I had my eyes tested recently and the optician told me I had cataracts. He said, ‘you do know you can’t have the operation?’ Which I didn’t. From what I can find out it’s because I can’t lie ‘supine’ or flat on my back and also because of the increased possibility of coughing. I can’t have any surgery on my lungs as they’ve degenerated too much, so just another blow. I’m stage 4 COPD and on oxygen 24/7 and been told there’s nothing more they can do for me.
Does anyone here have a more positive experience?
Best wishes to you all.
Joan xx
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Burbagegran
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Hello Joan, I’m sorry to hear of your problems and I’m sure there must be a solution. I’m carer for my husband Pete who has COPD, asthma, heart disease and chronic back problems. He’s had both cataracts removed as a private patient because he didn't want to wait. He lay flat, didn’t cough and had an oxygen tent over him so he was fine.
The surgeon was very reassuring and told him to squeeze the nurses hand if he felt like coughing, he didn’t. Pete was also told that, if necessary, he could be slightly propped up as they we’re determined to help all they could.
Private treatment is costly but hopefully the NHS can accommodate you. I’d get a second opinion. Good luck to you and I wish you well.
Thanks for taking the time to tell me of your experience, I appreciate it. I have 39 other responses to give to all the replies, so I need to also read them . Joan xx
Everyone’s experiences are different and what they can tolerate but: My late Mum had both her cataracts successfully done on the NHS. She had Alpha 1, emphysema, Bronchiectasis, arthritis of the spine, dodgy heart, oxygen 24/7 and the most god awful cough. She had to lay flat and no coughing, she managed 🙂 If the cataracts are “ripe” ask to be referred to the eye clinic and see what they say.
Maybe find out if there is somewhere else you can go and be given that bit extra time you may need?
Thanks, it was the optician from Specsavers who told me. i cant get an appointment to speak to my GP, its impossible. That's why I thought I'd ask my friendly advisers! xx
I would certainly ask for a referral to eye clinic. Optician or gp can do this. Let eye clinic make decision as to whether or not they can operate on cataracts. I know of a number of people who have successfully had cataracts operated on with a variety of different additional issues. I wouldn’t simply take the word of an optician who isn’t qualified to do the operation.
Yes, thanks for the advice. I shall see if one day I can manage to get an appointment to speak to a GP, its impossible at present. Thanks for replying. xx
i cannot ie on my back and i have bronchiectasis and asthma . i cough but dont need oxygen but i think there was a an open bowl with oxygen flowng into it the first time . this was resting on mt chest under muy chin i had both my cataracts done years ago with no problem .head can be raised enough to do the op with different surgeons on each eye . first was brilliant but second was blood stained . neither surgeon was concerned at having to deal with this . dentist does cope too. a towel under the head works there.
actually i had to wait almost 6 months between right eye and left eye ecause I broke my leg and couldnt live at home due to too many stairs so had to go into care in local hospital and then couldnt go from that hospital to the other hospital ( cross infection rules apparently) So had to join the bottom of the 3 month waiting list again having waited almost 3 months already .! it was worth every minute of the wait . woke up to purple fields and all odd colours after the first eye and then could choose whether to have a sky with clouds or without because the second eye had yellow haze of the cataract over it and the other was clear . It acted like a yellow filter on a camera . so I went around squinting and only using the one eye, depending on my choice of clouds or not . I do like clouds to look at so that was fun . >
Hello Joan. I had my first one done today! I have severe COPD. As the others have said, get referred, let the surgeon decide, mine was lovely and helpful 😀 Sorry this is so brief, my eye is watering!!
