Anyone had a cataract operation?

[Mr Pointy]

x5x3 said:

I'm having this done in a month or two - and cannot decide whether to go for "perfect" distance vision. If I do then I will need to wear a contact lens in the other eye and then wear reading glasses for close up. I have been trailing some contact lenses and have found I'm pretty much wearing the reading glasses all the time - 80-90% of my day is on the computer/watching TV etc. Even seeing the satnav in the car without reading glasses is quite difficult.

Therefore I'm tempted to get the eye set so I can just carry on with vary-focal glasses.

For those who have had the Op - how did you decide?

It's not easy, partly because the choices are quite wide these days. There are a few things that might alter what you do: how old are you? NHS or private? How short sighted are you? Do you only have a cataract in one eye?

According to my consultant most men seem to like good distance vision whereas women may optimise differently. Your surgeon can pull back the correction slightly so it isn't quite as good at distance but the near point comes closer, which you may find better. You could also try mutifocal lenses although these do carry more risk of issues with flares & halos. People vary widely with what they will put up with though so many people find them ok.

You can have your other eye treated, you don't have to wait for a catatact to develop. It's called Refractive Lens Exchange then, but it's the same operation. You wouldn't have to mess around with contacts if you have both done. They can set one for long & the other for short (so called monovision) but I didn't get on with it myself. You can't get RLE on the NHS though.

I was set on correcting for long distance but now I'm having a look at a Duet lens where they implant a main monofocal lens & then a small multifocal in front of it. If it turns out I can't get on with any halos or flare then they can remove the multifocal lens quite easily leaving me corrected for distance. It's very tricky to take out a multifocal & replace it with a monofocal.

Too many choices really & it's difficult to know how your eyes will react. If I were you I'd want to be glasses free though so I'd look at doing both eyes.

[x5x3]

Mr Pointy said:

If I were you I'd want to be glasses free though so I'd look at doing both eyes.

thanks for the replies - and apologies for the thread hijack - but hopefully the topic is relevant and helpful for others reading it pre Op.

I picked out a single sentance from your reply - "glasses free" - can you explain a bit more about why this is important?

[Slushbox]

Glasses-free:

With both eyes done for distance, my 'near point' is about 1 metre. So the TV is OK, 1.5 readers for anything closer than a metre. I can read all the controls and the sat-nav on the car dashboard without readers, so they're only used for the laptop, books and restaurant menus. I'm over the vanity aspect of wearing glasses in public.

As to 'distance' versus nearer-vision reset of ye eyeballs: seemed to me that being able to read road-signs with both eyes without specs or contact lenses was a big bonus, whereas a tweak for nearer-vision might mean no readers but glasses for driving.

Having one eye for reading and the other for driving also seemed a bit mad, should anything happen to the 'driving' eye then you're back to square 1.

There's also the faff of notifying DVLA if you need suddenly specs/contacts to drive and having the 01 code put on your licence (or removed if you don't need them.)

I don't need specs now but the 01 code is still there. This is the latest DVLA info I could find, which may not be accurate as the DVLA web site contradicts it.

"There is no requirement to remove the 01 code as a road side check would be carried out should a driver be stopped by the Police." (DVLA rep on Twitter.)


So: I double checked with DVLA and got this back today:

Your case reference number is xxxxx
.
You are not legally required to inform us if you have had a change in your eyesight which means you:
• no longer need to wear glasses
• now need to wear glasses while driving

Clear as mud. :-)

Edited by Slushbox on Thursday 11th April 10:44

[mike9009]

Just a little update, after a week following the operation.

My sight in the 'new' eye has now settled down nicely. Getting used to my new vision has been 'odd'. You would think it would be a hugely positive experience, but the few days (about 5 days) after the operation I felt quite 'down'. This is definitely not my normal disposition.

This has now cleared, but thought I would share just in case others had similar feeling after the operation.



