Cataract operation

I had one done nearly two years ago and am on the waiting list for the second. I was not warned about the possibility of pain when the anaesthetic wore off and not offered a choice of lens. I am still juggling two pairs of glasses, one for reading and one for distance just as I was before and as I appear to have some sort of distance lens in the corrected eye, I can no longer see to apply eye make up, which is something else I was not warned about.

My parent had their first eye done 18 months ago then got lost in the system 😖 and had her second the other week. She has mobility issues and was worried about staying still. Happily there were no issues at all either time. So much so I think it should be referred to as a procedure rather than operation. First time was 4.5 hours, next slightly shorter. First time, I had to remove a lens from her old glasses. To be honest she had problems reading until the second one was done. There was no choice of lens offered.

DH had his done privately, a good few years ago. We I did loads of research. Things may well have changed since then but at the time, the only 'difficult' results were from multi focal lenses.

Thank you to the pp who mentioned the choice between close up and distance vision. My Dad doesn't seem to have been asked this, although he is very, very forgetful these days, so who knows. But my Mum has also got cataracts, she is a lot younger, very active and can afford private treatment, so I'll mention multifocal lenses to her, as I think it will be an issue for her.

I had mine done in my 50s.
Didn't have sedation, just the anaesthetic drops. Didn't feel any pain, although staring into a really bright light with no way to look away wasn't pleasant.
I took a train home afterwards on my own (had to travel to get them done as locally had huge waiting list) with taxi either end.
I was able to put the drops in myself, but was handy if one of my sons was around to help.

I was very short sighted before having them done, but chose to have long sight afterwards which is amazing in that I can do activities like swimming without having to wear glasses, but I do a little bit miss being able to read really tiny text by taking my glasses off.
I had each eye done separately which was difficult to adjust to in terms of having one short and one long sighted.
I was quite disoriented and a bit vertigo for the first day.
I then took the lens out of my old glasses so I could still read with the eye that hadn't been done yet, and see long distance with the new.
I couldn't have varifocals made while waiting for the second eye to be done as they said it would be too different and I wouldn't adjust.

Eyesight is amazing once both had been done. Can see myself in the mirror without glasses. Can watch film at cinema with no glasses. I do wear varifocals now as I work with computers and need to switch between close and medium distance, but they're super thin naturally rather than having to pay a fortune for extra thin lenses when I was myopic.

It explains why here, near the top of the article

www.hey.nhs.uk/patient-leaflet/risks-benefits-cataract-surgery/

Yes as I mentioned, the replacement lens mean you are either short or long sighted, at least on the NHS. But overall the results are fantastic and wearing glasses to read is a small price to pay. Glasses don't treat cataracts.

Good luck to your mum. One of the best things I did.

Had both eyes done this year- life changing- almost like my eyes were reborn! However, although my long distance vision is great, I cannot see well close up. I loved reading but have to wear glasses nowadays. My mum, 82 has found her poor close vision devastating following surgery, as she can no longer see to read.
I had sedation and would advise it, esp if mum older mu mum didn’t have any and has PTSD following the op..

Just wanted to ask something and I don't want to make you worry but why does she want you to go and sit with your DF?

My DF had far more care needs than they were letting on, could they be masking what's happening at home?

Hope it all goes well I sympathise with the desire to be helpful even when you don't have the info directly.

I'd encourage you to have a pair of sunglasses available to be worn after the procedure.

It really is routine these days. My mother was convinced that all they did was shine a bright light in her eye and that was all that happened. Her sight just got so much better from that along 😄

Oh mine was a light sedation so completely aware, awake and able to have a discussion, move about etc but just every worry or care melted away.

The only thing I would say is that when I took in elderly MIL I wasn’t warned about the drops regime. She didn’t have the mobility to do them herself, so I had a good few days of having to get to hers every few hours to get her drops in on time through the day.

I don’t remember any of it. It was like a general anaesthetic but with no after effects

@lazymum99 that sedation is wonderful! If I ever get offered it again I'm taking it without hesitation.

I had to have a vitrectomy and retina reattachment with lens replacement so it took a couple of hours but I have never felt so calm and content in my life.

I had cataracts and lens implants in my 50s. The surgeon gave me sedation and said he sedates all his younger customers and that the older ones are much more stoic!

Just wanted to reiterate about No hair washing. Do you think she'd appreciate a visit to the hair dresser, or one coming to her the day before?

Even if she has one done, and has to wait for the second, it's enough to improve her quality of life.

Mine deteriorated last year to the point I had to go off work sick because my sight was so bad. Once I'd had one done, I was able to return to work.

Unfortunately I then had a run of bad luck meaning I had to wait 8 or so months for the second eye to be done. I had my gallbladder out then a month after that fell off my bike and fractured my shoulder and had to have surgery on that. (2021 is a year I'd choose to forget!) I had my first cataract out last June, but didn't have the second 9ut till March this year but honestly just having the first out made my life so much better.

You might not have enough time to go home and make it worthwhile it depends on if there's a wait before the surgery.

They like you out asap afterwards, so if she's in quickly after arriving then she'll be done within the hour, then they keep you there long enough to have a cup of tea and you're out.

I had a different surgery that included a lens replacement alongside a few other repairs and even though it was longer and had different aftercare (had to be prone in a facedown position for 3 days afterwards) they still chucked me out 20 mins after finishing.

Was quite funny walking bent at the waist staring at the floor through the hospital corridors to get to the taxi rank 😀