Cataract surgery

Are you sure phoenix? I cannot see surgery being done if you can feel everything. I would ring the consultant's secretary, rather than leave it to the day of surgery.

Sedation is different to pain relief. Apparently the eye drops numb the eyes but you would still be conscious.I think sedation can be added if you are nervous.

Charleygirl on one of the tests they did at the consultation, apparently the cataract was too dense for the machine to do it's job! The nurse put anaesthetic drops in my eye, then ran a sort of probe/ sensor thing over my eye. I can honestly say I really couldn't feel a thing.

So, I will have the same sort of local anaesthetic, so shouldn't feel a thing, but will be fully compis mentis (sp) well, as much as I am usually just would prefer to be a bit "out of it/woozy" sort of thing! I

I'm rather tempted to see my GP and ask if he might prescribe something, just for that day.

kicubbin2000 you are correct, and I fully appreciate the difference. However the consultant I saw made it very clear that they do NOT offer sedation, said that I would need to keep absolutely still for 10 to 15 minutes, hence my thoughts about asking my GP for something.

Or perhaps taking ooodles of those over the counter Kalms things!

Are they inviting you to panic?
First time I was nervous and accepted a valium - not knocked out of course but it took the edge off the nervousness.
Second time, knowing what to expect, said No Thanks to the sedative.
Both times - slight discomfort but NO pain (far easier than a filling!)
Lying still was no problem.
All you'll be aware of is bright lights and absolutely nothing else !!

Thank you mcem that's very reassuring!

Phoenix I had both cataracts done about 4 years ago. Like you I was apprehensive, but needn't have worried.

I remember having anaesthetic injections, and was aware of something happening, but felt nothing.

Afterwards, my temples felt like solid wood, not unpleasant, just the result of the injections, but this wore off.

The operation time actually seemed to go very quickly, and it was lovely when I took off the eye patch, to see so clearly.

Goodluck, you'll be fine.

Phoenix, the eye drops work really well. I've had both done and didn't feel a thing. No need for sedation. Simply nothing to worry about. Please do rest assured...you'll be fine and will be able to see straight pretty well right away.

Don't worry. When I had mine done I had drops administered into the eye shortly after arriving - totally painless and they numbed my eye. Then two more lots of drops before going in for the procedure.

I didn't have any sedation and didn't need any. It really is very simple. You are not aware of anybody doing anything to your eye.

It's much easier than going to the dentist in my opinion.

Thanks to you all for posting, I'm feeling a lot less apprehensive now!

My DH had this done on Friday. He had a local anaesthetic. He said he didn't feel a thing and the procedure took about 30 minutes after all the preliminaries. He has to put drops in four times a day, has no redness and is chuffed to bits with his new vision.

I accompanied a friend for her operation and, being nervous, she had asked her GP for something to calm her. We are going next week for her second eye to be done and she has decided not to bother with a sedative because there was nothing to worry about. Hope this reassures you.

Hope all goes well for you and that you will be pleased with the result.

Snap, shysal.
My experience too!

I was an eye nurse for 37years. Please do not worry. If you don’t have a sedative you’ll get home faster. A wee bit of chat in the theatre with staff before the operation goes down well. Your head will be in a special hollowed out pillow so you won’t move. In our unit, a nurse held your hand throughout. 20 minutes..... you’re done!
Apologies for username... a gift from the iPad.... no pun intended.
Wishing you well.

I expect it is a silly question, but how do your eyes stay open? What stops you blinking?

Cabbie My DH said they use a clamp to keep your eye open. He said it sounds awful but was fine.

A very fine wire lid retractor keeps your eye open. The drops numb the feeling of it on your eye lids. You are not aware of any instruments being near you because they are so so close and your vision is blurred due to the cataract and the eye drops.

Thanks again!

I have been advised that my vision should be good enough after to drive without glasses (not immediately, of course!) but I will need glasses for reading.

The information booklet suggests getting the lens removed from you glasses until you are ready for a new prescription, but I was wondering about buying a pair of "off the peg" reading glasses for the interim period.

Any thoughts?

Try both ways to see what suits you (inexpensive reading specs suit me fine).
I hope your consultant thinks like mine. He said I'd cope in the interim but because the discrepancy might make things awkward, he'd do the second one asap!
He did and since then I have been free of specs apart from reading. My prescription for reading means I can buy ( +2 ) inexpensive specs in umpteen colours, currently around 20 pairs.
I colour coordinate, happily wear them on my head, don't fret if I sit on them, scatter them around different rooms and enjoy the freedom after 50+ years of being sbort-sighted!

I currently have varifocals, with a very different prescription for each eye, and the lenses are expensive, so hopefully I will be saving some money on that once my right eye is done!

That was my position too.
I 'm sure you'll cope with one varifocal lens plus your "new" eye ( albeit a wee bit lop-sided).
It's that discrepancy that meant my second op was fairly quickly done although he did say that the development of the second cataract was way behind the first.
Do your utmost to convince him that that's what you need!

Off the peg is fine for the short term. You’ll find one so different to the other tho. You can ask optometrist to remove a lens from your current specs. Again short term fix until all’s settled and you get an eye test.

Had one eye with anesthetic and one without, didn't notice any difference. Removed the one lens while waiting for the second op. Don't need glasses except for reading so I have ready readers. I mostly buy them from Poundland and have a pair in every room!

Again, thanks to you all.

Have ordered a couple of pairs of off the peg reading glasses.

Also spoke to the optician, who said that they would be happy to remove a lens for me, but that would mean having to drive from Bideford to home with only 1 lens might be fine, but definitely NOT prepared to take the chance!