for removing the
> cataracts is called a Phacoemulsifier machine which cuts the cataract
> into small pieces and removes them by aspiration.
> FOLDABLE INTRA-OCULAR LENSES
> Normally, the lenses used are rigid and cannot be folded. The problem
> by this is that one has to make a large cut or incision in the eye to
> implant these lenses. Today, the latest development in Intraocular
> lenses is the FOLDABLE intraocular lens. These are special lenses
> which can be folded. Once they are folded they are placed in a special
> cartridge and then the cartridge is place in a special injector. The
> injector is passed into the eye and the lens also gradually passed
> into the eye. The lens unfolds in the eye. These lenses can be passed
> into the eye through a very small cut. Thus this foldable Intraocular
> lens helps make the incision very small.
> PHAKONIT (Cataract surgery through a sub 1 mm incision)
> One of the biggest breakthroughs in cataract removal has come from
> India by a technique called PHAKONIT. In this the incision is brought
> down from a 3 mm incision to a 1 mm incision.
> The first step is to make the incision. Then the instruments for
> Phakonit are passed into the eye and the cataract cut into small
> pieces by Phakonit and finally the whole cataract removed.
> The problem with this technique was to find an IOL which would pass
> through such a small incision. Then on October 2nd 2001 the first case
> of a Phakonit Rollable IOL was done.
> The lens used was a special lens from USA. This was the first Rollable
> IOL which was implanted after a Phakonit procedure and was a rolled
> IOL.
> The advantage of this lens is that it is a very thin lens and when
> placed in water becomes pliable and can then be rolled and inserted
> into the eye. Inside the eye the lens opens gradually. The patient can
> come to the hospital and go home immediately. The advantages are that
> the 1 mm barrier is broken and the incision now has become so small.
> MICRO-PHAKONIT
> (Cataract Removed Through A 0.7 Mm Needle)
> On May 21st 2005, a new technique "MICRO PHAKONIT" has been introduced
> by Dr.Agarwal's Eye Hospital, Chennai whereby cataracts were removed
> with a specially designed needle of 0.7 mm. The surgery was carried
> out by Dr.Amar Agarwal, Director of Dr.Agarwal's eye hospital,
> Chennai, India. The instruments were designed by him and manufactured
> in the United States of America.
> Image will come
> As the incision now becomes smaller than the original phakonit
> technique started in 1998, the technique has been termed Micro-
> Phakonit. This technique is absolutely painless and the patient does
> not require any injection at all. Since the incision is below 1 mm the
> patient has no injection, no stitches and no pad. The patient walks
> inside the hospital and goes back immediately.
> OUT-PATIENT CATARACT SURGERY
> Today, we are able to operate patients with cataract and remove their
> diseased lenses and replace it with an artificial lens called an
> Intraocular lens as an out-patient procedure. The patients are not at
> all admitted in the hospital. The patient comes in the morning for
> surgery and after the operation can go home. The patients can go back
> to their work within a couple of days as the healing is very quick
> because of the ultrasmall incision.
> WHAT ARE THE CHANCES OF GOOD SIGHT AFTER OPERATION?
> With the advancement of cataract surgery and modern skills, the
> success of cataract surgery is between 97-99%. Complications like
> infection and haemorrhage can occur but are very rare. One should
> remember that if the retina or nerve of the eye are damaged then even
> after a good cataract operation the person will not see.
> Putting large lenses in large incisions is bucking the tide of
> history. Small incisions offer the best chance for most-rapid, stable
> visual rehabilitation of the cataract patient at the least cost,
> including time of impaired vision following surgery, the need for
> follow up care, the attendance of relatives to take care of them to
> the doctor and the like.
> SUMMARY
> The advantages of performing Phakonit cataract surgery due to the very
> small size of the cut made in the eye is that -
> 1.The patients are not admitted in the hospital
> 2.The patients come for the surgery and go back immediately after a
> few hours in the hospital
> 3.There are no stitches used
> 4.The patient gets back to his or her normal routine the next day and
> can go to office, have a head bath or do the normal housework like
> cooking etc.
> Take care and stay in touch.