Advice required

[riyadhcrew]

Hello All,

I've been having a few problems with my eye sight lately and I have been told today that I need a cataract op on both eyes. I am a little scared and I wondered if anyone on the Forum had any advice or tips on what will happen, or the best way to handle it.

Any and all comments woud be appreciated.

[Boatingman]

Hi Eric

My now ex-wife had cataract operations on both eyes and was told as I assume you have been to have them done one at time not both together

She had no problems with one eye at all and some minor iritation in the other for about ten days

It improved her sight tremendously

Hope that helps a little

Ray 

[deebee29]

Hi Eric

I would say don't worry about it.

Mum (84) had one eye done last year and had no problems, and can see great although she does have glaucoma. She said the op wasn't really uncomfortable 

she is due to have the second eye done soon in fact goes for her pre assessment next Friday and isn't worrying at all.

the op was done as a day case so was home the same day.

[diesel falcon]

Chap at work just had his done, and my late mother had the opp, both only had minor soreness for a few days,so you should be fine, both had better sight afterwards,

Trev

[Hockham Admiral]

Mary-Jane says:

"Today it's done under local anaesthetic and you won't believe the difference! "

(She had hers done in '88 & '89 under general anaesthetic).  

[BroadScot]

Hi Eric,

Welcome to the fawin apert brigade. Dinny worry, one of my best mates has had his done, like you he was a wee bit scaredy custard, but said never felt a thing, the nurse was pure dead gorgeous too who held his hand..... nah seriously, he was not able to drive because of the cataracts, but is back driving now. He said he had a slight irritation for a few days, that was all.

He was in and out same day...twice. Hope that helps clear your mind matey.

Iain.

[AdnamsGirl]

Hi Eric

 

Both my mum and mum-in-law have had cataract ops in both eyes. It really is a very straightforward operation these days - as with any surgery there are always risks (you will be advised of these) but complications are rare I believe. As has been said, you have one eye done at a time, about three months apart. The operation lasts about 20 minutes and they say you may feel a little itching/discomfort for a few days afterwards, but both mums were fine. They had to wear a clear eye shield for the first night after the op and then eye drops three times a day for about three or four weeks I think. The mums were at the hospital for a total of about three hours ..... at least an hour or so is spent applying various eye drops and anaesthetic drops before the op. Cup of tea and a biscuit afterwards, a run through the do's and don'ts and then they were given the all clear to go home.

Both were obviously nervous before the op, but both said that they really needn't have worried after the event. The improvement in sight afterwards far outweighs and apprehension you have about the op. Mother in law in particular suddenly saw colours that she hadn't seen for years! You're not allowed to drive for a few weeks after the op (I can't remember if it was four or six weeks). The only follow up afterwards was a six week check up just to make sure all was OK.

 

 

Carol

[Polly]

I too have had cataracts diagnosed and was slightly 'bricking it', you guys have cheered me up no end!

[Guest]

My wife had to have cataract operations on both her eyes about four years ago.

It was done at the Norfolk & Norwich hospital in two sessions, three weeks apart, one for each eye.

Each session was in the day procedure unit, and took about 15 minutes, followed by a nice coffee and a biscuit. She says it was weird feeling, being fully conscious throughout, but no pain at all.

Prior to the op, she had needed to wear glasses for long and short sight from the age of about ten. She was asked whether she wanted her sight corrected for long sight or short sight, and she chose the short sight fix, so she no longer needs glasses any more except for reading.

I was amazed at the improvement in her vision, after being used to her not seeing distant objects very clearly all the time I've known her, (about 45 years).

They tested her eye vision before and then a few weeks after with the usual wall chart. Originally, without glasses, she could only read the top two lines, but after the op she read the whole card easily, whereas I couldn't read the bottom two lines, (and she was sitting twice as far away from it), and I've never needed glasses....

I now get remarks like "look at that Marsh Harrier", when I practically need binoculars to see it.

 

[SweetKingfisher1]

Hi Eric, well my mother, mother in law had cataract ops on both eyes and they could see a lot better than they had done for a very long time. Next my sister and sister in law had the op and they are ok, but next was my brother and he had a problem after the op. I have been told that my eyes are ok for someone of my age. 

I have been told to wear sun glasses on a bright day. 

As you can see what others are saying you should go ahead and have the first op done. You will be fine .

Good luck.

Regards

Marina 

[Soundings]

Had replacement lens surgery about 18 months ago. Brilliant! Wife had it done a couple of months ago - brilliant(ish) but "getting better all the time" (should burst into song there). It is quick, painless and in my experience very much worthwhile.

It is though an operation and there are always risks but then the same applies to crossing the road!

Edited October 15, 2015 by Soundings

[riyadhcrew]

Many thanks for all your replies. I will probably have the first op next week and the second one 10 days after. Will keep you all in the loop.

