So You've Got A Cataract?: What You Need to Know About Cataract Surgery: A Patient's Guide to Modern Eye Surgery, Advanced Intraocular Lenses & Choosing Your Surgeon Paperback – Large Print, October 6, 2012

I went in for LASIK and learned I had cataracts. This was unexpected so when visiting with the surgical assistant I wasn’t prepared with what questions I should ask. The Dr. asked questions that would help her make the decision on what type of lens I should have. The surgery will cost me around $8,000 which is mostly for the toric lenses. Had the Dr. told me the available options, as this book has done, I would have been able to simply tell her I want to see it all. I’m only doing this once, I understand it’s expensive but I want to see everything. Surgery is in 1.5 weeks, will be following up with the office.Thanks to the author for sharing all of this information!

As other reviewers have written, this is a good book for people with cataracts who are unfamiliar with the surgery which is the only proven treatment for the condition. It is written clearly, and while the author minimizes the use of medical jargon, he is not condescending. I do have some reservations, however.The first is typical of materials on this subject. For some reason, doctors and others involved in cataract surgery boast of its 90% success rate. Well, last year there were some 4 million cataract surgeries in the U.S. A 90% success rate means that some 400,000 of those surgeries failed. All those people went through the trauma and expense of this procedure and could see no better afterwards than before (the doctors’ definition of failure); some were much worse off. If this is a fact, it should surely be disclosed; but it’s hardly something to be proud of, or something which should allay a prospective patient’s fears.The second is more subtle. While the author mentions some complications which may arise during and after cataract surgery, his descriptions of them can be too brief and anodyne. For example, he mentions the risks of intraoperative floppy iris syndrome (IFIS) in the eyes of men who are taking (or have ever taken) an alpha blocker for an enlarged prostate. It turns out that this drug not only relaxes the muscles around the prostate and bladder to facilitate urination, it also weakens the iris dilator muscles in the eyes raising the risk that the pupil could become un-dilated during surgery with potentially disastrous consequences. Dr. Richardson concludes (p. 55) that your surgeon will “need to take extra precautions prior to or during your surgery to minimize the risks of IFIS.”Well, yes ... but. First, my description is much stronger than Dr. Richardson’s, which makes IFIS seem like a minor problem rather than what it is: a potential catastrophe. Second, the surgeon will need to take extra precautions both prior to AND – not OR – during the surgery. Finally, and most importantly, the nature of those precautions are not discussed in any way. They include the possible use of iris hooks and other appliances and a significantly protracted surgical procedure, and if IFIS is severe, bad things may still happen. The author does include a reference to an article by David Chang, the San Francisco surgeon who discovered the association of prostate drugs and IFIS in 2005, but many people reading this book may not follow that up, and that article is highly technical.Then there’s the question of how to pay for cataract surgery. It’s not cheap. In his own practice, Dr. Richardson charges from just under $4,000 to just over $6,000, depending upon lens choice and including hospital costs. That’s per eye, so if you need both eyes done, you’re looking at something in the area of $10,000, which for many people is a lot of money. But Medicare and/or insurance covers cataract surgery (not including premium lenses), so you’re only in for deductibles and co-pays, right? Well, not if Dr. Richardson is your surgeon, because he doesn’t accept Medicare or private insurance. Maybe you can be reimbursed for some or all of these costs, or maybe not, but the hassle is yours as is the necessity to have or borrow the money up front.I do nevertheless recommend this book because, for all its faults, it’s one of the best and most honest out there. The claims often made for cataract surgery are simply outrageous. You may be told by your optometrist that this is a safe and simple procedure taking just a few minutes and next day you will see like you did when you were twelve. Dr. Richardson makes no such claims, indeed makes clear in detail the extensive preparations the patient must make, the cataract evaluation session with the surgeon, the preoperative session with the surgeon, the 2-4 hours you will spend at the surgical center on the big day, and the weeks of care afterwards – and that’s if everything goes well, which it doesn’t always do. He also shows his awareness of his patients’ problems by producing this book in large print; he offers a CD of it for those who can’t see well enough to read it even so.

Dr. Richardson's book is a wonderful reference book. It explains everything you need to know to make informed decisions about cataract surgery. Luckily we came across it just before my hisband's first cataract appointment! The book has large print and is easy to understand; no medical background is necessary. The explanation about the various intraocular lenses is particularly important since one's choice affects what glasses will be worn in the future as well as one's pocketbook. I am so grateful I found this book and heartily recommend it to everyone!!Naomi Lieberman

Was a gift for someone and she found it very informative.

This is a great resource for those considering cataract surgery. When I had my cataract surgery I was given a CD with information which was very good, but I think this book is even better. The instructions are clear and helpful. I liked the pictures, as well as being able to go back to check areas I might not have understood at first reading. You really understand your patients. This book would be very helpful for everyone, especially the fearful. Kudos, Dr. Richardson!

Dr. Richardson writes in an easy to understand manner with a friendly tone. He clearly knows what he's talking about but doesn't touch on the patient's personal or emotional experience. I would have liked a little more insight from patients' experiences however to see how real people have prepared for their surgeries and recovery. I've heard some horror stories about recovery for the first surgery (when doing both eyes) but that people have been able to have an easier and ore comfortable second surgery after knowing what to expect, preparing their home and changing some of their habits. Some more personal insight or anecdotes would be helpful!

"The most thorough book of its kind. It was obviously written for patients, but I think it would also be good for ophthalmologists, especially physicians in training, to be more aware of patients' concerns and be better able to address them."For patients this book is a complete resource giving all the options and risks of cataract surgery.