Cataracts disappointment

I understand your distress at being told you have cataracts. I felt the same when the specialist first told me - I even shed a few tears, partly because I dreaded the "waitng for them to ripen" However, when I asked him about that, he told me that they do not wait these days (and this was about 15 years ago). I eventually had both eyes done with corrective lenses inserted, and what a revelation! After being tied to strong spectacles since the age of 7, I have near perfect vision and only need glasses for reading. So try not to worry about it but make sure you have the sedative, if offered, for the operation.

I’m 76, about 10 years ago at an eye test the optician told me I had the start of cataracts in both eyes. I was surprised to hear this as no one had mentioned it during my yearly appointments at the Midlands Eye centre (I have some small holes in the retina of both eyes). The optician said most people of my age have the start of these and the hospital don’t say anything unless they need operating on.
It’s never been mentioned again at further eye tests.

I had surgery for a macular hole 3 years ago with cataract removed at same time. Surgery a dawdle, absolutely didn't feel a thing. In earky August opticial advised tge cataract in my otger eye is prigressing and with the reduced clarity in the mac hole eye she feels the cataract should be removed now. Howevercshe knows the NHS will not consider cataract removal until it is really bad. Prepared to make a referral but knows it will be bounced back as not urgent, no account taken of mac hole issue. In all the years of practice she cannot believe she is now suggesting to people to consider private treatment. I have been for examination, two consultants involved, one specialising in mac hole surgery for his opinion on carrying out cataract removal when slight signs of mac hole developing in my "good" eye. Given the go ahead. Surgery planned for later this month. Wonderful, thorough service in my opinion. Once I was eventually at the full cataract stage I'd have 13 weeks to wait for an exam appointment then 39 weeks for surgery, a year with my local NHS system. I have absolutely no fears of the surgery. Stop making it worse for yourself.

I've never smoked, and drink alcohol.v occasionally furthermore I always have a good diet, despute this I developed angina and heart disease at 32, then diabetes and low thyroid, it's the luck of the genetics draw sadly. I have very early cataracts detected at diabetic screening, but my optician said they are too early to consider and he wouldn't have told me if he'd seen them. Take heart it's nothing you've done wrong and it's easily fixed these days

The eyes are very receptive to pain relief eye drops and honestly you don't feel any pain at all. You know someone's doing something with your eye but there is NO PAIN.
All you see is darkness and a little light that you're asked to focus on and although your eye in clamped open they keep pouring a stream of liquid (saline I think) into it all the time so you don't need to blink.
And the replacement lens can restore your vision to normal if you're lucky, I still need specs because my vision needed more complex correction.

I'm not sure they need to 'ripen'. I had very early cataracts removed plus new lenses at the same time as I was so short sighted. Perfect vision now. I did have to go privately but the cost of contact lenses and glasses every year at a very high prescription soon covered the cost.

grannydarkhair

It’s always a jolt to be told something concerning about your health, so I can understand how you feel, especially as your brothers had the same condition.
I don’t know anyone who has regretted having the surgery, especially now that prescription lenses are used.
It’s easy to say ‘try not to think about it’, because it’s obviously something that you’d rather not have to contend with.
Whenever the time comes, things will be sorted out with comparative ease. You’ll not look back and if you do, it’ll be with much improved vision!

Our optometrist is a family member. He says that most people over 60 have cataracts. Not all will need surgery. It's not a failure on your behalf, it's just life, like wrinkles and age-spots. If you're eyesight is troubling you due to the cataracts, I hope that you will overcome your concerns and have them removed. It is life-changing for many people and very safe.

I am totally sympathetic, was also made nauseous by the thought of eye stuff. Ugh!

However....

In 2019 I went blind in one eye, happened overnight. I panicked, put off doing anything for a week, then went to the doctor and was sent to Specsavers. They said I had a huge thick cataract - they can apparently come on very quickly - and referred me for surgery.

I was terrified! Got some anti-anxiety medicine from the GP beforehand. And - it was okay, actually. Quite fast, didn't hurt, the recovery was simple, and I can see perfectly well out of my right eye. Now I'm developing one in my left eye but it's very slow and not yet ready for surgery. And I wish I could have it done now!

My sister had exactly the same experience as me, obviously it's genetic.

They do each eye on separate occasions - just in case there are complications. Local anesthetic and, yes, you have to be awake but you don't really "see", or feel, anything happening. I think I had a mild sedative but can't remember now. Entirely painless. The wonderful part is when you are allowed to see again everything is crystal clear, just as it must have been when you were a baby. Over time the lens gets covered with protein, I understand, which blurs you vision slightly. Just Do It - I promise you will be so glad you did!

