Cataracts and long sight

I’ve had the start of cataracts for the last 4 yrs but my optician has said no need to do anything so far. He told me I needed glasses to drive this year which I now have and use without problems. Do you know why he has referred you?

The idea with replacing the lenses with cataracts with the replacement lenses is to try and bring your vision back to as if you don't have a prescription and don't need glasses.
Being longsighted means that because of the shape of your lens, without specs, the light is refracted beyond the back of your eye , shortsighted is the light is refracted short of the back of the eye.
One of my work colleagues who was long sighted had his cataracts removed successfully and he was really pleased.
Wearing specs for reading after 40 is caused more by the muscles surrounding the lens that makes you focus,not being able to do their job as well as they used to so you may still need specs for reading !

I have worn specs since 5 yrs old so have had bad sight since then.

I’m long-sighted and also have a lazy eye with little sight. It’s never bothered me but now I have cataracts and dry eyes and much of the time my eyes are blurred and uncomfortable.
I can’t wait to have my cataracts removed even though there is a slight chance that any mishap would leave me almost blind. It’s got to be done eventually and I’m fed up of my present problems.

Had cataract surgery in September, my distance vision is much improved!

I am/was very short-sighted, and when my cataracts were treated they fitted lens made up to my shortsighted prescription, as a result I nowonly wear glasses for driving.

If they can do that for short sight, they can presumably do it for long sight, just fit prescription lenses that match your long sighted prescription.

Just to add, if having cataract surgery on the NHS, you cannot choose the type of lenses that are inserted.

If you have the op. on NHS they generally give you long distance lenses as that is what most people need. It means afterwards one cannot read print close up or see any other thing near to eyes - without glasses.
You need to discuss what you think you need when you have hospital appointments before op. If you have glaucoma they do both that op. with cataract together (even if cataracts are not too bad) because the cataract op. alone makes glaucoma worse.

I had a quick word with our Eye Health Information Service (EHIS), and this is what they said:

"The consultant will order an assessment of the axial length of the eye and the shape of the cornea to determine the power of the new lens. They won’t guarantee the result is spectacle free for the distance but most people require specs for close work and sometimes the distance too.

"Hopefully the surgery will significantly reduce his prescription. The long- sight does not determine the success of the surgery (in fact the retinal complications may be a lower risk). However any blurring that is not caused by cataract will not be corrected by surgery – so for instance if the left eye is amblyopic (lazy) then it won’t be improved by surgery (he mentions that only the right eye has been diagnosed with cataract so I am guessing the left eye might be amblyopic otherwise it wouldn’t be causing him any symptoms yet).

"Our cataract booklet goes through the procedure so signposting to that would be good. Also recommending that he takes a list of questions with him to the consultant to discuss his specific risk factors would be a good idea."

If you'd like to talk to someone independently, the EHIS is can be contacted through our Helpline on 0303 123 9999 (open Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm, and Saturday 9am to 1pm).

My optician told me I have "little" cataracts, but no need to worry. Of course, I now worry.

@GoneGirl same here - I've been told I have cataracts starting in both eyes (along with diabetic eye disease!). It is a very routine operation though (even though, as we always say, no surgery is ever risk-free), so I'd be confident that when both of us get around to getting them sorted, we'll be fine!

Thanks everyone for your responses. My appointment is not until January so I will report back then. I am just trying to get as much info as possible beforehand.

I had cataracts in both done when I was 54 & 55 under the NHS. I have had very dry eyes since an early age and have plugs in the drains (think thats what they are called) to stop any moisture draining away. The operation was a wonderful success with long distance lens being put in.

They are still going well at 72 but I have been told I will need a bit of laser treatment at some point. So don't be put off.

I have early cataracts, diagnosed in March. They have not affected my sight much but the glare they cause has caused me frequent migraines, having had no migraines for several years previously. Does anyone else have glare problems?