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My eyesight.

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Having had a look at the medication thread, I read about cataract removal by laser.

My problem is not cataracts, but as I am getting older (66 next week), hefty & diabetic, I am finding that I seem to be changing my glasses every 15/18 months.

I am more & more considering getting laser treatment, but the very idea of it gives me collywobbles.

The upshot is, I am doing an ATM.

Any all advice welcome.

Things I would like to know are how much will it cost, does it hurt. Will I have to go back for further treatment, how long will it be before I can work/ drive again.

Those are the questions that I can think of, but, as I said above, any /all advice greatly appreciated.

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Comments

  1. Hey Jack. I had laser eye surgery about 20 years ago. I was really short sighted but following the surgery I didn’t have to wear specs until about 4 years ago, and even then it’s just driving at night, watching TV, going to the cinema/cricket. The experience of having the surgery is not painful, but it was a little anxiety provoking and uncomfortable (and the smell is unpleasant). If memory serves I was in and out in less then an hour. I remember for a while afterwards it was really nice to wake up in the morning and not have to reach for my specs, or have to stick some contact lenses in my eyes.

  2. Not had it done myself, but know quite a few people (including some very elderly relatives) who have.

    General consensus seems to be that the pre-treatment anxiety is much, much worse than the treatment itself. Bit like going to the dentist.

    Hope that this helps

  3. I had it done about 12 years ago, and I echo what paws and jaygee say. One thing, though: I think you need a stable prescription, ie not changing for a couple of years. Maybe it’s different, now.

  4. I had preventative laser surgery in February to halt the onset of glaucoma and open my fluid ducts or summat. As others have said, the thought of the surgery is much worse than the surgery itself, which is slightly uncomfortable at worst. Not sure if mine has been a success in terms of improving my vision (though I’m unsure whether that was the goal) but I must say it has left me often experiencing ‘shadows’ in my lower vision; I have described the sensation as wearing bi-focals without wearing bi-focals…not all the time, I should add. Hope this helps, er…JockTheBasket? 😏

  6. Not exactly related, but I was diagnosed with mild kerataconus about 15 years ago – which is a thinning of the cornea causing it to go out of shape (and in severe cases create a “cone” shape). I was basically finding I had to squint to see presentations etc etc at work. It’s something that usually happens in teenage years, but for some reason mine waited until I was about 40. Fortunately it has not got worse and is a fairly mild case.

    Because it affects the curvature of the eyeball, glasses do not help. The only treatment is hard contact lenses, which are frankly a pain in the arse. Since I stopped working, I don’t bother wearing anymore – my day to day vision is okay (actually my underlying vision is fine and the hard lenses I had were almost zero degree).

    From what I last heard, they really don’t understand much about this and there is no real cure. If it gets too severe – the eyeball curvature is so much that lenses will not hold in place, a corneal transplant is the only option. Being based in Singapore with a 70% Chinese population, I wonder that if I got to that point and had a cornea transplant here, would i then be able to read Chinese ?

  8. I was diagnosed with exactly the same condition @chrisf , when I was in my late twenties. Similar story I guess, I was monitored via outpatient appointments for a few years, was eventually told it was unlikely to get worse and then discharged as an outpatient. All I need is a pretty strong pair of prescription specs and I really can’t manage without them.
    I always get irritated that varifocals and bifocals cost so much more though. Hey, I didn’t choose to have eyesight this bad…

    • Had it done two years ago – both lens at the same operation ( until recently they wouldn’t do two on the same day but techniques have improved). Absolutely 100 percent painless – someone likened it to dentist, dentist is much worse. I was back at work in 48 hours but could have been back in 24 hours. Was driving after less than 24 hours.

      • I endorse this message. I had mine done last year and it was as Steve describes. However, it is probably worth knowing that I was urged to have the op in mid-pandemic and the NHS waiting lists were horrendous – probably still are – so private was the way to go. Had I gone with the NHS, they would only have paid for distance lenses, whereas I was able to get varifocals. This has removed the need for spectacles all together.

  9. @Fifer exactly same experience. I had an appointment for a procedure on my private medical but the hospital was commandeered by the NHS
    By which time my one cataract had deteriorated badly Hence Vision Express coming to my rescue.
    Absolutely first class.

  10. While I can’t say that I am skint, cost would be a big factor in my decision.

    No work related medical package, so it would all be coming from my pocket.

    Any guesstimates on current prices?

    Many thanks.

  11. I can only tell you my experience: £4750 per eye for varifocal lenses at a pretty plush facility. More pain from the bill than from the procedure.

  13. Short sighted, 56 year old man. I had cataracts removed from me eyes last year. The procedure was fine, I’ve had more traumatic haircuts. Having to not wear specs (apart from reading glasses) after half a century has been amazing. You’ll be fine.

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