Cataracts, info. please if you have them or have had treatment for them.

[mustavaquid]

During an eye test at T**** in January, I was told that I have cataracts in both eyes. I did know that something was wrong, hence having the test. Apparently they were then in the very early stages. They don't have the camera ( at that store at least ) to photograph the eyes so no pics. of the problem. I got new specs. from SS as T didn't have the style I wanted. SS do have the camera so really I probably would have been better going there. The T optometrist was very thorough with a caring attitude and worked beyond her normal finishing time to get my new prescription just right so I could continue to drive.. She wanted to write to my GP about the problem but I held her back as this is a really big issue in my life as I've never had surgery other than dental stuff. At 64 years old I've now worn specs. for about 56 years and really do wish to be able to keep on driving if at all possible.

  I know that the condition can only get worse and that, sooner or later, surgery will be needed as there appears to be no other type of treatment which can offer such a high degree of success.

I have Googled and took on board all of the info. about the surgery procedures.

  I'm now asking all of you peeps out there to tell me, please, of your experiences, good or bad. Was the treatment painful, did it improve your vision just a little or a lot, did you get any infection during the treatment, were you able to discard your specs. if worn before, etc., etc.,?

Many thanks in advance of your responses. 

[right-then-petal]

🙂 do,nt panic

i had similar problem when i bought my specs they wrote to GP and in turn to hospital  to see the real people in the know

i was tested on 3 seperate time,s over three weeks, all they found was a bit of high pressure

it,s best to see GP asap as there may be a waiting list

two older family members had the opperation one was ok and the other had left it to late and went blind

[10phizz]

See your GP so you are referred and monitored.

If you are worried have a list of written questions or take a friend.

Mother had hers done , one was perfect , the other was after being zapped by a lazer.

She said to the Specialist, When do I come in to have it done  ? Replied I`ve just done it 

Good luck.

[duck_a_lorange]

My elderly (over 80 then) aunt had both eyes done, she had to have eyedrops for a couple of weeks I think to prevent infection and is fine now.

Recently I think they have started to replace the lens with a flexible one, so if you have the flexible lens put in, and you have long sight due to age (infuriating if you are also short sighted) that will be cured, though I think not the short sight.  (That might be what Phizz's mother had the laser for.)

[twishy123]

I've had a cataract done,I was only 40 so it was a bit of a surprise when I was told I had one.

It was operated on as an out patient, no stay in hospital at all 🙂 Arrived in the morning,all pre-ops done and a fetching blue arrow drawn on my forehead and then down to theatre.

It was done under local and I'd say that was the worst bit but they did put drops in my eye to numb it first so it was just a bad stinging sensation really.

Mine took about an hour and a half to sort out as it was 'a bit of a brick' his words not mine :^O I never felt a thing throughout the op and as I was awake we swapped bad jokes to pass the time.The drape that they put over your face can be a bit claustrophobic but there was a air tube that blew gently underneath it so I didn't feel suffocated and the very nice (male) nurse held my hand all the way through ;\

After the op I had to sit and wait for a few hours until things had settled,then had the eye checked out and was allowed to go home with drops to put in each day.Oh you might want to take a pair of sunglasses with you,even if it's not sunny,they are worth their weight in gold as you walk out into the light even though I had a dressing on it was eye wateringly bright B-)

I had to wear an eye patch at night for protection just in case I rubbed it in my sleep and may I say....I rocked the Pirate in a flannel nightie look 😉

I had a series of follow up out patient appointments to make sure everything was okay,I had to have the drops changed as they were starting to sting but that wasn't a problem.I had no infection problems at all,you need to make sure your hand are very clean before you do anything near your eye,just common sense really 🙂

I still wear glasses as my sight is so bad anyway but the long strings that attached the road to the street lights have gone and my prescription is much less.

I'd say...go for it...get it sorted out before you worry yourself to much,it's worth it,if only for the peace of mind.I wouldn't hesitate to have it done again if it was needed.

🙂

[ginap.123]

Hubby had one done as an out-patient a few years ago & now has 20-20 vision in that eye after wearing glasses from the age of 10. He's booked in to have the other one done in August. 

[greatgrannysewing]

I had one eye done 3 years ago and I have another cataract coming on my other eye but it is not bad enough yet for surgery.

 I had a few appointments at the hospital before the op for them to measure the eye etc nothing bad and nothing that hurt., just close looking at the eye.

 On the day of the op I went in for 8am as a day patient (you don't even have to get undressed)

 They put drops in your eyes (which do sting for a few minutes)and then you sit and wait with others who are having the same op, all very friendly

 You go into another room for the op and lie flat on a table. They gave me an anaesthetic in the flesh around the eye with a needle and syringe just a sharp injection. After that they waited a few minutes and gave another injection which I didn't feel  after that  I never felt anything at all.