Hello! How kind 😀 Yes, my eye has stopped watering, thank you! Looking forward to being able to see properly and here's to getting the other one done while I am well. This one had to be postponed three times as they wont do it until 6 weeks after antibiotics🤞 xx
No problem 😊 The difference is incredible and no pain. Go to your doctor and get referred, it really shouldn’t be a problem. Hope it goes well for you xx
Hi Joan. I have COPD on oxygen, asthma, arthritis, lupus to start with etc and have had both cataracts carried out with no problems. Sure surgeon is aware of all our issues and everything is done to put us at ease and adjust where necessary. Dear help us all if we had to be as fit as a fiddle first. This should be up to an eye clinic to decide. Please don't be beaten just yet, hear what they have to say. Be thinking about you, wishing you all the best.
I work as an Optometrist and have referred many patients with varying levels of COPD. I would absolutely advise you to ask your Optometrist to refer you. When you speak to the consultant you will find out what they can do to make you comfortable during the surgery and discuss any concerns which can then be addressed. Best of luck x
Yesterday I had my left eye done , six weeks ago I had my right eye done , the surgeon was amazing also the nursing staff were incredible they are used to people with breathing difficulties they told me and go above and beyond to help you relax,the operation lasts approximately ten minutes,so please get a second opinion. It’s so worth it I can now read! Good luck to you in your quest . Anne xx
Hi Anne, I hope you doing ok after yesterday? I had my first one yesterday and was wondering if there was anything you found that I should watch out for please? Thank you, Laurie xx
Morning Anne, it's great to hear everything was all so positive! I am doing fine thanks, can't get over COLOURS!! 😂 It's like the difference between sepia and colour!
Thanks for taking the time to reply , enjoy having two bionic eyes!
Dear Anne, Thanks so very much for replying. I'm glad your experience was so positive for you. I shall get the optometrist to organise an appointment with an eye clinic. Joan xxx
I concur with everyone’s answers here that you should have the opportunity to be assessed by the ophthalmologist who would carry out the cataract surgery.
Given that it is a very simple short surgery which makes an incredible improvement to people’s lives then it should be possible for you to have this surgery.
I have Severe COPD and use oxygen (but not when stationary) when on the move. Spec savers referred me to NewMedica locally and they offered me an NHS appointment very swiftly. They were really caring and it was all done in the blink of an eye- forgive the pun please!
So perhaps ask your optician again for a referral to let the ophthalmic surgeon make the assessment and decision. If the optician refuses then perhaps seek a second option.
Hello Joan, So sorry to hear about your problem and what a stupid optician to have told you that. I am also stage 4 COPD and on oxygen 24/7 I had my first cataract done a couple of months ago and am due the second one at the end of next month. I was allowed a pillow so I was not completely flat which helped and I had it done with the use of just drops in my eye. It was completely painless and only took around 15 minutes to do. If your likely to cough you can just squeeze a nurses hand so they can stop for a minute but I was fine just as I am sure you would be as well. Your may need to go through your GP to be referred for the operation if the optician won't do it but you should be fine. Best wishes Ruth
Hi, my wife had last year an operation to create a new tear duct. Similar problems re breathing, she has bronchiectasis. So physio 2x per day for 3 days before op and once back in her room after the op, an hour long session of physio. It does help that she goes to same hospital for both lungs and eyes and the doctors have full access to all relevant personal data.
I am so sorry they've told you there's nothing else they can do. My heart goes out to you. Sometimes I think they are too quick to dismiss these things. There must be something surely. 🤔
According to everyone else so far it has been much more positive feedback. His words depressed me so much as so many things healthwise have gone wrong for me. There is nothing more than can do for me as far as the COPD is concerned and my health has been declining over the last year. I can hardly move around and very much more breathless now.
Well Burbagegran I think we are all of the same opinion, dont take the word of your optician and go to the eye clinic. I hope you get this done soon so you can see clearly again. Best wishes x
Hi Burbagegran. Sorry to hear of your situation. You’ve had some really positive advice above. Wishing you well in your journey to get your cataracts done xx
I had both my cataracts sorted, one at a time, under general anesthetic as I was worried about coughing whilst the scalpel was near. The doctor assured me everything would be fine. One of the best things I've ever done as although I now need glasses to read, my general sight for say, driving is the best I can remember. At the time when the operations were being done, I was always getting chest infections, so was always coughing. Had to postpone an op. once due having a chest infection. I too tend to fill up with muck if I lay flat, I'm sure not as bad as you sound from your words. I never lay flat if I can avoid it. I sleep in an adjustable bed.
