cateracts.

That sounds like the kind of thing I've experienced under the "sedative" (they deny it's an anaesthetic) they give for an angiogram or when having a stent fitted or colonoscopy. Very pretty actually. Do they give any such sedative for the cataract surgery?

Local anaesthetic only for me.

The only thing I would criticise the surgeon for is his choice of music. One piece was a requiem.

Bandersnatch, there’s no sedative, to be honest I don’t think one is necessary. They did anaesthetise both eyes, they said it was because sometimes they are a bit clumsy and get iodine in the other eye by mistake! I can tell you that these people are anything but clumsy!

=It was interesting, to see without a lens or being able to focus I think I annoyed the surgeon because I was trying to turn my head (not thinking) to try to see the visions better which obviously I couldn’t do.

Bert

I believe it is Atropine that they put in the eyes, widens the pupil and stops the eye moving.

Thats why you need someone with you.

Rex, after having the pain clinic cancelled in March I have now been contacted to go on this coming Wed. 9th at 1545 hrs.. Letter instructs strict PPE requirement and to eait in car park and phone the number at 20 mins before the appt. Then I will be escorted in.

I still have pain but dull,ache across the back, walking is sore/painful. My only help has been a waterbottle to ease the ache.

One consquence is that I was called to an Asthma check and I wrote out what had happened and that I had been given ramapril. I got a scrip. for Amlodopine and told I should not have been given Ramapril in the first place. That means now I can take Ibuprufen as it is not comapatable with ramapril.

Warning, I checked the internet and some medical sites say Ramapril causes Cateracts!

Clive, I have been on ramipril and amlodipine for 18 years but so far thank goodness no cataracts yet.

Emgee

Do they insert an IV ?

Emgee, look on the internet and ask, ramapril and cateracts, or something like that. It makes very interesting reading.

Clive

Ah! My mother has been on Ramapril for a long time!

She had the second cataract operation at the end of July. All went well apart from a minor complication which made the op take a little longer than usual. It also meant that we had to return the next day to get it checked but all was well.

Within 48 hours she could read the moving strip of text at the bottom of the screen during the news without her glasses. You have to wait 6 weeks after the operation before you can have an eye test for new glasses and her appointment for that is tomorrow. When she has the new specs she will be able to drive again. Not bad for 92!

Just to note:

There are many other common medications [notably ’inhaled steroids’] which are associated with ‘early onset’ cataract problems.

MichaelG.

No IV, everything is topical.

One thing to avoid if possible is steroids, they definitely cause cataracts

Bert

Once a year I have retinopathy test where eye drops, probably Atropine, are used. You are warned not to drive and use sun-glasses .

Two weeks ago I had a visit to my opticians who decided to have a look at the back of the eye using such drops. On leaving, sitting in my car and about to drive home, I had a think about this. I had been told that the effects wear off after four hours. To me it seemed that the problem was not the brightness but the very small depth of focus since the pupils are fully open. Further, the eye muscels are relaxed so it takes time to change focus. I drove the mile and a half home, over two roundabouts, and was mighty glad to make it to my drive.

DON'T drive with such stuff in your eyes.

JA

At the Royal Surrey in Guildford they escort you to the pick up point to make sure that you aren’t going to drive.

I suppose some people would take a chance.

Bert

JA's optometrist should have asked how he had travelled to the appointment and NOT used the drops if he needed to drive home.

The Optometrist has a duty of care in these circumstances.

He should have offered another appointment

I have annual tests for Diabetic Retinopathy and the appointment letter warns me NOT to drive. I use the "Community Car Scheme" on those occasions.

The first year, I used a cab to get to the hospital and tried to use the 'bus to return home. Except it was two 'buses with a long wait at the interchange. I could NOT focus on the timetable in the 'bus shelter and had to ask a passer-by if there were any 'buses due!

MC

I have found this thread very interesting. I have one eye worse than the other but as both will need attention at some time the consultant suggested having them both done at the same time.His reasoning was reduced exposure to the hospital environment in view of the covid situation. I have opted for distance vision as this seems to be the best compromise.

John

It's many years since my bilateral cataract removals.
I only find one cautionary posting above - from "Versaboss". Maybe I might add another.
The purpose is to recount my ophthalmic surgeon's invaluable warning.
In essence it went:-
"Be very aware of seeing a spider's web-like image in an eye. It would signify a likely detaching retina and you MUST seek immediate attention if you do experience it".
I asked why and his answer was plausible - to summarise. "A lens which has become opaque - a cataract - will have swollen over the years of its development. This increases the pressure in the posteria chamber of the eye. The replacement plastic lens we insert is much thinner so the pressure drops and this can lead to the retina pulling away, the first sign of which is the 'spider's web' ".

A few years later, one night a distinct spider's web appeared in my left eye. First thing next morning the retina was lasered back in the hospital.
So FWIW, please take note if you weren't warned of that possibility.
Unfortunately the remarkable outcome of having 'perfect' vision again may not be permanent for everyone. The surgeon was clever enough to make the corneal incisions in such a way that my astigmatism was corrected & my distance specs. were discarded. Over the years though, the corneal changes in that left eye have been significant, astigmatism is quite bad but simply corrected with a contact lens. The other eye has remained exactly in its post-op state.

I remain amazed at ophthalmic surgeons' skill and continue to wonder how a couple of hundred years ago, aged watchmakers. engravers etc, undoubtedly with cataracts, could achieve such precision in dimly lit workshops.

It's fascinating to watch a video of cataract sugery (if you feel you can !); this is one of the most informative:-
Typical Surgery
(If the above link doesn't work it's vimeo.com/10103153)

My Mother was in her 90s when I made appointments for her sight to be checked by my Optometrist.

I explained to her that Mother had bilateral cateract surgery and asked why eye tests were necessary.

She told me (a little scornfully!) that the eyeball can change shape!

MC

Just an update re my surgery that happened yesterday.

The ability to see has improved remarkably. The decision to have both eyes done at the same time was the right thing to do for me. There was no discomfort at all and I had a running commentary as the operationn progressed.

Colour vision has changed back to how it used to be. I don't need help for distance now and what astigmatism I had seems to have improved as well. The down side is that I do need specs for close-up work but this was expected.

John