Cataracts

[Spidey66]

For context...54 years old, ex smoker, overweight. Ok health in that I'm working, fully mobile, strong immunity. I have a few conditions common to overweight middle age women. I have a touch of arthritis in my knees....i ain't going to run a marathon and I struggle to bend sometimes (e.g. picking up after my dog) but it's not a huge problem.

I've got gallstones which causes pain, I'm waiting to have surgery for this, this is my most pressing need imo as the pain is severe.

I'm on thyroxine for underactive thyroid

I'm 5 years post hysterectomy, with some menopause symptoms that I'm on meds for.

Anyway I had an optician appointment today. I'm supposed to have yearly appointments as my brother has glaucoma but life and lockdown got in the way and I've not been for 2 years. Long term I'm short sighted in one eye, last 10 years I'm increasingly longsighted. I usually wear 1 contact lens plus reading glasses.

2 years ago I was told there was some evidence of early cataracts but I was given the impression it was very early, not to worry for about 10 years. Tbh I'd completely forgot about it, I suppose with the pandemic and the more pressing for me issue of the gallstones it lost importance.

Recently I noticed my eyesight was worsening. My longsightedness was worse, struggling to read and use computers. I did notice I was struggling with bright light e.g. seeing things in bright light. I was struggling with phones. I use an electric bike to gong to and from work a couple of times a week in spring/summer. I was struggling when the sun was in my eyes, I thought it was a combination of position of sun prior to the clocks going forward and cycling west, it's been easier since clocks changed.

Anyway was told today actually the cataracts are severe, I've been given a GP letter for onward referral for surgery. It's s surprise but kind of makes sense, as well as symptoms described it does sometimes look like I'm looking through a dirty window, and sometimes things look like theyre 2D rather than 3D.

I'm not a driver but as mentioned do cycle, should I continue? So far as mentioned the only difficulty was cycling in bright sunshine which improved when the clocks changedas the sun was a different position in the sky. But I don't want to be in or cause an accident.

There are no minimum visual standards for cycling. Cataracts can cause glare, which is why you're struggling in the sun.

Do you feel safe?

As long as you don't have any co-existing conditions which cause a reduced peripheral field, I think it will be fine. Did the optician do a visual field test?

If you're worried at all, just contact them and ask.

Good luck with the surgery by the way, it's usually very straighforward.

Sorry I'd completely forgot I'd posted this

I do feel ok. I was a bit anxious the one time I found glare overwhelming, at the time I didn't really think anything of it, now. I realise it may have been the cataracts. Part of my cycle into work is through a park, which I was in then. I'm a somewhat cautious cyclist at thge best of times, in parks i tend to go slow as im very aware of pedestrians, kids, dogs, balls etc.

I did tell the optician I cycle and that I'd cycled to th e appointment and he didnt say not too.

I think I'll carry on for now but if it worsens I'll stop until its treated. I think the diagnosis is useful as im now aware my sight may worsen before the op x

I think it hinges on your conscience. If you were to cause harm to another because of your vision how would you feel ?
Is it in both eyes, because I believe that you can still drive with one eye.

Both eyes, though one is worse than the other. I am worried about accidents, especially as the optician has said it's deteriorated more rapidly than expected.

The more I think of it, and the more the diagnosis is sinking in and making sense, the more I think I'm going to have to be better safe than sorry and stay off until after the treatment.