Has anybody had Eye Cataracts ?

[Manoverboard]

I am assuming that a number of you will have been diagnosed with a cataract, either in one or both eyes.

My appreciation is that using the NHS a ' near sight ' or a ' long sight ' lens will be fitted but that if it is done privately then one may also be able to choose either a multifocal or an accommodating lens, which will allow the eye to focus on both near and distant objects.

The standard ' fixed ' focal length ones seem to be self explanatory but I, Mobietta actually, would be most interested to discover how successful, or otherwise, the multifocal / accommodating types are ..... please.

[Mervyn and Trish]

My brother had multi focal and is very pleased with the result.

[Manoverboard]

Thanks Merv .... I guess everybody else had the standard lenses fitted or are we cataract free on this site.

[david63]

are we cataract free on this site

So far - although we are both starting with them according to the optician

[colin parry]

I've had cataracts removed from both eyes at our local hospital in Wrexham. Nothing to worry about. I am also undergoing treatment for wet macular degeneration in my left eye and so far have had 11 injections into the eye which doesn't improve the sight but should stop it getting worse and causing complete blindness.

[turnip eater]

I’m having a ‘distance’ lens fitted next week. I’m having the lens fitted following having my vitreous jelly ‘replaced’, which causes a cataract to form within weeks.

[Manoverboard]

I’m having a ‘distance’ lens fitted next week. I’m having the lens fitted following having my vitreous jelly ‘replaced’, which causes a cataract to form within weeks. .

To be honest I had never heard of vitreous jelly within the eye or that it could be ' replaced ', good luck with your new lens

ps .... hello and welcome

I've had cataracts removed from both eyes at our local hospital in Wrexham. Nothing to worry about. I am also undergoing treatment for wet macular degeneration in my left eye and so far have had 11 injections into the eye which doesn't improve the sight but should stop it getting worse and causing complete blindness.

Gosh, thanks for sharing Colin. It is amazing what they can do these days.

I assume your eyes were done separately and that you can now see well enough to drive legally but possibly need glasses for reading purposes.

May I ask how long the entire process took, say, from the first procedure re eye one until the point your eyes had both settled down sufficiently for you to go for the fitting of your post cataract glasses, if needed.

[Jan Rosser]

My son's father-in-law has had cataracts removed from both eyes and from wearing glasses all the time (which were varifocal - reading and distance) he now only uses glasses for reading so obviously has single lens replacement. He had the second cataract removed about six months after the first operation so obviously the first operation didn't put him off He was back driving soon after and found the whole experience not as bad as he anticipated.

My friend was an optometrist and for years has worn multi focal contact lenses and I imagine this is what you would have the lens replaced with if you chose this option but of course no fiddling about (he actually changes his monthly) and yours would be a permanent fixture - sounds a better option if you are willing to pay and don't want to wear glasses after.

Good luck with whatever you choose to do - flippin old age - I have "floaters" in both eyes and was told by the optometrist that as we get older the eyeball "sags" and the resultant floaters are bits of the jelly breaking off - I told her "yes like everything else"

[Manoverboard]

My son's father-in-law has had cataracts removed from both eyes and from wearing glasses all the time (which were varifocal - reading and distance) he now only uses glasses for reading so obviously has single lens replacement. He had the second cataract removed about six months after the first operation so obviously the first operation didn't put him off He was back driving soon after and found the whole experience not as bad as he anticipated.

My friend was an optometrist and for years has worn multi focal contact lenses and I imagine this is what you would have the lens replaced with if you chose this option but of course no fiddling about (he actually changes his monthly) and yours would be a permanent fixture - sounds a better option if you are willing to pay and don't want to wear glasses after.

Good luck with whatever you choose to do - flippin old age - I have "floaters" in both eyes and was told by the optometrist that as we get older the eyeball "sags" and the resultant floaters are bits of the jelly breaking off - I told her "yes like everything else"

Thanks for that, Jan, we have heard mixed reports regarding Vari-focal glasses and wondered if the cataract lens replacements meant that one has to raise one's eye level to drive and then to lower it to read.

ps ... love a realistic gal with a sense of humour

[colin parry]

MOB, I had a year between each eye being treated. I was advised not to drive for I think it was 3 weeks. The opticians would not renew my spectacle prescription for 5 weeks. This I found quite difficult. I do wear varifocals now but I do feel my eyesight is deteriorating, mainly age effect, and hence only drive locally now.

[turnip eater]

I’m having a ‘distance’ lens fitted next week. I’m having the lens fitted following having my vitreous jelly ‘replaced’, which causes a cataract to form within weeks. .

