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Elderly parents
Original poster

Cataract operation

37 replies

tobee · 12/08/2022 19:12

My dm, 86, is due in for a cataract op on one eye next week. I'm going to take her and pick her up.

Can anyone give me an idea of what to expect as her helper that day? Anything I might need to anticipate?

Thank you

OP posts:
Jalisco · 12/08/2022 19:15

These are simple ops now. I had two last year. They will give you drops and full instructions / risks. Draw the curtains before she goes - she might be a bit light sensitive for a day or so. Sunglasses - if she doesn't have any, get some cheap ones.

Original poster
tobee · 12/08/2022 19:20

Thanks for your reply.

I just got off the phone from my dm and she couldn't hear hugely well and I was wondering about sedation etc?

OP posts:
Original poster
tobee · 12/08/2022 19:21

She has mobility issues and am intending to use a hospital wheelchair to and from the car btw

OP posts:
InsertPunHere · 12/08/2022 19:22

20 minutes and done. FIL has had both eyes, Dad has had one eye done. Over in a flash, not even uncomfortable, just “a slightly odd sensation.”

OhMerde · 12/08/2022 19:23

I have just seen a series of women aged 65+ go in for cataract surgery. They all came and went within an hour, all walked out and walked back in, had a patch on, were chatting, perked up at the tea and biscuits they were given and left shortly afterwards.

grannycab · 12/08/2022 19:24

And the difference to her sight will be amazing.

OhMerde · 12/08/2022 19:26

tobee · 12/08/2022 19:21

She has mobility issues and am intending to use a hospital wheelchair to and from the car btw

One lady was in a wheelchair. The nurse collected her and wheeled her back.

Jalisco · 12/08/2022 19:28

tobee · 12/08/2022 19:21

She has mobility issues and am intending to use a hospital wheelchair to and from the car btw

Me too. No sedation. I walked. But if she needs a wheelchair it's no big deal. She'll be awake and no reason to assume she can't manage beyond a bit of discomfort, if that.

SammyScrounge · 12/08/2022 19:29

It is so easy - no pain, nice nurse beside your trolley. Then you sit up and are amazed at how bright every colour a Nd how clear the edges of things are. It is truly wonderful.

Original poster
tobee · 12/08/2022 19:29

Thank you so much for these replies everyone. I really appreciate them!

OP posts:
Spidey66 · 12/08/2022 19:39

I'm not elderly (56) but my cataracts deteriorated rapidly and I had both done within the past year.

You're not sedated, they give you drops and I think an injection as a local, then your face is covered so you can't see what the doctors are doing. It's totally painless and takes about 15 minutes.

You have a patch over the eye for 24 hours and although it's a little gritty, it's not too bad. No hair washing for at least 24 hours and you still have to be careful for about a month not to get water in so no swimming. Also no eye makeup for a couple of weeks.

You have to take antibiotic and anti inflammatory eye drops up to 4 times a day for a few weeks.

Its a very, very simple procedure and I for one was delighted with the results.

Because of the kind of replacement lens you are offered on the NHS you will be either short sighted or long sighted, and you get the option to choose. I chose long sighted so still wear reading glasses but other than that I'm delighted with the results. Aside from the reading my sight is now better than since I was a child. If it's done privately, they have lenses that mean you don't need glasses at all but wearing reading glasses is fine by me.

Wombat27A · 12/08/2022 19:43

Yep, it's very easy. My DM can be a little bit difficult but they are so used to this in the eye department, they looked after her brilliantly. I was a bit spooked it's a clear eye mask but it's all good.

Original poster
tobee · 12/08/2022 20:16

Ooh I hope dm gets her other eye done at a later date. She's a great reader!

OP posts:
Original poster
tobee · 12/08/2022 20:18

Actually, one more thing. Dm mentioned me leaving her there and returning to her house to be with df. I'm sure the hospital will advise me on the day, but do you think staying would be more sensible? They live 20 odd minutes away

OP posts:
FatAgainItsLettuceTime · 12/08/2022 20:30

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 😀

Original poster
tobee · 12/08/2022 20:48

Thanks again!

Smile
OP posts:
Spidey66 · 13/08/2022 16:11

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.

PritiPatelsMaker · 13/08/2022 16:29

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?

Original poster
tobee · 13/08/2022 17:07

Hope you're feeling better now @Spidey66.

Thanks for that @PritiPatelsMaker. I'll suggest it.

OP posts:
lazymum99 · 14/08/2022 16:40

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!

FatAgainItsLettuceTime · 14/08/2022 16:48

@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.

lazymum99 · 14/08/2022 16:53

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

NorthFaceofthelaundrypile · 14/08/2022 16:56

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.

FatAgainItsLettuceTime · 14/08/2022 16:57

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.

FinallyHere · 14/08/2022 17:00

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 😄