Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
General health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

Cataract operations

178 replies

Paulina18 · 07/12/2021 23:53

I’m having 2 cataract operations in January .
Feeling very scared .
Anyone had or having Sam soon or suffering with cataracts ?

OP posts:
Frankley · 13/12/2021 23:02

Had both my cataracts done a few months ago, the first with the NHS and the second about a month later privately. I had decided l wanted to make sure l had the same surgeon for the second eye as had done the first. The private operation was exactly the same as the NHS.
I did not see clearly immediately after either time and was very worried for a few days afterwards the first time. Both times it was like looking through a fog! It didn't clear for some days but it was all good then.

Original poster
Paulina18 · 14/12/2021 07:02

Bless you man 💕🌹

Hope she also benefited after

OP posts:
Original poster
Paulina18 · 14/12/2021 07:07

That’s a very good point and brave .

I’m having lens that are not available on NHS but will help my personal situation better .

Thankyou for sharing your experience .🥰

I

OP posts:
Bagelsandbrie · 14/12/2021 07:30

My mum had it done in both eyes and had lens replacement done at the same time as she was very short sighted (-12 both eyes) and she said it was amazing - she didn’t need to wear glasses anymore except for reading. She said the whole thing was super easy and pain free.

Original poster
Paulina18 · 14/12/2021 07:48

My friend had hers done same time recently and now glasses free .

I was offered 2 at same time but decided on a 2 week gap .
Might have been easier to get it done in one go but until recent weeks only heard of others getting both dine together

OP posts:
FiveShelties · 14/12/2021 10:01

It is now 12 days since my surgery for both and my sight is excellent. Distance vision no problems at all and I can easily read without glasses. I think I may need a small prescription reading glasses to fine tune my reading vision. I still have drops for a couple of weeks.

I am so pleased I had both done on the same day and amazed at the outcome. I should add that as I walked into the Eye Clinic the radio was on and Rod Stewart's song 'First cut is the deepest' was playing and I almost turned around and said I had changed my mind.

Original poster
Paulina18 · 07/01/2022 22:18

Hi everyone
I had my first cataract operation today .
Apart from being very anxious prior to going into theatre I was pleasantly surprised how easy I found it .
Just like a light show , really comfortable bed , relaxing music , great staff team and result seems amazing .
My next one is in 2 and a bit weeks time .
Really wish I got them done at same time .
Thankyou
everyone for all your support 🥰❤️🌹💕

OP posts:
EntropyBanana · 07/01/2022 23:25

@Paulina18 Congratulations! Let us know how your recovery goes.

SammyScrounge · 08/01/2022 00:56

There's nothing to fear. No pain at all. 20 minutes and you sit up in a new world of bright colour.It was only then that I realised how bad my cataracts had been!

Original poster
Paulina18 · 08/01/2022 11:58

It really is just like that 😋

OP posts:
Foxyloxy1plus1 · 08/01/2022 12:34

Mine was about sixteen months ago. I paid for it because the NHS waiting list was two years and it had got to the point where I couldn’t drive and had to change the Kindle to large print. I couldn’t see much at night and bright sunlight was awful.

I was so desperate to have it done that I probably just focused on afterwards. I had a sedative and didn’t feel a thing. Both eyes done at once.

Everything is very bright afterwards and you need to use the drops religiously, but it’s life changing.

madroid · 08/01/2022 12:45

Love it when OP comes back with an update!

The fact that you posted on the day of your operation says it all OP. Well done for feeling the fear and doing it anyway!! Flowers

Original poster
Paulina18 · 08/01/2022 13:19

Really life changing for you .

Such an amazing operation 🌹

OP posts:
Original poster
Paulina18 · 08/01/2022 13:21

Yes it does say it all and I feel it good to update result and give thanks in respect of everyone that gave me support through it 💕🌹❤️🥰

So kind and helpful

Any one out there worried , don’t be ,
It’s quick and painless with amazing results 🥰

OP posts:
Original poster
Paulina18 · 08/01/2022 16:42

It really is life changing

OP posts:
DeedIDo · 08/01/2022 17:04

I had one done in December 2020 and am on the waiting list to have the other one done on the NHS. They said it would be about a year, so I'm expecting it to be done imminently.

The anaesthetic drops don't work on me, so I had lots of local. The op itself was fine, but I did have significant pain overnight once the anaesthetic wore off.

I did not/do not see the bright colours that everyone promised me and I still wear glasses for reading and distance. The sight in the treated eye is still not as good as the sight in the untreated eye, but it is much better than it was before. However, because I have a distance lens in the treated eye, I cannot see to put eye make up on, which is a pain and about which I was not warned.

sueelleker · 08/01/2022 17:22

Has anyone who's shortsighted had them done? I have severe myopia (as in can't see the big letter A without my glasses) and am on the waiting list. Did it affect your vision with glasses, and did you have to get your prescription changed afterwards?

JuergenSchwarzwald · 08/01/2022 17:34

My mum had her cataracts done recently. She said it took about 25 minutes, there were no horrible injections and it was ok.

TurquoiseDragon · 08/01/2022 17:37

I'm due to have first eye done in June, on the NHS, although at a private hospital. I have developing cateracts but am also very short sighted, so looking forward to not having to wear glasses.

underneaththeash · 08/01/2022 18:12

@sueelleker

Has anyone who's shortsighted had them done? I have severe myopia (as in can't see the big letter A without my glasses) and am on the waiting list. Did it affect your vision with glasses, and did you have to get your prescription changed afterwards?
They will put a lens in that corrects your shortsightedness, so you'll be able to see without glasses! They don't usually correct astigmatism though and you'll need to wear glasses for reading.

If you are very short-sighted it can make your eye pressure a little higher than usual for some time afterwards, so you may need some extra drops, but it's still usually very successful.

sueelleker · 08/01/2022 18:14

Thanks @underneaththeash ; if it makes my eye pressure higher that could cause problems too, as I've had detached retinas in both eyes before.

underneaththeash · 08/01/2022 19:08

@sueelleker

Thanks *@underneaththeash* ; if it makes my eye pressure higher that could cause problems too, as I've had detached retinas in both eyes before.
It’s the pressure at the front of the eye rather than the back.
Original poster
Paulina18 · 08/01/2022 21:57

So sorry to hear things weren’t so easy for you .

I’m having my next one done in 2 weeks privately but have already noticed the difference from my operation yesterday , I havant needed my glasses fir tv or walking about and the light which affected me badly now seems very comfortable .
I will use glasses for small print only .

OP posts:
Sonata13 · 08/01/2022 22:13

If you're scared ask for a general anaesthetic like I did on both occasions. I was the only one in the busy waiting room having a general anaesthetic! And I was the youngest, felt a bit of a coward!
But it was all fine. I came out with a patch on my eye like a pirate. You have to go back the very next day for a check up which is a bit annoying. I wish I hadn't worried so much as there was nothing awful about it except waiting in the waiting room to go in for a couple of hours and letting my imagination run away with me. You will be absolutely fine. I promise!

mumwon · 08/01/2022 22:17

@sueelleker
My optician & I have a joke
What can you see on the chart on the wall?
What wall?
Its been a very long time since I could see any letter on the chart - My optician tells me I will need this in a few years
I am interested in people saying they have it under general as my optician says it is a bit more complicated for people as short sighted as me (above minus 10 plus astigmatisms) he has said I might not need glasses all the time afterwards.
Its great to hear so many positive results