The worst part was having to lie completely still

 It took about 40 mins and I could hear them talking around me. I just tried to think of nice holidays we have had while lying still..

 They took me back to the other room and gave me a cup of tea and I had to wait about an hour and a half. They put more drops in and then they rang my hubby to come and pick me up. They put a patch on my eye just to come home which had to be removed once home.

  I had to have drops in every 2 hours for 2 weeks and then every 4 hours for 2 weeks then every 6 hours for 2 weeks(.Not during the night)

 I had to see the specialist at 4 weeks after the op for a check up and again about 7 weeks after the op then I was signed off.

 I had no infection at all but the drops are very important and must be done as that stops infection.

 You must not get shampoo or soap anything in your eye in that time.

 I had to have new glasses afterwards as the sight in that eye was brilliant so I had different lenses for each eye  in my glasses.

 It is still brilliant and worth the nuisance of going through it all.

 I know how worried you must feel as I was absolutely terrified before I had mine done..

 I don't say I am looking forward to having the other one done but I know it will have to be done sooner or later and I won't be as scared next time.

 I hope this helps you and if you want to know anything more please email me on ASQ

[mustavaquid]

Many thanks for all the replies, that's the kind of info. I'm wanting to know and it all also seems very re-assuring.

I'm long sighted so if there's a chance of full 20-20 vision that'd be great, although because my face has 'grown' to suit my specs., I'll guess I'd need to keep wearing some with plain lenses to look like 'me'. I was a really bonny looking lad before wearing them. :^O

I work as a site cleaner and drive to and from work every day, although there is a bus service which is good enough for short term use if needed after each op.. So, what length of time would I need off work, if any other than the day of treatment, after each op. and would it be better to avoid driving over the period of both ops., which I gather could be several weeks? Maybe getting a new lens for my specs. after the first op. would give me a chance of driving until the second one? Putting eye drops in at work wouldn't be a problem.

[artisanone11]

Hi Quid, can't offer you anything more useful than others have, but just wanted to wish you the best of luck. 🙂

BTW. while I wouldn't count on it, these days even when the proverbial hits the fan badly, it's can be possible to do do something about it.

Mil didn't have cataract ops when offered and was slowly going blind in her 60's.

She was very lucky and got a lens transplant in her early 70's. Failed to do the right things in recovery (much more rigid than post cataract care) and ruined it, and amazingly was then offered one for the other eye. Having finally learnt her lesson, she followed post op instructions, and it gave her good sight until her mid 80's when she no longer needed it. 

[greatgrannysewing]

 My sight was very good from the day after the op although I didn't need to drive immediately as I am retired.. They didn't actually say how long before driving I think it depends on the individual. My friend drove 2 weeks after but again is retired so didn't need to go out every day..

[ilove2patch]

I have no personal experience but from reading this it does sound like a very successful procedure. I wish there was something like this available for macular degeneration which is what I have. Not badly at the moment but it will gradually get worse. Go for it Musta.:-D

[chickengrandma-2008]

Haven't had it myself but I took my dad to get his first one done.  I took him in and left him (in his wheelchair) in a room with others who were getting them done.  Went back after a couple of hours and he was having tea and biscuits with a white bandage patch thing over his eye and then he went back to his old folks home in the hospital transport.  He was fine.  He was going to get the other one done but then took ill and died.

I remember my grandma having hers done about 50 years ago.  She was in hospital a week, had loads of visible stitches in her eyes and glasses like bottle bottoms!!!:O

[mustavaquid]

Again, many thanks for the informative replies and also for the good wishes and encouragement.

Update. On Wednesday I went to my GP who did a simple check to confirm that I do have cataracts. He advised that I go to an optician for a new eye test and to get a referral letter back to him so he can refer me upwards. He also gave me a 'ticket' for a blood test which I could have at the hospital or the GP surgery. Too late for it that day so I returned to surgery the next morning. Couldn't have it as I should have fasted from 10-00 the previous evening, which the GP hadn't told me, so I went to SS just half a mile from GP's to make an appointment for an eye test. It was 11-30 a.m. and they had a cancellation appointment for 12-00 noon, which I took. 🙂

  Like at T****, a very thorough and caring lady optometrist who tested me and took the pics. of my eyes. They aren't a pretty sight, quite cloudy looking. She advised that I also have a stigma ( irregular curvature of the eye --- usually the cornea ) in both eyes.  She answered several questions I asked about the surgery and was very re-assuring. My sight, in general, has worsened slightly since January. I could have had her referral letter and took it to my GP myself to save time loss in the post, but her new printer wasn't working, 😞 so it's going by snail mail.

  I had my blood sample taken at the surgery on Friday morning and I'm to phone after 2p.m. on Tuesday to find out about the results. It's a '4 point check' and includes diabetes.

I'm now feeling a lot less afraid of my condition and the treatment.

Maggie, you have my sincere sympathy for having a condition which currently appears to have no cure..

