Time needed for two cataract ops and followups

[Jingthing]

I've been delaying this for years but I'm getting closer to wanting to actually do this. I need cataract ops in both eyes and there is no way I will do them at the same time. I want to do them in Bangkok even though I live in Pattaya.

So my question is really about logistics.

Supposing I block out some time to hang out in Bangkok, get the first eye done, do the followup, get the second eye, do that followup ... how much TIME would I need for that? I am thinking definitely less than a month ... more like some weeks at most, but can someone give me some more definitive info about that?

If it's a reasonable amount of time, I think I'd prefer just to be in Bangkok the entire time ... but if it's a too much time, that might not be so practical.

Edited February 1, 2015 by Jingthing

[bkkjames]

Jt, why not get one done - if its weeks go back home to Pattaya and rest, then return. Baht bus + regular bus should be less than 200 baht each way.

[NeverSure]

JT, It's no big deal. Get one done, go in the next day for the follow up, and hang around for maybe 3 days in the unlikely event you get an infection. You will get eye drops to prevent the infection. Go back in a month and get the other one done.

A friend recently had it done and he traveled to my house because I'm close to bigger medical centers. I went through it with him as in driving him, etc. He was warned to not bend over or bang his head, LOL, but otherwise he could shower the next day. He got 20/20 vision out of it.

Being close to it, it didn't seem a lot different from when I had lasik surgery. They cut a flap, "machined" the lens, and put the flap back. I had the same restrictions he did for a week.

After my follow up visit the next day, I drove myself home and this was both eyes. My friend said he could have too but I was with him so he didn't need to.

[Jingthing]

Well I don't like the idea of walking around with one eye fixed and the other not for any longer than I have to.

[Swiss1960]

Well I don't like the idea of walking around with one eye fixed and the other not for any longer than I have to.

My mother did it last year in Switzerland with 1 week in between. Doctor said it takes 3 days for complete healing (and ensuring no infections) and retest for sight was done after 5 days, some minur adjustments were planned for the second eye and then done after 7 days.

Good luck with your surgery!

Edit: the 5 days to the retest for sight was on recommendation of the eye surgeon, as he said the older a person, the more time the eye / nerve / brain needs to fully adjust to the new situation.

Edited February 2, 2015 by Swiss1960

[harrry]

Well I don't like the idea of walking around with one eye fixed and the other not for any longer than I have to.

not a problem at all. You get used to in in half an hour. May be better not to drive. a day or two for the first eye. Personally I would then go home as you can get to Bangkok quickly in case of infection. Let your body recover from the stress for a couple of weeks and do the other one. No reason to spend more than one night after each op in Bangkok after that unless you feel like a change of entertainment scene and restauraunts.

You will really get a shock at how the world looks after the op.

Edited February 2, 2015 by harrry

[puck2]

My mother did it last year in Switzerland with 1 week in between. Doctor said it takes 3 days for complete healing (and ensuring no infections) and retest for sight was done after 5 days, some minur adjustments were planned for the second eye and then done after 7 days.

My own experience in Germany in 2005 upon doctor's advice.

If you are myopic or farsighted you will be overwhelmed from that moment on when the nurse or the doctor has removed the bandage/plaster. Suddenly you realise having a clear view without any glasses. This happens under the condition that the eye specialist corrects this defective vision (what is normal).

[steve187]

most people get one done and its years before the other needs doing. i had my right eye done in the UK, 6 months later i needed a secondary cataract op in the same eye, my other eye is still fine.

If yours are both as bad as each other, from my recovery point of view, i see no reason not to have one done at the beginning of the week and the other at the end, say Monday and Friday all my follow up check ups were done at the opticians, did not have to return to the hospital

[Pakboong]

Had the first one done at Bangkok Pattaya and it was quick and painless. Now, about 20 months later, I need the other one done. The recovery is quick and the eye patch was only on one day. I have known 3 other individuals who had the operation done at Bangkok Pattaya and they are all pleased. The cost was 55,000baht per eye.

[lopburi3]

As I posted had both mine done last month - two weeks apart - follow ups were next day to clean and remove eye cover/eye testing - one week later to check eye/healing process and then one month later. My cost for each was 35k for operation/medications/follow up and 1k for lens measurement (IR scan) prior to operation to order proper lens.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/810788-cataractiol-operation-vejthani-hospital-36k/#entry9215530

[lopburi3]

Well I don't like the idea of walking around with one eye fixed and the other not for any longer than I have to.

I removed the lens from my IOL eye glasses for the 2 weeks before doing second eye so vision was not a problem - the tan/dirty look through the uncorrected eye is enough to make you want to do ASAP - there is a real color and brightness change after doing.