Mike

[So]

mike9009 said:

Just a little update, after a week following the operation.

My sight in the 'new' eye has now settled down nicely. Getting used to my new vision has been 'odd'. You would think it would be a hugely positive experience, but the few days (about 5 days) after the operation I felt quite 'down'. This is definitely not my normal disposition.

This has now cleared, but thought I would share just in case others had similar feeling after the operation.

Mike

Guessing here - a response to the sedative or local anaesthetic or perhaps an anti-climax after all the excitement,

[mike9009]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Just been to my 2.5 week check up post op. Everything very good. Need to take different eye drops now, just anti-inflammatory. When I wake on a morning I find my 'new' eye is a little sore, but gets better through the day.

I was worried my 'good' eye was deteriorating but it is simply because my 'new' eye is so good. Vision is excellent in both eyes now according to my consultant.

I am going to try experimenting with different strength contact lens in my 'good' eye and train myself to use that eye for close-up work and my 'new' eye for distance work, thus negating the need for any reading glasses. I am also finding looking at my monitors at work a little difficult, whether to wear glasses or not. That distance is a bit of a black spot in my focal distance with +1.5 readers. Close up work like reading and using a laptop is fine. Again more experimentation needed to get it comfortable.

Happy bunny!


Mike

[Mr Pointy]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Do you think it's an overall positive change? I'm not having a good experience but I have held off posting for now.

Edited by Mr Pointy on Thursday 23 May 17:33

[biggbn]

It was, and remains, a huge positive change for me. Both eyes done.

[Mr Pointy]

biggbn said:

It was, and remains, a huge positive change for me. Both eyes done.

How long was it before your sight improved enough to drive? Did it takes weeks slowly improving or was everything clear in a few days?

[Slushbox]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Three or four days for me.

I'm now some months after the op(s). The slight bloodshot-ness after the second took a couple of months to fade. Like the other posters I'm glad of my excellent distance vision.

For some weeks after the ops there was a very slight sense of 'having implants' in that if I washed my face, I could sense them.That's now gone, but I'm careful to keep stuff away from my new peepers, including the neighbour's un-shorn hedge.

Near-vision:

The laptop and books needs 1.5 readers.

Putting a new battery in a quartz watch had me using a jeweller's loupe. I guess you're supposed to. :-) Fiddling with small things needs 2.5 readers, but not often.

I don't bother carrying readers around, unless it's for restaurant menus. I do have pairs of cheap readers scattered throughout the house, and a pair in the car for 'maps.' Not that I have any maps.

I haven't notifed DVLA that my 001 code should be removed. Should I be stopped by Ye Constables, I can ably demonstrate my ability to read number plates at several rods, chains, or perches. (20 metres.)

If anyone is dithering over getting their cataracts fixed, then do weigh up the options about getting them done. Life is much better without them.

This thread v. useful. Thanks to all who posted.

[biggbn]

Mr Pointy said:

How long was it before your sight improved enough to drive? Did it takes weeks slowly improving or was everything clear in a few days?

My eyesight was pin point clear within hours, colours like I had never seen before. I was, I guess, very lucky. Even driving home from hospital with the perforated patch on my Mrs was giggling because I kept muttering about how sharp everything seemed. I was only in my late forties when this happened perhaps that's the difference?

[So]

I actually drove home from my second eye op, once I was confident that my first eye would cope okay.

My eyes worked perfectly the day after, when the dilation meds had worn off. But because I had multifocal implants it took at least a year for my brain to learn how to use them properly and I was still noticing improvement after 2 years. The major challenge being distance vision under artificial light.

The only minor challenge that remains is some glare when night driving, but it is not severe and I have learned how to cope with it.

[biggbn]

So said:

I actually drove home from my second eye op, once I was confident that my first eye would cope okay.

My eyes worked perfectly the day after, when the dilation meds had worn off. But because I had multifocal implants it took at least a year for my brain to learn how to use them properly and I was still noticing improvement after 2 years. The major challenge being distance vision under artificial light.

