Advice on Cataracts

[Shogun]

Go to the Hallamshire ask to see mr Reeny.

[woggle]

My wife is a nurse at the eye department at the Hallamshire, she's never heard of a Mr Reeney there. But you have to get a referral and will get an appointment with a consultant who specialises is your particular condition. A cataract has to be at a certain point before it is operable, a gp or optometrist can refer you. The walk in centre is now replaced by the emergency eye centre. This is exactly what it says "for emergencies" not an existing condition.

[Shogun]

My wife is a nurse at the eye department at the Hallamshire, she's never heard of a Mr Reeney there. But you have to get a referral and will get an appointment with a consultant who specialises is your particular condition. A cataract has to be at a certain point before it is operable, a gp or optometrist can refer you. The walk in centre is now replaced by the emergency eye centre. This is exactly what it says "for emergencies" not an existing condition.

 

He is the main man there he did a cataract operation on me last year Mr Reny or Reeny,I went completely blind in one eye I had what is known as fuches syndrome thing thats how you spell it ,he was brilliant and I had a new lens in the eye fitted my vision is better than ever and I don't even use glasses now anymore.

[woggle]

You mean Prof Rennie, he retired last week but doesn't do cataracts he is a specialist in oncology now or was. With cataracts you would be referred to a different consultant in a general clinic.

Edited May 5, 2013 by woggle

[Shogun]

You mean Prof Rennie, he retired last week but doesn't do cataracts he is a specialist in oncology now or was. With cataracts you would be referred to a different consultant in a general clinic.

 

 

He did not do the operation on me it was a little Asian guy called Rami something or rather, Yes prof Rennie was the one who did all the studying he is a very clever man if he has retired he will take some replacing. I have two different coloured eyes he would always bring his students in the consulting room to see my eyes I would be there for half an hour at a time as he chatted to them.

[woggle]

That's Mr Ramkissoon you mean. Real nice man, and specialises in vitro retinal surgery. Yes prof Rennie was a very clever man, he was the clinical director, and will be missed. I've met them on social events a great team, that's why it's the department of excellence in the UK, they even get patients from Belfast.

[julado]

OK..for all those wondering about cataracts - I have had both of mine done....it's genetic in our family.

 

The cataracts have to become ripe before they can remove them...that means that the soft matter that makes up the cataracts becomes hard enough to be removed without loads of scattering material.

 

I had my first eye done in 1995...and was TERRIFIED at the thought of surgery. I opted for general anaesthetic...(at RHH on NHS)....and was VERY nervous. After the op I had an overnight stay and then home with eye drops and a natty little device to get them into my naturally closing eye at the thought of eyedrops.

 

Round two came a year later...(same hospital, same surgeon)...was I bothered or scared....not a bit. Even ended chatting up the anaesthetic (though I must admit I wasn't looking my best and the gown I was wearing was less than flattering). Again after the op...home with eye drops.

 

I was 37 for the first op and 38 for the second.....and I was blown away with the results.

 

Now the wonderful bit............we have all been amazed when on certain antique shows we see an old painting...it looks dull and lifeless - little colour.....and the expert takes a rag dipped in some fluid and gently wipes the canvas and WOW....the colours are bright and the picture begins to come alive again....just as it was when painted....and as we see more of the painting we can see the beauty and the love and effort than was taken with every brush stroke. And the end result is a wonderful picture full of colour.

 

NOW that is what you get when you have the op. Over time you don't notice the dullness of the vision...or the loss of colour as the lens in the eye becomes milky and cloudy...it's a slow and gradual process.....but you will certainly notice the difference.

 

Also as a rule they do the implants now....they aren't prescription lenses as such....as they can't determine what the vision will be like post op. They will ask about your lifestyle to determine the FOCAL LENGTH of the implant. Cataracts are more common in the elderly and it could be said that their needs would be more for closework.....reading, watching tv, knitting, gardening. Mine on the other hand and being so young were fixed at a length where I could drive...and I do have glasses (not bottle bottoms at all) for adjustment.

 

One set back I have found is that in the natural lens it will contract and expand using the muscles around us to give us focus. With the implants they are not squishable and focussing is not as natural...just takes a bit of practice. If I try to read a book...I can focus...but if I look away at something else...when I go back to the book I have to think about my focus....sometimes I get lost on a page because of it....and therefore very rarely read.

 

Also bear in mind...the technology that was used for my ops has come on over 15 years - I might even go back and ask for a bionic eye (providing it doesn't go bleep, bleep, bleep in the night)

 

Seriously though....cataracts ops - they're done as a day case under local anaesthetic now.....are a piece of cake. Don't fret or worry....your vision will be AMAZING afterwards.

Edited May 5, 2013 by julado
Just remembered surgeons name....Mike Nelson...top man :)

[Shogun]

If you go online there is some films of the operations,just punch in cataract and they will come up.I was a bit nervous but it is completely painless just a bit weird when the buzzer things is in your eye. when the old lens has gone it is like looking up from the bottom of a swimming pool as the new lens comes in everything come into focus and you can see the roof and the Doctor looking at you,the thing that struck me was how bright you see colours reds and greens look so bright and clear the grass looks so green it really is amazing.I was able to re apply for my HGV licence and I actually passed the eye test without glasses.

[buck]

I had cataract surgery over three years ago, first the left eye, then the right some weeks later. I had been forced to wear very thick lensed glasses. Since the surgery I have been able to read the smallest script without glasses at all. The only problem I have is direct sunlight forcing me to wear sunglasses. It was paid for by medicare which is available to anyone over 65 in the US.

[Mumbaiman]

I had cataract surgery last year and after 47 years of wearing specs I do not require them any more for distance and only if the light is poor for reading.

 

Absolutely amazing transformation and I would encourage anybody to have it done.