Saturday, February 09, 2013

The year turned upside-down


Having spent quite a lot of time since last Monday’s appointment bringing the family up-to-date with developments by email, I thought I would do the same here on the blog, so that we can move on to more varied topics before I bore you all rigid.

On Monday morning DH drove me to the Outpatients Department at our local cottage hospital and settled down with the work he’d brought with him to wait for me. Nearly two hours later I emerged, half-blinded by the drops used to shrink the iris, and with my mind buzzing with all the information I’d been given.

The very thorough surgeon I saw was keen to disabuse me of the notion that, just because it’s now done routinely, cataract surgery is not major surgery. It may not take very long or necessitate in-patient treatment any more, but it’s still a complex procedure and things can and do wrong sometimes, especially if there are any other eye conditions, including the kind of severe short sight I have always had. Complications such as retinal detachment are more common with severe short sight, so he wanted to be sure I understood this before agreeing to surgery.

Secondly he said that the way the cataract in my right eye had recently developed more rapidly meant that, unless I had surgery, my sight in that eye would probably worsen until I would be effectively blind in it, though obviously he could give me no timescale for that.

When I said that I was aware of the risks and did want to have the operation, he then sprang a bombshell on me by asking me whether I wanted to go for gold and have my short sight corrected at the same time! This would be done by not replacing the defective lens with one of similar thickness, which would leave me with clear vision, but still as short-sighted as ever.

Instead he would insert a thin lens which would mean that light would be refracted to focus, if not exactly on the retina (though that is the aim) then at least much closer to it than it does at present. I would still need glasses, as an artificial lens can’t change focus for closer work, but they would be far weaker and thinner than the ones I’ve worn almost as long as I can remember.

The main problem in having this done is that it would leave me temporarily with very uneven vision, with one very weak eye (the left) and a much stronger, newly-corrected one on the right, and this potentially rather (or even very) uncomfortable situation would last for the three months which have to elapse between cataract operations.

He could see that all this was a lot to take in at once, especially as I'd only been expecting to have one operation in the foreseeable future, so he told me I don’t have to make a final decision until I see him at the pre-op assessment in the big district general hospital where I will have surgery. This gives me time to talk things over with DH and do some research on the subject, but already I am well-nigh certain I will opt for the thin lens and somehow cope with the three-month period between operations.

The other problem of course is that being on a waiting list for not just one but two operations means that all our plans for this year are going to be upset. The surgeon said that the first operation will happen within three months, possibly even sooner depending on cancellations. After this there will be a three month wait until the first eye has completely healed and then the second operation. So all our normal routine is up in the air at the moment and I’m still trying to get my head around the idea that I may one day be able to go swimming and recognise the people at the other side of the pool or put on make-up (on the very rare occasions when I use it) without having to squint at close quarters. 

So there you have it – a Perpetua not in transit, but spinning on the spot, with a whole new perspective on the world opening up in front of her.

Image via www.freepik.com/

99 comments:

  1. I do not want to be the conveyor of doom, but do take your time Perpetua in deciding. It sounds wonderful to go for gold and perhaps do without spectacles. However, my brother and a good friend of ours both had the operation you describe. Each of them had vast improvement in one eye only, complications arose with their other eye resulting in significant loss of sight in that eye.
    I realise you cannot draw conclusions from my two examples, but for me I would be very wary.

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    1. Thanks so much for not holding back your experience, Rosemary, as it's really important not to hear just the success stories. I think the difference here may be that I wouldn't ever undertake this operation just to cure short sight. The fact is that I have an almost unusable right eye already because of the cataract and a cataract growing noticeably in my other eye, so doing nothing isn't really an option.

      It's the operation itself which has risks, not the type of lens implanted and the surgeon insists that there must be a full 3 months between operations to ensure that the first eye has completely healed before operating on the other. It's not an easy decision to make, but I have to make it one way or the other before long.

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    2. I fear I may have jumped in too soon Perpetua, and if I did please forgive me. Whatever decisions we make are always shrouded in risk one way or another - just getting into our cars or walking down the road.
      I send you my very best wishes for a most successful outcome, whatever you decide.

