Cataract operation.

[HappydaysArehere]

I am having an assessment for cataracts at a hospital and am now getting cold feet. I am wondering if it is worth the possible trouble after the op. My hobby is painting and I can’t do without reading. I could go on without having them done and continue with the glasses as I can see for most things. I do have trouble with reading say The Times unless it is in the sunlight as the print seems too pale. I can see it but It isn’t comfortable. I was given a booklet from a relative which outlines the procedures after surgery and after effects. This has worried me. I had eye drops to deal with dry eyes from spec savers and the chemist. After one use I had pain which kept coming and going in waves so had to give up on them. Also will I be able to read sufficiently to do my online shopping etc. I am in my eightieth year and the glasses I have can’t be improved. But I can manage. Would be grateful for any opinions you have to offer.

Late 80s of my acquaintance had both done last year, and I know of many others. No problems at all. The op is done thousands of times each year and is painless. Local anesthetic job so no need for starving etc.

Afterwards - eye will be a bit sore and weepy (paracetamol job). You wear a shield for the first day which is why they don't do both eyes at once. You wear the shield at night for a week to ensure you don't rub the eye in your sleep - buy some micropore tape to secure it. Yes, you do need to do those drops - there are gadgets to help if you can't manage alone. The drops are essential to avoid infection. May sting a little for a few days but only a little.

Your vision will be set for distance,you will still need reading glasses. It takes a couple of months before vision is stable enough for new glasses.

Not 100% risk free as nothing is, the most common complication is clouding of the lens capsule which is easily sorted with an outpatient laser treatment. If you don't have the op your vision will only get worse. Cataract surgery is a modern day miracle so I hope you will agree to it. Hope this helps.

It made a massive difference to DMum's quality of life. She could read easily again and could go out in bright daylight without being blinded by glare.

Thank you so much everyone.. You have really helped to put my mind at rest. It’s just that eyes are so important and my SIL’s booklet worried me. The information you have given me is really good and encouraging. If offered at the assessment I will definitely have them done.

You can discuss your worries at the assessment. As others have said they do thousands if these operations each week. You may have a long waiting list to get it done at the moment so plenty of time to think about it. Due to a possible long waiting list be prepared to say yes you want it done so you can get your name on the waiting list. You can always change your mind afterwards. Hopefully you won't.
I assume your eyesight will just deteriorate and risk falling over etc
so it's an excellent opportunity to get it done.

My dad was a new man after he had his done! He did have to go back to get one eye seen to due to a slight complication but it was definitely worth it in the end. It took a while to get used to seeing him with no glasses though.

I had mine done four weeks ago. The procedure was absolutely painless. I was a bit uncomfortable when the anaesthetic wore off, but took paracetamol and woke up the ext/morning a new woman. Four weeks of eye drops four times a day has been a nuisance, but it's done now and my vision is at least as good as it was before I started having problems.

I'd say do it.

I had both eyes done several years ago, corrected my short-sightedness

(Worn glasses since I was 3) and my eye sight is now perfect according to my optician. The procedure was painless and result brilliant.