Cataract removal

I haven’t heard that Watermeadow but if I were in your position I would go to my GP and ask for a referral to hospital.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/cataracts/

You seem to have all the requirements for ‘seeking advice’.

Mine was done as soon as it was diagnosed and, to avoid the problem of the discrepancy between the eyes, the second was done as soon as possible afterwards. I haven't heard of any friends or acquaintances having to wait long and the old notion of 'ripening' has been adandoned.
The difference in approach between NHS England and NHS Scotland may explain it.

watermeadow I would heed janeainsworth's advice- you need it done asap and your GP is the next port of call. They are trying to save money at your expense.

I think they have always given the impression that the cataracts have to be ‘ripe’ before they can be removed. I think most of us recognise that as a delaying tactic.
My husband is finding he needs a much brighter light to read by. We are considering paying.

My optician has said that I need cataract surgery on my right eye asap, and sent a referral.

The waiting list here for a consultation appointment is 5 months heaven knows how long after that the actual surgery will be.

In the meantime, I cannot drive after dusk, and am getting headaches because my glasses do not meet my prescription requirements.

My friend had one eye done a few months ago which was so successful she no longer needs her glasses. She was due to have the second one done in Oct but on the operating table there was a problem with her heart rate (she's been on meds for 30 plus years for it) and the surgeon wouldn't do it. Two months on she's just been told her heart condition is stable so she's back on the list and can't wait.

Maybe you should get a second opinion if it's affecting your life.

I think you should speak to your GP, not just the optician.

I m sad because I have cateracts but advised not to have the op as I ve had torn retinas a few times and have been told it the op could make matters worse

I didn't mean to sound as if I was saying "just the optician" in a derogatory fashion. I've just re-read what I posted above.

What I meant to convey was "don't speak only to the optician, ask the GP too".

A friend has just been told her cataracts won't be operated on until she can no longer drive safely. As it's not always easy to tell if your eyesight is deteriorating, she wonders if they mean that she'll only get an op once she's had an accident.

That's in Scotland.

I was referred by an optician to the hospital. The optician that I had been going to wasn't allowed to refer me so, after a conversation with a friend whose DIL works for an optician, I went to another optician who is brilliant and helped me. He advised me about which hospital to attend (I went to a private company at an NHS hospital). It was all done quickly and efficiently. This was two years ago.

I had been frightened to cross the road but am fine now. I can't read without glasses though.

There is a lot of evidence that Health Trusts (or whatever they are calling themselves this week) are rationing cataract operations. Some are limiting people to one eye only or setting the level of sight loss very high to delay the operations.

I cannot see the logic of this. The condition will not go away, so the operation will need to be done sooner or later - or maybe they are hoping patients will die before the sight loss is sufficient to trigger the operation.

If you can afford it, consider going privately if the NHS refuses to do it. Check comparative prices in as many private hospitals within reach as possible. the ball park figure for a private operation is around £3,000.

I live in Scotland and my optician referred me no problem. I had to wait six months for a consultation then another 9 months for surgery. I could still see ok as my ‘good’ eye was doing all the distance work. I could still drive no problem.

Had my first done about 4 years ago, I had been warned that it was developing quite a while before. I was told that the criteria for the op was that "it interferes with your quality of life", I could not see to drive at night due to dazzling and was struggling to mark my students' books.
I had the second one done 2 years later, it was having the same effect as the first but the optician stated that I probably wouldn't be referred as I had "one good eye"!!!! Had the same problems as with the first - ie driving and doing my job.
I went to my doctor for a totally different problem and asked if was able to refer me, he did a quick eye test, I couldn't read the third line of the chart with my bad eye, he was shocked at how severe it was and he referred me right away.
Can't remember wait time but it wasn't excessive.
This op will change your life, maybe go to your GP and tell him how it is affecting you in terms of crossing the road etc.
It really is a false economy to ration these ops.
Good luck watermeadow, hope you get sorted soon.

My consultant was keen to have second eye done as soon as possible after the first as he felt it was unreasonable to cope with the discrepancy. Didn't believe that 'one good eye' was acceptable.

I have had both of my eyes done twice . The first time I had the left one operated on and then about six months later the other was done but several years later they found that they needed more attention and they used the laser method which was completely painless and very quick.

I am aware that it is peculiar to have had that done like this but I don't know why either

Emmaline about a third of all cataract operations need follow up laser treatment like the laser treatment you probably had . DH needed it on both eyes and I needed it on one.

The reason, as I remember, is that when they do the original op they slide the new lens into the same eye capsule that contained the original lens but the front of this capsule can also sometimes become cloudy. When this happens the laser cuts a hole in the cloudy capsule so that you can see clearly again.

As you say it is very quick and painless.

MOnica thanks for that .. I have often wondered about it and now I know! we learn something every day

Same happened to me. It's almost par for the course - very simple and not a second operation so absolutely nothing to be concerned about. For anyone who is worrying, it's just like when the optician tests for peripheral vision

I can quite honestly say that the first op was not in the least bit painful or even uncomfortable and as for the laser treatment .. just a piece of cake!

I always make a point of watching any procedure on Youtube so I know what is going to happen .. I find it takes a lot of the stress out of it.. I also watched a pacemaker op being done although at the end putting this in place was not the same as instead of gently making a pocket for this he just made a hefty shove.. and boy! .. that was awful

DH has had both eyes done, it comes to us all in the end, be sure to ask for a sedative.

Yes ask for a sedative first time but if, like me, you're more relaxed the second time you may not need one!