cateracts.

I had a lot of good information when I enquired about cateracts a whole back.

Following this and with due regard to the Corona virus I sought private eye care. Ended up with The Alexandra hospital in Medway.

After two appointements to check what my eyes were doing at £175 a throw. I was then called in for the left eye to be done. This went very well and I had good sight on completeion. Cost private at £2112.

Then a few weeks later called back for the right eye but this one I ended up with a black eye ! Not to worry as the resulting sight is again good, cost again £2112.

So Corona virus has been a very expensive time for me, in July last year my boiler went bust and due to not being able to get spares (Corona virus again) I had to have a complete new system fitted, cost £5000.

So my kitty for a steam boiler for my engine has gone and now I am unlikely to finish the loco.

Due to age and asthma I have been in lockdown since March like many of us. Not being able to see 3 new Great Grandchildren yet. Luckily my youngest Son and his wife live local and they have been great. My other Son in the US is also in lockdown but has managed a takeover of the firm he works for and is now the new MD.

My next eldest bro. now 89 had both eyes done for cateracts on the NHS, a complete mess as far as he is concerned as he has far sight in one eye and close sight in the other and finds it all very disconcerting.

Glad it went well for you, Clive ... despite the cost

MichaelG.

Glad that you now have good vision, again!

Can't resist saying that the cost was eye watering!

Won't be too long before I join your club.

Almost everyone who has had then treatment speaks of the marvelous improvement.

So 20121 is going to be a better year for you!

Good Oh!

Howard

I would like to add that I only wish I had had mine done earlier.

The improvement is really dramatic, finding out the true colours of things again was a bit of a revelation.

I had both mine done at the same time. This had two benefits, lower cost and reduced hospital visits.

It has taken around two and a half months for things to really settle. Now my optician says I don't need specs for driving anymore so that is a bonus.

John

Some follow up, I too noticed the clarity of colours. Previously I would have an illumimation if there was a side light etc from the side. This was quite annoying but now of course it has gone.

The test for driving eyesight is to read a number plate at 20 meters. Thats ok now.

I did read in the paper that the eyehospital in London are to increase cateract ops. by 9 teams doing 30 a day as the backlog has increased enormously since corona virus disrupted things.

Regarding the cost, this includes a room and meals, quite a nice set up and almost personal service. The process takes about 5 or 6 hours in that hospital with pre-op. checks and after checks and you cannot leave until you have eaten and had a hot drink.

Edited By Clive Hartland on 25/12/2020 22:35:09

Clive

Does this mean you have 2020 vision

Phil

Moorfields? I had an eye operation there about 12 or 15 years ago to remove a piece of metal that had been fired javelin-style into my eyeball. I wouldn't hesitate to go back there for cataract surgery (which is almost inevitable since the aforementioned injury started one).

Nowhere better IMO but equally I would pay 5 grand all day long privately to get the results you did Clive.

Hello Phil, no, not 20/20 vision as close vision is lacking and I will need close up glasses but I can see out to 4 to 500 meters clearly. If I look at the Moon then it is not absolutely clear.

Put it this way, I am happy to see better than I did with the Cateract formation.

I still maintain tat the Cateracts started with the prescription of Ramipril BP drug, in fact I checked on the internet and found two entries where they stated that Ramipril will increase the risk of Cateracts in older people quoting up to 32% of aged people developing them. Interesting that those entries have now been taken down.

up to 32%

That, on its own can be very misleading. Quoting to the nearest one percent claims a degree of accuracy that is likely unachievable. Added to the ‘up to’ actually means it is variable and always ‘less’, or ‘equal to’, than 32%. Yet people take note of these ‘dodgy’ claims as gospel without actually knowing the real increased risk - over the normal population/age group.

Perhaps I am glad that my doctor moved me to Losartan, when bee stings made me wheezy for a (short) while afterwards.

Likewise my doctor claimed to have not heard of joint pain being associated with statins. They can, for some - and I am certain I am one of those. My cholesterol has never been high but I am prescribed these things. I leave them off whenever I get joint pains (knees, mainly) and the problem clears up shortly after. Just started them again, over Christmas, as my food intake over the holiday period may require the statins to keep my levels at a very low level.

Nice to hear you have both cataracts removed . had the same op just over 2 yrs ago now waiting to have YAG posterior capsulotomy on both eyes sometime in 2021 The Optician stated when i had a eye test you have secondary cataracts.

Bee.M

Hi Clive,

Yes the cost was high, but the result is worth it, believe me.

Money is money, but good sight is something else. You will get over the cost, it,s no big deal, some people spend more than that on drink or gambling, with nothing to show for it.

You have much to look forward to [no pun intended ], so enjoy your new vision and take care.

Have been there, done that, and know the score !