Hi and thanks Lutontown for your reply. I cannot have general anaestetic as I wouldn't survive now. I don't have a productive cough, I have a strange one that has developed it is random and dry. It just start whenever, but more if I am stresed or move. But as everyone says the eye clinic are the best ones to decide.
I notice people are saying that their cataracts would not be done as the were not "ripe" enough. My cataracts were done too late, as I found driving difficult, particularly at night; quite dangerous really, so I avoided driving at night if I could.
Have you been checked for a fungal infection? We had black mould in our bathroom which was removed in Apr 2018, and since then I never get chest infections any more (except for a 10 day stay in hospital with pneumonia and pleurisy). Used to have loads, including a fungal one. (18 bacterial infections in 2017, and similar the years before). Black mould can be anywhere there is damp, so leaks in the kitchen, bathroom or the roof. Worth checking.
I have severe COPD and pulmonary hypertension. I’ve had one cataract done and having the other next week. They did ask if I could lie down flat but they put me slightly in an incline. All fine, no problems.
Hi, I have severe COPD, oxygen whilst exercising, had my cataracts done a couple of years ago now, also was told by nurse at last COPD review there is nothing more they can do for me, no changes to inhalers, found her quite rude to be honest, but when I had mine done they were very understanding of COPD, I didn’t have a problem laying & they were really good & it’s a very quick operation , definitely do as everyone else has suggested, get referred & let the people who will be doing the operation be the ones to decide, good luck & I hope it gets sorted in your favour 🤞🏻😊💐
My brother has severe scoliosis, he has a hunchback and can't lie flat so they propped him in cushions to remove his cateracts! Find a different surgeon!
Excuse me jumping in on this thread. Have you been offered a med called Roflumilast? I asked for it last year - it doesn’t suit everyone, but it has really helped me, especially the wretched cough! Huge improvement through the summer and a better winter too. Last winter was the first one for 19 years that I have need needed additional antibiotics through the winter.
It has to be prescribed by a consultant, then if all well then it can be prescribed by your GP.
Hi. Had mine done last year. I had the same problems as you in lying flat. The consultant was wonderful and arranged a rehearsal on a couch in a clinic room. Using a couple of pillows with my legs bent up, he arrived at a position comfortable for me and in which he could do the op. All done now and believe me, it's so well worth it.
Hi, I also have COPD and on oxygen 24/7, I was diagnosed with lung cancer last year. When the biopsy was done my head was elevated so I wouldn’t be flat. I was recently told I had cataracts and the the doctor said they had to be ripe to remove them. I do not understand how they could say there is nothing they can do. Can you get a second opinion?
Best wishes. If eye surgeons and dentists can accommodate their patients, it sounds as if you were unlucky in the man you saw. I haven't had my cataracts done yet (not ripe enough) but I recently had a mole on my face removed- slightly propped up!
Hi Joan, I have stage 4 emphysema and bronchitis, I also have osteoporosis of which I've had seven fractured vertebra and had a vertebraplasty. I too have a curved spine but still only slight, but was so anxious when having my cataract done. I'm sitting writing this with patch on eye as had it done on Monday. I was completely stressed out about laying flat. They let me have a slight pillow and didn't cough once. Couldn't believe it. Obviously I don't know how curved your spine is but I believe there is some surgeon s that use a chair and tilt you back.the only suggestion I can give you is IF you can afford privately they seem to be more accomodating if not ask your doctor if there's any other hospitals or possibly could you speak to a surgeon. I honestly do understand you and hope you get sorted
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