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    3. Absolutely not, Rosemary. Amid so many good experiences, it's important to have this reminder that cataract surgery isn't always plain sailing, as the surgeon made clear to me. I really appreciated you saying what you did and it will form part of my thinking as I make my decision.

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  2. Dear Perpetua
    The chance of very much improved sight is not to be passed up, I think. If I could have the problems in my left eye sorted (which have been there since birth) I'd jump at it, even if it might possibly not work - it's quite worrying to have only one 'good-ish' eye, and the possibility of getting problems in that is not nice to comtemplate. I had a nightmare a few weeks ago that I was both deaf and blind (and as I am going deaf it's not beyond the bounds of probability) - it was the most awful thing I have ever experienced, even in a dream. The impossibility of being able to communicate was horrendous. Thank God it was only a dream. So go for it, girl - it could be the beginning of a whole new experience of life (and thank God for recent technological developments in eye surgery - BH is definitely glad that he had his cataract done, and is actually looking forward to the next one when it's ready!) Love from us both.

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    1. I'm still grappling with the thought that it's possible, as I'd always associated sight improvement with laser treatment, not lens replacement. Luckily, except for severe myopia and, of course, the cataracts themselves, my eyes are healthy - no glaucoma or macula problems. At the moment the left eye is the good one, as the cataract isn't as yet very disruptive, but my right eye really has to be done, whatever the risks, or I soon won't have any usable sight in it anyway. And the left one will need doing sooner or later, but this way it would be sooner. I'll be doing more research before I finally decide, but I am inclining towards in for a penny, in for a pound.

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  3. Many thanks for the update Perpetua. I can fully understand why you wanted to wait a few days before telling all your blog followers about the outcome of last Monday's hospital visit.

    I presume that during the three month interval between operations, you wouldn't be able to drive? And what about working at the computer or knitting socks? And certainly the blog would need a temporary re-naming as 'Perpetually not in transit' :-) But I can see the attraction of the joys that should lie at the end of all of these procedures. Go for gold & keep us all updated on your progress.

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    1. To be honest, it's taken me until now to sort it all out in my own mind and tell the close family first, Ricky. I'm presuming the same about driving, but as I'm already not driving at night because of glare and don't drive when we're away because I don't drive the campervan, having to forgo driving for several months is probably the least of my worries.

      As for the computer and sock knitting, I think I'll just have to wait and see how my brain adapts in the interim period or read and type with one eye shut. :-) It does seem foolish to pass up the possibility of improved sight as a byproduct of an operation which is necessary anyway, but I'll make very sure in my own mind before telling the surgeon.

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    2. My friend George (85) is in the same situation, it may help to hear how he is getting on. He has severe short sight also and has had one cataract done with replacement lens. He now has one eye with fabulous long sighted vision and the other the same old short sight with cloud.... he simply has two pairs of glasses and uses one eye at a time, and has weathered the months by constantly changing his glasses! (he has had to wait 6 months between operations, but then he is much older...) Of course once he has the second eye done is will be a further 6 weeks before he can have his final eye test for glasses, which he will still need, but he is surviving OK. I'm sure you will be fine, its just a matter of getting through the difficult bit. We will be thinking of you, lots of love.

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    3. How lovely to see you here, Althea! This is such a helpful comment as George's situation mirrors mine very closely except that he's a tad older than me. :-) Being so used to my varifocals I hadn't even though of the possibility of two pairs of glasses during the interim period, but it makes sense. I'm sure my surgeon will have advice too, but as I won't be seeing him until I get my pre-op appointment, I'm busy gathering information in the meantime. You know me, once a librarian, always a librarian. :-)

      Love to you both, Pxxx

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  4. The brain copes well with differing sight in two eyes. I have one contact lens for long sight and the other for short sight and don't notice anything unless I shut one eye. I understand how daunting the prospect of surgery must be, but if you have to have the cataract operation, the chance to improve your long sight is a chance worth taking.

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    1. That's exactly what I used to have in my contact-lens wearing days and it worked very well for years. Thanks so much for reminding me of that, I'd completely forgotten and this reassures me that I may be able to adapt better than I first thought while waiting for the second op. It's the risk of complications which is naturally rather scary, but they could happen whatever operation I have.

