Optical Express
Discussion
Following an eye test at my opticians a few months ago where I discovered I have cataracts I have just signed up with Optical Express to have them done. Driving at night had become a real problem and as I come under railway requirements for eyesight need to progress asap. Looked at NHS (wow I knew it was in trouble but 3 year minimum wait).
So booked in for the works, cataracts and eyesight correction
So booked in for the works, cataracts and eyesight correction
Mr Pointy said:
I'll just leave this here.
https://www.opticalexpressruinedmylife.co.uk/
https://www.facebook.com/OERML/
There's plenty of threads about eye surgery & surgeons if you search.
I dont have Facebookhttps://www.opticalexpressruinedmylife.co.uk/
https://www.facebook.com/OERML/
There's plenty of threads about eye surgery & surgeons if you search.
HelenT said:
Depends on where you live but there are options to get cataract surgery under the NHS but without the long wait. There are plenty of private companies who have NHS contracts to perform cataract surgery. Here in Shropshire we have New Medica ,Spa Medica and the Nuffield all doing NHS funded work so consequently I'm getting patients back for post operative checks (I'm an Optician) who have only waited 6 weeks for surgery (and that should improve as the referral system has just been streamlined so that we don't need the GP to send the referral in to the booking system. Unfortunately for those patients living on the Welsh side of the border it's an up to 2 year wait.
The feedback we have had on Shrewsbury New Medica has been excellent.
I would chat to your Optician they should know if there are local alternatives.
Thanks Helen that is much appreciated. Am I correct in thinking that a cataract operation won't improve my vison (apart from the effects of the cataracts) and would still need glasses or laser treatment?The feedback we have had on Shrewsbury New Medica has been excellent.
I would chat to your Optician they should know if there are local alternatives.
mike9009 said:
I wrote quite extensively about having it done in about Feb 2020. Probably an interesting read as now I don't really remember the immediate recovery etc.
I was always very short sighted, so when I had my cataracts done I went for good long vision. I now don't need to wear glasses for driving etc. but need so e for screen work etc
So far, no problems and don't regret it. One eye I went privately and the other I waited for the NHS waiting list. Had the same surgeon each time, but was recommended to wait six months at least between both in case of complications....
I was thinking of completing a diary of the events leading up to, during and post procedure results.I was always very short sighted, so when I had my cataracts done I went for good long vision. I now don't need to wear glasses for driving etc. but need so e for screen work etc
So far, no problems and don't regret it. One eye I went privately and the other I waited for the NHS waiting list. Had the same surgeon each time, but was recommended to wait six months at least between both in case of complications....
Mr Pointy said:
Haven't you gone through this with the surgeon? Whoever you saw (was it the consultant doing the operation?) should have gone through the options & potential issues of each.
When your natural lenses are taken out & replaced you'll end up with fixed focus vision - but whether it's sharp at distance or close up is up to you. Most people have it set for sharp distance vison & accept they might need reading glasses. You could have it set for reading & wear glasses for distance but I supect that's quite rare. One other option is to have your dominant eye set for distance & the other for reading - called monovision & it can work well.
I would be very careful before deciding to go for so-called multifocal lenses.
if you have other issues like astigmatism then the replacement lenses won't correct that & you might decide to have that corrected via laser tretment.
Not spoken to the surgeon yet only the sales person and the optometrist. My eyes can only have the monofocal according to the optometrist (if they could have sold me multi's I'm sure they would have as they are dearer) I'm happy with intermediate and long distance with reading glasses as required. As I have said I've not spoken to the surgeon yet and will have a number of questions and things to discuss.When your natural lenses are taken out & replaced you'll end up with fixed focus vision - but whether it's sharp at distance or close up is up to you. Most people have it set for sharp distance vison & accept they might need reading glasses. You could have it set for reading & wear glasses for distance but I supect that's quite rare. One other option is to have your dominant eye set for distance & the other for reading - called monovision & it can work well.
I would be very careful before deciding to go for so-called multifocal lenses.
if you have other issues like astigmatism then the replacement lenses won't correct that & you might decide to have that corrected via laser tretment.
I thought I would give an update on this thread being the OP. I had the procedure to replace my natural lenses with mono focal last Friday at Optical Express (due to having cataracts and not wanting a long NHS wait) . I thought it was a bit of a production line at their Southampton clinic but the clinical staff were good and the whole thing took (from arrival) less than 90 mins including the eye tests, health questions, blood pressure, procedure, recovery and waiting for the wife to pick me up. The actually procedure was probably 15-20 mins to do both eyes). Didn't feel much just a pressure on the eye (lot of drops being put in) and no pain, vision went strange during the very short period without a lens (much like a LSD trip
).
Anyway a week later (still taking eyedrops 4 times a day) vision is very good (for very small text etc I need a +1.00 (over the counter reading glasses) which I bought on Amazon for £8 and work fine. Typing this without glasses.
Was it worth £7K? Yes.
). Anyway a week later (still taking eyedrops 4 times a day) vision is very good (for very small text etc I need a +1.00 (over the counter reading glasses) which I bought on Amazon for £8 and work fine. Typing this without glasses.
Was it worth £7K? Yes.
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