Cataract surgery

[Brianthepug]

I was diagnosed with cataracts two years ago, and was told nothing to worry about. However at my last eye test, they have grown and put on NHS waiting list. I was advised that it would take a year, however am still working (am early 60s) and due to this, I feel I can't wait so am going private. Don't really want to raid my savings, but no choice really.
Has anyone had this done privately and any advice?

Could you travel out of your local area? It may be that the NHS could get you in to a clinic sooner further away. I think I waited about 3 months (Dorset).
I only know one person who had it done privately and it sounds like the result wasn't as good as everyone I've spoken to who had it done on the NHS.
Around here NHS uses Spa Medica unless it's likely to be complicated. My own surgery was quick and efficient.
https://www.spamedica.co.uk/

I was first told I had cataracts about ten years ago but it was only in the last 18 months the cataracts, particularly the left eye , deteriorated. And in the past year the problems with my vision were so bad I was put on the waiting list for cataract surgery with the NHS. This was the waiting list for the initial examination btw, not for the actual surgery. Because I was very short sighted and had a history of retinal tears to my eyes cataract surgery was considered quite high risk for me.

The wait time is so long in my area and my sight was becoming so affected I have just had my cataracts done privately. The left eye was operated on in mid January and the right eye last week. I'm in recovery atm but so far so good. It's been a shock after a life time of being short sighted to now have normal distance vision.

Ironically a day before my second operation I got a letter offering me my initial NHS hospital consultation. When I phoned up to cancel the appointment the woman was really pleasant and asked me if i'd gone private. She said that it was probably for the best because even if at the NHS appointment they had decided I was ready for surgery there woukd have been a very long wait for it. And there was always the possibility my eyes wouldn't be deemed "bad enough " yet.

So although I didn't want to go private and it is a lot of money i feel I have done the right thing.

I've had cataracts probably between 6-9 months but only notice by me since September. I was put on the list but at my appointment last week consultant wanted to expedite it for other reasons. I'm booked in for next week

I had told him it was impacting my work, I can no longer read even with glasses out my right eye and I do very fine close work in my job. I was basically told that didn't matter it was only because I had other medical need it could be expedited.

So yes I think I would seriously thought of going private

@Daytimenighttimecan I ask what the recovery is like ( obviously I can find out at my pre-op what the medical bods say)

I work in a very dusty environment with lots of fibre flying about so don't intend to return too early

Do you know the hospital (and therefore the surgeons) that would perform the surgery under the NHS? If so, google them, and most will come up with their private work contact details. I'd go private, if you can.

DS had cataract surgery under the NHS, but his surgeon also does private care. I don't know if it's the same for adults as children, but we were told not to wait too long once vision deteriorated to the point DS was blind, as there comes a point where the vision can't be restored.

My optician has requested outside my local area, and thats still a year. Good idea though to look at surgeons as I know what hospital am referred to.

The waiting lists aren't a year at SpaMedica, you can ask for a referral there but changes within the NHS means you'll probably be waiting 3 months after assessment.

I had my right eye done privately ten days ago. It cost me 2k, but the waiting list was two years and after six months I couldn't stand it anymore.
The op is painless, no pain after either, but you have to wear a clear eye shield for the first week, then nightly for a month. I also have drops six times a day and you can't wash your hair for at least week, or bend forward at all. I think if you work in a dusty environment you'll have to take time off work as you can't wash your eye or rub it for a couple of weeks afterwards or wear any eye make-up.

The hardest part for recovery for me is that you aren't supposed to bend for about 4 weeks after surgery. And it just seems that every thing I want or need to do involves bending. Also you're not to lift anything heavy- supposedly nothing heavier than a kettle in the first week. So because I live alone is being quite challenging.

I was quite surprised how quickly my vision cleared after the surgery. The eyes are a bit uncomfortable and there is a strict regime of eyedrops to follow.

Definitely you wouldn't be able to work in a dusty environment unless you had eye goggles.

You are also told not to get water in your eyes for days or so after the surgery. And in the first few days my eyes were very intolerant of bright lights and I had headaches.

I have found myself very tired since the surgery - possibly because of my age as Im early 70s. Definitely sleep and rest is important.

I was absolutely dreading the surgery - which in the end really was short and not intimidating at all - and I'm not particularly enjoying the recovery. But honestly the alternative was eventually losing my sight after a long period of problems caused by deriorating vision. So honestly I'm very pleased I bit the bullet and have had it done.

@Mariets @Daytimenighttime. Thank you both so much. I've had friends who have had surgery so know what it entailed re eye drops eye mask etc. I didn't realise you shouldnt wash hair (info I read said to wash backwards so as not to get water in. Luckily I don't wear make up.