[ilove2patch]

Aw Musta that is very sweet of you. It will hopefully take years for mine to get to be debilitating so I am not worrying about it.

So glad you feel more positive about the operation. I hope it all goes well for you.:-)

[mustavaquid]

Update.
  After my GP surgery confirmed at the beginning of July that I had been referred to the local NHS hospital, and to get back to them if I had no response by the end of that month, I did just that on 2nd. August. The secretary said that the hossie eye clinic was very busy so no vacancies. She immediately went online and booked an evening appointment for 12th. August, this last Monday, with a local private hospital which does work for the NHS. Great, just a ten day wait and a place much smaller than the main hossie and with an excellent reputation. It's also much closer to home, just over one mile away.
The consultant checked my eyes ( with drops in ) through a magnifier indentical to what T**** and SS use to see the cataracts. No photos were taken. He offered me the first operation ( left eye ) on 30th. October, which I accepted. I asked if I'll get 20 / 20 vision. No, not with the basic lenses which are allowed with the NHS. If I go private and pay £500 each for the special lenses I'd get it. I asked about how long I'll need after the op before I can return to work. he said two or three WEEKS!!!!! That was quite a shock but he explained that it's because I work as a cleaner in a dusty place. He said that if I had something like an office job I 'could' be at work the very next day. He then used another piece of kit to get the details for the lenses for the operations. I have 14 days holidays I left for this year, 4 of them must / should be kept for Christmas - New Year, so I'm looking to take 8 work days off ( the day of the op. pluss tha rest of that week and all of the next week ) and hope that it will be enough for the eye to heal, but I will of course obey any medical advice if more is needed. There's no proper sick pay scheme where I work, as far as I know you're expected to go on SSP for any long periods of illness. Another thing is, I want to keep this matter private, so if / when I need time off for the other eye to be done, it'll only be 'made public' then, and then only if it must be so.
I'm also looking to change job, hopefully to something cleaner, so I can reduce the amount of time off work, but at my age ( 65 next January ) and not wanting to take much of a pay cut if any, that's a big thing to get. I can't afford to retire when 65. If I could there'd be no problem after the second op..

[ed_blackadder_1]

Both my parents have had cateracts removed, my mums were fantastic, no pain just used the drops and everything was fine, she had worn reading glasses for about 30 years, but now she doesn't need any glasses. My father however was not so simple, he had one eye done and that was fine but the other one was more difficult and he has had to use drops for a lot longer, and he still needs reading glasses.

I think its just a case of everyones eyes are different.

[*elphaba*]

Quiddy, everyone IS different and its hard to predict recovery times because of that.

The only sure thing is that cataracts inevitably get worse over time so having them dealt with sooner rather than later is the way to go. 

The one big thing I would urge you to do is get a shampoo shield like kids wear to allow you to shower for the first week or so as you must not get your eye area contaminated with shampoo etc.   

Heal well xx

[baby_clothes_online]

Hi, my mother had cataract surgery a few years ago when she was 70s. She was v anxious about surgery and opted to have general anaesthetic for the first eye - it went so smoothly she tried local anaesthetic for the second eye but she found the procedure very very stressful. Her cataracts were cured and she now only needs glasses to read - prior to surgery she was registered vision impaired.

My friend's husband, aged about 50, had surgery this year. He had local anaesthetic with no issues and was a day patient. His vision is much improved and, altho he was worried beforehand, he sailed through it.

[mustavaquid]

Hi, all.     It's a long time since I've posted as my PC broke down ( still is ) and I just couldn't be bothered to fix it. I'm posting for the first time from my local library, just 100 yards from home, and so this may be my 'home' for a few weeks. 🙂

Update on my cataracts.  I had my left eye done on 29th. November. It went quite well, very little pain, two lots of drops to use over the following six weeks. I had all of December off work to recover, the first two weeks as holiday ( no company sick scheme at work ) and the rest with some holiday pay and some SSP which meant my income was reduced by quite a big chunk over Christmas.  The consultant didn't want me back amongst the dust and fumes at work until well after the operation so that caused the extra three weeks off. I got a new lens in my specs. for my return to work on 2nd. Jan. so I could resume driving.  I had another review with the consultant and, with a hint from the optician, he said I had fluid on the retina so gave me some more eye drops. The good news that day was that he wanted to do the right eye on 5th. March. Another review on 12th. Feb. and the op. was brought forward to the 19th. Feb.. ( last week ).     Got it done, a bit more painful than the first one but after a few painkillers and a good night sleep it was fine. It's settled very well, got drops again, three types, one for BOTH eyes. Signed off by the consultant today, to get eyetest after finishing drops and return to consultant if optician says there's a problem.

I'll post again shortly, timing out on PC now.

[fluffypenquin]

Hi Quiddy - great to "see" you posting again and pleased that you have had your operations done and everything is good.  Take care and don't forget to use all the drops.  xx