I also have cataracts developing. My optician told me last week that mine were not at the stage where the NHS would agree to an operation. I thought that was interesting. My DM had hers done and all went very well. I remember her saying after hers were done she realised how grubby her house was!

Do not be afraid of having Cataracts done. Had mine done last year and it is painless and nothing to worry about. They do one eye then you go back to have the second one done. Sounds daft but I quite enjoyed the experience !

I too was told from my late fifties that I had the signs of them but it would probably be years. When the time came, they had suddenly got so bad my sight was really poor and I was not allowed to drive! The operations were absolutely nothing to worry about.
However, grannydarkhair, my dh feels just the same as you, despite my assurances. A normally very brave man, who had both hips done whilst awake, he can’t even bear having drops in his eyes. He is talking about finding someone who will do the job under general anaesthetic or, at the very least, heavy sedation - and says he will pay to have that done if he can’t have it under the NHS!

I understand your feelings grannydarkhair. I too was horrified when an optician casually said ‘cataracts in both eyes’ during a routine examination.

I am visually impaired already due to hypertensive retinopathy and have had haemorrhages in both retinas. I also have exotropia in my right eye which was getting worse, this is being treated at the hospital with a Botox injection into the hyperactive muscle. So the possibility of more problems from cataracts was frightening.

I had a thorough assessment and lots of tests at the hospital. The consultant ophthalmologist reassured me that cataracts can take years to develop and may never cause a problem. They are quite common in older people who may never realise they have them. If they do get worse then they can be dealt with.

Try not to worry. I had one eye done and then a fortnight later the other. You will be given sedative , the staff know what they are doing . I'm sure you will be pleased with the outcome.

Must be about 7 years ago, when I had an eye test, the optomotrist told me I was unusual for a woman of my age because I had no cataracts. Move on a few more years and, disappointingly, a small cataract was developing in my left eye. Owing to Covid, I missed eye tests until this year when that cataract had grown enough for the optomotrist to predict it would need surgery in about 18 months and there was another growing in my right eye. I can't say I am alarmed, since many of my friends of similar - mostly younger - age have already had the surgery and my (younger) sister has had both eyes 'done'. I'll probably be 84 before I have to go under the knife, but if that's what it takes to save my sight and enable me to continue to drive, then 'bring it on'.

I am 66, went to the optician a week ago, told I had the start of cataracts, but they were too small to be operated on, no other problems found. I have never smoked either.

My cataract ops are booked for October. At first I was apprehensive but now I'd be happy if they phoned and said come right now! I'm so looking forward to being able to see really well. Even with the strongest lenses my distance vision has deterioprated a massive amount. Bring on the ops!
(Theyre doing one eye first then the other two weeks later in case of infection)

Thank you *Lucky". I'm glad they fixed it.

I had flashes in my eyes - saw the consultant - had a small retinal tear - sat in a chair for a while during which he sealed the tear with a laser - walked out fine. Painless, swift, saved me going blind - it's a miracle!

Oh Nandalot I feel your pain. I thought it was just me who trembled with any medical procedure. I have to go to the optician today as I have had a couple of episodes of seeing flashes. I'm shaking already. I'm sorry you get like this but if its any consolation you have helped me no end.

Nanalot If you were shaking a lot then the surgeon would either not do the operation or would administer a muscle relaxant in some kind. They are not going to operate on you if you are shaking and if you shake with fear of having something happen you will be doing it before the operation starts, not when it has just begun or is part way through.

I was told it is hereditary, not sure if that is the case or not. I had one done because one formed after an eye operation but my other eye is not ripe enough. I can see very, very small print so I am reluctant to do anything. Distance viewing is pretty ordinary, though and always has been. I find it hard to drive at night and avoid it.

I have been on the NHS waiting list for a year to have my first cataract operation.
I look out every day for a letter. I've had the assessment 2 weeks ago but still no word.
My DM had both hers replaced and said it was brilliant.
My sight has deteriorated. I don't drive at all now.
Neither of my siblings have cataracts though both wear glasses whereas my sight was 20:20 before cataracts.

Callistemon21 I’m fine as long as it’s only me going anywhere near my eyes, I have dry-eye, been using drops for quite a few years. I also used to wear contacts when I was younger, could put them in/take them out and it didn’t bother me a bit.
I worked in care for nearly 30 years, had to help many a service user with eye drops, etc., and that never bothered me either.
I was diagnosed with Asthma in my early 30s, been on inhalers since then and have had several courses of steroids over the years, both for that and for CIU which I’ve suffered from for about 20 years. I wasn’t aware of the link that Visgirl mentioned.
I know cataract removal is considered to be a very routine procedure nowadays, and was well aware of how grateful both my brothers were when had their cataracts removed. Still hope that I never have to have mine done 😁