Cataract removed and lens replaced

I am so glad you opened this thread Shinamae Thank you so much for the reassurance I, too. have had through reading these mails
Following a chemical burn whilst at school, I was left with a scarred cornea and eventually the sight deteriorated and now ( admittebly more than 60 years later) the sight has gone in the more damaged eye
Colour vision has deteriorated in the good eye sothat in the garden I cannot easily distinguish seedlings from soil. What is worse is that I now have AMD in the remaining eye and have been offered a cataract operation. I just wonder if I go ahead, whether the AMD will be exacerbated..... would I be better holding off until vision is impossible?
My consultant tells me the choice is mine. Yes , it is, of course but based on somewhat limited advice and knowledge

Had mine done different lenses in each eye
L eye quite complicated but have had no problems
It is a new world once the cataracts are removed
Good Luck

I do wish these experts wouldn't give us the choice. I'd want to know what someone knowledgeable and experienced would recommend.

Aveline

I do wish these experts wouldn't give us the choice. I'd want to know what someone knowledgeable and experienced would recommend.

I don’t think they’re allowed to…

There's ways and ways of doing that!

Had both mine done over the last few weeks. Uncomfortable rather than painful for the first few days but fine now. I still start looking for my specs when I sit down to read - old habits die hard! I used Spamedica in Solihull.

I had a cataract operation in 2019. I was terrified beforehand, I've always been extremely squeamish about eyes.

It was a huge success and I can't wait to have the other one done! Unfortunately it's not bad enough, yet....

I feel compelled to comment to your post as I am a retired member of staff from Moorfields eye hospital. A NURSE spent two hours explaining the procedure. Why was it not your consultant. You must, must speak with the consultant and have your questions answered. Although the procedure is an everyday thing for the doctor. It is not everyday for you. You need your answers from him or her not a nurse (even if she is a specialist nurse).
As I say it’s an everyday procedure that they do 100’s of.
The benefits you should gain can be amazing and could make a really difference to you and your life. You deserve the best.

My left eye is my reading eye (my choice) and my right eye is for distance. Reading is vital to me and distance not so important as I don’t drive. It seemed to throw my balance off for a few days but all ok now.

They do give a list of things not to do after the surgery. Some for 2 weeks and some for 4 weeks.

No knitting, no hoovering, no gardening etc etc.

Avoid looking down or up and things that might create a dust or fluff.

No flying for four weeks which brings us to the pricier school holiday period.

Final check up on Wednesday!

Grannygrumps1

I feel compelled to comment to your post as I am a retired member of staff from Moorfields eye hospital. A NURSE spent two hours explaining the procedure. Why was it not your consultant. You must, must speak with the consultant and have your questions answered. Although the procedure is an everyday thing for the doctor. It is not everyday for you. You need your answers from him or her not a nurse (even if she is a specialist nurse).
As I say it’s an everyday procedure that they do 100’s of.
The benefits you should gain can be amazing and could make a really difference to you and your life. You deserve the best.

I was given every opportunity to ask questions of the various qualified staff at SpaMedica. There is also a person that you can contact afterwards if you have concerns.

My only concern was that the list of what not to do was given after the surgery. My OH is happy to do housework and anything needed but not all partners are able to step in.

We set an alarm on my iPad as a reminder for the various drops required on a four hourly basis.

Congratulations, Shinamae!
Cataract surgery is relatively a perfected, easy and painless surgery these days.

One must never be scared to go for help if your eyesight is failing!! Your vision will be restored - and you’ll wonder why you didn’t go in sooner. I’ve had both eye cataracts done and lens implants to my specifications.

‼️ Here’s another thing - if you ever see any grey shadowy floaters (not black specks) in your vision (reading, driving, handwork…) immediately go to have that checked. It very well may be that you have glaucoma. Those floaters indicate that you have abnormal eye pressures and are losing vision. That vision loss cannot be recovered ever, it would only get worse - but it can be maintained at that level if caught early. No one wants to go blind, that’s for sure.

They discovered I had glaucoma when having my cataracts done! So there you go.
Eyes Wide Open!
USA Gundy

I found the hardest part was waiting for the pupils to dilate. It was painless.

I had one eye find in March. It was miraculous and totally painless. It was a nuisance wearing an eye shield at night, not bending over nor lifting stuff as I was moving house in a fortnight but well worth it.
I chose to keep my odd eyesight, one long, one shortsighted to the specialist’s surprise…
Go for it!

Thanks for raising this topic.

All the very best for your procedure.

I am so pleased to read so many positive reports here. I will need this soon so it's a relief to know how others have fared.

My advice would be, DONT THROW ANYTHING OUT BECAUSE YOU NO LONGER LIKE THE C9LOUR.

Having a new lens affects your colour perception for a while. When Bel9ved had hers done it cost me a fortune replacing clothes she said were the wrong colour, they weren't, ask your surgeon.

I had both eyes done two years ago in Exeter clinic. I was very very shortsighted before and wore glasses. Now I can see just fine without glasses but I now xx need reading glasses for small print!

I had a cataract removed and the lense replaced four years ago.

The operation, done by lasar took 20 minutes, plus 15 waiting for the anaestitic to take hold. It was given in the form of eye drops.

I had no pain, either during or after the op. I have quite literally spent worse twenty minutes at the dentist on many occasions.

I was sent home from hospital with painkillers that I never needed and eye drops to be used twice daily for some weeks.

I see better with that eye than I ever have done in the course of my life. So from my point of view, there is nothing to worry about, and I hope your op will be as successful as mine has been.

The improvement in my sight has been a blessing and it is permament.

I have glaucoma and had laser treatment to both eyes and have cataracts now. I've now been told I need them done but am terrified of the thought of the surgery while awake. I know they all say its painless but I'm extremely squeamish and worry I'll panic. The leaflet they gave me to read explaining the procedure didn't help. I've got to make my mind up by the next appointment later in the year, but am so unsure

I had natural lenses replaced with artificial ones so I don't need distance nor reading glasses. Trifocals are expensive.

I've had no problems at all. I had it done at a clinic in the Netherlands. They were fantastic. I was so nervous and they offered me a low dose diazepam pill to help calm me down before surgery.

I'm glad I had lens replacements.

Please be assured the results will be wonderful! I paid £5.500 a couple years ago, I can count the leaves on a tree half a mile away & sew and read…. A new life x

Ask for a sedative, I had Medazolopram all brilliant

My very elderly mum had both eyes done recently and as she is disabled I was allowed into theatre to watch. Try not to worry, it was amazing to watch and she was done within 5 min max. The time allowed is all the prep and chat afterwards. I won’t explain the procedure here in case someone reads it and finds it uncomfy reading, but if you want me to elaborate, message direct and I will reply. I’m sure you will be thrilled after the op

Friend just had hers done and is now recycling ALL her spectacles (except sunglasses). I’m envious x

I've had both cataracts done - the second one, right eye, only last month. The best thing ever! I can see and no glasses! Please don't worry about it. Just let us know how you get on.