[Bound2Please]

Hello Eric

 

I had my first eye done about 10 years ago, my right eye about 3 years ago. Both done under local anaesthetic was home just after breakfast both times. Never realised just how bad the old mince pies had got till after they was done.

 

The first one I was cacking me pants but after having it done I was wondering why I was so woosey... The first one I had to go back next day for dressing removal, the second no dressing just a plastic cover i removed next day at home.

Would have cateract done again rather than a filling ......

Charlie

[grendel]

My mum (in her 80's) had both eyes done, as above some time apart, after the first one she came home and complained about the colours on the blanket she was crocheting, the colour she had thought yellow turned out to be a vivid pink. the second eye wasn't as easy, and she had to go back in after a couple of days to have it sorted, plus for about a week she had obscured vision in that eye due to the problem (the cornea did not seal properly first time) but after that things settled down and she could see well with both eyes, so while there can be slight complications, they are generally not catastrophic and all come right in the end

[Soundings]

Sometimes the prescription is not quite right, it is a huge mathematical challenge working out the lens requirement. Mine were fine but not quite as good as they could have been. Solution - a quick zap with laser and bingo!

 

So, as grendal says, most problems are easily managed.

[SwanR]

Hope it all goes well Eric. Sounds like a wise decision. I can't add anything more than others have already said so wish you all the best.

[Wussername]

Hi Eric

I find that as one gets older, somebody, somewhere, starts to tick a number of boxes. I have had a number of boxes ticked over the last two years. I am coming to terms with them. All life style I'm afraid. Cigarettes, Whisky, and Wild Wild Women. Spent loads of money. Wasted the rest. Now, like yourself, learnt today, I have to have the catalyst op. Scared f*rtless. Do keep me in the loop. 

As a side issue, I think that many of us, of a certain age, are challenged, there is of course a degree of inevitability. But one has to .................................keep boating!  ( or "sickly prancing" as Brucie would say!)

[Wildfuzz]

Mummy stepfather (90 years young) had his second done today by coincidence........ All good.

[MBA Marine]

My dad was getting close to being blind, specialist said one eye was beyond saving but the other was operated on, now although driving at night hurts and he avoids it, he has 80% back in one eye and with the aid of glasses that has the bottom of a pint glass or maybe its a telescope on the really bad side he does alright, restored a quality of life I know he was scared he had lost. 

[deebee29]

Grandparents had their cataracts done back in the 1970’s and were in hospital for a week then had to wear padding and eye patches for days and dark glasses when they went out.

dad had his done about 15 - 20 yeas ago, in hospital for 3 days with padding & eye patches.

mum (84) had one eye done last year and was home the same day, dressing on over night and had to wear a clear eye shield for a few nights in bed. Had no problems and the difference in eyesight is amazing. She has a pre assessment this Friday for the second eye and isn't worried at all.

just shows how the treatment has progressed over the years.

like all operations there are risks but they do seem to be minimal.

ps. All of mum's friends have also had the op

[wombat nee blownup]

Having had glasses for a while now for the basic things like.....seeing. Is this a condition that spec savers or Tesco etc. would be able to determine? I appreciate you cant go down aisle 48 next to herbs and spices to PYO scalpel etc. I assume they just try to sell you galssels?

[deebee29]

Hi Wombat

Specsavers etc would be able to tell if you have cateracts and would then refer you to the eye department at your local hospital

[Wussername]

Hi Wombat

Specsavers etc would be able to tell if you have cateracts and would then refer you to the eye department at your local hospital

This was exactly my experience. Booked in at Boots in Norwich. A very thorough examination. Refered immediately to Norwich University Hospital. 

Not surprised really, I am not as confident driving at night as I used to be, certainly the introduction of the new high intensity white lights now present on many high powered vehicles does not help matters, especially on a wet night.

Having said that, happy to be on the river at night with just navigation lights. Perhaps as you get older it is difficult for eyes to adjust from one extreme to another. Dunno?

[Guest]

..... Is this a condition that spec savers or Tesco etc. would be able to determine? I appreciate you cant go down aisle 48 next to herbs and spices to PYO scalpel etc. I assume they just try to sell you glasses?

As has just been said, Opticians do indeed make a very thorough examination these days, specifically looking for eye problems like cataracts and glaucoma.

Even Tesco, despite their apparent downmarket image on such services, are just as good, in my experience.

My wife and I switched to Tesco for our regular checkups a few years ago, because the out of town superstore was more convenient than the central Norwich based Specsavers.

Despite the anticipation of being down "aisle 18" and "two for one", the examination was excellent, just as good as Specsavers, by a very competent optician, using all the latest sophisticated gear.

In fact, it was him that spotted my wife's cataracts, and referred her to the hospital for the Op.

[riyadhcrew]

Hello peeps,

Going for the operation on my right eye tomorrow morning. Wish me luck please.