Cataract surgery

Thankyou all so much for taking time to answer on my post. Your replies are very reassuring and helpful. Xx

No pain, no side-effects.

The slaves' chorus from Nabucco was played for the first eye, and was put on again for the second. I remarked on this, and the surgeon asked me if I would like something else. "Certainly not," I replied. "You wield the scalpel, you choose the music."

OH has just had his second eye done, nearly 6 weeks after the first. Felt tired the first day or two but no other issues. Was driving again within a couple of weeks. Interesting to compare different eye drop regimes. He has 2 lots to be used for 2 weeks, one twice a day and one four times. This seems to vary between different opthalmologists. Neither needed to be kept in the fridge! He had his done at Spa Medica ( they have clinics all over UK) and would recommend them. Done on NHS so all free. Good luck with yours.

Sapphire24

Thankyou aonk, for the info and advice. We have a break away planned for the 2nd week and looking forward to it.

One lot of the drops I got had to be kept in a fridge so bear that in mind.

Thankyou aonk, for the info and advice. We have a break away planned for the 2nd week and looking forward to it.

I have had both cataracts done some years ago. I was told sedation would be needed on both occasions. I was tired the next day and the eye was a little sore. I had to use drops for a few weeks. The only problem I had was headaches but these were easily sorted by paracetamol. Keep some sunglasses to hand just in case. Good luck! You won’t need to use your annual leave to recover so plan something nice.

I have had both eyes done - very quick procedure, little discomfort afterwards for a very short time. Eye drops a bit of a hassle - best, if you can, to get someone else to administer them. Fantastic outcome!! I can see clearly now…….

I was not my usual brave self. Quite fearless usually but I should not have worried.. “piece of cake” . Then worried about feeling gritty….that soon disappeared. Didn’t give a thought to having second one done. Overall so pleased. Only wear glasses for reading.

Drops for 4 weeks but really little pain. I have had both eyes done and would have differing strengths of lenses again if I had to choose. I can read with one eye and see without glasses with the second eye which had a better correction . I do use reading glasses at time and distance ones for driving but the rest of the time , after 55 years , I can go without any glasses most of the time .

Obviously you know that you’ll need someone to drive you home (or wherever) after the operation? DF’s old friend didn’t and thought he could drive straight afterwards.

I'm so interested to read this thread as I fear that I can't go on much longer without a cataract op. I'm just so scared at the prospect. It's great to hear such reassuring stories of successful and easy outcomes. How nice to have volunteers to hold hands.

Thanks for your comments, they're very reassuring.
I was advised at the pre op appointment to have at least 3 days off work, so that works well with my already booked annual leave. I was also told I might have some discomfort and that I need eye drops for 6 weeks. Not a massive amount of info, which is why I came here. So thankyou for your comments, I look forward to hearing more people's experiences.

My mum had her 1st eye 'done' pre-covid - very nervous about the procedure. She was tired afterwards but coped well with eyepatch, then sunglasses and the drops for a few days afterwards, and then all was back to normal. I stayed with her for the first couple of nights but didn't really need to.

She had her second eye done without any hesitation at all and recovered just as quickly.

At our eye hospital there are volunteers who hold the patient's hand while the procedure is being done - brilliant people.

If that were me I would need mild ( to moderate) sedation to cope with the procedure, but I do have an ‘issue’ with ?.
Diazepam maybe ?
Good luck all will be well but stick with eye drop regime.

Sapphire24 The procedure is painless trust me if you feel anxious ask for lots of anaesthetic to the eye they will give it to you.
As soon as the procedure is complete they will fix a shield over the eye which you keep on for a few hours you will notice the difference in your vision immediately no pain at all.
Best of luck.

I doubt you will need painkillers at all. The eye will feel a little bit uncomfortable the first day, but after that is virtually back to normal. Just be careful about remembering the eye drops as directed.

Next door neighbour had his second cataract done last week. He wore an eye covering for one day, had eye drops for a couple of days. He cut the grass!! the day after the op. He had an 8wk wait between the ops. He is mid 70s. Amazing I think.

If my experience and the experience of everybody I know is anything to go on, cataract surgery is virtually painless and you are back to normal almost as soon as the surgery is over.

My father had a cataract operation at 88. The op was at around 12.00am. he had a table booked for us at his favourite restaurant for 1.30 - and it was a very nice meal. Afterwards we went for a good walk at a local beauty spot.