Anxious about cataract surgery

My friend is 81 and had it done, she bounced back very quickly. Fantastic that it can be done - she said her eye had been blurry for so long she hadn't realised how wrinkly she was!

I had both mine done just before lockdown ,I was surprised at how quick surgery was done I was lucky only waited 6weeks between eyes couldn't believe how light everything appeared ,I still wear glasses for reading.

Mr Stardust had his cataracts done a few years ago and he said it was really simple and he wondered why on earth he had been so apprehensive! I would say he was back to his normal self the next day, other than no strenuous exercise, no dusty atmospheres and no bending over for a few days.

Thanks Shandy and hulahoop. He has been told that if all goes well with the first one, they will do the second one 4 tof 6 weeks later. A couple of friends have told him that it is all straightforward and simple but it's just the thought of it that is off-putting.

I had both my eyes done with Spa Medica last summer. I think anyone would be apprehensive but it really was totally painless and straightforward. I am sure he will be absolutely fine by the following week. Please tell him not to worry.

My DH is booked in to have his done this Sunday (Mother's Day!) Apparently they are working all hours to get through the backlog.

He had his other eye done before covid and isn't worried about this one at all

I had both of mine done, 6 weeks apart about four years ago.
Like hulahoopI could suddenly see bright colours again but still need glasses for reading
No problems at all, I was allowed out after an hour.Dressing off the following day, plastic shield worn in bed for a week and eyedrops four times a day .

Oh yes I forgot about the eye drops! But the plastic eye shield and the dressing came off later that day. (for good) Funny how things differ for different people!

I'm 83 and I was amazed by how easy it was all the way. After the procedure I was a bit washed out and exhausted but only because I'd worked myself up into a real state, expecting goodness knows what might happen.
The op itself is a bit surreal, your eye is totally aneasthesised and you feel nothing, you don't see any knives, needles or frightening objects - just a series of lights that you're told to look at and the feeling that someone's doing something to your eye but nothing serious. I'm not sure watching videos is helpful, because your take on proceedings sees nothing like this.
You have to be careful for a few days, mainly to avoid infection, but the pain is minimal and apart from not being able to drive life was normal for me. As long as you do as you're told, eg no heavy lifting, things are back to normal.
Your Easter holiday will be brilliant because he'll be able to see in full technicolour.

That's good to hear, Ladystardust. They may have told him all this at the assessment but as I wasn't allowed to attend, (was asked towait in the car!) I didn't hear any of it.

Thanks to all for the replies. Very reassuring.

Neighbour had his done last week. He is 73. He was out and about as normal next morning with just the one lens in his normal glasses. All went very well. Blurry vision he said at first. He was only there a couple of hours. Went to watch Rugby match yesterday. No complaints and no issues.

I've had both eyes done at Spa Medica - I couldn't fault them. I can't bear anyone getting near my eyes, but you are completely unaware of what is going on, and the procedure is over so quickly. My eyes took about ten mintues each. I had no blurry vision at all, just needed to put drops in for four weeks.

I had this operation yesterday. The was no pain just slight discomfort as numbing eyedrops wore off later yesterday evening. No pain today just the feeling of being bruised, the eyedrops helped with this, antibiotics and steriods. I was told no driving for a week, no heavy lifting and only gentle exercise. Hope this helps.

I had both of mine just before the first lockdown at Spa Medica I was put at ease by staff who where very good with reassurance and gave me loads of drops to numb the area,I couldn't get my head around how they would stop my eyes from closing whilst they did the procedure there where no problems at all and all done with 4/5 mins.
Both of my eyes had laser treatment 3 mths later vision is now perfect.

I've not read most of the posts here because anything to do with eyes makes me squeamish!

However I did want to share my OF's experience. He's 86. He had both eyes done during January and its made a tremendous difference. He's back driving the car and has started using his computer again. The procedure was really quick and he said he didn't feel anything at all, he was just aware that something was going on near his eyes. but it wasn't bad or painful.

One thing that made us laugh was that he had a big arrow drawn above the eye that was being treated so that nobody got the wrong eye! It was indelible ink and it took days to wash off!

I understand how DH feels as I'm on the waiting list too.
But in the past I have taken three people to have this done and all of them recovered remarkably. My friend was driving again within a week, and even her very sick husband made a fast recovery from it. And an old neighbour of mine said "What was all the fuss about?". So I hope DH can put his mind at rest and will just sail through it. Good luck.

DF had a cataract operation in his late 80s. It was booked for the morning, so he booked lunch for us both in his favourite restaurant - and a very nice meal it was -. After lunch we went out for a brisk walk to visit a small isolated church, he wanted to show me.

When I had my cataract operations, in my early 60s. I was exactly the same.Although we skipped the walk as it was raining.

My mum had this done at 83 and bounced back surprisingly quickly. I stayed with her for the first few days to make sure all was well, but could have come home after the first 24 hours.

A volunteer held her hand through the procedure and it was all quick and painless.
She was told to wear sunglasses when out and about.
She was delighted to be able to see the ships on the horizon again, and had no hesitation in having the second eye done after a long gap due to Covid.
Hope all goes as well for you as it did for us.

Thanks to all for their experiences and advice.
Volver - the use of an indelible pen to indicate which eye should be done- unbelievable!
Will report back when it's been done.

DH had his done before lockdown, he said the procedure was fine and all he felt was a little gentle pressure and had no problems with the first or the second 5 weeks later.