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Cataract Blindness ?

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  • Just had my right eye operated on last week, (NHS). Pressure in eye fixed and cataract removed also new lens fitted. Fifty minute operation,no pain.was home within two hours of op.greatly recommend to anyone.
  • mumps
    mumps Posts: 6,285 Forumite
    Home Insurance Hacker!
    I think it must vary round the country. I was diagnosed with early cataract at my local hospital last year. I am not even on the waiting list, Consultant said not urgent so no point going on the list. I work with someone who is having real problems and has been waiting months. I am thinking of going private, not just yet but certainly if it gets any worse, wouldn't want to be in colleagues position.

    Don't know why it is called a National Health Service.
    Sell £1500

    2831.00/£1500
  • margaretclare
    margaretclare Posts: 10,789 Forumite
    edited 17 March 2014 at 10:47AM
    mumps wrote: »
    I think it must vary round the country. I was diagnosed with early cataract at my local hospital last year. I am not even on the waiting list, Consultant said not urgent so no point going on the list. I work with someone who is having real problems and has been waiting months. I am thinking of going private, not just yet but certainly if it gets any worse, wouldn't want to be in colleagues position.

    Don't know why it is called a National Health Service.

    It has actually got worse over the past few years. We both had ours done in 2006. I don't think we'd fit the criteria now of 'affecting our lifestyle'. I was in the middle of doing GCSE Maths and that was one of the things I said - that I had difficulty seeing the board. I had a bit of an argument with one of the young opthalmology consultants who questioned 'why I needed to see the board, was it really necessary for me to do GCSE Maths' - unspoken 'at your age'. I said I did need to and it was, and he laughed and said OK. I don't think that would happen now, from what I've heard. One guy we know was waiting ages to have the second eye done - it 'wasn't a priority' apparently. This is a guy who could certainly afford to go private if he chose. For us, the worst thing was having had one eye done and not the other. You can't wear your normal long-sight glasses so you can see from one eye but not the other. You feel sort of unstable, it's a weird sensation. That was why we opted to go at short notice, take a cancellation.

    It has definitely become more stringent, tightened up, people having to wait longer. For us, it has been such a godsend not having to wear glasses after 60 years of short sight. I wouldn't want to go back.

    BTW the consultant at our local hospital is Mr Alexander and he pioneered the new methods of treatment here at Southend. There are also 2 private hospitals in the town where this can be done. The same consultants operate at all of them! No difference really.
    [FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Æ[/FONT]r ic wisdom funde, [FONT=Times New Roman, serif]æ[/FONT]r wear[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]ð[/FONT] ic eald.
    Before I found wisdom, I became old.
  • EycplUK
    EycplUK Posts: 777 Forumite
    Thanks for all the comments and replies folks :)
    had my friend round and settled down with a glass of wine and I read out the posts for him , he really was astounded at the replies and they certainly cheered him up as he was depressed by the diagnosis he had received !
    So please accept our thanks for all the help :)
    Chris & Ken
    A Bast**d I May Be ! I Was Born One !
    Whats Your Excuse ?
  • mumps
    mumps Posts: 6,285 Forumite
    Home Insurance Hacker!
    It has actually got worse over the past few years. We both had ours done in 2006. I don't think we'd fit the criteria now of 'affecting our lifestyle'. I was in the middle of doing GCSE Maths and that was one of the things I said - that I had difficulty seeing the board. I had a bit of an argument with one of the young opthalmology consultants who questioned 'why I needed to see the board, was it really necessary for me to do GCSE Maths' - unspoken 'at your age'. I said I did need to and it was, and he laughed and said OK. I don't think that would happen now, from what I've heard. One guy we know was waiting ages to have the second eye done - it 'wasn't a priority' apparently. This is a guy who could certainly afford to go private if he chose. For us, the worst thing was having had one eye done and not the other. You can't wear your normal long-sight glasses so you can see from one eye but not the other. You feel sort of unstable, it's a weird sensation. That was why we opted to go at short notice, take a cancellation.

