Cataract

[Carnival567]

Well, I went to the preliminary appointment for the cataract surgery, but was told that it wasn’t really too bad, and that given I had the infected lung nodule it could be dangerous, but then the doctor told me that I had dry age-related macular degeneration and would need some laser treatment. I think I must just be quietly falling apart! However, she was very understanding and said that I would have the laser treatment fairly soon, and she would review the cataract in a year. As long as I can still read and sew I shall be ok. I missed the art history class this afternoon though, because my eyes were still fuzzy. Pity.

[Damon1864 Volunteer]

Hi Carnival567 I had the cataract operation done last December and have my other eye done very soon, I must admit it has made a great difference to my sight. I hope laser surgery works for you good luck and please let us know how you are doing. Take care of yourself 😊 Bernadette xx

[sassy59]

I hope the macular degeneration treatment will help you and then the cataract surgery will follow on soon. Take care and wishing you well. Xxxx 😘

[Hidden]

Unfortunately the NHS has been operating a policy of not paying for cataract surgery until it becomes really bad. Having to wait until you cannot read or sew is ridiculous. What about driving? - now?

I paid for mine privately and in the scheme of things it wasn’t that expensive. The best thing that I have ever done. Your lung problems shouldn’t cause a problem because it is done under local anaesthetic.

[Carnival567 in reply to Hidden]

I am with the Welsh NHS for the cataract surgery, and the doctor was quite willing to do the it now, except for the fact that I have the infected lung nodule which has not been sorted out yet - still on the watch and wait for that. She felt that given my complicated medical history it could be dangerous, hence the review next year. She is doing the laser treatment for the AMD in the left eye, which has already had cataract surgery and is my stronger eye anyway. My right eye has an uncorrected squint, so is not very good. At the moment I can still drive, although I don’t drive at night, and can still read and sew, although I do need good light.

[Hidden]

Very complicated I hope that it all works out well

[Izb1]

Hey Carnival567, if you are falling apart then we must get you sewed back up pretty quickly ha! seriously its not funny when so many things start to go wrong. It sounds like the doctor you are seeing is quite good so hopefully you wont have to wait long to get things sorted. I have had dry eyes for quite a long time and a small cataract and must admit my sight is getting worse but its not time to get this done yet ans hoping I dont end up like Mr Magoo ha! Wish you all the best. Irene x

[Carnival567 in reply to Izb1]

Thanks, just like to make the medics

think!

[cofdrop-UK]

Really sorry to hear this Carnval. I am very interested in the treatment for AMD as I have both cataracts and AMD - early stages. Is your treatment for wet or dry AMD. I did see something promising on yesterdays news from Oxford but it is still in the trial phase but looked amazing.

Cx

[Carnival567 in reply to cofdrop-UK]

I knew I was developing AMD a couple of years ago so it has obviously worsened. It explains why I have problems going from light to dark. I fortunately have the more common and less damaging dry AMD, which tends to progress more slowly. Apparently the laser treatment removes the little spots of stuff called drusen which is what causes the obstruction of light. I saw that item from Oxford and thought it looked hopeful. I hope I don’t have to wait too long as I have a cross stitch tiger that has been hanging about for far too long, and which I have just started working on again. I do have a magnifier and good lighting though, which help.

[cofdrop-UK in reply to Carnival567]

I hope you don’t have to wait long either and would be interested to hear how succesful it is for you. Hope the tiger gets completed soon!

Love cx

[Carnival567 in reply to cofdrop-UK]

Got a long way to go with the 🐅!

[Hidden]

Ohhhhh Carnival I am so sorry but she gave you good advice I think. My cataract ops have been a disaster and it may have been due then to my lung etc condition??

Well I also learned that the right eye macular membrane was detached from the retina and that was not repairable. I have had the laser treatment and this ophthalmologist said no more. He said don’t let them touch your eyes no more. And come back and see me in a year.

The macular injections cost £700 each!! and are not on the NHS he said but he didn’t recommend that either!

So I have new varifocal glasses and it is a little better I must say. Hope it will be for you. I can read better but my eyes get tired quickly and I keep putting drops in.

Good luck my dear x

Fran

[Carnival567 in reply to Hidden]

Yes, I think she did give me good advice as I don’t want to take any risks. She would have done the cataract if I had insisted, but her advice was sensible. She was easier to talk to than the woman I saw last year, who was rather fierce! It seems as though I have added yet another consultant to my list. I shall get back to varifocals once I get this sorted, I hate having to keep changing my glasses.

[Hidden in reply to Carnival567]

Varifocals need some getting used to..took me 3 weeks first time years ago but I couldn’t get back to having 2 pairs..

One good tip the optician at the Moorfields gave me was to point my nose where I wanted to look, so I did, now I don’t think about it apart from going down steps or escalators where you have to really focus..

Good luck x

[Carnival567]

I’ve had varifocals for years, I’ve only got separate pairs now because I was still short sighted after the cataract was done because my right eye is so bad my brain wouldn’t have been able to cope. Not sure my brain is coping with anything these days!