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  5. Being quite short-sighted myself, I've often wondered if cost were no problem, whether I'd go for corrective surgery. Not having the money to do it, I haven't thought about it any more.

    I suspect that if I HAD to have an operation on either eye and corrective surgery were offered, then I'd go for it. Anything relating to eyes going wrong is a huge inconvenience and also potentially quite painful in the short term but it was always my dream to wake up and be able to look out of the window and see more clearly than I can ever remember (Falling asleep in hard contact lenses just doesn't equate to my dream - most uncomfortable and not to be recommended!)

    I do understand your predicament though - and if you choose to go ahead with it, we'll all have to wait until you can comfortably blog again...now, that puts a slightly different light on things! We'll have to send you little spoken messages!!

    Deep breath - and go for it! With all the positive vibes that our blogging group can generate, it'll be a doddle! Axxx

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    1. Oh don't remind me about falling asleep in hard contact lenses! It's some years since I had to stop wearing them, so I'd forgotten just how uncomfortable that can be. :-)

      I'll admit that I've never been tempted to have any corrective treatment, just in case something went wrong, but having to have an operation anyway puts a completely new perspective on things. If I have to accept the risks involved to regain the sight I used to have, it would seem sensible to go for the very best possible outcome and hope that I would be one of the lucky ones.

      Not being able to blog for a while would be one of the downsides of two operations, so I'd better start investigating the magnification settings on this laptop. Meanwhile all the vibes are so encouraging, so thank you, Annie.

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  6. By the way. did you ask the consultant what the probability of a successful outcome was (having just read Rosemary's comment above) - or how many successful similar procedures he's carried out? My cancer consultant was careful to give me percentages (he actually said 'I suppose you would like to know what your chances are of surviving for the next 10 years' - I suspect if they weren't that good he wouldn't have put it quite like that!!) It's now 9+ years since then, and all is OK still! If your bloke didn't, it might just be worth asking him before you finally decide. Although in similar circumstances I might even volunteer to be a guinea pig (but at my age now, it might not be worth it, and I probably wouldn't be offered it!)

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    1. We didn't get into numbers, as he said the risks are still low, though higher than for people whose only problem is cataracts. I asked him outright what he would do if he were me and what he would advise if I were a member of his family, and in both cases he said he would go for gold. The only difference after all is the thickness of the lens implanted and the waiting period between the two operations. The risks are the same whatever the lens chosen.

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  7. Phew Perpetua. No wonder you said you had a lot to think about.
    Faced with your choices, if that is the right word, I'm not sure what I would do, but think on the whole, I agree with your other commentators.
    It would surely be a good thing to have improved sight even if only in the right eye rather than two weak ones.
    Some of your (thinking time) should perhaps be spent devising ways of amusing yourself while your eye heals.
    Whatever you decide your have huge numbers of well-wishers and much love and prayer will be coming your way.
    BlessingsX

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    1. Yes, it's definitely a Phew situation, Ray and I've done a LOT of thinking this week. I went to my appointment on Monday expecting to be put on the waiting list for one operation and came out grappling with the possibility of two in the same year and improved sight at the end of it all.

      On balance I think I will be going for gold, but I'll be doing more research and pondering before I finally have to choose. As for ways of amusing myself, I think I shall investigate my local library's supply of talking books and also have the chance to listen again to all the CDs I've been accumulating recently. Music and books should do the trick and all the good wishes will be a huge encouragement. :-)

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  8. I think I mentioned my father had his cataracts repaired ... he chose the 'gold' option you are contemplating and despite being in his mid eighties now only needs glasses for very close work and reading. It has given him a whole new lease of life.

    Good luck with whatever you decide Kathy :)

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    1. Annie, this is such an encouraging comment. Thank you. :D I knew your father has recently had cataract surgery, but not that he has had sight correction too. The prospect of not needing glasses even part of the time is mind-boggling to someone like me with very poor sight, and yet this is what happened with a friend of my sister, who also only needs glasses for reading nowadays. It's good to hear the success stories as well as those with complications. They all help in the decision process.