To be honest I had never heard of vitreous jelly within the eye or that it could be ' replaced ', good luck with your new lens

ps .... hello and welcome

Thank you for the welcome

They ‘replace’ the jelly with salt water and air. It’s called a vitrectomy (sound awful). There a video of it, but I can’t look.

[Manoverboard]

Thanks everybody

Mobietta will be seeing her Consultant on Wednesday afternoon, doubtless he will make recommendations re the way forward.

Will provide an update from time to time for completeness but also for reassurance for those who follow this well trodden path.

[Manoverboard]

The Consultant suggested that she would be best served by having lenses which reflect the nature of her eyes although he will tweak one of the lenses to improve her distance vision in that eye. Variable focus lenses were not deemed suitable for her.

It will be a keyhole job, the anesthetic will be administered by eye drops ... totally painless

Eye number one will be done on May 14th.

[GillD46]

Wishing Mobietta well.

[turnip eater]

Had my op yesterday. The surgeon offered me a single distance lens, to match my other ‘normal’ eye, or a mid distance lens so that my vision was blended. So my dominant eye sees the distance well, but when I read menus or see a laptop screen, the other eye takes over. I’ll still need my ready readers for eg newspapers. We’ll see what happens, literally, when every thing settles down.

To add, I was very very anxious, but the mild sedation, or gin and tonic sedation as the staff called it, was very good. I knew what was happening, but wasn’t bothered at all.

[Manoverboard]

Had my op yesterday. The surgeon offered me a single distance lens, to match my other ‘normal’ eye, or a mid distance lens so that my vision was blended. So my dominant eye sees the distance well, but when I read menus or see a laptop screen, the other eye takes over. I’ll still need my ready readers for eg newspapers. We’ll see what happens, literally, when every thing settles down.

To add, I was very very anxious, but the mild sedation, or gin and tonic sedation as the staff called it, was very good. I knew what was happening, but wasn’t bothered at all.

Thanks for letting us know

By coincidence I was speaking to a chum last night who told me about his aunt's experience.

She had sedation but was awake so was able to watch the scalpel arrive and the blood flowing ... but she didn't give a hoot

[turnip eater]

Had my op yesterday. The surgeon offered me a single distance lens, to match my other ‘normal’ eye, or a mid distance lens so that my vision was blended. So my dominant eye sees the distance well, but when I read menus or see a laptop screen, the other eye takes over. I’ll still need my ready readers for eg newspapers. We’ll see what happens, literally, when every thing settles down.

To add, I was very very anxious, but the mild sedation, or gin and tonic sedation as the staff called it, was very good. I knew what was happening, but wasn’t bothered at all.

Thanks for letting us know

By coincidence I was speaking to a chum last night who told me about his aunt's experience.

She had sedation but was awake so was able to watch the scalpel arrive and the blood flowing ... but she didn't give a hoot

Glad to be of help. I only wish that I’d realised how stressless it would be beforehand. I was told by the surgeon’s nurse, but I couldn’t believe how easy it was going to be. The ‘free range egg ciabatta’ and pot of tea were excellent, afterwards.

[Manoverboard]

Egg sarnies ... Mobietta's consultant didn't mention those

[towny44]

My sister is due to have a cataract op very soon, but she is having to go private as the NHS put lots of stumbling blocks in the way, postponed appointments, delays and associated health issues that, according to them, needed sorting before they could do the cataracts. Hope Mobietta's op goes well.

[turnip eater]

Egg sarnies ... Mobietta's consultant didn't mention those

Hope Mobietta’s ‘procedure’ goes well.

My pupil is still dilated. It takes about 3 days to get back to normal. I dug out a pair of ready-reader sunnies. Very helpful, as I still need specs for reading. Got them in the sale at M & S some time ago...less than a £1! Boots sell them too, more than £1! They’re useful afterwards for reading in the sunshine, on deck ?.

[turnip eater]

Good luck for Mobietta’s op tomorrow!

[oldbluefox]

Good luck for Mobietta’s op tomorrow!

[Manoverboard]

Many thanks for your kind thoughts … she seems ' cool ' but just the thought of it does my brain in

[Manoverboard]

Well … I, indeed we, cannot believe just how easy it was going to be.

Absolutely painless and nothing to get stressed about, the hardest part it seems is not moving ones eye for what seems like a lifetime but is in reality about 15 minutes. A Keyhole cut of 2.5mm and a Chicken Sandwich 'n' Coffee to finish off.

Lubbley Jubbley

[turnip eater]

Excellent news.