Cataract Surgery Dilemma

My 12-year-old dog developed cataracts four months after being diagnosed with diabetes. He could still see, but we could tell he was losing vision very rapidly; day by day.
We went to a vet opthalmologist who told us that there was a high success rate of lens implantation in dogs like this, even considering age. She said if I didn't do it, there was a great chance of him developing a detached retina or glaucoma, a painful condition that could lead to removal of the eyes.
That, scaring me to death, led me to decide to do the cataract lens implant.
As it turned out, the left eye could not have an implant and she shouldn't have tried. She removed the lens of the eye. It developed a detached retina, for which she felt surgery wouldn't do any good. She said she didn't know until she got in there.
The other eye has an implant.
He did fine for a bit, but now has had every complication that can occur: the detached retina, glaucoma, uveitis, infection, corneal ulcers.
He was on Rimadyl for nearly three months, which I took him off a few days ago because he had diarrhea, stomach upset, was staggering, lethargic, etc.; all the symptoms of Rimadyl complications. The vet said there are no other oral antiflammatories that help the eyes. Well, my family vet said he needed help with his system, or we would lose the dog.

I got a second opinion last week, who took him off Methazolamide, which made a dramatic difference in his behavior.

At one point, he wouldn't move, wouldn't open his eyes, was lethargic, walked in circles, staggered, was imbalanced, weak, wouldn't eat, and wouldn't drink. While he has bouts of low blood sugar, it wasn't continually low through all these bouts. Throughout this ordeal, he has had continuing bouts of not eating and drinking and stomach upset.
We should have taken our chances and let him be a blind, happy dog.
He is moving back to his old self, but isn't there yet.
He is on many eye drops and ointments, all of which are expensive.

If you are considering this surgery, get a second and maybe a third opinion. The cost will be well worth it, as failure and complications are FAR more expensive. If the vet opthalmologist doesn't suggest an immediate physical before she does an expensive retina test, be leery.

I have a 11-year-old toy poodle and I'm pretty sure he's blind in his right eye from cateract. He seems to be developing cateract in his left eye. Even with pet insurance I can't afford to get his eye(s) fixed. Is there anythig other than surgery that can help him. I hate to see him go completely blind. He's constantly rubbing his left eye on the carpet, I suppose he's trying to see if it will clear up. Is there anyone that will do free surgery or is there a medication I can buy?