The bending is a problem for me as I'm am constantly on the move on my job and as I sew carpet the fibres are an immense problem

I'm also supposed to be going to a Hardcore Rave three weeks after. I don't think lasers and lots of high energy bouncing about will do me any favours, so young to cancel

I must be really lucky with my NHS referral recently . Opticians referred me, within 24 hours got my choose and book options and pre assessment clinic appointment scheduled for 4 weeks later. Watching this thread to see what post cataract life looks like! I’m very highly myopic so I’m hoping life will be much improved

@Mariets
I don't know what part of the country you are in but I paid £ 245 for my initial consultation and then £ 3250 per eye. . So you have definitely done better than me as regards cost!
I don't know if the cost varies in my area though because I just went with the people my Optician recommended.

I went to Spire in Wrexham North Wales. My initial appointment was 200.00 and I was very surprised by the cost of the surgery, the website said 2950.

That is really good then.

I'm in Scotland and mine was done with Vision Scotland.

I must say it's my first experience of private medicine and I wasn't entirely comfortable with it.

The surgeon was really nice and definitely inspired confidence , which was the important thing. The other staff were really nice when I had my first op but when I went for the second op it was different people and they weren't quite so pleasant or helpful .

I hope all goes well with your recovery. Best wishes.

@Marietswhere did you have it done for £2k ? I’m looking at approx £8k for both eyes. Sorry , 😞 see you’ve answered this.

Spire in Wrexham, think it used to be BUPA. The surgeon, Mr Dan Nyguyen was highly recommended.

Thanks was that for both eyes ? I’ve just looked it up.
Spire Healthcare cataract surgery prices typically start from approximately £2,515 to over £3,378 per eye, depending on the specific hospital, surgeon, and lens type. These one-off package prices generally include the initial consultation, the procedure, and standard aftercare

Are you in England OP?

Everywhere round here and the next county use Spa Medica for straight forward local anaesthetic cases.

Specsavers referred me on a Wednesday, they called me on the Friday asking me to come to a Pre-Op clinic on the Monday and I could’ve had the surgery the following week, if I’d been available.

It’s very different in Wales though with long waits.

I found mine very straightforward and couldn’t wait to get the next one done.

Only had to wear the eye shield for one night and could go back to work and drive the next day.

I'm an optometrist and the waiting time near me is usually only a couple of months (Bucks), however, it's a little more at the moment due to funding issues.
There's a good list of dos and don'ts here:
https://www.spamedica.co.uk/query/surgery-dos-and-donts-after-cataract-surgery/
@Daytimenighttime the not bending thing isn't normal for most cataract operations - did you have anything else done at the same time? Glaucoma surgery or a retinal tear?

Just my right eye. According to the website prices started at £2950 so I was surprised it was a lot less. I've got a checkup in three weeks, but I'm not sure if I'll have to pay for that, my initial consultation was £200 on top.

Gosh that is extremely relaxed advice compared to that which I was given!

At one point a few years ago I had a vitreous detachment in my left eye which left a tear in my retina which had to be sealed with laser treatment. And apararently I have old tears in my retina in both eyes. I was told because of this and the fact I was extremely short sighted the cataract operation was a much higher risk for me than other people.
My father also had glaucoma and I think that puts me at higher risk of developing that.
I was under the impression though that the precautions I was told to take after my operations were what they told all the patients to take, not just me specifically.

I know that NHS waiting times for the operation varies from area to area. Unfortunately the Health Board in the area I live in is extremely cash strapped- to the extent there was talk recently of it declaring itself bankrupt. And a few years ago they talked about limiting cataract operations to one eye per person! I think they scrapped that idea though.

Gloucestershire here - SpaMedica hold the NHS contract and they're fantastic. I had a cataract operation last September, and there was only a very short wait - in fact the first pre-op appointment came through in a matter of days after my opthamalogist at the opticians deemed it necessary. And all done under the NHS. My brother is in Hampshire, and it's similar - in fact he's just had his second cataract done through SpaMedica there, again without any undue delay between referral and operation. Again under the NHS.

They were very professional and it's amazing to have such improved vision.

If I'd had to wait an undue length of time I would definitely have gone privately, but it wasn't necessary. It seems extraordinary that there's such a difference in waiting times in different parts of the country.

Going back to work the next day seems too early, regarding the drops and aftercare. I suppose it depends on the type of work. Plus, I wore the eye shield at night for a week.

I had replacement lenses about 10/11 years ago. No cataracts but fed up of wearing glasses.
Initially assessed for laser surgery which is cheaper but told eyes too poor for that.
When I was told the cost I immediately said it was a lot more than I anticipated and straight away I was offered a £700 discount!
This was Optical Express.
I had them done a week apart and the only tricky thing was how different the vision was in each eye. I needed my glasses for one eye but the eye with the new lens had been the weaker one and had a strong lens. It was a bit disorienting and I suffered some nausea.
I was told that the lenses I was having by paying privately were better than nhs ones. A bit like with varifocals; more expensive have a larger sweet spot. Things may well be different now.