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  9. How exciting, to think that severe short-sightedness could be improved, or maybe even corrected! I have lived with glasses and slowly worsening short-sightedness since grade school fifty years ago, so I agree with the positive and hope-filled comments, to go ahead and try for the best. Needing thin glasses for close up vision only would be an improvement "greatly to be desired"! Best of luck with your decision, and wishing you all the best whatever the year brings!

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    1. It's enormously exciting, but also rather scary at the same time, but I'm being very encouraged by all the comments from people for whom this surgery has been successful. I know there could be complications, but since I have to have the cataract removed in any case, the prospect of ending up with much improved sight is almost overwhelming. Thanks so much for the good wishes.

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  10. It is a lot to think about, certainly. All I can say is that I took the risk some years ago and have never looked back (very BAD pun!) To go to the beach and swim out into the water, then look back and see the people on the beach was the first big treat, followed by coming in from the cold and not having steamed-up glasses, and best of all ....I can buy the inexpensive and colourful reading glasses from the drug store, whereas previously I had to spend over $800 for rather nondescript glasses. Good luck with the decision-making.

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    1. Gosh, your old glasses were as expensive as mine! I paid over £400 for my present pair of varifocals 6 years ago, of which only a tiny fraction was the frames. The prospect of much thinner glasses and proper sunglasses is wonderful and it's very encouraging to hear that your surgery was so successful. All the benefits you mention are things I could only have dreamt of before the surgeon's bombshell on Monday and are very much part of the decision-making process.

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  11. Yes...your world has been turned upside down by the action you contemplate; it's not just a two in one op followed by another, it's the reorganisation of your sublunary round...your trips to Scotland and France.....and of your diurnal activities.

    I have only limited sight in one eye...and things would have been a great deal worse if not for the doctors of the Royal Eye Hospital in London when I was a child....and I know I would leap at any chance which improved that situation, but two ops in quick succession with all the restrictions thus implied would be rather hard to swallow.

    Thinking of you.

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    1. Thanks, Fly. We'd always known that going for cataract surgery would put a spoke in our normal round of visits, but hadn't reckoned with the possibility of two operations in the same year. Still, with the prospect of a second cataract op on the horizon in any case, it's probably easier to deal with it all in the same year and hopefully move on with restored vision.

      I'm fortunate that my very short sight has always been able to be well-corrected with glasses or contact lenses, though I only have a focal length of about 6 inches without them. Even the possibility of being able to see across a room without glasses is amazing and I'm on the point of making that leap you mention.

      Speaking of eye hospitals, I had the most wonderful care from the Manchester Royal Eye Hospital as a child, when my sight deteriorated more rapidly than my optician was happy about. Fortunately it was just severe short sight and nothing worse, but I've never forgotten those visits and the care they took. God bless the NHS!

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  12. I'm not going to give you any advice - not qualified to do so! Whatever you decide I pray that all goes well with the operation(s) and subsequent healing and adjustment. Who knows what else this year will bring for you?

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    1. Thanks so much for the good wishes and encouragement, Nancy. Prayers are always very much appreciated and as for any other surprises, I'm not sure if I could cope with anything else for a while. :-)

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  13. Hello Perpetua:
    It is somewhat overwhelming when one is confronted with all this information. But, still, far better to have everything fully explained rather than going ahead without the full knowledge of all the implications.

    It sounds as if in some areas you have few options as your eyesight is a serious problem which is only getting worse. In such circumstances, one is, perhaps, best placed to make a bold leap. However, only you can decide but it is so wonderful that you have a loving husband to support you through it all.

    As for other plans....well, in such instances as this everything goes on hold. And, when you emerge on the 'other side', as you will, then there will be no holding you back. That we do know!

    Our thoughts and prayers are with you!

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    1. Jane and Lance, you know all about plans being put on hold and the patient waiting until normal life can be resumed. I've always been someone who needs to have all the facts, positive and negative, and was really glad to find that my surgeon was so plain-speaking, even if my my mind was reeling from information overload by the time I said goodbye to him.

