cataract surgery

[bangstick]

So on top of the other issues I have health wise, I need bilateral cataracts done.

I've been referred to the local eye clinic and they have submitted the first stages of the necessary paperwork for NHS lenses.

They also offered the private option, and other than having both eyes done at the same time and sped through quicker, I wasn't really understanding what advantage a private eye surgery lens has over an nhs one.

I don't ahve health insurance so it would have to come out of my own pocket, and at 3.5k per eye potentially it's a big lump of cash to stump up and part with if the result is going to be only marginally better than the free option.  If I'm going to need glasses irrespective is paying for the surgery any real value, or will the private lens just be better and I'll never need glasses again.

the eyesight is the beginning of a long road to recovery for me, so I'd be interested in any personal experiences people have.

[RandomGuy99]

The NHS normally does them one eye at a time because you need one good eye while the other one recovers. If you get both done at the same time you might need a bit of minding from relatives or friends for the first day or two.

The NHS puts a fixed focal length lens in and it is designed to improve your general vision. It might reduce your close up vision for reading.

I think with private you have an option of getting a multifocal lens put in which means you keep your close up vision for reading vision and your distance vision too.

Recovery from the procedure is pretty quick and trouble free.

The link gives more information on the NHS and private options.

External Link/Members Only

[JontyR]

Cataract surgery advice on a punting forum...

Stunning girls will look slightly better.

Ugly girls will look much worse.

Both will cost and smell the same as before.

[hawai5o]

Moorfields Eye Hospital  City Road is Brilliant ,no need to go private.
Great caring Staff . Had both eyes done there and now  I don't need glasses ,didn't need them before either .ì

[RandomGuy99]

Moorfields Eye Hospital  City Road is Brilliant ,no need to go private.
Great caring Staff . Had both eyes done there and now  I don't need glasses ,didn't need them before either .ì

That's London.

Cataract surgery is done all over the country.

[bangstick]

Thanks for the advice gentlemen.

JontyR - noted 

I've needed reading glasses since about four years ago.  What I was trying to get out of the private clinic was whether I'd do away with them after surgery vs the nhs monofocal lens, as that's the only reason I'd consider shelling out for the op.  If I still need glasses to read irrespective then I'll just take the free option and spend the money on other things.

[RandomGuy99]

Thanks for the advice gentlemen.

JontyR - noted 

I've needed reading glasses since about four years ago.  What I was trying to get out of the private clinic was whether I'd do away with them after surgery vs the nhs monofocal lens, as that's the only reason I'd consider shelling out for the op.  If I still need glasses to read irrespective then I'll just take the free option and spend the money on other things.

From the NHS link it appears that most people still need to wear glasses of some kind. It really depends on how much correction from the lens they put in is needed to get you to your far or near sight prescriptions. They don't offer the multifocal lens as an option under the NHS presumably due to cost.

Best to speak to your optician and eye department at the hospital to get their advice.

[bangstick]

From the NHS link it appears that most people still need to wear glasses of some kind. It really depends on how much correction from the lens they put in is needed to get you to your far or near sight prescriptions. They don't offer the multifocal lens as an option under the NHS presumably due to cost.

Best to speak to your optician and eye department at the hospital to get their advice.

Thanks Randomguy, yes the appointment for that chat is all set and booked.  As I say, if they say glasses only for detailed work like watchmaking then that's one thing, but if I've still got to wear glasses for reading or looking at a screen I'll take the free option and go to specsavers.

[RandomGuy99]

Thanks Randomguy, yes the appointment for that chat is all set and booked.  As I say, if they say glasses only for detailed work like watchmaking then that's one thing, but if I've still got to wear glasses for reading or looking at a screen I'll take the free option and go to specsavers.

I know someone who recently had it done. They have lost the ability to read newspapers or normal print letters even with glasses but general vision has improved with things being brighter and can still watch the TV

[scutty brown]

The big question is whether the surgery eliminates those bloody beer goggles which make fugglies so attractive when you're drunk

[george r]

The NHS normally does them one eye at a time because you need one good eye while the other one recovers. If you get both done at the same time you might need a bit of minding from relatives or friends for the first day or two.

The NHS puts a fixed focal length lens in and it is designed to improve your general vision. It might reduce your close up vision for reading.

I think with private you have an option of getting a multifocal lens put in which means you keep your close up vision for reading vision and your distance vision too.

Recovery from the procedure is pretty quick and trouble free.

The link gives more information on the NHS and private options.

External Link/Members Only

yes i had a mate have his done by the nhs one at a time but it was done in a private hospital but the nhs paid because of the back log at the time  and this was before covid 

[hawai5o]

Moorfields Eye Hospital  City Road is Brilliant ,no need to go private.
Great caring Staff . Had both eyes done there and now  I don't need glasses ,didn't need them before either .ì

; Which hospital in UK is best for eyes?
Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is the leading provider of eye health services in the UK and a world-class centre of excellence for ophthalmic research and education.

[Murray Mint]

I have just had cataract surgery on both eyes – the first in December and the second last month. I have worn glasses for over 65 years, having fairly severe short sight and moderate astigmatism in both eyes. I’ve worn varifocal glasses for many years, with high refractive index lenses to reduce their thickness (and weight), with complete success.

The current waiting time here in Berkshire for NHS cataract surgery is at least 6 months, so I decided to go privately. This left me with a wealth of options, but all of them would have left me having to wear glasses in some form.

Monofocal IOLs would correct my short sight, and enhanced monofocal my short sight and intermediate vision, but neither would correct the astigmatism. So-called toric IOLs will correct astigmatism, but a significant number of people then suffer from the bright light ‘halo’ effect. Also, astigmatism is a defect of the cornea, not the lens, and can change as you age. So, I decided to just go with a monofocal lens, but have my short sight significantly improved (i.e. the service the NHS also offers).

I won’t know the full effectiveness of this until I’ve had my eyes retested and new glasses prescribed in a few weeks’ time. (BTW, had I lived in Hampshire, the current NHS waiting time there is no more than a couple of weeks!)

So, in answer to the OP’s question is paying for the surgery any real value, in my case, probably no, but had I not suffered from astigmatism, I would have opted for enhanced monofocal lenses, and therefore no need for glasses.

[advent2016]

So on top of the other issues I have health wise, I need bilateral cataracts done.

I've been referred to the local eye clinic and they have submitted the first stages of the necessary paperwork for NHS lenses.

They also offered the private option, and other than having both eyes done at the same time and sped through quicker, I wasn't really understanding what advantage a private eye surgery lens has over an nhs one.

I don't ahve health insurance so it would have to come out of my own pocket, and at 3.5k per eye potentially it's a big lump of cash to stump up and part with if the result is going to be only marginally better than the free option.  If I'm going to need glasses irrespective is paying for the surgery any real value, or will the private lens just be better and I'll never need glasses again.

the eyesight is the beginning of a long road to recovery for me, so I'd be interested in any personal experiences people have.

If I needed it done privately, I'd divert half my yearly punting budget (£10,000).
I've had glaucoma surgery privately £500 per eye, the killer was the hospital cost £1500 for 20 mins work, although the doc got it reduced to £500, so I bought him a bottle of bubbly  and had 5 £200 BJs with my HL.
Doc says I'll need cataracts done and I could have different lenses in each eye, varifocal in one, reading/ macro in other - depends on how well my brain can adjust. He's in his 70s and he still does about 30 NHS cataracts a week and 8 private ones and other types of ophthalmology. Both his kids are junior ophthalmic doctors