Cataracts- what's the operation like?

[Stressedgiraffe]

I went to the opticians at the weekend for new glasses but the optician said due to cataracts she couldn't prescribe me any and would refer me to an eye clinic.
Well they phoned today and want to see me next week. Depending on how the appointment goes the clinic said they could do one operation that day!
Firstly I'm still a bit shocked I have cataracts as I'm only in my 40s and a bit surprised at how quickly this is moving as its nhs.
If anyone has had anything similar how was the actual operation?

@Stressedgiraffe that's good news that it is going to happen so quickly. They are right about going to Technicolor it is amazing. You will really notice the difference

I found it wasn’t only true colours, things that I’d thought were grey were actually a dark lilac, dull dark turquoise was bright teal, that kind of thing. It’s the amount of light generally. Like boarding a plane at a foggy British airport and getting off in the tropics on a lovely day. It really is incredible.

Ds1 has some trousers and a sweatshirt that I thought were an almost identical shade of green. It turned out that the trousers are brown! The sweatshirt doesn't change colour much between my new eye and my old one, though, which I find mind boggling!

@minsmum how are you getting on? How's your sight? I'm counting down till Thursday.

@Stressedgiraffe thanks for asking it's a bit weird as with glasses it's a bit blurry but the colours oh my. I can see where my cleaning has not been up to scratch as well. I have been back at work a week and am not using glasses for screen work. I can't wait to have the other eye done.
Good luck for Thursday, let us know how you get on. I hope you are as lucky as I have been, no pain of any kind. Be careful with sunlight etc and if you are working let them know that you will only do what you can, it can be quite stressful and my first day back I ended up with a migraine. I had my gp on standby in case I needed to be signed off. Also you have to stick the eye patch on at night so get some medical tape, it doesn't feel as ridiculous as sellotape

Feeling nervous I don't really know why. I'm half excited and half scared. But been rereading the responses which make me feel better

Don't be nervous. Seriously treat it like a trip to the hair salon but the benefits being so much more and longer lasting. I speak from the experience of both eyes done at the same appointment and no patch or bandage after, just wrap around sunglasses.

I'll tell you, it's by far the best thing I've ever done and would do it again in a heartbeat. I also had some laser afterwards for minor adjustments, and that was absolutely fine too.

My experience mirrors @martinisforeveryone's. Except I had my eyes done separately.

Seriously, do not worry!!

Best wishes for Thursday, have pain killers ready as it can be a bit sore but otherwise by Saturday morning you will be amazed what you can now see.

Checking in - I am having my left eye done on Saturday.
@Stressedgiraffe hope tomorrow goes ok for you.

Honestly - it's a doddle! I had both done on the same day and was driving after a couple of days. It is one of the most straightforward and successful operations there is. You will feel the benefit - oh and it doesn't hurt one bit, and is totally untraumatic - you can't see anything because the light shining in your eye is so bright.

@MrsPatrickDempsey I'm having my left done as well. I'll let you know how I get on. Good luck for Saturday!

@Stressedgiraffe how did it go, are you feeling okay

Hi all went well yesterday. It wasn't sore . I slept early and when I woke up the discomfort had gone. The clinic was brilliant. In and out in under 2 hours.
Went to specsavers this morning for a contact forms right eye. Then went and got a cheap pair of reading glasses.
I've gone from a -8.5 to a +1.5 incredible

Oh I'm so pleased for you.
I went from -10 to perfect sight which was like a miracle!
I just use cheap reading glasses now
Literally life changing

That is brilliant news so pleased for you

What a great result - so happy for you.

There you are! - told you so!!

My numbers were very like yours in both eyes with mega-astigmatism. The joy of my life now is being able to drop the soap in the shower and to be able to see it to pick it up - hooray!

For those of you at -9 or -10 what is your near vision like now?

I wear varifocals - they correct the astigmatism and provide reading vision without me having to keep finding reading glasses! But I could drive without glasses now if I chose - but seeing the dials on the dashboard is a problem.

Wow, I’m gobsmacked yours was done so quickly. Wait could be 2 years here so it’s costing my £5-£6k to have mine done later in the year.
Wishing you a speedy recovery and bionic eyesight. 🤞

@Allthehorsesintheworld I guess it depends on your nhs trust . It took 4 weeks from referral to 1st op. I need to get the other one done which will be in about 6/8 weeks. I'm only in my 40s and have significant cataracts which probably helps.
I'm sorry you're having to pay to get yours done.

Thanks. I’ve just accepted it is what it is, but I can’t wait until I can’t drive. I live rurally so need to drive. SpecSavers have been really good and do a quick sight check when I ask so I can be sure I’m still safe to drive. Hoping first eye will be late September and second in November.

@Allthehorsesintheworld I went to specsavers, mine was a complete surprise. I guess it does depend on where you are I'm in the SE and was seen by New Medica. They were great.

@Allthehorsesintheworld , whereabouts in the UK are you, I am in London and from my first visit to the hospital to my first operation was 11 days.Could you ask to be referred somewhere else