      You're right that I have few options as far as my right eye is concerned and sooner or later the left will be in the same condition. I'm fortunate that my eyes are otherwise basically healthy and that I have no other medical conditions which might make the risks worse. Better to operate why all this is still true, rather than wait until perhaps my health isn't as good as it is now.

      It will all make for a very interesting year....

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  14. An awful lot to get your head around Perpetua. I can understand your wanting to take time to think it through. It all sounds pretty positive though. You knew you would have to have the cataracts removed and this additional procedure seems like a bonus to me. I have always had a dread of losing my sight, and if mine deteriorates significantly I would jump at the chance of rectifying it.

    Bottom line though...it can only be your decision...Good luck xx

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    1. Tell me about it, Ayak! The surgeon was very happy not to have a final decision yet, which helped enormously, as I don't like rushing into big decisions without having had time to think things through properly. The operation itself will be the same whatever I decide, except for the type of lens used. It's just I hadn't reckoned with having two operations so quickly. To be honest I think the decision is almost made, especially with all the encouraging reports I've had from so many commenters.

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  15. As you know, I have been through exactly the same sort of thing, and though I had a few problems, I'm glad that I had it. I wish you ever success with your choice, Perpetua. My right eye now has 20/20 vision, and I wear one pair of glasses for close up, a different pair for the piano, and no glasses for everything else. I'm due for my left one to be done in June. Thinking of you. Blessings.

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    1. All the very best for your second operation, Bonnie. I found your blog just before you had the first op and am glad you're pleased with the final result in your right eye. 20/20 vision, even with glasses for closer work has always seemed like an impossible dream, so I hope my surgery works as well as yours..

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  16. I have the same eyesight problems as you i.e. severe shortsightedness. I had no idea there were these new procedures, as well as the cataract removal, that could be done to improve eyesight. I'm sure you will have peace of mind once you make a choice even if you have to put other plans on hold this year. Hopefully the timings will work out well.

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    1. Neither did I, which is why the surgeon's question took me so much by surprise. I was positively shell-shocked at the prospect, hence the inability to make my mind up on the spot. The disruption of our plans is very minor in comparison with the implications of the surgery, though I'll have to think of other things to blog about if I decide to go for gold. :-)

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  17. Gosh it is a lot to take in.
    I'm short-sighted and have worn glasses/soft contacts since the age of 12. I thought about having my eyes lasered when very close up started going out of focus when wearing my contacts. In the end went back to glasses as I can just take them off for close up stuff and didn't 'need' any operative correction. Think if I had to undergo surgery anyway [as you do] I'd be inclined to 'go the whole hog'.
    Off myself to have a ceramic hip replacement 10 April - but have no choice. Have a form of arthritis, it is also in my thumb but that doesn't restrict me. Yes there are risks in any op and my consultant was clear about that as was yours but then again I want my mobility back! And if all goes to plan will ski and ride again after a suitable period of recovery.

    Good luck making your decision.

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    1. It is indeed and my mind did quite a lot of boggling for a while. I've worn glasses since primary school and for nearly 25 years from my mid-30s wore gas-permeable contact lenses, latterly with half-glasses over them for reading. The only thing I can do without glasses is thread needles and extract thorns. :-) I've been back in glasses full-time for the past 7 years or so and still miss the freedom of contacts, so the possibility of being able to go without glasses even just for distance vision is very enticing.

      Very best wishes for your hip replacement operation. It will be so wonderful for you to have real mobility back and to be pain-free and able to take up much loved activities again. I too have an arthritic thumb, but like yours it doesn't impede me, and so far my hips still work.

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  18. Perpetua, thank you for sharing this blog post with us and for all the comments too - they make a lot of sense. I think that I would go for gold as well, and wish you all the best for the months ahead. A year passes very quickly.

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    1. Molly, it's another of the great things about blogging - this sharing of information and experience which would be so hard to garner in any other way. I had no idea so many people have had this kind of sight correction both with and without cataract surgery, and it's so helpful to read their experiences. I've also had a very comprehensive and detailed email from another follower who thought her contribution might well prove too long for a Blogger comment. People are so kind.