The only minor challenge that remains is some glare when night driving, but it is not severe and I have learned how to cope with it.

I felt I couldn't have driven home both times but got my Mrs to pick me up.

[mike9009]

I drove a couple of days after the operation in my first eye. I am waiting for my second eye to deteriorate, which maybe a few years (see later.....)

I am equally frustrated about not seeing stuff close-up - my very short sightedness (-8 ish) was a real advantage for checking stuff out up close. When not wearing a contact lens in my 'old' eye I can still do this, but this means only first thing in the morning..... not very convenient.

I have subsequently been advised to get my 'old' eye operated on and I am on the NHS waiting list for this to be completed - hopefully sometime in October. In the meantime, I am going to 'play' with a different contact lens strength and see if I can train myself to use that eye for up-close work and the 'new' eye for distance work. If this works I will then have a different strength lens in the 'old' eye when I have the operation.

It seems with readers on, most people need different strengths for different uses. I suspect I am suffering the same. The focal distance with my readers is very narrow, making reading books, other people's screens, my screen, finding screw heads, etc. a little tricky. Is there another way around this other than varifocals??



Mike

[Mr Pointy]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Thanks for asking: it's turned into something of a nightmare to be honest. I had my operation on the left eye about 12 days ago & of course for the first couple of days I couldn't see much at all. Over the next few days things cleared a little but vision was still extremely poor with nothing being sharp & a general mistiness/flare/lack of contrast over the whole field of vision. I am wearing a contact lens in the right eye so I can get around but I haven't been able to drive for the last 12 days: I certainly didn't expect that to be the case & it's proving to be a substantial problem.

I had a routine check up with the consultant a couple of days ago & couldn't read more than three lines down the chart. On examination it seems I have posterior capsular opacification, which is the sort of thing that usually develops after six months or more. The good news is that this is easly treated with a YAG laser session but the bad news is that the consultant wants to wait another couple of weeks at least to give my eye time to finish recovering. The even worse news is that this has meant the operation on the right eye has been cancelled & put back until after the YAG session to ensure I have at least one working eye.

The impact of that is that it will be at least another three weeks before I can even think about being in a position to drive again & I've got to carry on stumbling around with a combination of old glasses, one contact lens & assorted reading glasses. As we all know this is the difficult/annoying phase as the two eyes are so out of sync that it seems you always end up with the wrong glasses on. What was going to be two weeks of difficulty is now looking at being five weeks or more.

The issue hasn't been down to the surgeon or lens fitted as it seems I've just been unlucky with the type of cataract I had; it was at the back of the lens & can attach itself to the capsule & cause scarring. He couldn't take the scarred capsule out as it's needed to support the new plastic lens & you end up with a much more complicated operation - a vitrectomy I think?

So all in all it's not been the magical night & day transformation that everyone else seems to have experienced. A bit of a bugger really.

[Mr Pointy]

mike9009 said:

I drove a couple of days after the operation in my first eye. I am waiting for my second eye to deteriorate, which maybe a few years (see later.....)

I am equally frustrated about not seeing stuff close-up - my very short sightedness (-8 ish) was a real advantage for checking stuff out up close. When not wearing a contact lens in my 'old' eye I can still do this, but this means only first thing in the morning..... not very convenient.

I have subsequently been advised to get my 'old' eye operated on and I am on the NHS waiting list for this to be completed - hopefully sometime in October. In the meantime, I am going to 'play' with a different contact lens strength and see if I can train myself to use that eye for up-close work and the 'new' eye for distance work. If this works I will then have a different strength lens in the 'old' eye when I have the operation.

It seems with readers on, most people need different strengths for different uses. I suspect I am suffering the same. The focal distance with my readers is very narrow, making reading books, other people's screens, my screen, finding screw heads, etc. a little tricky. Is there another way around this other than varifocals??

