Cataracts disappointment

grannydarkhair

crazyH No, I’m not a particularly anxious person. I’m fine with any other part of my body being examined, go for all my regular medical appointments, tests, carry a donor card, etc. but when it comes to my eyes, it’s a whole different story, and I’ve always been like this.

DH is the same, flinched if I had to put drops in his eyes for any reason, and if I put drops in my own eyes he says "I don't know how you can do that!".
However, he had cataracts removed from both eyes and was fine about it! The worst thing was when I had to put the drops in for him afterwards.

Please do not worry. I think you are panicking unnecessarily!

The whole concept of cataracts being ripe enough for surgery is nonsense nowadays. Some people have their lenses removed and replaced when they do not even have cataracts, but simply to correct poor sight.

The surgery to remove cataracts and replace the lens is one of the most successful pieces of modern surgery and is totally without trauma.

I had mine done earlier this year - both on the same day - and was driving within a few days. It was a simple and painless procedure.

I have had many operations and can tell you the cataract removal was by far the easiest and simplest. All done and dusted in a day and home again.

I think most of my friends and relatives have been told they have cataracts developing .
Those who have got as far as having the op’ assure my that it is not anything to get worked up about.

My first one wasn’t at all either Grandma70 but I took a deep breath and went ahead with the second one
My operation each time took 30 minutes not 15 …….but it’s still miraculous

silverlining48

Should mention that dh and mother both had this done and neither was straight forward so I don’t entirely believe the ‘it’s simple’ story I often hear about. It wasn’t simple fir them though dh is now fine.

Mine wasn’t straightforward either, but I know it is for most people. I have only had one done. I am not bothering with the other one for now, because I can see well enough for everyday needs. I don’t drive, which probably makes a difference.

I was told I was developing cataracts about 10 years ago. So far they haven't got any worse and I'm 77 now so I don't know if they ever will. The only problem I've had is other people's headlights when I'm driving at night. My latest pair of glasses have been treated with a coating to help with this and I rarely drive at night now anyway.

My sister early 50 's thought she needed a change in her glasses prescription, no both eyes Cataracts.
My friend the same she's now late 50's both eyes, Cataracts but she uses Steroid inhalers as she an Asthmatic, Steroids known to bring them on earlier.
It's brilliant they get picked up earlier these days and op is so routine now.

I had the cataract operations when I was in my 60s. It seems that if you are very short-sighted you are more likely to develop cataracts relatively young - and I was very short-sighted.

I also had some laser treatment on both eyes. For some people vision can become reduced if the remaining outer membrane or capsule of the natural lens becomes cloudy or scarred.
The lens itself is removed in cataract surgery but the outer capsule remains in. The cloudiness or thickening of the capsule can result in reduced vision and glare, much like a return
of the cataract. Laser capsulotomy is a safe and effective way to clear a hole in the outer caapsule.

We should just be extremely grateful that cataracts are now very easily repaired and sight restored to how it should be. Thousands are done every year and everyone dreads it and then discovers it is very simple with little discomfort for a day after.

The majority of people just have their eye numbed with a local anaesthetic, but if you are very nervous then sedation or even a general anaesthetic can be given.

How miraculous that 15 minutes of lying flat on your back with no pain or discomfort at all can make such a difference to our lives.

Like grannydarkhair and Fleurpepper I hate anything to do with opticians and eyes. My optician says I will soon need my cataracts doing and I am seriously wondering if I can face it. The other thing that worries me is my tendency to tremble violently for hospital procedures. Even though I was not consciously scared for my pacemaker op, (the consultant said he’d never seen anything like it), I was still shaking non stop. What would happen if this happened during a cataract operation?

Was told the same last time- I am 72. Must say I am not afraid of many things, apart from my eyes being poked! But everyone who has had cataracts removed say it was a doddle and not to worry.

My optician said the best way to delay, is to wear my excellent sunglasses always in any bright light, not just sunshine, and I do.

I was anxious about having cataract ops, but it honestly was not a big deal. The op takes about 15 mins, and is not painful, just rather uncomfortable. You can opt to have a mild sedative beforehand. The results are worth it!

It was only the encouragement of a good friend, who had had her lenses replaced, that persuaded me to go ahead - I could never let anyone get near my eyes. I had the lenses in both eyes replaced and can say with complete honesty that I didn't feel a thing, was not aware of any contact, and when the cloth was taken off my face after about ten minutes (for each eye) I couldn't believe it had been done. I now have better sight than I was born with - so don't be afraid, if I can have it done, anyone can!

