Cateract - When?

I was told by the eye clinic i attend for the same problem that they have to be at a certain stage before they will operate. I am being reviewed again in Jan so i think it will be 6monthly checks until that time arrives.

NHS will not remove until they are very bad and vision is really affected. A friend is on waiting list for private treatment and it's the same ( Northern Ireland. not sure about mainland)

I read online that they used to wait, but now they can remove them earlier as they suction them up so leaving them can make it more difficult. So I am really thinking that earlier might be better. BUPA are advertising them at just under 3K per eye. My eye test was poor, the optician was constantly interrupted, running late etc. so I have made another appointment with an independent optician. Which report stated that nearly half of eye exams they tested were rated as poor or very poor. I am not surprised based on my experience this week. Thanks for replying.

I think the doctors decide you need them removed when they start to affect your everyday life. Driving, reading etc.

I have had mild cataracts for perhaps twenty years. I’ve got used to the gradual blurriness, but at my last eye test the optician referred me for surgery. I was put on the waiting list within a few weeks, but seven months later I’m still waiting. Unfortunately, the waiting list which was three months, is now ten months plus. Will I ever reach the top of the list?

I’m now at the stage where I don’t feel safe to drive and have twice recently tripped over steps that I didn’t see leading to heavy falls! Luckily, my husband is happy to drive me but it is restricting.

Over here (N.I.) if you can drive in daytime but not night you still aren't priority. I don't think its a good idea to have an operation unless it is necessary. I think £3k is very high. I'm sure we were quoted less than £2k. As it happened my husbands NHS appt. came quicker than the private one. ?