Cataract removal thoughts

[Dave-G]

I recently had a free eye test that I booked when passing the shop. It wasn't a case of oh dear I really need to go get checked urgently.

The optician found the slight cloudy experience I get is due to age related cataracts Age 72, one eye much more than the other. He won't revise my prescription set of reading glasses at the moment because one eye being 5x worse than the other doesn't work very well, and diabetes type 2 means it will keep changing. He said the worst cataract is marginal qualification for removal  at this time.

I'm booked in for cataract removal in my right (shooting) eye next month, subject to the clinic deciding it warrants doing on the day. At the moment its only a minor issue when watching TV, using the PC or mobile, or readin, with no mid or long distance issues noticed. It doesn't affect my shooting. 

I can persevere very easily without it at this time but I read some waiting times are quite long though this one came very quickly.

My question then is: has anyone had it done who wishes they had delayed it? Or simply regretted having it done at all? 

Any other thoughts on the issue are welcome.

 

Edited September 12 by Dave-G

[marsh man]

Not exactly a cataract operation but I have just recently had an operation very close to my eye in the same ward where they done the cataract , the ones in front of me mostly came out with a smile on there face and there eye covered with a see through eye patch , I had six stitches in my operation and I could remove the plaster and bandage the next day , it stung a bit but it have been two weeks today and is no problem , touch wood it was my shooting eye and I can still miss just as easy as before I had it done .   

Good Luck with having yours done   MM

[wymberley]

I've not (yet) but both my mother and father had both eyes done and were delighted in the result. I won't go there but in the case of Father there was a distinct road safety implication which he didn't realise.

[oowee]

I had both mine done (my wife also) as elective so I don't have to wear glasses. Both done on same day (NHS is one at a time). Remove existing lens through slit in front of eye. Replace with rolled up plastic lens which unfurls. Not the best day out but its not a problem. Sit in a chair with very bright light shinning in eye whilst its held open with a clamp. Takes about 2 mins.

The NHS lens will correct short or long sight but I don't think they will put in vary focal which I had? 

A common side effect is that the back of the lens can cloud over in time (mine did). There is a simple laser treatment to cut out a horse shoe shaped piece of the tissue to restore 20/20 vision. I had this bit done on NHS. 

[amateur]

Yes.

I am a short-sighted, well controlled type 1 diabetic and, prior to lockdown, during a routine, Specsavers, eye test, was diagnosed with borderline glaucoma in my left eye. A visit to the eye clinic just resulted in "No meds needed, but we will call you back for regular checkups, if necessary". During lockdown and the subsequent backlog cases, of course, nothing was done.

A subsequent routine eyetest, 2 years later, came up with "Ooh, your glaucoma is much worse and you have developed a cataract that needs sorting. We can refer you to a private cinic on the NHS, because of the backlog".

I booked an urgent appointment with both my local NHS hospital and the private clinic. I got a cancellation at the hospital and the eye surgeon started me on drops for the glaucoma and put me on the waiting list for the cataract.

The private eye surgeon was unconcerned with the glaucoma and immediately booked me in for surgery, so, within a month I was under the knife, slightly sedated, having the clouded lens removed. 

As she was was working away, I heard her give a sharp intake of breath and she finished the op without replacing the lens.

"I'm sorry, I hit a problem, your lensholder has deteriorated so much that it can't hold a lens, however, once your eye has healed, I can stitch a lens to your iris in another operation"

Whilst I was waiting for that, I visited the NHS consultant for the glaucoma, who confirmed that the delay in treatment and my diabetes had, indeed, led to this complication.

So, I subsequently had the lens stitched into place, under full anaesthetic, fortunately, but now have severe astigmatism in the left eye, due to the distortion of the lens caused by the sewing.

Before you go under the knife, ask the surgeon to check for any possible complications.

On balance, I should have stuck with the cataract.

 

[DUNKS]

I have had both my eyes done. One at a time NHS. last one was just before lockdown. No problems at all and I now do not need distance glasses at the grand old age of 88. Reading glasses only if the light is bad but I am still a rotten shot!

[mossy835]

had my eyes tested and said mine was years away, so have to wait a bit good,

[bruno22rf]

Had mine done and it's the easiest thing in the world, pain wise think 1 out of 10 if you're unlucky. When you remove the patch a few days after your operation - it's like viewing the world in HD, all the colours that you have missed for years are back. You will wish you had done it years ago.

[martinj]

I was told I had cataracts in both eyes but the left (non shooting) eye is worse and is the only one where I notice the problem at the moment, Specsavers won't refer me for the op until it's bad enough to affect my driving which could be in 5 years time give or take. 

Their advice was to use glasses with full UV protection whenever I'm outdoors - good advice for those with healthy eyes too! it's a common problem with us old geezers.

 

Edited September 12 by martinj

[simcgunner]

I had both eyes done here in the states and was painless. Less bother than going to the Dentist. It also corrected my sight to the point that I'm no longer required to wear glasses to drive. but ten  years after I wear reading glasses to read the newspapers. I'm 75 years old.

[Dave-G]

1 hour ago, mossy835 said:

had my eyes tested and said mine was years away, so have to wait a bit good,

How old are you mossy?

[Dave-G]

Thanks very much for all the helpful replies everyone. 

The optician said the clinic might not feel its warranted yet but if they feel they can get it done I'll proceed.

Prior to reading the above replies I was umming and arring about leaving it a bit longer.

[PhilR]

I'm 73 and had cataracts removed from both eyes, the first was at the beginning of June and the second at the end of July. Wow, what a difference instead of seeing things like a sepia photograph, everything is crystal clear and more colourful. 

