cataract operations.
 

My question is what information/experience any members have regarding these. Waiting times and any other observations, thanks for your time. Chris.S.

How much do you want?
 

It's a small opp these days, 15 or 20 mins to do, the surgery is routine these days and fear free if you understand what's to come. The eye goes to sleep as it's worked on but you'll hear machine noise, there are pulses heard as the sound waves break up the old tissue being removed, the sounds are nothing to worry about. The eye itself will feel fine after a few hours but the eyelids might ache as they've been pulled wide to get to the eyeball, it lasts a day or two in reality. The new lens will be so clear that colours are so vivid to be like a dream but...There will be a need for sunglasses as the eye adapts to the amount of light the new lens lets in.
I opted for a near lens and a distance lens in both eyes, I have the best of both but it's never going to be as good as what I had naturally, that's how it is, you gain but you lose at the same time.

If you have an operation rather than bright lights, it could take for ever. I had my right eye done in January last year, my left eye is so covered by cataract and we have been on to eye department and they said there is a large queue to be on and there is no time to tell me when I’ll get done.

If it's of any help here's the timeline for my good lady.

24.03.23 yearly eye test, the opticians said they would refer her for treatment.

31.05.23 appointment at eye hospital to assess for treatment.

22.06.23 operation due at eye hospital to remove cataract from one eye.

About 6 weeks later she will receive notification for the date of the operation for the other eye.

I assume that it all depends where you live and how long the lists are in your area as to how quick yours will be.

For information we live in Handforth and even though the care is under the NHS the operations will be done at a private hospital in Manchester.

Jim

Thanks everybody, I will report back hopefully not to much later. Chris.S.

Good luck

macafee2

Since I was nine years of age I have been short sighted and have had to wear glasses.

After cateract surgery to both eyes I have perfect vision for distance but need reading glasses.

I would swop my present situation for what I had prior to my cateract surgery.

The operation was painless and recover time was rather short.

I would recommend it to others.

Why do you recommend something you seem to wish you had not had done?

macafee2

Update: I had one eye done (14th August) and that showed me how rubbish the other was so had that one done (24th September) An excellent result. Thats the good news, The other side of the coin being that it was done privately, to avoid the Health Service workers strikes. At my age I did hesitate, 87 and the cost, but my daughters got wind of it and paid- so I must have done something right in caring and guiding them. "Its payback time Dad" makes you quite 'umble. Chris. S.

Glad everything went okay Christopher.

I had both of my eyes done in 2020, just 8 weeks apart too at Optegra. I was quite apprehensive, but now I see that my ceilings are white and not the cream colour I kept trying to paint over :shrug:

I tell everyone that its nothing to be scared of, I know its eyes and most people are reluctant to have the operation but really its a simple procedure.

The worst part was the large amount of drops I had to put in over the first few weeks, I think it was a total of 16 drops a day with various drugs.