Cataracts

[JustWin]

Just had my second cataract operation (yesterday)all is well. Had my first one done February 12th. Dumped my distance glasses now (hooray) no more unsightly dints on the side of my nose. And funny enough I can breath better (Asthmatic) due to no pressure on my nostrils from having to wear those pesky specs.

[erimus]

Mine went fine couple of years ago...next one needs doing but having bimonthly injections for diabetic macular oedema(at £950 a time for NHS),and will only do operation when course complete.
Geoff

[stagships]

I had mine done 2 years ago. Now the left one is collecting debris on the lens have to have it sand blasted to clean it back to wearing glasses

[JustWin]

My two operations where a bit tricky for the surgeon due to me acquiring 'floppy iris syndrome' caused by the medication 'Tamsulosin' that I have to take for prostrate/bladder problems. It's not the only thing that the above medication affects. All told, I am happy with the outcome. I can see the dust now.

[Farmer John]

I had both mine done a couple of years ago, far less aggro than a tooth clean at the dentist, like anything it does have some risk, but my recommendation is, get it done.

[tugger]

Got my left one done last year, went to the Dr for my annual eyesight test for my driving license, [in Aus everyone over 80 must do it or no license} I had my glasses on,he said don't think you will pass next year, I said I have been driving without my glasses for the last two months, he checked my sight without my glasses, he said you have passed and don't need glasses to drive, this after 60 years of using them to drive. I may have to have the other one done shortly, maybe I'' get a pilots job.
Tugger

[JustWin]

Originally Posted by tugger

Got my left one done last year, went to the Dr for my annual eyesight test for my driving license, [in Aus everyone over 80 must do it or no license} I had my glasses on,he said don't think you will pass next year, I said I have been driving without my glasses for the last two months, he checked my sight without my glasses, he said you have passed and don't need glasses to drive, this after 60 years of using them to drive. I may have to have the other one done shortly, maybe I'' get a pilots job.
Tugger

After I had my left one done, on advice I removed the lens from that side of my specs. So I was walking and driving about like that for two months until I had my right eye done. Don't need distance glasses now.

[Harry Nicholson]

Yesterday I had my first cataract removed and the lens replaced with with an artificial (I'm having trouble typing this as I recover).
The new lens shows me that I've been missing the shorter wavelenghts for some years. In the garden, the buddleia, once magenta, is now royal blue. I thought then to check my kiln-fired enamels (a hobby) and am astonished. What once looked grubby, now is ablaze with colour. The other eye will be done sometime soon.

[Varley]

That's good news but the Merchant Navy Programme is no longer on short wave.

(Good for you. One of my life's hazards only hinted at so far).

[Greg Hayden]

My first eye cataract surgery is scheduled for August 24th, 2023.

[Harry Nicholson]

Originally Posted by Greg Hayden

My first eye cataract surgery is scheduled for August 24th, 2023.

Best wishes for that, Greg. I needed an eyepatch on day 1. Today, Day 2, The slight ache is gone. The glare much less. Mostly get along with sun glasses - but am typing this without, though the glare is still a bit much from the whites on the screen. But I can now see the hills in decent focus and the TV.

[R58484957]

Going in for left eye cataract removal and lens fitted next Tuesday also for remove a stitch in right eye, which was put in 19/01/23 because I moved when he put lens in. At least it’s free in the Spamedica hospital, maybe because of my age.

[Hugh Shuttleworth]

Originally Posted by Harry Nicholson

Yesterday I had my first cataract removed and the lens replaced with with an artificial (I'm having trouble typing this as I recover).
The new lens shows me that I've been missing the shorter wavelenghts for some years. In the garden, the buddleia, once magenta, is now royal blue. I thought then to check my kiln-fired enamels (a hobby) and am astonished. What once looked grubby, now is ablaze with colour. The other eye will be done sometime soon.

A chap I worked with had the cataracts surgery and reported back "I can now see things in full glorious technicolor again". I had mine done a few years later and noticed that a grey-blue label had become a vivid blue. The big problem for me was the differential in focus between ops. I had become increasingly short sighted as the cataracts developed - having had normal vision while at sea as a deck officer - and had normal vision lenses fitted. For a month I could see two different sized buses depending which eye I closed. I only drove twice in that state, once to see if I was safe and the second time to take my wife the half mile to the surgery when she was suffering from a severe migraine. The surgeon wanted to keep me short sighted! I said I wanted normal and I can now walk in the rain again and not have problems with water on glasses.

[R58484957]

Had cataract successfully removed yesterday,very slightly painfull. Go back in two weeks to have stitch removed from right eye. Seconds before op started a man came in to theatre wanted to know my name /address and date of birth, I told him and he immediately disappeared. I actually came across one or two people who spoke English as there first language

[rustytrawler]

It does not matter if they spoke English or not as their first language, if they were not there you would be walking about with a white stick.

