worried about cataracts

I have AMD in both eyes the right dry the left wet with central vision loss and cataracts in both eyes and have been told by the eye hospital that I have been discharged from further routine follow up, and to contact my optometrist if I notice any worsening of my vision, I can only assume that either the cataracts get worse (which according to the optometrist could take years) or that the dry eye will turn wet before anything more is done. How bad have cataracts to be before an operation would be considered ?

[rosyG]

I think it has to be affecting your vision- driving at night etc- before they remove them.

I asked about mine at Moorfields as I'm having injections for oedema caused by something else and they said they are not bad enough but they would be careful as cataract ops can cause some oedema and if one had oedema already it wouldn't be advised at that point- so you would, I think. have to have advice about how the wet eye is doing at present.

[Hidden in reply to rosyG]

Thanks rosyG I have not driven for years so I cant go by that, I asked the consultant how I would know when it was time to get in touch again , she said "Oh you'll know" . I use the Amsler and take supplements but what worries me is if they do the cataracts which would be the one they did first, as the left eye has no central vision and I rely on the right eye , ( the dry one ) to get around, so if they did the right eye first I would not be able to see .

[Macular_1 in reply to Hidden]

Hello Molly,

I should think that their reluctance to do a cataract operation on your better eye is because if anything were to go wrong with the operation (I know it shouldn't), but with any invasive surgery there is a risk). If you were to lose sight in your better right eye you would have a problem.

Have a look at our cataracts factsheet at the following link;

macularsociety.org/sites/de...

If you would like to have a chat about this further, please call the Macular Society helpline on 0300 30 30 111 (9.00am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday).

Best wishes

Macular Society

[rosyG in reply to Hidden]

I wouldn't worry about that as they would discuss with you and decide a sensible plan. They may not want to run any small risks with you so would probably want to wait until cataracts were quite advanced- I think!!

[JeffMett]

Hi, I don't if this is helpful I have Cataracts in both eyes. I was told this some four years ago and they have not got any worse since then. This is why they don't do anything about them when they are found.

[Jayral]

I too have lost central vision in my right eye due to scarring from myopic cnv. My macular consultant referred me to the cataract dept when I developed double vision in my left eye due to a fast growing nuclear cataract (i.e. central affecting the macula) - the risks were explained very clearly and I was given the choice whether to go ahead - I was fast tracked as it was a consultant to consultant referral so only had a 12week wait) - the op was successful and I now have great distance vision with my left eye which is amazing, having been short sighted all my life!

I am now on the normal waiting list (over 40 weeks) for cataract surgery on my right eye just to balance my eyes by improving my peripheral vision (I currently wear a contact lens for that) - central vision damage is permanent.

My optometrist has been vital in monitoring my vision and in communicating with the hospital as, like you, I have been discharged from the macular clinic as treatment no longer makes any difference. This discharge made me feel quite vulnerable and I'm fortunate my optometrist has supported me so well.

I hope you get equally good support - I think that overall with cataracts, it depends on which type of cataract you have as to how quickly it develops and how much it affects your vision but I thought present day thinking in the NHS was that when the patient feels it is affecting their everyday life, no matter the strength, then surgery was appropriate.

Good luck with it all and best wishes

[Ayayay80]

Hi Molly, I am surprised that you have been discharged if you have wet AMD unless you have lost your central vision in your left eye altogether so that nothing more can be done for that eye, in which case the removal of a cataract would not be beneficial anyway.

In general, in the past cataract removals were carried out much more frequently. These days they make people wait much longer. And yes, cataracts usually grow very slowly. Added to that, there is always a risk involved in any intrusive intervention and your clinic will way up the state of your dry AMD and the real benefit you may gain against the risk.

Best of luck x

[Hidden in reply to Ayayay80]

Thank you AyAyAy80 Yes I have lost the central vision in the eye that has wet AMD, but I thought maybe that it could have cataract surgery to improve the peripheral vision , but I suppose that they think that would be a lost cause. I still can live a more or less normal life , so I will count my blessings. Thanks to all the replies they really help, as the only people who know what its like to have sight problems are those people who are going through it themselves.