Cataracts

[Vienna_70]

As I mentioned in the rags thread, I have been diagnosed with cataracts on both eyes.

I’d noticed that my vision has deteriorated over the last few months, so I thought I’d better have my eyes tested for a new prescription.

However, the optician, who was brilliant, suspected straight away that I might have cataracts and sure enough, that was the case.

I had the first one done yesterday. Nowadays, the procedure entails removing the entire lens and replacing it with an artificial one. The surgery takes about 15 minutes, though the whole visit lasts about two hours, because local anaesthesia and other eye drops have to be administered beforehand.

After the operation, a plastic eye shield is placed over the eye, and I was told to keep it on, until this morning, and then wear it every night for a week.

Unsurprisingly, the eye stang and watered all day, until as instructed, I applied an eye drop before going to bed. The eye immediately felt better and all the pain and watering disappeared. I have some vision in the eye already, albeit blurred, and I can’t really judge what it’s like, until I take off the shield, when I get up.

I have been wearing glasses for short sightedness, since I was five, so after 57 years, I will no longer have that handicap, though I will still need them for an astigmatism.

In the mid 1970s, the concept of bionics were only to be found in the minds of the writers of The Six Million Dollar Man and The Bionic Woman, but now, they are reality.

 

[dickie davies]

I had a cataract operation in 1995 when I was only 32 years of age and techniques have moved on immeasurably since
18 years after my operation, when I was 50, I suffered a detached retina in the same eye and was very fortunate that the majority of vision in that eye was saved
The detachment was put down to the eye being weakened by the original cataract operation

 

[Vienna_70]

I had a cataract operation in 1995 when I was only 32 years of age and techniques have moved on immeasurably since
18 years after my operation, when I was 50, I suffered a detached retina in the same eye and was very fortunate that the majority of vision in that eye was saved
The detachment was put down to the eye being weakened by the original cataract operation

It sounds like you’re a lucky man.

It’s incredible what they can do nowadays. I’ve been wearing glasses for short sightedness since I was five; 57 years. I’ve been told I will still need them for, but only for an astigmatism. It seems unbelievable that I won’t be dependent on a set of spectacles any longer.

 

[remember arthur mann]

As I mentioned in the rags thread, I have been diagnosed with cataracts on both eyes.

I’d noticed that my vision has deteriorated over the last few months, so I thought I’d better have my eyes tested for a new prescription.

However, the optician, who was brilliant, suspected straight away that I might have cataracts and sure enough, that was the case.

I had the first one done yesterday. Nowadays, the procedure entails removing the entire lens and replacing it with an artificial one. The surgery takes about 15 minutes, though the whole visit lasts about two hours, because local anaesthesia and other eye drops have to be administered beforehand.

After the operation, a plastic eye shield is placed over the eye, and I was told to keep it on, until this morning, and then wear it every night for a week.

Unsurprisingly, the eye stang and watered all day, until as instructed, I applied an eye drop before going to bed. The eye immediately felt better and all the pain and watering disappeared. I have some vision in the eye already, albeit blurred, and I can’t really judge what it’s like, until I take off the shield, when I get up.

I have been wearing glasses for short sightedness, since I was five, so after 57 years, I will no longer have that handicap, though I will still need them for an astigmatism.

In the mid 1970s, the concept of bionics were only to be found in the minds of the writers of The Six Million Dollar Man and The Bionic Woman, but now, they are reality.

Same diagnosis for me too. Last two pairs of glasses were as much use as a chocolate fireguard. Took them back a few times, only to be informed, it was a floater directly over the line of vision. Still persevered until finally diagnosed with cataracts. I will now have to wait another 6 months for the optician to decide if I need referring.
Back in the the day the Russians along with the Cubans were masters of opthalmology.
There was a procedure whereas the front of the eye was sliced off, frozen, put in a lathe, and then reshaped before being replaced. I think this was in the early 70s or even sooner. I suppose with the development of new materials, thing went down an alternative route.

 

[journolud]

Had both my cataracts done a few years ago as my vision was getting dangerously close to illegal for driving. I went private due to the potential waiting times. And like the OP after needing glasses since I was seven I no longer do apart from for reading. Was truly life changing

 

[Bill Walker]

In the mid 1970s, the concept of bionics were only to be found in the minds of the writers of The Six Million Dollar Man and The Bionic Woman, but now, they are reality.

Intraocular lens (IOL) implantation, a key advancement in cataract surgery, became commonplace after 1949, when Harold Ridley first implanted an IOL, and further solidified in the 1970s when it became a standard procedure.

Here's a more detailed timeline:

• 1949: Harold Ridley, inspired by observing that plastic fragments from aircraft cockpit canopies did not cause inflammation in the eyes of injured pilots, implanted the first intraocular lens (IOL).
  
  
• 1950: Ridley left an IOL permanently in place in an eye.
  
  
• 1960s: Artificial IOLs, which are used to replace the eye's natural lens removed during cataract surgery, increased in popularity.
  
  
• 1970s: IOL implantation after cataract surgery was considered a standard procedure.
  
  
• 1981: Artificial IOLs were first approved by the US Food and Drug Administration
  
  
• 1992: Astigmatism correction became possible when the first toric IOL was developed.
  