[lakercapt]

Originally Posted by tugger

Got my left one done last year, went to the Dr for my annual eyesight test for my driving license, [in Aus everyone over 80 must do it or no license} I had my glasses on,he said don't think you will pass next year, I said I have been driving without my glasses for the last two months, he checked my sight without my glasses, he said you have passed and don't need glasses to drive, this after 60 years of using them to drive. I may have to have the other one done shortly, maybe I'' get a pilots job.
Tugger

Here too in Canada, all persons over 80 years of age have to be tested to maintain their driving license. There is no actual road test but a vision test and a cognitive test to see if you are suffering from Alzheimer's. A couple of other small tests one s drawing a clock and putting the hands at 10 to 10. Then there is a video presentation and a short talk about driving and how to enter a highway from an on ramp etc. Think it's a good practice. You don't get your results but a sealed envelope to take to the licensing offce to get your renewal (if passed)

[Kneth]

I was just diagnosed of having cataracts on both eyes. Just putting it off as I am mortally scared of medical procedures!

[Hugh Shuttleworth]

Originally Posted by Harry Nicholson

Yesterday I had my first cataract removed and the lens replaced with with an artificial (I'm having trouble typing this as I recover).
The new lens shows me that I've been missing the shorter wavelenghts for some years. In the garden, the buddleia, once magenta, is now royal blue. I thought then to check my kiln-fired enamels (a hobby) and am astonished. What once looked grubby, now is ablaze with colour. The other eye will be done sometime soon.

A chap I worked with had his cataracts dealt with. He e-mailed me to say he "Could now see things again in glorious technicolour". When mine were done some years later I noticed the dirty blue grey on my shampoo bottle was now a rich royal blue.

I had become increasingly short sighted as the cataracts progressed after a career at sea as a deck officer with near perfect eyesight. The month between ops with one eye normal and one very short sighted, corrected with specs, was uncomfortable. When in the car with a bus approaching the eyes would register the bus in two very different sizes. I can close either eye at will so that helped. I only drove twice in that condition, first a short round the block to see if I could and second a couple of weeks later to take Ann to the surgery when she suffered from a severe migraine attack.

I had to work on my blood pressure before the surgeon would operate, and she was prepared for the complication of floppy iris caused by the prostate drug tamusolin. Thankfully the complication did not occur, my irises behaved themselves. Suffered a day of abject misery from the post op discomfort, but so totally worth it for the end result.

[YM-Mundrabilla]

A friend is awaiting cataract surgery at the moment.
The eye surgeon has more or less offered her the alternative of a degree of short OR long sightedness as the outcome with one or the other still needing glasses.
Has anyone else here faced this situation and, if so, which option did you choose and why?
Any thoughts, please?

[Hugh Shuttleworth]

Originally Posted by YM-Mundrabilla

A friend is awaiting cataract surgery at the moment.
The eye surgeon has more or less offered her the alternative of a degree of short OR long sightedness as the outcome with one or the other still needing glasses.
Has anyone else here faced this situation and, if so, which option did you choose and why?
Any thoughts, please?

My surgeon strongly suggested giving me reading strength lenses which would require me to wear distance glasses for anything else. That would have made sense for the month between eyes as I had deteriorated to shortsightedness. I opted - had to press hard - for normal vision lenses. It did make life difficult for that month between ops but after that I benefited. I can drive without glasses though my better half says I should wear them - they correct my astigmatism. I found walking in the rain was a pain when I did have to wear glasses for the shortsightedness. Life outside in these last few very wet weeks has been so much better than it might have been!

Currently trying to come to terms with varifocal lenses. Doing ok until I walk on uneven ground and end up feeling seasick. That's going to take some time!

My father had cataract surgery and, previously short sighted, opted for distance lenses. I had never seen him without glasses previously except when he took them off to read the small print !!!

[Harry Nicholson]

It's been 7 months since mine were done. I wear reading glasses , but can drive and watch tv without. Once, the stars were like bursting fireworks, but dim. Now they are point sources, as they should be. It's wonderful to gaze at the Milky Way again - all those stars. Life transforming. And the colours - so vivid.

[John Rogers]

Originally Posted by JustWin

My two operations where a bit tricky for the surgeon due to me acquiring 'floppy iris syndrome' caused by the medication 'Tamsulosin' that I have to take for prostrate/bladder problems. It's not the only thing that the above medication affects. All told, I am happy with the outcome. I can see the dust now.

I also have the same problem with my eyes. Two operations in Feb 2024 and with the Tamsulosin (Flo Max) my eyes got worst. I'm pushing 93 and the next visit to my Doctor, I will tell him no more Meds.