Cataract surgery

We are lucky here in Oz if we hve private health insurance - majority do I believe. Had my op 2 weeks after consultation, although I spent about $3,500!

I am a bit concerned to hear that one poster still has problems with night driving - that is one of the main reasons I am having it done!

I am too Luckygirl for the same reasons.
I was told it was very low risk but I guess that's not no risk.

DH had his cataracts removed nearly three years ago. We went privately and he had lenses inserted which meant he didn't need glasses at all. Up until the last three months its been brilliant but now close up reading vision has deteriorated so much so he's using a magnifier to read the small print. We've an appointment in a couple of weeks with the surgeon. I've spoken to people and quite a few have had this problem. Someone explained it as a mist behind the lens. Think they use Laser to clear it at the appointment. Hope that's going to be the remedy. Distance vision is fine.

I had both eyes done, 6 months apart, three years ago, before Covid.
Both were done under the NHS, but the first operation was carried out on a Saturday, in a local private hospital, by the NHS consultant. I had one nurse who saw to me pre and post the operation and everything was fine.
The second operation was done in a NHS setting, a dedicated eye clinic. I was operated on by a Polish Doctor and again everything went well. But in the NHS hospital there were four nurses hovering around. One nurse took my details, another gave me the drops, another asked if I wanted my hand during the procedure and the 4th nurse was supposed to explain the eye drop routine post operation, but as I knew the procedure she decided there was no need to explain. She did however make me a cup of tea.
Is this one of the reasons that the NHS is overspent, if a private hospital can do it with 1 nurse, why the need for 4 nurses?
I had to have another small op on both eyes 18 months along because part of the lens that is left behind had become cloudy and needed laser treatment, This apparently is quite common and again was painless.
The only thing that annoys me after having the surgery is that I now have to wear glasses for reading or any close work, e.g. peeling an onion, which I never had to before.
Lucky Girl - My son had to have cataract surgery a year after having detached retinas in both eyes. Again the need for cataract surgery is not unusual after such an operation. He is fine now.

I was surprised too Grammaretto. The eye clinic I used to attend was dreadfully busy with long waits the norm and I thought I’d be on a long waiting list.

A new purpose-built super duper eye clinic has been built since my last visit to cover the whole region. It looks impressive on the website.

www.lancsteachinghospitals.nhs.uk/lancashire-eye-centre

I had both my cataracts removed at a Spa Medica. The optician asked me which hospital I preferred so I just asked him which one he would use.
I need to use reading glasses now but my distance vision is good. I also had to have some laser treatment after the operations. This is painless.

An ex colleague whose eyesight was appalling (he’d avoided GPs and opticians for years) eventually did something about it - they said his cataracts were about the worst they’d ever seen.

I collected him from the first appt. - he was sent courtesy of the NHS to IIRC a Spa Medica - he was virtually blind from the procedure/eye shade, plus the other eye being so bad.

I rang in the morning to see how he was - he was absolutely elated - could read, for the first time in many years - the departures notice board in the nearby railway station, which he could see from his flat. I was astonished that recovery was both so quick and so complete.

He’s since had the other done, equally successfully.

I’m going today to a private hospital but under NHS , for an initial consultation for hopefully cataract surgery . I had one done six years ago . I’m very shortsighted and my operated eye now has perfect vision without glasses or contacts so hopefully I can have the same for this eye too .I do still have problems in bright sunlight however even after six years .

I also have extropia in my right eye, a condition that causes my right eye to turn outwards when I try to focus on objects in front of me. It’s related to previous retina and nerve damage and it’s getting worse. The intention is to remove the cataract in my right eye and carry out the corrective muscle surgery at the same time. I don’t know when they might remove the left cataract, I will have a lot of questions to ask at my appointment!

All the best to you Blossoming and to SusieB50

Just make sure you have single-vision implants. I speak as a retired optometrist. Multifocal implants cause a lot of disruption to night vision. And many of my happiest patients had one eye set for distance, the other for middle distance. Very good for both driving and seeing shelves in the supermarket, and seeing a person clearly while in conversation. Just pop reading glasses on for small print

What I was hoping was that the operation would simply make my vision clearer, and that I would go on wearing varifocals to cover the middle distance, music reading and close work. I have no problem with continuing wearing glasses. I just want to be able to see better for night driving.

I had planned to ask for single vision implants.

My appointment went well today and he is hopefully going to be able to give me middle vision in my right eye . So reading glasses will be required and possibly top up distance vision glasses for TV etc . All sounds good to me ! He did say as I’m so shortsighted in that eye it may not be a perfect result . Also I run a higher risk of detached retina following surgery too . But the waiting list is only 2-3 months ? . One happy bunny !

I am so glad it all went well.

Glad it all went well Susie

I had one eye done about 8 weeks ago and it was incredibly painful operation like having a tooth drilled without an anesthetic Knowing it shouldn’t hurt at all I was telling the surgeon all through that it was hurting badly he didn’t even acknowledge I d spoken
Having said that I need the other one doing badly so got to swallow my fears and hope that the next time the anesthetic works better
Please don’t be put off as I m assured it’s rare although I ve now heard of three others (two gransnetters) who had a painful time
If and when they do my other eye I m going to ask for stronger anesthetic it really was bad I m no baby to pain

Ouch!! Poor BlueBelle
That would be a worst nightmare.
Perhaps next time you'll have a more sympathetic surgeon.

I am glad your appointment went well Susie and quite a short wait now.

I was absolutely terrified and kept putting it off. We have no waiting list in France and you can just choose your own appointment. I don't think it helped that I googled the op and it looked awful. Well I'm pleased to report that it is completely painless, quick and you have instant results. I cannot stress how much it has changed my life for the better. I cannot wait to have my other eye done but have been told to wait a while as it is better to have it done when the cataract is worse than mine is atm. I have ditched my varifocals and only need mild reading glasses for very close print.
The only drawback, as someone else has said, is suddenly seeing all the dust and cobwebs in your house again!

But not always painless * normandygirl* !!

I had both eyes done a few years ago, before the lockdowns and on NHS
The first thing I noticed was I could see bright colours!
I still need glasses for reading and close work, but am fine without them otherwise.
I do feel at this present moment that my eyesight is starting to deteriorate again but will wait for next optician appointment as have had a lot of expenses lately.

Deterioration after some months post surgery affects about a third of people. It doesn’t mean the cataract growing back - that can’t happen. Rather, the body’s own capsule that originally held the lens of the eye, may deteriorate. A fraction-of-a-second laser procedure cuts an opening in the capsule, and good vision is restored.

Thank you everyone, your responses are very reassuring and informative.

I think that if I have both procedures on the same day it will be a general anaesthetic, but should still be able to go home the same day.

so easy had one waiting for next one

Hugely recommended. Had both of mine done during the lockdowns either side of Christmas 2021, painless, quick, (circa 30 mins in and out) as a day patient. Definite improvement in vision, only down side, because of pressure behind the eyes, I was recommended not to play my Bagpipes for a month afterwards, but this is not an issue for most people !! A couple of local ‘grumps’ complained they missed my daily practice!!!