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  19. My two-cents: since the surgeon is already working on correcting one problem, why not correct all that he can?
    Yes, you will need time in between surgeries that will be a bit uncomfortable, what with one good eye only. But, in less than one year of time you'll feel brand new!
    I have not experienced cataract surgery yet, but my husband has and his eyes have improved immensely.

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    1. Bother Blogger, it's just eaten my reply!

      I'm coming to the same conclusion myself as I think more about it and read others' experiences. The risks of the operation are the same whichever lens is used and though it does mean having the second operation more quickly than I had anticipated, the potential benefits would, I think, far outweigh any temporary inconvenience.

      I'm very glad your husband's surgery was so successful. It must be wonderful for him to have had such improvement in his sight.

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  20. Dear Perpetua, your doctor is really exceptional--or so I think. I had cataract operations on both eyes in November 2009 with three weeks between the two operations. I learned about this thin lens/short sighted option only after the fact. Now that I've lived with the results of the operation for three years, I know I would have opted for the one your doctor is suggesting you consider. Peace.

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    1. Dee, I don't know when the practice of offering vision correction at the same time as cataract removal became commonplace, but it's a pity you weren't offered the option. It's a lot to consider, balancing risks and benefit, but since my cataracts are getting steadily worse, I have to make a decision one way or another before long. I'm interested to hear that you only had 3 weeks between operations as my surgeon insists on a gap of 3 months. Different health systems may have different practices.......

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  21. The very best of all luck with whatever you decide.

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    1. How nice to see your name pop up in the comments and know you're back blogging. :-) Thanks for the good wishes -0 much appreciated.

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  22. I echo Rosie - best of luck whichever you choose. We will all be there praying for you.

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    1. And I will be very grateful for your prayers and good wishes, Susan. Everyone is being so kind and encouraging.

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  23. Sending good "vibes" to help you make the decision. I can offer a different perspective - I have odd eyes - one very long sighted and one very short sighted - so my brain looks out of each "individually". Obviously I've not really known any different but I think you will find your brain will adapt for the short time between surgeries. Just be extra careful going up and down stairs, that sort of thing. Give your eyes time to focus and brain to adapt.... but ooooh I know which I'd choose if I *had* to have surgery anyway.... I'll need cataract surgery at some point (one starting in one eye) ....ooh a new possibility springs to mind!!! And Irene's husband Bobby has had his first eye done (just cataract) and is thrilled with the change. But you are wise to research and consider the risks.

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    1. Good vibes very welcome, thanks, as is your very helpful comment. I'd never realised that people can not only have two eyes that are so very different in focal length, but also function perfectly normally with that imbalance. That's very encouraging to know, though obviously it would be a new situation for my poor old brain, which would have to work a bit harder to adapt. The tip about stairs is very useful, as going up and down stairs is one of those things we normally do without thinking.

      Glad to know Bobby's cataract surgery went well.

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  24. Dear Perpetua, thank you for sharing this very interesting information. I also had not heard of the vision correction with cataract removal and am very impressed by your surgeon's careful attention to giving you all the details. My mother and aunt were disappointed with cataract removal because they did not see much improvement - perhaps they needed this procedure also! All the best with your decision making, thoughts and prayers go with you.

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    1. Putting all the information down in emails and this post has been really helpful to me in sorting through and making sense of it, Patricia, so I'm glad you find it useful too. I'm a great believer in sharing information when appropriate. :-) Ordinary cataract surgery isn't intended to do more than remove the clouded lens and restore the previous level of sight, so if your mother and aunt expected some other improvement in their vision, I'm afraid they would be disappointed, which is a shame. Many thanks for the good wishes.

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  25. Goodness, what a lot to take in and to think over. But as you say in an earlier post, thank heavens for the NHS: we are so lucky compared to earlier generations in Britain. I wish you all the best with the whole process. More thoughts and prayers winging their way to you from here!

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    1. Thanks, DB. My mind was reeling at first, I can tell you, though it's all making a lot more sense now and I'm much closer to a decision. We really are blessed to live in a country where such things are both possible and not out of reach financially, as I've read that cataracts are the major cause of blindness in much of the world as they were here in the not-so-distant past.

