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?

I was told to throw the shield away the next morning.

I took the day after the first op as annual leave and felt that I’d wasted it! I didn’t bother for the second one.

People doing manual labour, heavy lifting or working in a dusty environment would need longer off but I’m indoors in a hospital.

I just took the eye drops to work with me as it was x 4 a day for the first eye and x 6 for the second!

What area are you? Our hospital eye service is around a year wait, but we’ve had patients use other provider sand be seen within two weeks.

Must be different now. I had mine done in 2022. Used eye drops for several weeks, including antibiotic drops for Two weeks.

Thanks. I’m waiting for a call back.

I had mine done about 2 years ago. Was picked up at specsavers. Had an appointment 2 weeks later and surgery 2 weeks after that. Then the second eye was done 3 months after that.
Both through New Medica. Excellent service.
My only complaint is that I need further surgery as they didn't get it all(?)
And I only had one pair of glasses now i need 2 maybe 3 different ones. 1 fir reading, 1 for computer and potentially distance once. But I can see when i wake up and watch tv with no problems.

I had cataract surgery last year. In our area the NHS use Newmedica for straightforward surgery. The same clinic i went to also does the surgery privately. The difference is that you get to choose a different type of replacement lens if you're private but otherwise it's all the same treatment. Private was £3k versus free on NHS. I opted for NHS and I have to say the treatment was excellent. Referral to surgery was 3 months.

Similar to my mum. Opticians 2 weeks ago, referred and premeditated on Tues, with 2x ops to follow, starting 2 weeks after premeditated- assuming that goes well!

I'm amazed it's so quick, nothing else health related in our area is!

Ask the optician about patient choice.

Did you get it sorted?

Yes. Apparently they don’t do it for cosmetic reasons , which is what mine would be. Thank you.

Similar to another poster, I went to specsavers as id got new glasses about 8 months before and my eyesight had deteriorated. They had progressed very quickly-werent there at previous test. I'd has both eyes done in about six months. Private clinic working with NHS. Through NHS hospital it was a year for initial appointment.
Recovery was really quick and successful. It is like Dorothy walking into Oz- everything was in technicolour. That wears off. Weirdly my depth perception was a bit wonky for a while-walking on patterned floors or cobbles was interesting. And I got signed off my school job for two weeks each eye, luckily it was two weeks before holidays both times. Only reading glasses now and my eyesight is better than dhs.

I had both eyes done on the same day 2 years ago. It cost £5000. Painless and simple; no eye shields or such like just 2 lots of drops that I had to put in for a couple of weeks.
A few months ago I had some clouding of vision and needed some simple laser treatment to the lens capsules which was done on the NHS. It is not uncommon for this to happen as a late occurrence after cataract surgery. It is very simply and painlessly dealt with.
I have never regretted the cataract surgery and was very pleased with the result and how easy it was.

How can cataract surgery be for cosmetic reasons?

sorry - I meant Lens replacement surgery .

That seems strange, the op is very similar.

@BrianthepugI had insurance and it paid up.

Waiting times vary a lot. I had huge problems with eye surgery waiting lists due to Covid. After I claimed for an eye op, I developed the expected cataract and got it on insurance.

It’s difficult to know how long waiting lists are but you should be given options within NHS provision. Can you find out if 1 year is the best or worst case?

It’s 10-15 mins. I only had 1 eye done though. My other op was well over an hour and I had a full anaesthetic. Too squeamish to listen to the problems!