I had Lasik laser surgery in 2000 which reduced my - 6.5 and - 5.5 shortsightedness down to - 0.5 in both eyes but couldn't, back then, fix the astigmatism in both eyes so continued to wear specs but with a much thinner, weaker prescription lense. 

I had my cataracts removed as an NHS patient at Newmedica in Worcester. Fortunately my optometrist kept all my sight prescriptions pre and post laser treatment and also does biometric testing of patients at this branch of Newmedica so the surgeon was well briefed on my history.

The lenses he fitted have removed the astigmatism in both eyes and my eyesight test this week at my final check up was 6/4 in both eyes for distance but I need +1.5 or +2 ready readers for close up work. 

I felt no pain during the operations, had to wear an opaque eye mask at night for one week and antibacterial eye drops three times daily for three weeks. 

Everything has looked so bright in daylight that I've had to wear sunglasses outside to prevent me squinting. 

I'd definitely recommend getting it done if needed. My optometrist said the NHS had changed its stance on cataract removal as in the past it was only done for half blind very aged people. Their view now is that if cataracts affect your leisure, quality of life etc. they'll undertake removal of them at any age. 

Mine were affecting my shooting and that was enough of a reason for them to be done. 

Edited September 12 by PhilR

[mossy835]

10 minutes ago, Dave-G said:

How old are you mossy?

 

76

[Dave-G]

20 minutes ago, mossy835 said:

 

76

Cheers, I think I brought mine on with checking out the IR illuminators I used to build into night vision rigs a while ago. 

[muncher]

I had my right eye done yesterday, I was done in half an hour and it was not bad at all, very little pain today but my sight is still blurry, I assume that’s normal for a few days. 

[DUNKS]

1 hour ago, muncher said:

I had my right eye done yesterday, I was done in half an hour and it was not bad at all, very little pain today but my sight is still blurry, I assume that’s normal for a few days. 

Mine took a week to regain full vision. Not everyone gets it back immediately.

[old man]

Observations FWTW?

Had both done separately months apart NHS. Right eye first. Have small raised areas both eyes adjacent to nose. From the clamps I assume. First eye no injection in it till part way through operation, slight discomfort. Second eye 3 or 4 injections into eye prior to any work, not fun but quite uncomfortable. So shocked didn't ask why. Just wanted over and out. The usual patches and drops. No correction other than meeting the driving eye test. Biggest NHS problem was wait for process over 6 patients.

Friends who went NHS but to private facilities said in and out in half an hour. Treated individually, no one mentions pain or raised areas.

The difference is that the NHS is a training facility?

[Dave-G]

Thanks again all - Its being done on the NHS at a private eye hospital, apparently the only dedicated eye hospital in the East Midlands.

Their price list suggests if I were paying it would be : 

• £2600 – £2850 per eye
  – Surgery with a monofocal lens

[bruno22rf]

Mine were done on the NHS but let's just say "it's not what you know but who" so the wait was 4 days - a special type of lens was used that gave me clear vision instantly.

[Penelope]

14 hours ago, muncher said:

I had my right eye done yesterday, I was done in half an hour and it was not bad at all, very little pain today but my sight is still blurry, I assume that’s normal for a few days. 

I believe so, Jules. Mum has hers done today and that what she has been told during her assesment.

Edited September 13 by Penelope

[Westley]

As PhilR above, I had laser treatment on both eyes in 1990's. The best thing that I ever did. I only needed glasses for reading, unless my Wife stands at the bottom of the garden, holding the book.

Unfortunately I suffered a detached retina 9 years ago, that involved an operation of nearly 2 hours, a horrible experience.  However, I was warned that cataract surgery on the same eye, my left, would follow. 8 months later I had the cataract surgery, which was a breeze compared to the previous operation. In July this year, I had to go and have the cloud removed from the left eye, that made things clearer once again. Bright light or sunlight is a problem, so sunglasses are a must. Headlights at night are not my favourite either. As to affecting my shooting,  I don't think it has. It certainly did after the initial laser surgery, but that also had other safety features,  like not getting my glasses smashed into my face. My right eye, thankfully,  has never been an issue and when I had the cataract operation,  I asked if my right eye could remain the 'master' eye. The surgeon was a shooting man and fully understood. I am 79 now and still shooting 75% + so I am happy with that.

Bottom line, don't worry about having eye surgery, if you require it. All of mine, apart from the initial laser surgery has been done by NHS.

[Cranfield]

The lens replacement procedure has advanced rapidly over the years.
My first one was 25 years ago and involved an overnight stay.
My second one was 10 years ago and I was in and out in 40 mins (incl waiting time).
Both were painless and very effective.
Not something to fear.

[peakiepie]

Hi all.  Just had both eyes done four weeks apart. I was referred by my independent optician to the local CHEC (Community Health Eye Clinic) which are all over the country.There is actually one in Leicester. There is NO max or Min cataract on the NHS. They will be done at any time. Don't believe what Specsavers tell you. They are only out to continue selling glasses. You are given a choice of being long or short sighted, as the lenses fitted are of a fixed strength. Most people , it seems, opt to just wear glasses for close work. Both eyes can be done at the same time, although not advisable, in case of problems. Very quick procedure at no cost whatsoever. I must recommend this to anyone with any cataract of any size.

[Shambam1962]

My mother had cataracts in both eyes, but the right eye was worse.

My mother was 80 years old and had the worst eye done first by the NHS, but the procedure was carried out by a private clinic.

She had eye drops for 10 days and her vision is very much improved.

Six months later, she had the other cateract procedure carried out by the same private clinic, under the NHS.

Her vision is very much improved and makes her quality of life better.