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  26. The very best of luck and good wishes - for your surgery and your choice. I marvel at the technology and wonder sometimes if my blind grandfather would have ben so today. I wish they could cure 'lazy' eyes, but they can't - it's something to do with the brain receives the information rather than the eye itself. I effectively have one focusing eye, so I'm very used to uneven vision!

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    1. Thanks, Mark. I too am deeply impressed by what is possible today and know it would have made such a difference to our ancestors' lives. Not everything is curable, but it still seems as though they can do wonders. I've heard of lazy eyes of course and can remember seeing children at school with an eye patch over their good eye to encourage the lazy eye, and I'm sorry that your lazy eye stayed lazy. It'w very helpful to know that you cope so well with uneven vision.

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  27. I'm sure that you'll soon be writing your blog and reading the comments from behind some glasses with lovely thin lenses, and delighting in your new, improved vision, Perpetua!
    Meantime, and in order to ensure that you can continue to enjoy blogging while you're confined to barracks, I'm going to whisper three little words....voice activated software....:-)

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    1. Gosh, thanks, that's a good idea! I never even thought of voice-activated software, probably because the only time I tried it (over 10 years ago) I spent longer correcting the spelling mistakes than it would have taken me to type everything myself. :-) Surely it's improved a lot since then.....

      Thin glasses would be wonderful. Even my current high-refractive lenses are pretty chunky at the rim and in the bad old days of ordinary glass lenses mine were nearly a centimetre thick at the edges.

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  28. Isn't blogging great ? I am sure that reading through all these comments has helped you sort out what you want to do. Although I think there is often a part of us that wants and expert to say.....this is what you should do, having options is good, and being responsible for making the final decision, when it is your own body and your own well being that is at stake, means no one is better qualified to make the decsion.I'm sure that whatever you decide will be the right thing for you. Fondest wishes, J x

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    1. It's truly fantastic, Janice. I can't imagine any other way one could get so much sharing of advice and experience, as well as so many good wishes. I'm afraid I'm the bolshy kind of person who always wants to have the final say if at all possible and I've been lucky enough to have been treated by doctors who have allowed that, especially when I had my second breast cancer. As you say, we know our own bodies and minds best and need to work with the experts actively rather than passively - or at least I do. It's that Lancashire stubbornness, I think. :-)

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  29. Hi Big Sis

    Further to our exchange of emails on this topic I am struck by how fortunate you are to have so many caring, thoughtful & intelligent Blog friends!

    You go for it! As I mentioned my friend who opted for the same op (in her early 60's had only minor problems after the second op and now reaps the considerable benefits every single day! Especially when swimming etc

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    1. You never said a truer word, PolkaDot. If I've learned one thing over this past two years of blogging, it's that blog friendships are very real and bloggers very generous in sharing their insights and experience. I've been given so much to ponder that is helping with my decision-making.

      It was very helpful to hear about your friend and it's obvious from many of the comments that her positive experience is shared by so many others. I'm hoping now that I will to have the same good outcome.

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  30. I'm so glad you brought us up to date on what's happening with your eye surgery, Perpetua! But I can appreciate what a difficult choice you're facing. Anything to do with the eyes is so scary. Whether you decide to go for the gold or to have more conventional therapy, may all go wonderfully for you. You know, life has a way of turning our plans for the year upside down in major ways and small more often than not. You may have some great experiences and adventures during this year's unexpected healing intervals. I'm hoping and praying that all will go well for you!

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    1. Thanks, Kathy, I hope so too. Putting all the information down in emails and this post and reading all the extraordinarily kind, encouraging and informative comments has helped me hugely in clearing my mind and working towards a decision. The operation will be no more complex if I go for gold, but it will mean having the second eye done rather sooner than I had expected and I'm one who actually hates the thought of having anything done to even one eye, let alone both. That said, without surgery my right eye will soon be almost useless, so I just have to deal with the fear.

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  31. It is a lot to think about.
    My dad had this done a few years ago. It was strange for a a while to see him without glasses as I had never know him without them. He has been very pleased with the surgery. The only thing he was surprised about was being awake for it. He had assumed he would be asleep.
    Since the operation he had one problem with one of the lenses but is was quickly and painlessly rectified by the surgeon.
    Best wishes
    Kerry

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    1. How encouraging to get yet another positive report about this, Kerry. I had many years without glasses when I wore contact lenses, but the thought of being able to manage without either even part of the time is still amazing. I surprised my DD when I told her the operation is done without general anaesthetic, but that's a very good thing, as the anaesthetic itself carries some risk.