    It has definitely become more stringent, tightened up, people having to wait longer. For us, it has been such a godsend not having to wear glasses after 60 years of short sight. I wouldn't want to go back.

    BTW the consultant at our local hospital is Mr Alexander and he pioneered the new methods of treatment here at Southend. There are also 2 private hospitals in the town where this can be done. The same consultants operate at all of them! No difference really.

    Well I guess I need to get saving, I have been told it is about £7k. I suppose the only advantage is you only have to wait two or three days for the second eye to be done, not sure if it is worth £7k for that but I don't suppose I have much choice.
    Sell £1500

    2831.00/£1500
  • margaretclare
    margaretclare Posts: 10,789 Forumite
    mumps wrote: »
    Well I guess I need to get saving, I have been told it is about £7k. I suppose the only advantage is you only have to wait two or three days for the second eye to be done, not sure if it is worth £7k for that but I don't suppose I have much choice.

    Are you sure it's that much? I had a look around but didn't find a price quoted, you'd have to ask. http://www.spirehealthcare.com/harpenden/ophthalmology-services-at-spire-harpenden/

    The reason I wonder if it's that much is that I had cosmetic surgery a year ago on a different part of the body and it didn't cost as much as £7K, it included general anaesthetic, an hour in surgery and 2 nights in hospital. Cataract surgery is so much quicker and no GA.

    Is £7K for the 2 eyes? Worth finding out. I afforded it by realising some investments.
    [FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Æ[/FONT]r ic wisdom funde, [FONT=Times New Roman, serif]æ[/FONT]r wear[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]ð[/FONT] ic eald.
    Before I found wisdom, I became old.
  • mumps
    mumps Posts: 6,285 Forumite
    Home Insurance Hacker!
    Are you sure it's that much? I had a look around but didn't find a price quoted, you'd have to ask. http://www.spirehealthcare.com/harpenden/ophthalmology-services-at-spire-harpenden/

    The reason I wonder if it's that much is that I had cosmetic surgery a year ago on a different part of the body and it didn't cost as much as £7K, it included general anaesthetic, an hour in surgery and 2 nights in hospital. Cataract surgery is so much quicker and no GA.

    Is £7K for the 2 eyes? Worth finding out. I afforded it by realising some investments.

    I haven't made any enquiries yet, someone I know said they had paid £7k for the op on 2 eyes. I don't think spaire have got any hospitals near me but I will have a look. Thanks for the link.
    Sell £1500

    2831.00/£1500
  • GlasweJen
    GlasweJen Posts: 7,451 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Optical express start at £2,500 per eye.

    You can't get the eyes done within days of each other, even going private you have to leave 10 days or so between appointments. Not as bad as the NHS policy up here of seeing the optician 6 weeks after the first one then getting added to the bottom of a 13 week waiting list.
  • mumps
    mumps Posts: 6,285 Forumite
    Home Insurance Hacker!
    GlasweJen wrote: »
    Optical express start at £2,500 per eye.

    You can't get the eyes done within days of each other, even going private you have to leave 10 days or so between appointments. Not as bad as the NHS policy up here of seeing the optician 6 weeks after the first one then getting added to the bottom of a 13 week waiting list.

    My friend didn't wait ten days, I think it was five.

    She said she paid extra to have a multi focal lens? I think that was it, means she can ditch her varifocals and doesn't need glasses at all. I think I would go for that if I can afford it.
    Sell £1500

    2831.00/£1500
  • cattermole
    cattermole Posts: 3,539 Forumite
    I would recommend going the route of a Consultant Ophthalmologist Surgeon and no other, whether NHS or private.

    You get what you pay for, personally I wouldn't want to take the risk of the cheapest however small the risk might be.

    http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Cataract-surgery/Pages/Risks.aspx
    Think of all the beauty still left around you and be happy - Anne Frank :A
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