I think every one who is/was very short sighted (I'm -7/-8) suffers the same sense of loss over the the extreme close vision we had. I used to be able to read tiny numbers on connectors which no-one with normal sight could see, I think that when (if) my eyes are stable I'll look at getting some of the type of magnifying spectacles that watchmakers use for very close work.

I've needed two different strengths of readers for some time: 1.5 for PC work & 2.5 for reading close & I don't know it that will remain the same or not once the RLE surgery is done & dusted. If you've having monfocal lenses then you would probably benefit if you can cope with one long sight & one tuned for reading (monovision). I tried it with contact lenses & didn't get on with it at all. Unfortunately once the lenses have been replaced you loose all accomodation & all you can do is carry different strength readers or try varifocals.

[mike9009]

Mr Pointy said:

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Thanks for asking: it's turned into something of a nightmare to be honest. I had my operation on the left eye about 12 days ago & of course for the first couple of days I couldn't see much at all. Over the next few days things cleared a little but vision was still extremely poor with nothing being sharp & a general mistiness/flare/lack of contrast over the whole field of vision. I am wearing a contact lens in the right eye so I can get around but I haven't been able to drive for the last 12 days: I certainly didn't expect that to be the case & it's proving to be a substantial problem.

I had a routine check up with the consultant a couple of days ago & couldn't read more than three lines down the chart. On examination it seems I have posterior capsular opacification, which is the sort of thing that usually develops after six months or more. The good news is that this is easly treated with a YAG laser session but the bad news is that the consultant wants to wait another couple of weeks at least to give my eye time to finish recovering. The even worse news is that this has meant the operation on the right eye has been cancelled & put back until after the YAG session to ensure I have at least one working eye.

The impact of that is that it will be at least another three weeks before I can even think about being in a position to drive again & I've got to carry on stumbling around with a combination of old glasses, one contact lens & assorted reading glasses. As we all know this is the difficult/annoying phase as the two eyes are so out of sync that it seems you always end up with the wrong glasses on. What was going to be two weeks of difficulty is now looking at being five weeks or more.

The issue hasn't been down to the surgeon or lens fitted as it seems I've just been unlucky with the type of cataract I had; it was at the back of the lens & can attach itself to the capsule & cause scarring. He couldn't take the scarred capsule out as it's needed to support the new plastic lens & you end up with a much more complicated operation - a vitrectomy I think?

So all in all it's not been the magical night & day transformation that everyone else seems to have experienced. A bit of a bugger really.

Ahh that is not good news. I have read the laser surgery is quite successful though. I hope the vision gets better soon - not driving is a right hassle, hopefully it is not impacting you too much ofr the short term.


Thanks for your notes on my post too.

[tobinen]

I was referred to a consultant last week for my right eye which has been useless for years. This was prompted by yet another change in prescription in a year. Last night I met him, and I have a cataract. Quite how it ws missed by previous eye tests I am uncertain and not qualified to answer.

I am having it done tomorrow so hopefully I will see a big improvement in a few days. I can't wait TBH.

[wobert]

Mr Pointy said:

paul.deitch said:

I am pretty short sighted and at night get lots of haloes around bright lights when driving which is irritating. Do the haloes go away or are they reduced after the op?

Halos & flares are one of the known side effects of multifocal lenses (pilots cannot have multifocals) so if you are particularly concerned then go for monofocal implants. You might need to get checked why you are seeing halos if you don't have a cataract.

As someone who has had glaucoma since birth, halos around lights can indicate high intra-ocular pressure and the onset of glaucoma.

As a very minimum visit an optician and get the pressures measured, if pressures are raised for any period of time your sight may well be compromised....

[tobinen]

My eye test wasn't 'bad' enough to qualify for NHS but fortunately I have cover via work.

Even so, I wasn't expecting two days from consultation to operation

Here now and first drops going in. Wiltshire ham sandwich ordered for afterwards.