  
• 1999: Intraocular lenses have been used for correcting larger errors in near-sighted, far-sighted, and astigmatic eyes.
  

Interestingly I was never told to an eyepatch when I had both eyes operated on for removal of cataracts... I could see really well immediately after the surgery.
There was no blurriness at all.
I was instructed to use antibiotic eyedrops for one week to reduce the chance of infection and steroid eye drops for one month to reduce the chance of inflammation.

 

[mexico1970]

Hope it all works out for you mate and the treatment allows you to see us win the PL next year again without my Magoo glasses.

 

[simmo]

My Dad had it done about 18 months ago. Did each eye at separate times. Amazing really that the actual work to the eye was 15mins max.

 

[Vienna_70]

My Dad had it done about 18 months ago. Did each eye at separate times. Amazing really that the actual work to the eye was 15mins max.

That is my experience.

The second eye will be done in about four weeks' time.

The actual surgery was amazing. As you said, it took about 15 minutes, and there was no pain at all; just a little discomfort.

It’s amazing what can be done nowhere.

 

[Travellingman]

Just had one of mine done. An absolute nightmare operation. They couldn’t get all the old lens out, took them an hour. I could feel them poking around in my eye, it was horrific.
All good now though and my eyesight is spot on again.

 

[I'm With Stupid]

As I mentioned in the rags thread, I have been diagnosed with cataracts on both eyes.

Give PGMOL a call. You probably qualify as a referee now.

 

[Vienna_70]

Amazingly, in less than 48 hours, my eyesight is already up to driving standard.

I can easily read a number plate at 20 metres, which I was told on Thursday is the required distance.

 

[Snape]

 

[Eaststander1]

I had a procedure known as 'Lens Exchange' done on both eyes in 2008, with Optical Express .... it's very similar procedure to the cataracts one ...... i originally went for a laser eye surgery interview, but wasn't found to be 'suitable' due to the curviture/shape of my eyes, so was 'steered' towards lens exchange, which (surprise surprise) was costlier ..... my two eye procedures were done about a month apart at the Bridgewater Hospital, just off Princess Road, Moss Side (pictured below) ..... now though, 17 years later, my vision has deteriorated a fair bit again, and I'm pretty much reliant on glasses for the majority of close reading stuff.

I know some opticians, such as Specsavers, use the Optegra eye hospital, near Southern Cemetery, for cataracts and other eye procedures.

 

[Eaststander1]

That is my experience.

The second eye will be done in about four weeks' time.

The actual surgery was amazing. As you said, it took about 15 minutes, and there was no pain at all; just a little discomfort.

It’s amazing what can be done nowhere.

Yep, mine took about the same time ..... they doped me up good and proper before I went into the procedure theatre, and stuck a needle or two in my eyes, yet I didn't feel anything much, only mild discomfort .... and I didn't really feel anything during the procedures either, just a sensation of warm water swirling around my eyes .... before I knew it was back in the recovery room scoffing tea and toast!

 

[Odd socks]

I had a procedure known as 'Lens Exchange' done on both eyes in 2008, with Optical Express .... it's very similar procedure to the cataracts one ...... i originally went for a laser eye surgery interview, but wasn't found to be 'suitable' due to the curviture/shape of my eyes, so was 'steered' towards lens exchange, which (surprise surprise) was costlier ..... my two eye procedures were done about a month apart at the Bridgewater Hospital, just off Princess Road, Moss Side (pictured below) ..... now though, 17 years later, my vision has deteriorated a fair bit again, and I'm pretty much reliant on glasses for the majority of close reading stuff.

I know some opticians, such as Specsavers, use the Optegra eye hospital, near Southern Cemetery, for cataracts and other eye procedures.


View attachment 151393

Have you been for an eye test with optical express since

 

[Eaststander1]

Have you been for an eye test with optical express since

Only in the following months after the procedures ...... since then i've just had regular two yearly eye tests at Specsavers.

 

[Aba452]

I had cataract surgery in my mid 40s at the Bridgewater after wearing glasses for over 30 years. They did the surgery about 2 months apart from I remember the first one, couldn't feel a thing, surgeon light as a feather, the second one, the guy had the touch of a bulldozer.

Does seem strange that slicing off the 2 old bits of cloudy lenses and replacing them with plastic has such a life changing experience! Honestly I felt like the bionic man.

On the downside, you'll have to give up welding so no more trying to emulate Flashdance mate! Hope your surgery goes well!

 

[Vienna_70]

I had cataract surgery in my mid 40s at the Bridgewater after wearing glasses for over 30 years. They did the surgery about 2 months apart from I remember the first one, couldn't feel a thing, surgeon light as a feather, the second one, the guy had the touch of a bulldozer.

Does seem strange that slicing off the 2 old bits of cloudy lenses and replacing them with plastic has such a life changing experience! Honestly I felt like the bionic man.

On the downside, you'll have to give up welding so no more trying to emulate Flashdance mate! Hope your surgery goes well!

I can’t believe the difference it has already made to my distance vision. I am so delighted with how much better it is.

I still have to wear glasses for reading, but hopefully, that will no longer be the case soon.

 

[idahoblues]

I really rate Aire as a great manufacturer, good sturdy craft