Going in for cataract surgery on Thursday, can't believe......

[mrmpa]

how very serious they are about infection(s). I had knee replacement about 3 1/2 years ago, and just had to show up. With cataract I've been informed to call if I have the slightest indication of a cold, open wounds, and to shower the day before and the day of surgery with an anti bacterial soap. Also use no lotions. And I started using an anti-inflammatory eyedrop (4 times a day) this past Thursday, I understand the use of that.

I'm not complaining, it's just a world of difference in 3 years, and it's the same hospital system

[In_The_Wind]

1. Good luck! I hope all goes well for you.

[Thor_MN]

2. If you get an infection in your knee, you aren't going to care much about a scar.

You get scar tissue in your eyes, different story...

Good Luck, hope it goes well, with no infections.

[TexasBushwhacker]

3. When I had sinus surgery I had to bathe with Phisohex

I found out the hard way that Phisohex has lanolin, which comes from wool, which I am allergic to. I went to surgery looking like I had a sunburn ALL OVER.

It just sounds like you have an extra careful surgeon and that's good.

[mrmpa]

4. He's a good guy......

1st met him when I was uninsured. The free clinic I went to held an eye clinic & diagnosed the cataract. They sent me to this doctor, who does surgeries to those who are uninsured, unemployed, etc. However I kept filling out medical assistance (which the hospital needed for their share) forms, and being told by MA that I needed to submit forms I had all ready submitted and I just gave up. and I was not able to come up with a payment plan. So I finally went back to him when I got MA, (only because the clinic had someone help me with the submission process).

He's very committed to the community, and I really like that.

[lunatica]

5. I didn't have to do that much

I had to use antibiotic eye drops for a week before and a week after the surgery.

You'll be delighted with the result. The only pain you might feel is a slight irritation if they have to use sutures. You eyesight will be good immediately, with no wait period whatsoever.

You'll never regret it.

[mrmpa]

7. I had a cataract.......

in the other eye in 2003 and had the surgery. That vision is excellent. Can't wait until all I need are reading glasses. Although I will get a pair of prescription sunglasses for driving.

[elleng]

6. I didn't experience such, 2 years ago,

and neither did my friend 1 year ago, 2 different providers. DID have to use eye drops for 1-2 weeks prior, and 3-4 weeks post.

Onward to clear vision!

[csziggy]

8. Between my first knee replacement and second one they changed their procedures

And my replacements were only two months apart!

First one, they gave me some sponges with the anti-bacterial soap to scrub the leg where the surgery was going to be. Second one they swabbed my nose, tested for MRSA - which came back positive - and gave me bottles of anti-bacterial to wash my entire body with each day for four days before the surgery. I had to call in after the first shower - I itched all over so bad I was ready to rip my skin off so I took another shower to wash any residue off. I called and talked to the doctor's nurse and she told to stop using it.

The difference between the first and second surgery - a woman in Georgia had gotten MRSA and lost all her limbs to the infection (http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Wellness/georgia-student-fighting-life-flesh-eating-infection/story?id=16311568). While it happened just before my first surgery the changes in procedures hit the hospitals in between. It turned out that my MRSA was a false positive but it got me a private room at the hospital at no extra charge.

[Worried senior]

9. I had both eyes done

in Feb.

The only things I had to do was a wk before the surgery was wash the lid with an antibacterial soap. Day of surgery they had me wash my whole face with baby shampoo. They put drops in my eye and gave me medication to make re relax and forget. The surgeries were one wk apart and even the procedure changed the 2nd time.

I am very happy I had it done, didn't get decent eye sight until the next day and it would have been nice had they told us it could take awhile as everyone is different.

I got the blob as they call it, a drop of medication at the time of the surgery and not drops needed after which the first couple days I could see something and had floaters but not for long and sure made things a lot easier.

My sight has changed over time, had to go to eye dr and be checked a few times and then I finally was able to get reading glasses but really can get by with readers and the best thing is that I can drive without glasses.

If I was rich I could have had lenses that would require no readers at all but since I was relying on Medicare and supplemental I went with the cheapest.

[PennyK]

10. I just had a small procedure done

...and they had me wash twice with Dial Soap.
I had had something else done less than a month ago and that was NOT part of the protocol.

[NV Whino]

11. I had my eyes done in October and November of last year

I had three kinds of drops, one started a week before surgery, the other two lasted for two weeks after. Due to overlapping times, I had to create a medication calendar to keep straight what went where and when. But no extra scrubbing needed.

The prep in the hospital took 45 minutes, the surgery took 10. Back home for about 4 hours, then back to the doc for an exam and remove the protective eye cover. For the first eye, I was supposed to sleep with the cover for a week. That lasted two days before I couldn't stand it any more. The second eye, they said two days.

When my mother had her surgery, she had to wear the eye protection day and night for a week. We've come a long way, baby.

[mrmpa]

12. I remember my Grandmother's cataract surgery in 1970.......

she was in the hospital for about a week, the eye bandaged each time I visited her. When she got home, I remember the coke bottle glasses she had.

[blue neen]

13. It's a good thing.

I think all of the extra attention they're paying to the prevention of infections is paying off.

Good luck.