I'm due to have two cataract operations soon, one on 11th September and one on 9th October. I've been told that I can drive after a week. However, my father was told he could drive after 48 hours, and a friend here in Austria was doing the same. I was also told that I should only get new specs after 6 weeks, which in practice means mid-end November as I might as well wait until 6 weeks after the second op. I currently wear varifocal specs, corrected for short sight, with my right eye being -8 dioptres and my left eye -5 dioptres for far sight.
I was wondering what other forum members experiences were. What I can't get my head around is what happens between the two ops, as my second (left) eye will still need the correction that's applied with specs, but my right eye will have been operated on and need a totally different, presumably smaller, correction. It's relevant because we are planning a visit to the UK from Austria in late October-early November, before the change in specs i due, and we're debating whether to drive or travel via plane or train. Cost is a significant part of the debate, but that's not the point of this thread, I'm trying to work out whether my eyes will be up to driving this distance before I get my new specs. SWMBO takes her share of the driving, but I'm reluctant to commit to a long trip if I would not be able to safely drive.
Any thoughts from those that have been through this?
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No experience I am afraid. An ex-colleague had cataracts and the lenses he had inserted corrected his eyesight and he didn't need glasses at all afterwards.
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I had the cataracts in both eyes done in the Spring of 2012. The procedures were carried out about six weeks apart. Against the advice of my optician I opted for the lenses that would give me optimum distance vision.
Everything went according to plan, although I can't remember how long I left after each procedure before driving, just a few days, I think. I felt ok and everything seemed to work, so I drove. I think I knocked a lens out of a pair of specs so that I had good vision in both eyes.
Things were great for about a year or so and then it was found that a film was growing across the eye. This film was removed by a laser procedure at the local eye hospital. After a few weeks the other eye developed the same thing, so the same procedure was done on the other eye. Since then everything has, touch wood, been good.
The eyes/brain copes very well with the differences in vision between the two eyes in the period between the two ops. What your insurance company would say if there was an accident between the two ops and they found out, I don't know.
I don't have any problems or regrets about having the eyes done. Come back to me if you want to know more. Or send me an email via the mods if you want to communicate in private.
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Mother in law had two cataract ops a month apart earlier this year, she was told that she could drive after a week so had 3 weeks ish of driving between the ops.
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Is it practical for you to leave your transport decision until a couple of weeks after your first op?
If your new lens means you don't need distance correction perhaps you can remove one lens from your glasses?? Discuss with your optician!
There was a long cataract discussion on this site some years ago. Maybe you can locate it.
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>> Is it practical for you to leave your transport decision until a couple of weeks
>> after your first op
>>
Physicaly yes, but it will have a significant effect on the price of rail and/or air transport if we leave the decision that late. I agree that it would be ideal to see how things go after the first one, it might be the best solution.
Thanks for the tip about the old thread, I'll look it out.
And thanks for everyone else's comments.
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My experience was the same as Duncan's - except for the later film experience.
Had the operation eighteen months ago at the age of 70.
I have worn spectacles since I was 6.
Optician could no longer correct my vision - generally very short sighted - cataracts in both eyes, with one greatly worse than the other.
Had the operation privately by virtue of medical insurance.
Given the choice for final focal distance - could be perfect for infinity - needing spectacles for reading, perfect for about 4 metres, or a combination.
After the first one, the surgeon said that while the other eye would wait a while, I may get eye strain, and my insurer would sanction the other eye, which was done about six weeks later.
As to the original question:
After two days waiting for the eye to settle down, I found my vision totally OK to drive.
The new good eye sees distance clearly, better than the minimum requirement, and the poor one, without being in focus, gives you the parallax to judge distance.
(Bear in mind that there are many drivers with sight in one eye!)
The operations were totally painless, though a strange feeling - the eye area is anaesthetised, but you are completely aware of what's going on.
Eighteen months later, I am still captivated with the vast improvement, not just from the cataracts, but compared to my former vision.
I chose to have them focused on infinity. Which means I have to wear reading glasses for many things.
In good light I can read the Telegraph without, and I only use them on the computer for close work.
By the way, if you are not squeamish, you can watch an operation on youtube.
Last edited by: neiltoo on Tue 8 Aug 17 at 15:32
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I had both mine done a good few years ago: well chuffed with the result, as I only need specs for very fine print now.
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>> The operations were totally painless, though a strange feeling - the eye area is anaesthetised,
>> but you are completely aware of what's going on.
I wore my brown trousers, just in case, but there was no pain. It didn't stop me being terrified, though!
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I've had over 24K laser shots to me ole retinas, I've had both eyes cleared of cataracts and YAG lasers to secondary cataracts. Also Avastin injections to both eyeballs.
Beat that !
Mostly painless........now, wheres the windscreen ?
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Sorry to hear you have macular degeneration (or you're diabetic). The late mother in law had that and had regular injections. She nearly had to start paying herself but the NHS changed rules. She was a nurse and knew symptoms but ended up going private. And then NHS stepped in to cover the actual treatment (Still at the private hospital).
Saved her eye sight for a while. Sadly passed away from something else a few years back.
Did you know Avastin is also used to treat cancers... A bit like them finding a diabetes drug might help slow down Parkinson's I guess.
Last edited by: rtj70 on Wed 9 Aug 17 at 00:14
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Diabetic for 30 yrs, Rob. Laser was for retinopathy. I may not have developed it had my optician and doctor had been in contact with each other. The GP used to ask me if I'd had my eyes tested regularly. Apparently, she meant a Fundoscapy whereas I thought the eye test was just the chart on the wall. The optician never mentioned a Fundoscopy although he knew I was diabetic. I had no idea about it and so the test was never done until I started going to the eye hospital and was lasered the same day as a matter of some urgency. My peepers are pretty good now in spite of all the treatment and my 71.5 yrs.
I think Avastin is used as a heart drug as well. I know they use it in the eyes to replace a vastly more expensive drug which the NHS won't fund. I also take a tablet of Dothiepin Hydrochloride which is used to treat depression, I think, but has been found to 'depress' pain from diabetic neuropathy in the feet ( in my case ).
A bonus drug is Metformin, I take mine at lunchtime, It has been found to act like Viagra ! ( It does )
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I think Avastin is also used to treat some cancers.
In the quantities needed for age related macular degeneration, it is vastly cheaper than the previous drug they used. Something like £50 a time vs. £1700.
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Very useful info, thank you neiltoo.
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Driving after cataract operations - rtj70
