Cataract removed and lens replaced

Hospital appointment over. I have cataracts in both eyes. Ops scheduled for mid October. At least I now know what's happening and when. I expect I'll be keener to just get it over with by the time I get to October.

I'll most likely do that or get the local VG optician to replace the prescription lenses in one of my existing pairs. (I really like them and they were expensive.)

Aveline ordinary ( not prescription) sunglasses are fine. I got an inexpensive pair from TKMaxx in readiness, which was useful as it was sunny weather during recovery. I figured I would be able to use normal sun glasses in the future so I might as well treat myself!

I don't have any. I used to have prescription ones but my prescription began to change so often that I couldn't keep up! Oh dear.

It'll be fine.

Don't forget your sunglasses!

Well I now have an appointment with an ophthalmic surgeon next week. I'm apprehensive but can't go on like this. Sooner it's over the better. But...😟

Shinamae I’m not sure where she had it done.

Oopsadaisy1

I hate to throw a shadow on what is for most people a very positive outcome.
MzOops ex MIL went to have her cataracts operated on in January and her eye haemorrhaged, she was ambulanced to hospital ( I’m assuming that the op was carried out at a Clinic?) she is now completely blind in that eye and they are unable to do her other eye (which is also now very bad) just in case that goes wrong as well.
No one can tell her why it has happened and she is very distressed, she has a white stick, but has lost confidence in going out of her home ( she lives alone)

So please, please ask lots of questions before you have this ‘simple and safe’ minor op.

I had a very in depth 2 hour assessment before I had my treatment, which as I say has worked out very,very well for me.
I am sorry that you had this experience. It must be terrible. For myself if they had botched the right eye I would be blind because I’m already blind in my left eye. Can I ask did you have it done at a spa-medica?

I hate to throw a shadow on what is for most people a very positive outcome.
MzOops ex MIL went to have her cataracts operated on in January and her eye haemorrhaged, she was ambulanced to hospital ( I’m assuming that the op was carried out at a Clinic?) she is now completely blind in that eye and they are unable to do her other eye (which is also now very bad) just in case that goes wrong as well.
No one can tell her why it has happened and she is very distressed, she has a white stick, but has lost confidence in going out of her home ( she lives alone)

So please, please ask lots of questions before you have this ‘simple and safe’ minor op.

It's so reassuring to read about these positive outcomes - reading these has spurred me on to get organised and book an appointment! Does anyone have any experience of cataract treatment at Ross Hall/Glasgow please?

Gundy

(*watermeadow*) So sorry, Shinamae… I did go back and now see my message was for *watermeadow”.
I apologize for the confusion.

Not a problem, and thanks for your concern anyway

(*watermeadow*) So sorry, Shinamae… I did go back and now see my message was for *watermeadow”.
I apologize for the confusion.

Gundy

Shinamae - Your hesitation to have your cataract removed may make your situation worse… because the cataract will become so clouded you will not be able to see much of anything out of that eye.

If you have read all of the success stories here of how a painless surgery or procedure can help to restore your vision, you should not be afraid. I know your previous experience had adverse effect, and I’m sorry for that. I would then not go back to that same Doctor!

There are many specialists who will do you right! Find one who has a good reputation. Read up and ask around. The glare I suffer from is a side effect of my glaucoma. (Which was found during my cataract procedure!) I’ve had SIX eye surgeries and ended up with 20/20 vision with my glasses. I can drive, I do my handwork, read - just like when I was younger.

NEVER put off taking care of your eyes!
USA Gundy

Gundy
I do think you have mixed me up with someone else. If you go back to the first page of the thread you will see I have had it done and I’m very pleased with it. 🤷‍♀️

Shinamae - Your hesitation to have your cataract removed may make your situation worse… because the cataract will become so clouded you will not be able to see much of anything out of that eye.

If you have read all of the success stories here of how a painless surgery or procedure can help to restore your vision, you should not be afraid. I know your previous experience had adverse effect, and I’m sorry for that. I would then not go back to that same Doctor!

