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?

Yes, @Allthehorsesintheworld - you need to check waiting times at other hospitals and ask for a new referral.

Also, my own GP surgery has contracts with private providers for some investigations and procedures. Maybe yours does too?

Being a little pushy often helps.

Up here it was a long wait at the hospital or be seen within weeks at one of the privately operated catch up clinics (still on the NHS). No brainer, really, though walking through the Metrocentre with an arrow drawn on my forehead and my eye patch felt a bit odd!

Jumping on this very useful thread as I have bilateral cataracts ( two sorts, apparently) along with lifetime astigmatism.

I had a consultation with Optical Express yesterday which was interesting. I'm going to investigate other options too- Newmedica and Practice Plus both have local facilities.

Anyone had experiences with those organisations?

Oh, apparently not bad enough fir the NHS, but I am having on and off unfocused vision and horrible halos at lights especially when driving.

I'm going to have both eyes done this year at some point, I'm in my 30s but I've had to use steroids eye drops for a few years which has caused the cataracts. My consultant has said I can have it under GA but is it actually that bad? It sounds disgusting. I've had steroids injected in to my eyes before but still not sure I can do it

I had mine done 5 weeks ago, both at the same time so that I only have to go through the recovery once. I went from -11 to around -3. The operation was fine. Not painful at all. Was just done with eye drops, not injections, and my eyes were irrigated all the time which was quite pleasant. I'm short-sighted and get my new glasses next week. If you're long sighted and around +2 or +3 you can get over the counter ones.

I had them done on the NHS at a specialist eye unit at a Nightingale hospital.

@FuzzyPuffling my optician didn't think mine would be bad enough for the NHS but referred me anyway. The NHS did the operation

But... Could you see them coming at your eyeballs with a scalpel? This is my worry and why I'd rather have GA

No they put a cloth over your face then shine a bright light, also they stand behind you you don't see anything

You'd think wouldn't you, but no. If you look back you'll see I likened it to a hair salon or dental check up appointment when you have no problems and I say that as someone who was extremely anxious beforehand. I also had both eyes done at the same time.

@FuzzyPuffling I can PM you with some thoughts if you like?

I had mine done three months apart, and reasonably early due to other eye surgery I received. You cannot see anything at all they are doing, so that is fine. One surgeon was a bit stroppy with a member of the team, but the second was really calm and that helped. I did actually ask the first if he could help me by being calmer (I think I was a bit stroppy myself at that point and also stressed). Both ops were successful. I still need help with my vision due to separate eye disease, but it's definitely better than it was. Mine was nhs, so no different correction to adjust for reading.

No, it's all blurred. They put a plastic sheet over your face and then pull off strip, and there's clear plastic. Then he cut away the plastic around my eye with scissors. That was the worse but! But it was fine. You have to trust in their expertise. A friend said to me that you have to be brave and excited! So I was chanting that to myself. Also, no fuss afterwards about eye shields. They trust that you won't rub your eyes. Lying on your side is fine, etc. They give you lots of info. Colours for me now are incredibly vibrant. But anyway, I can understand why you want to be put out - it is a bit scary at first, and I'm claustrophobic too so I had to ask for the plastic sheet to be pulled away so I had a little tent over my face. They were very kind. Just tell them your fears at the earliest opportunity so they're in your notes. Xx

I've just had my second done, 6 weeks apart at a Novuna clinic. The second I thought wasn't as smooth, but the results were almost immediate. Day two it was clear as and little discomfort and no loss of depth perception. They are all amazingly kind and gentle. I was walking in the churchyard tonight with dh and I could read the gravestones clearer and from further away than he can. The only thing and this is pure vanity, is that I've noticed (and dh)is that the skin around the eye is a bit droopier.

New Medica clinic, not novuna. And spec savers are fab. They also picked up.dhs glaucoma. Pay the extra 10 for full check up.

As other have said, you don't really see anything. It's just a light show and mostly done with lasers.

My. Cataract was tiny but right in the centre of my field of vision, causing me to see double. The threshold at which they will operate does seem to be a postcode lottery though there is no real advantage to waiting in most cases as they are not something that gets better. Unfortunately, in some trusts, threshold has little to do with how well you can see.

Hi again, got an appointment for my other eye. This Thursday so excited! So much quicker than expected.

An elderly chap I look after in. Terms of going into various medical appointments to advocate for him was diagnosed in Jan as needing two cataract ops. The first was within two weeks and the second four weeks after that one. He's had laser treatment to both since to remove a slight fogging that's occurred with a small cell growth across the new lens and he's really happy.

I'd need a hefty valium to get through that! I'm so envious of those of you who just sail through these things. Well done all, it's so uplifting to hear how much of a difference the procedure has made.

Got my first one at the end of this month. I deliberately postponed it for a couple of weeks so I can fulfil grandchildren obligations.

I also had cataract surgery in my 40s. (no, i have never taken steroids).

I had it under general anasthetic.

Wore glasses my whole life, really short sighted, my surgeon gave me monovision so now I don't need glasses at all.

I had mine done last year (NHS, but in private clinic). I was pretty nervous about it, but it's really not bad, doesn't hurt at all. And the results are wonderful. I'd worn glasses, then contacts, from the age of seven. Even now, every morning I wake up in the morning and look around a crystal-clear bedroom, and think, wow! Does mean I need glasses for reading/mobe (naked eye was OK before), but it's a small price to pay, and driving, watching TV etc all good. Also not wearing glasses is a big benefit with the motorbike crash helmet, but that may be a niche consideration for MNers.