I too was told at the hospital that the ripe business is a load of fluff joanna

Silverlining one of mine was not as straightforward as it should have been and I won’t go into any details to put people off but it certainly didn’t stop me having the other one done and as a 12.5 minus in both eyes I am now a 1.5 minus just use cheapo reading glasses
But the opticians all say ahh they are just babies !!! I was told that at every appointment but when the hospital saw me it was a different story
It’s now a routine op,quick for the most part, easy and very, very successful
It’s better than the dentist that’s for sure

According to my surgeon who operated on my cataracts this year, there is no such thing as a “ripe” cataract. They can be removed even when just developing. My op was absolutely fine each time, I just had numbing eye drops. Over in 15 minutes. I now only have cheap reading glasses and have 20/20 distance vision.

Should mention that dh and mother both had this done and neither was straight forward so I don’t entirely believe the ‘it’s simple’ story I often hear about. It wasn’t simple fir them though dh is now fine.

I understand how you feel as I too have a fear of this particular procedure. It’s just eyes I am squeamish about and it’s no use people saying don’t be silly.
I will definitely need sedation even if I have to take my own diazepam along. Luckily mine is the tiniest hardly noticeable cataract which will take years to‘ripen’. I hope!

I had always thought that my eyes were very sensitive: putting drops in was always a drama, and the mere thought of contact lenses was an abomination. Then, few years ago I was told I had a nevus (a growth similar to a mole) on the sclera (white surface) of one my eyes, and that I should have it removed - under local anaesthetic! I was - to say the least - nervous at the prospect, but in the event I sailed through the quick and completely painless procedure without a care in the world.
I'm sure it'll be the same for you, grannydarkhair, so don't lose any sleep over it.

Post cataract surgery my eyesight is the best it has ever been. The lazy eye, which had never done much work, received a long distance lens and the better eye a lens for reading. I only need glasses to read if I am settling in for a long session or the print is minute and have perfect sight for driving. What could be better? For me the cataract ops were absolutely miraculous.

I had an eye test a fortnight ago grannydarkhair and was told exactly the same as you! We're also about the same age. The opthamologist told me that I would know when they got worse because it would be like "looking through a dirty window". Until that time, I'm not going to worry too much!

Marydoll

I can't wait to have the surgery and hopefully improve my sight.
It's a minor issue, compared to my other health issues.

Same here.
I have noticed my eyesight gets worse every year.
I take hydroxychloroquine and it can cause eye problems so I see the opthalmologist yearly. He told me I had early cataracts, the optician has also mentioned it. I don't relish eye surgery but if my other conditions were so easily treated I would be thrilled.

Shinamae

I was born with very poor eyesight could be registered blind in my left eye. My right eye was 13.5 so that wasn’t good either but better than the left.
A few months ago, I was told I had the cataract coming on my right eye and that I could have a cataract operation which I did. I went to Exeter had the operation on June 14 and it’s been absolutely fine. Don’t have to bother with contact lenses anymore it was an easy procedure
If you are really nervous, they can give you a sedative and you also get anaesthetic drops in your eyes, but you are not put out you are awake and as I say no problem at all for me..
There was nothing they could do for the left eye because apart from it being very limited vision (well, none actually) a few years ago, I had an ulcer which scarred it, yes an ulcer in my eye, apparently it’s quite rare, but thank God it went in the left eye if it had gone to my my right eye I would now be blind. 😳

By the way, I am 70, and I’m a recovering alcoholic and an ex smoker..

I was born with very poor eyesight could be registered blind in my left eye. My right eye was 13.5 so that wasn’t good either but better than the left.
A few months ago, I was told I had the cataract coming on my right eye and that I could have a cataract operation which I did. I went to Exeter had the operation on June 14 and it’s been absolutely fine. Don’t have to bother with contact lenses anymore it was an easy procedure
If you are really nervous, they can give you a sedative and you also get anaesthetic drops in your eyes, but you are not put out you are awake and as I say no problem at all for me..
There was nothing they could do for the left eye because apart from it being very limited vision (well, none actually) a few years ago, I had an ulcer which scarred it, yes an ulcer in my eye, apparently it’s quite rare, but thank God it went in the left eye if it had gone to my my right eye I would now be blind. 😳