cataracts

[Pam P]

Sandra - I have had cataract surgery in both eyes. I can't remember for sure, but I think I had a very small cataract before I was dx with bc, but remember the eye dr saying it would be many years before it would be a problem for me. In 2004 one eye had a large cataract & I had the surgery on that. At that time I was told there was one in the other eye too, but not yet bad enough to do surgery. A year later I had cataract surgery on that one. For me both surgeries were very easy with immediate great results. I could see much better than ever before. I had been very near sighted & wore glasses all the time. Now my vision isn't 20/20, but good enough that I don't need to wear glasses most of the time. I can pass the drivers eye exam without glasses, but I do usually wear glasses when driving just so I can have the best vision for reading signs etc. I also bring glasses if I go to a play, movie, etc. My insurance covered the surgeries and I had great results. So for me it was really a blessing in disguise with the outcome i've had.

Elaine mentioned vision problems due to taxanes. I am currently on taxol & I feel my vision is not as sharp as it was. Some of the chemos do affect vision - makes it blurry for me. For me when I've not been on taxol the vision goes back to being good. So thankfully it's a temporary side effect for me. But this is unrelated to the development of cataracts which I also understand is excelerated by chemo drugs.