Cataracts

[bodeker]

Hi all , i have just seen a Optician who informed me I have cataracts and has referred me to hospital clinic . I don't know anyone who has them removed and wondered if anyone on here has any experience of having any treatment for them.

[bookbinder]

I have had cataracts removed from both eyes. It wasn't a painful operation, and I had no aftereffects. I did have to wear a plastic, protective lens over the affected eye (the operations were done some years apart) when I was in bed, so that the eye did not get poked by the corner of the pillow, etc. but that was for only short time.

[TonyV]

From my experience, my MIL had surgery, one at a time which was completely successful

[Jackdaw33]

I had mine removed in June after a four-year wait. Go for it, it's totally painless and you will see the difference immediately.

[Buenchico]

My friend had cataracts removed from both eyes (in separate procedures). She said that, despite her natural apprehension, it was incredibly simple and straightforward and she experienced no real problems at all.

Useful info here:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cataract-surgery/

[smurfchops]

Absolutely nothing to worry about.

[Georgiesmum]

I had one done and I cant wait to have my second one done. Its absolutely painless.The whole procedure took not much more than 15 minutes.
.
I was told to take the covering over my eye the same evening.

[Georgiesmum]

(to take the covering off the same evening)

[Atheist]

I found the process quite long-winded. I had a phobia about eyes being touched, but gritted my teeth. You need to be given drops and then wait and then maybe more drops and then wait; all the time with a "cheery" Irish nurse patronising all us old folks (Ah, sure you've got lovely eyelashes, John!") Eventually, you and the doctor are ready to go for it, and your eye feels like a golf ball (i.e. it doesn't feel anything except for a heavy blob). In the Theatre, I was given the hand of a beautiful coffee-skinned nurse to hold and was told to give her a squeeze if I wanted to communicate. My head was hooded, with a hole for my eye to be accessible, and then it was time for the fascinating show. My lens was painlessly dissolved with ultrasound and then I was able to "see" what was going on - blurry visions of delicate female fingers manipulating a new plastic lens. All the time I was breathing, relaxing and counting - 20 minutes of (maybe) 15 second breaths got me through to the end. Fascinating light show. I didn't bruise coffee-skinned nurse's fingers. There was no pain, only fear, which I overcame. I'm not playing anything down and I hope I haven't alarmed you. You will be OK.

[pixie374]

I've known several people have them. It seems very effective, painless and very worthwhile.

[jennyjoan]

I think Atheist's answer is great as then you know what you will be coming through exactly bit by bit and to me that's a great comfort. Saying you will be great and it is painless would do nothing for me.

[Cloverjo]

My dad had one removed recently. No problems at all.

[Atheist]

Oh; just in case Theland looks in, the coffee-skinned nurse was female and I am male; and she wasn't really foreign, just an Essex girl fresh back from a fortnight in Dubai.

[tiggerblue10]

My dad had both eyes done a couple of years ago separately and everything was fine. Go for it!

[Atheist]

And I think some people can have it done under general anaesthetic; personally I'd be scared of a general.

[Maydup]

Firstly you will wait for an appointment with the eye specialist. If the cataract is serous enough you will be added to the waiting list. If it’s not, you will most likely be given some eye drops to use regularly and be invited back in a years time.

When you receive a date for the procedure you will also receive a pre-op assessment appointment. The specialist just double checks everything with you and you turn up again a few days later for the procedure.

On the day it really is very straightforward, painless and remarkably quick. The nurse holds your hand and the surgeon puts drops on your eyes before they remove the cataract. Far less traumatic than the dentist!

You will have a patch to wear home but no longer than a few hours these days.

You will need to remove the lens in your glasses if you wear them it will no longer be needed.

Six months later you do it again with the other eye and 6 months after that you return to the optician for new glasses, if you need them.

[Jackdaw33]

I had both eyes done at the same time because I was nearly blind. No problem at all. The only thing that worried me was when the first eye was done everything was black, but that was just the anaesthetic. When it wears off it's OK. It doesn't give perfect vision, I have to wear glasses to read and write but otherwise everything is fine.

[jourdain2]

OH and I were referred for cataract surgery the same day last June. I had previously been referred in June 2018, but nothing had happened until January 2021 when OH had a letter.

He had one of his cataracts removed and new lens inserted at Hull on 2/2/21. He can now read number plates and plans to try driving the easy and quiet 2 miles to the next village to get the Saturday paper in a few days. He reports that he had so many drops in his eye that he could not see or feel anything. All very encouraging.

I, on the other hand, have just had an appointment for March 11th at Scarborough cancelled. There were 2 letters this week, sent the same day, both cancelled the March 11th app'tm't.. One gave a new one in July (!!) and the other gave a new one in April - but at a cottage hospital where the last time I saw the specialist (Sept.)he said that he needed his equipment at Scarborough to work things out. I now feel lost - it's all complicated by trying to work out if I have glaucoma (seems I have) and I have already lost sight in a segment of my left eye. Not happy.

I wish you the same luck as my husband. Please accept his assurance that it is painless and non-frightening. :)

[bodeker]

Thank you for all yours answers , has made me feel a lot better about getting my eyes done .

[grumpy01]

I had both mine done 6 or 7 years ago.As said before it is very painless and successful.I have since experienced some calcification in the lens capsule of the left eye.This is a known after effect of cataract surgery and when it affects your sight badly enough laser treatment can be used to allow light back into the capsule and ultimately the lens.

[Googlewerenohelp]

Hi, if it's of any help, my (then in her 90s) grandmother had hers dealt with and it was a new lease of life for her. It even made her want to get driving again!