There are many specialists who will do you right! Find one who has a good reputation. Read up and ask around. The glare I suffer from is a side effect of my glaucoma. (Which was found during my cataract procedure!) I’ve had SIX eye surgeries and ended up with 20/20 vision with my glasses. I can drive, I do my handwork, read - just like when I was younger.

NEVER put off taking care of your eyes!
USA Gundy

watermeadow

Now Shinamae has had her op I’ll recount my experience. I too have usable sight in only one eye so was very apprehensive about having the cataract removed from my good eye, in case anything went wrong. Because of this I had a general anaesthetic.
Next day my sight was very distorted and it was found that the artificial lens was displaced slightly. This was during Covid lockdown and I waited 5 months, unable to see properly, before another GA and longer op to replace the lens.
That was 2 years ago and I’ve never been able to bear sunlight since. Nobody has been able to tell me why, or whether I’ll ever again go out without a hat with a brim.
It’s very rare for cataract ops to go wrong. I was just unlucky.

I am so sorry to hear about your experience…💐💐

Oh dear. Sorry to hear this. My friend has just been offered an NHS cataract op in an office suite leased to Optical Express. She's apprehensive. I know they need to get the waiting lists down but we thought the op would at least be on NHS premises.

Now Shinamae has had her op I’ll recount my experience. I too have usable sight in only one eye so was very apprehensive about having the cataract removed from my good eye, in case anything went wrong. Because of this I had a general anaesthetic.
Next day my sight was very distorted and it was found that the artificial lens was displaced slightly. This was during Covid lockdown and I waited 5 months, unable to see properly, before another GA and longer op to replace the lens.
That was 2 years ago and I’ve never been able to bear sunlight since. Nobody has been able to tell me why, or whether I’ll ever again go out without a hat with a brim.
It’s very rare for cataract ops to go wrong. I was just unlucky.

Stunned by how clear newspaper was the day after my op. What annoys me now are ads about reading lamps that make everything so clear. People must buy them and be disappointed. I was always complaining about poor light before the op.

I've had both my cataracts replaced recently within 6 weeks of one another at SpaMedica (NHS), and it's the best thing that I've ever had done. I just wish I'd had them done sooner, absolutely pain free, and over and done with in 10 minutes. Would certainly recommend having the op. to anyone!!

Go for it , I had dreadful eyesight for a few years and couldn’t get to see my optician due to Covid.. once tested I was told need both eyes cataract procedures as I wasn’t able to read the sight board… decided to go private to Benenden in Kent as the NHS waiting list was over a year ! Both eyes done within 3 weeks and no problems at all , had to wear a transparent eye shield for 3 days and drops in both eyes for 4 weeks , other than that everything is fine

Jess20

I have always been extremely short sighted and had new lenses when my cataracts we're done. Life changing! If I lost my contacts or glasses I was effectively blind but now I can wake up in the night and see! Every day I think how lucky I am and donate to Orbis so others in less affluent countries can also benefit from cataract surgery and sight saving procedures.

Me too “Jess20”, for the first time in my life when I wake up I can see clearly! I still have to use reading glasses but just amazing.Such a quick and life changing operation nowadays. I have an added complication of having recurring Uveitis ( a painful eye condition that requires steroid eye drops to make it better) so needed eye drops for longer and more frequently . But now drop fee and perfect eyesight.

I was born with cataracts, my eyesight was -13/14 and due to advances in surgery I had both cataracts removed at age 46.
Since then I no longer need glasses for anything - great result.
Hope everything goes well for you - I'm sure it will.

I had both cataracts done at the same time a few weeks ago - and it's wonderful!! If you have both done at once, someone told me, too late, that its a good idea to get swim goggles for when you shower while your eyes heal. So I hope this information is useful to someone out there!

I had both eyes done at the same time nearly 4 years ago - cataracts removed and lenses replaced….no problem - vision restored after a few hours - no more glasses - woo hoo!!!! Brilliant!!!! Good luck

I have always been extremely short sighted and had new lenses when my cataracts we're done. Life changing! If I lost my contacts or glasses I was effectively blind but now I can wake up in the night and see! Every day I think how lucky I am and donate to Orbis so others in less affluent countries can also benefit from cataract surgery and sight saving procedures.