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• what do you think?
• Posted: 2009-03-13 21:04:59 By katie c
• i wrote last week about the shock of hearing that my driving might not be safe- found out today that i am indeed a non-driver from this day forth-bummer!!!! its been a crazy week, lots of adjusting to do, lots of crying, lots f "what now", luckily i have a great group of friends and family. my question for everyone is what is the current option about cataract surgery? saw a retina specialist and he supports the surgery as it will improve the central vision i have. seem to see conflicting opinions on this website- has anyone had the surgery? what did they think? also is this the best way to get support? my doc said to talk with those who have gone thru this...
  katie

• Cataract Surgery
• Posted: 2009-03-14 13:58:39 By Darran Z
• Katie,
  
  You may get more support from the RPList where there are over 500 subscribers. Many of the "active" posters there have gone through this surgery and many are going through it right now. Try this. I am also on that list you'll get more support of your current situation as many people are more supportive of RP and the daily tasks we have faced there. So Google RPList listserv and join.
  
  You get conflicting reports on Cataract surgery because not everyone is the same. My first question for you is, how bad are the cats? If they are less than a +2 then surgery may not show any improvement at all. My cats have been a trace to +1 for years and my doctor didn't recommend it. Not until recently where now I'm battling glaucoma and cataract surgery is often sometimes used to deal with glaucoma. This was the only reason I had my cataracts removed and see very little improvement.
  
  Alot also depends upon how bad yoru retina is. If your retina is advanced, like mine, then you may not get any improvement. Which is why some people get excellent improvement and others do not get much at all.
  
  Some doctors do not want to do this because of risks of CME and other things that can develop after cataract surgery. It is not a risk free procedure and people with RP may have a slightly larger risk than others. This is why some Specialists are hesitant in doing it.
  
  But you can ask questions and find more from others on the RPList.
  
  As for the "not driving" and transition. It's really not that difficult. Especially if you live in an area that has a decent mass transit system. I went through this 10 years ago and was not all that difficult. Because i still coudl get around, by bus, train, even if it meant taking a little bit longer.
  
  You may wish to go for Orientation and Mobility training, and perhaps learn to use a cane. Even if you don't use it, it can be used as identification purposes so if you do "bump" into someone, then they won't deck you.
  
  So there are some options out there, it's just a matter of how determined you are.
  
  Darran

• RP
• Posted: 2009-03-28 22:08:48 By Jill M
• Hi
  Good response, Darran. I alos have RP, cataracts and glaucoma. Mine is normal pressure glaucoma(10 and 11 pressures!) and waiting on the cataracts. At Harvard/Berman-Gund they told me to wait until they were at least 3's. I was part of the vitamin A study and the following one that didn't really discover much.
  It was just good to read your entry.
  Jill

• RP,cataracts, glaucoma
• Posted: 2009-03-28 22:24:23 By Jill M
• Hi again
  I read in a earlier entry that you had the surgery for both at the same time. How did it go? They are talking of doing that with me. It does scare me. I know that they will watch the swelling because of the RP too. I know at Harvard/Berman Gund they said to wait til cataracts were at least a 3. May drive me batty by then!
  How did your surgery go, how is your pressure?
  Thanks
  Jill