Who has had Cataract Surgery?

no1catman

I've found many of the posts here very interesting, informative and reassuring.
But one thing that hasn't been touched on - driving!?

If you need strong glasses to drive, and your sight improves as a result of the procedure - will it be well enough to drive without glasses? Or, how long after the 'op.' would you have an eye-test for new glasses?

That is - how long could yo be illegal to drive?

Oh, and when you go for the 'op.' do they expect you to have someone with you, or if by yourself - any problem?

.

House_Martin

I had both eyes done at short notice. No waiting for years in my case
. Only one eye was seriously in need of a new cataract lens on my left eye but they had to do a relatively good right eye because I would be out of balance with my extreme short sightedness.
I was told that the brain would eventually sort it out but it would take over 6 months, so the fairly decent right eye was done approx 6 weeks after the left eye.For the 6 week wait for the right eye to be done it was extremely weird, was nt allowed to drive of course but I could get lost walking around my local town centre
Both ops were ok, takes around 10 to 12 mins. Takes a few days for the inflammation to clear up and for the first time since I was 15 I did nt need glasses except for close up work .
That was around 6 years ago.
People who are extremely short sighted, as I was can have more problems with new cataracts and I ve since had two operations on my left eye for detached retinas.
This op is a bit more complicated than a cataract op, takes about 20 mins and I had to lay flat on my side for a full 12 days. That was the worst part of detached retina ops.
I can drive without glasses and pass the eyesight tests. Remarkable operation. In the old days we would have gone blind.I was told there is a 98% success rate with cataract operations
Don`t waste money on private operations, the NHS are just as good if not better.
I think its a full six weeks after the op that you are allowed to drive and that is after an eye test at an optician

globetraveller

House_Martin wrote: »

This op is a bit more complicated than a cataract op, takes about 20 mins and I had to lay flat on my side for a full 12 days. That was the worst part of detached retina ops.
I can drive without glasses and pass the eyesight tests. Remarkable operation. In the old days we would have gone blind.I was told there is a 98% success rate with cataract operations

I had a detached retina 2 years ago and had to lie on my tummy for 3 weeks, with only 5 mins an hour max moving about. A bit of a nightmare but watched lots of box sets!

House_Martin

globetraveller wrote: »

I had a detached retina 2 years ago and had to lie on my tummy for 3 weeks, with only 5 mins an hour max moving about. A bit of a nightmare but watched lots of box sets![/QUOTE

It depends where in the eye that the tear is what position you have to lie in.The unlucky ones , like you, have to lie face down for the duration. That really must have been a nightmare. I was lucky to have only to lie on my left side for the 12 to 14 days whilst I could see the bubble they inject in the eye to grow gradually smaller. Its there to help press the torn retina back in place.. I had a mattress downstairs in front of the telly ! I was told 10 mins in every hour I could get up, which I stuck to rigidly.
When it comes to your precious eyesight we are not going to cheat.
The first op was nt quite successful , not uncommon I was told and had to have a second op for another detached retina in a different spot a few weeks later. This position of the second tear allowed me to sit up for the two weeks.
Touch wood no problems after around 3 years for the detachments and about 6 years since the cataract ops

no1catman

House_Martin wrote: »

Both ops were ok, takes around 10 to 12 RemaI think its a full six weeks after the op that you are allowed to drive and that is after an eye test at an optician

With me, if it comes to an op. not sure what happens with a six week wait. Bad enough once when I was off the road waiting for new glasses.
I'm the only driver in the household.
Were you able to do grocery online orders?

House_Martin

no1catman wrote: »

With me, if it comes to an op. not sure what happens with a six week wait. Bad enough once when I was off the road waiting for new glasses.
I'm the only driver in the household.
Were you able to do grocery online orders?

My partner looked after me , she could drive.
I m sure its safe to drive probably around a week after the op but the optician would not do any eye tests or prescribe new lenses until the full six weeks were up. He said because the prescription can change in that time and six weeks is needed to be safe.
I only needed glasses for close work but my job needed a lot of computer work virtually all day.Since I was 15 I had been very short sighted but the cataract op changed all that completely. I now just need mild close up lens for reading .
altogether I had 12 weeks off work for the two cataract ops and the same time for the two detached retina ops 3 years later.
I count myself very lucky to live in an age when a quick and painless operation can restore my sight . Before that they used to leave cloudy cataracts for as long as possible because the operations or remedies were not too successful.
I know some NHS areas are starting to charge for the op. Whatever they charge its well worth it.
I personally would pay all my savings to keep my vision.

wondercollie

This has been really interesting for me. I worked Ophthamology in a major Canadian hospital for nearly a decade.

Our cataract patients are usually back driving within the week. As one of our cataract surgeon says "you were driving with a cataract for ages, why have major restrictions afterwards". His biggest concern was patients wanting to drive home with a sedative on board and risking an impaired driving charge.

Retinal patients are encouraged to maintain certain positions but not for the lengthy periods you are describing. Most are back at work within two weeks albeit with lifting restrictions.

Cataract surgery has been an area under review for the number of surgeries and the age of some of the patients being put forward. Over the years I've seen patients ranging from 5 to 104. The one that puzzled us the most was a patient who came from a palliative care unit (the life expectancy is for that unit is under 90 days) for cataract surgery. She passed on before finishing her post op drops (we heard from a coworker who often worked on the palliative unit).

Ms_Mop_123

I had cataract surgery done this time last year. I was really frightened and nervous about having it done, but quite strangely on the morning of the surgery I woke up and wasn!!!8217;t frightened or nervous at all. Got to the hospital so calm, think that!!!8217;s why I was one of the last to go and have the op done. I!!!8217;m sure they did all the anxious patients first incase their blood pressure rose too much.

Got into theatre and laid there very relaxed. My face was covered apart from a hole where the eye to be operated on was. Was treated to a brilliant white flashing optical show while it was being done. I had no pain after the op at all. I went private and I think the after care precautions were a bit over the top. Wasn!!!8217;t suppose to shower or wash my hair for two weeks, eye drops for six weeks (that was a pain believe me). But the worse thing was I couldn!!!8217;t wear makeup for TWO WEEKS!!!

I!!!8217;ve got a lazy eye and it was my good eye that I had operated on. I went private because I wanted to have a multi focal lens that!!!8217;s for distance, mid and near vision. That would of put an end to me wearing glasses. Consultant wouldn!!!8217;t let me have one because I suffer from Rheumatoid Arthritis which can attack your eyes, he just said let!!!8217;s keep it simple and I had to choose near or distance lens. At first I opted for near, then changed my mind to distance when I went to have measurements done. Funny thing is I can see perfectly well to read but need glasses for driving, work that one out because I can!!!8217;t. I!!!8217;m happy though with the outcome.

First things I noticed after the op.
I could see dirt on things I couldn!!!8217;t see before....I!!!8217;m houseproud so bit shocked there
Everything was so much brighter....my white towels were so white.
Downside....I could see more wrinkles on my face !!!55357;!!!56873;!!!55357;!!!56873;

Looking back the op was a doddle, so don!!!8217;t be frightened.

scd3scd4

Cataract Surgery???............................try a vitrectomy and a retina pell!!!

Sncjw

Cuddles

No one can garuntee an outcome from an op especially for an op on your vision.