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Cataract query

(23 Posts)
Aveline Tue 12-Sept-23 13:46:59

I'm having cataract ops in both eyes next month with a two week gap between each one. My query is how do I manage when one eye is 'done' but the other isn't yet. Will I be able to see well enough with just the 'new' eye? I'm not expecting to be driving just everyday activities. Help anyone?

Mazgg Tue 12-Sept-23 14:22:17

My friend has recently had hers done and had the lense removed from her glasses on the eye that was 'done'.

Aveline Tue 12-Sept-23 14:24:14

Thanks. I wondered about that.

BlueBelle Tue 12-Sept-23 14:31:49

Your brain adjusts very well
Because I have a hole in my macular when I first had the cataracts done the words of say a street sign or a number plate were all hippety hoi on different levels just like a drunk person would see them They assured me my brain would adjust to it all and it has

grandtanteJE65 Tue 12-Sept-23 14:41:44

I had no difficulty seeing with my former glasses after having a cataract removed from my right eye. But then I had seen very little with that eye before the op. so being able to actually see things on my right was an enormous improvement.

Good luck.

M0nica Wed 13-Sept-23 14:35:25

I had the lens replaced by plain glass until such time as was recommended to get my eye retested and a new appropriate lens put in the frames.

Aveline Wed 13-Sept-23 15:05:32

Thanks. I'm really just wondering about the two weeks between replacing the lenses. Just don't know.

Marydoll Wed 13-Sept-23 15:10:49

I also wondered about the lenses in my glasses, when I get mine done.
Thank you for the info.
I hope your op goes well Aveline.

M0nica Wed 13-Sept-23 16:34:25

I was told to wait six weeks before I had an eye test and after that it took a week or two for my glasses with the new lens to arrive, so I was without a lens for nearly 2 months, so having a plain glass in made my glasses unremarkable.

If you are wearing glasses befor the op, I assume the surgeon will be putting in a near completely corrective lens, so your post-op eye strength will be close to normal anyway.

Aveline Wed 13-Sept-23 16:46:15

Yes I'm having full corrective lenses fitted with two weeks between each op. I don't know if perfect vision in one eye and the old vision in the other will scramble my brain! Will have to wait and see.

Aveline Wed 13-Sept-23 16:47:11

I'm hoping that after they're both replaced all will be well but it's the two weeks in between that worry me

M0nica Wed 13-Sept-23 21:29:55

Before my first cataract operation my left eye was nearly twice as weak as my right eye. the left eye was done first and the operation made it 1 dioptres stronger than my right eye.

The following morning when i took the patch off my eye, the adjust ment was almost immediate. I put my usual glasses on, the left side now with plain glass and was fine.

I did not need to have the right eye done for nearly another 7 years.

FoghornLeghorn Wed 13-Sept-23 23:10:07

If there is a big difference between both eyes, removing a lens from your glasses won’t work. You’ll just get double vision. I found I could manage perfectly well with one ‘done’ eye. It takes over from your ‘undone’ one. The only thing I didn’t do was drive.

Aveline Thu 14-Sept-23 06:32:17

That's what I'm hoping Foghorn leghorn. There is a big difference between each eye now.

Allsorts Thu 14-Sept-23 06:51:16

When I think of my gran, in her nineties and couldn't afford glasses and now these wonderful operations to restore sight, it seems a miracle. Know so many who have benefited, we are so lucky having that opportunity.
Good luck Aveline, it will all go well.

Sapphire24 Thu 14-Sept-23 06:58:01

I had my right eye done last year and can honestly say it's one of the best things I've ever done. I then had to wait 6 weeks before getting new glasses, and although I did need them I actually managed quite well with the current glasses, and that's with a full time job working on the computer all day. Oh and I was driving the day after surgery. :-)

M0nica Thu 14-Sept-23 07:22:48

Foghornleghorn You may have had a problem with double vision, but I had none at all and was allowed to drive (safely and legally) as soon as the patch was off my eye.

BlueBelle Thu 14-Sept-23 07:28:00

Foghorn exactly the brain adjust to the best eye and you can manage fine and between ops I had a -12 and a -2 but the new good eye and the brain overtook the still rubbish eye

Aveline Thu 14-Sept-23 08:13:51

It's only two weeks. I'll just have to wait and see (literally!). Just reading the bumph about the op it seems like there are so many potential risks. I know they have to cover themselves but if I wasn't so very short sighted and getting worse I'd think twice about going ahead.

Kiwiqueen123 Fri 06-Oct-23 10:01:41

Just refreshing this thread because I had the first cataract removed on Wednesday and replaced with a lens which hopefully will mean I wont need glasses. Was told pre op by the ophthalmic surgeon I was exceedingly long sighted and would probably find the eye very blurry for up to two weeks. However by yesterday afternoon most of that had cleared. Eye a little red and it just feels as though I've put a contact lens in inside out (I've worn them for years). Am using the drops as advised. Just wondered if anyone whose had cataracts removed recently can remember the timeline until its all perfect. Due to have the other one done in two weeks.

Susie42 Sat 07-Oct-23 14:01:32

I just wore a contact lens in the other eye until the second one was done. However, I had to have both eyes re-lasered as the as the cataracts started re-growing. I was warned that this could happen and I had the re-lasering operation done privately. I need glasses for reading and driving but that's not a problem.

Kiwiqueen123 Sun 08-Oct-23 09:52:51

I had the right eye done on Wednesday, quick check up on Thursday when the surgeon was pleasantly surprised I didn't have too much blurred vision. However the second op is on the 18th and I've been told I must remove my lens next Saturday. He suggested trying it without now which I'm doing. Am wondering if my brain will adjust though. I know when I first had multifocal contact lenses I felt like giving up but over time it all settled and the optician said the brain adjusts but needs time. Hopefully it will adjust in the next two weeks.

aonk Sun 08-Oct-23 11:33:52

Having had both cataracts done some years ago with a year or so in between operations I would say that you need to prepared for a few headaches. Nothing that paracetamol won’t sort out though! I found sunshine and bright lights hard to deal with so sometimes had the blinds down and wore sunglasses when going out. You will probably find that you want to rest a bit during the 2 weeks but that’s ok of course. Good luck. It will change your life substantially for the better.