Elderly Dad - cataract operation - aftercare

GlasweJen

I practice on the boundary between 2 massive health boards in Scotland and have never encountered people being patched for days after their cataract procedure, a hard shield at night in case the patient rubs their eye is provided but hardly ever actually used. Surgeons up here think it helps the eye to heal if light is getting to it.

As for the price, that's a standard quote from "Europes number 1 provider of laser eye surgery" - I worked for them for 3 years assessing people for refractive surgery and IOLs. They never kept anyone overnight as didn't have the facilities so any complications had to be moved to the local private hospital and believe me that didn't happen often.

missbiggles1

pebbles88 wrote: »

Imho: I've had 3 surgeries/procedures that way. So much better

Much less chance of infection as you aren't in the hospital any longer than needed

It depends on the hospital and their hygene regime although my husband was only there for just over 4 hours anyway.

With COPD we're really careful about avoiding infection of any kind, never go to A&E and always get home visits from the doctor rather than go to the surgery.

(Eyesight still improving.)

missbiggles1

GlasweJen wrote: »

I practice on the boundary between 2 massive health boards in Scotland and have never encountered people being patched for days after their cataract procedure, a hard shield at night in case the patient rubs their eye is provided but hardly ever actually used. Surgeons up here think it helps the eye to heal if light is getting to it.

As for the price, that's a standard quote from "Europes number 1 provider of laser eye surgery" - I worked for them for 3 years assessing people for refractive surgery and IOLs. They never kept anyone overnight as didn't have the facilities so any complications had to be moved to the local private hospital and believe me that didn't happen often.

Perhaps you don't get as much strong sunshine in Scotland?

GlasweJen

missbiggles1 wrote: »

Perhaps you don't get as much strong sunshine in Scotland?

It's actually research that recently came out of the Caledonian university that's caused the change, previously we thought that the visual system was "set in stone" so to speak at about 8 years old but now we realise that patching a good eye can actually cause it to become lazy (adult onset amblyopia) so it's discouraged as much as possible, unless of course it's a child who needs occlusive therapy to bring a "bad eye" up to scratch.

pebbles88

missbiggles1 wrote: »

It depends on the hospital and their hygene regime although my husband was only there for just over 4 hours anyway.

With COPD we're really careful about avoiding infection of any kind, never go to A&E and always get home visits from the doctor rather than go to the surgery.

(Eyesight still improving.)

It's not just about the hygiene though, as others have said, it can affect their routine where they forget to do the routine things such as eating at right times etc.

Going into hospital for my mum when she needed help with her copd was what finished her. i know its an emotional subject for me, so I'll leave it there as it's not my thread. But it isn't just always about the infection risk etc, for many elderly, being in their own home that they love, & having their routine & keeping independent, keeps them stronger than I think we all realise....

margaretclare

BarryBlue wrote: »

My father had a cataract operation about 15 years ago when he was 85. He also had sight in only that one eye and consequently he was actually in the hospital for 4 nights. I suspect that now he would be packed off home even though he would be completely unable to see at that point.

I don't know when the present type of cataract surgery started, but your Dad may have had the earlier type, which was quite different from what it is now. Nowadays there is no facility for admitting to hospital. It's much more like a visit to the dentist. It is done by laser and a new lens is inserted. This has the effect not only of dealing with the cloudiness in the lens - the cataract - but because the lens is replaced, short sight is also corrected. This has been an added bonus for DH and me. We both wore glasses for some 60 years - now, no longer.

The worst thing for us was the period in between eyes 1 and 2. We couldn't wear glasses as one eye no longer needed them, and this was when we felt a little bit 'unbalanced' if you like. We'd offered to take a cancellation so that the time in between was as short as possible. Some older people might not have been able to do that. Phone call at 8 am: 'Can you get here as soon as possible?' It's only 2 miles, but some older people had to wait for transport, to be picked up by relatives etc.

I would agree that any admission to hospital is to be avoided if at all possible, or kept to the shortest possible time.

[Deleted User]

Well, hes gone in today to have it done. Overnight stay at hospital has been booked as well (which he is happy with) because of his other eye sight issues.

BUT hes had blood pressure issues recently and I can see them sending him home today because of this.

Hes not being the most co-operative as per usual. I sorted out his mobile phone (which he refuses to use most of the time) but hes point blank refused to take it. Can't be bothered he says.

So now I can't contact him, don't know which wards he's on, so have to got to phone the hospital to try and find him.

I did say I 'might' be able to finish work early and pop in to see him friday afternoon if hes home. But I work 2.5 hours away from where hes in hospital so it needs a bit of planning/forewarning. I've pointed out to him that if I could have contacted him tomorrow morning and had some idea at least of what was going on but now I can't leave work and just turn up hoping hes home.

His answer - well if I need anything I'll get nurses to ring you. As if they've got plenty of time to do this! Not once thought I might want to speak to him to make sure hes OK....

His friend/neighbour is taking him today and picking him up friday. I also pointed out that they might appreciate a bit of an update on friday am rather than sit in all day waiting for him to call and say "leaving hospital come and get me".

But no he doesnt see it. As always with him, unless he can see a direct benefit for him, and theres no-one else he can get to do for him, he just can't be bothered to make any effort. Hes a nightmare for expecting people to drop everything because he wants something.

He just doesn't see how he makes things difficult for everyone around him by refusing to make a tiny little bit of effort himself.

[Deleted User]

pebbles88 wrote: »

It's not just about the hygiene though, as others have said, it can affect their routine where they forget to do the routine things such as eating at right times etc.

Going into hospital for my mum when she needed help with her copd was what finished her. i know its an emotional subject for me, so I'll leave it there as it's not my thread. But it isn't just always about the infection risk etc, for many elderly, being in their own home that they love, & having their routine & keeping independent, keeps them stronger than I think we all realise....

Funnily my Dad loves being in hospital for some reason. I hate the places!

Not sure the staff love him being there though. Hes VERY demanding. I find when I'm there I'm constantly having to remind him that nurses on the ward have other things to do and are not his servants for the day.

sheramber

The friend who is taking him in will be told what ward he will be in. He can tell you and you can phone the ward direct for information.

Many hospitals do not allow mobile phones to be used.

Our local one does allow it but the main one doesn't. They have consuls at each bed which has tv, phone and internet available at a cost.

Whether he had a mobile phone or not will not make any difference to telling his friend when he can go home. What update could he give them until the doctor has been round to confirm he can go home.

[Deleted User]

sheramber wrote: »

The friend who is taking him in will be told what ward he will be in. He can tell you and you can phone the ward direct for information.

Many hospitals do not allow mobile phones to be used.

Our local one does allow it but the main one doesn't. They have consuls at each bed which has tv, phone and internet available at a cost.

Whether he had a mobile phone or not will not make any difference to telling his friend when he can go home. What update could he give them until the doctor has been round to confirm he can go home.

You seem to be sticking up for the non-mobile phone thing for some reason. Yes I am aware that some wards may frown on the use of mobiles.

He won't know what ward hes in when he goes in. It'll be a different one that hes staying in.

The TV/phone console thing - nice little earner for the hospital that one. I know they're short of money but I always find this a bit much. He won't use his mobile, I can assure he won't be 'bothered' to get this sorted out.

Also, I disagree with the update tomorrow. Yes he will need to wait for the doctor but usually nursing staff will give some indication such as "should be ok if doctors says its ok". Also, sometimes doctor will say ok but then you have to wait for something else like medication. In both these instances, I think a heads-up would be possibly useful.

I appreciate hospitals are a law unto themselves at times and appreciate a doctor could just turn up at a moments notice and say ok go home - that can't be helped of course.