      I gather from my research that about 20% of patients need some minor follow-up treatment to get the best results, so I'm well-prepared for that possibility, but it's good to know your father found it so easy.

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  32. I know many people who have had cataract surgery and none of them found it a traumatic experience. The outcome is usually very good and most people, having had one eye done, can't wait to get the other one done. The lack of fuzziness and the restoration of colours to their full glory seem to be the things people notice most.
    You may well feel out of kilter between the two ops, as it's commonplace to not need distance glasses afterwards, but it's most definitely worth it I think.

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    1. Interestingly I don't actually know many people who've had cataract surgery done, and none who've had sight correction at the same time, so it's so helpful to have all these good reports in the comments. My right eye is now very fuzzy and I've noticed the colour dimming for years, so clarity and full Technicolour sound absolutely wonderful.

      Being so very short-sighted I've been worrying about the between-ops period, but I've had a lot of reassurance that it can be coped with, so even if it isn't as easy to do some things for a while, I feel certain it will be worth it.

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  33. I can understand how many questions you might have, and in particular the question of how much of your life will be in flux if you opt for the two surgeries. I can tell you that I've had several friends make me absolutely envious of their vision post this complex surgery. My own mother--81--can read without glasses after surgery two years ago. I sure can't! LOL!

    I am sure you will have peace with your decision after you're sure you've asked all the right questions. The advancements that have been made in these surgeries is really exceptional from what I hear from others! oxo

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    1. Glad to see you've managed to comment, Debra, as I know you've been having problems on Blogger.

      My mind was buzzing with questions when I came out of my appointment with the surgeon a week ago, but writing it all down and reading the comments have helped enormously with sorting things out in my own mind. There's nothing like hearing how much this surgery has helped others to make it easier to accept having to undergo it oneself. I still have a few questions for the surgeon, but I think I've basically made the decision to go for gold and deal with the intervening period as best I can.

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    2. I have long sight in my left eye, short sight in my right eye and astigmatism. It is suspected that my sight was affected when I had measles (and whooping cough and conjunctivitis) at the age of five, wore specs from eight. switched to one soft contact lens in early twenties, but too painful to wear when I was pregnant so had glasses again since then.

      Because the lens for my right eye was so thick for many years I could have only plastic frames but we went to Spain an optician said metal frames were no problem, it was a matter of filing the edge of the lens to fit the metal and in Britain it was too much effort! Asked how long it would take before Spanish specs were ready, they copied the prescription from my glasses I was wearing, we were told it would be at least an hour. Would we mind gng for a coffee and coming back later? In Britain one waited about 2 or 3 weeks for glasses to be ready.

      Now I have rimless frames but cannot have lenses that darken in sunlight as the right lens goes so much darker than the left as it is thicker so I have prescription sunglasses instead.

      Just adding, I would go for the gold standard operation, but would want to be reassured that surgeon had done the op many times before.

      Best wishes, hope all goes well.

      Madeleine

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    3. Having always had very short sight, whereas my next sister is long-sighted, I had no idea so many people have such varying vision between eyes until I wrote this post, Madeleine, and had so many helpful comments. It's very reassuring to know how well you manage, though if all goes well I will only have to do so for a matter of months.

      My doctor is a consultant ophthalmic surgeon who has many years of experience of this type of surgery and the operation itself is no different from traditional cataract surgery except for the type of lens fitted. My GP gave me the choice of three surgeons from neighbouring hospitals (no district general hospital in our bit of Mid-Wales!) but his strong recommendation was for the surgeon I have now seen and I feel very happy with my choice.

      Thanks for the good wishes. Everyone is so kind.

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  34. Oh Perpetua - WOW! what a thrilling time for you! I agree with many of the coments above, and also think that you will probably already have made your decision. I, too, am at present in the tender care of Mr B, (for entirely different reasons) and I think we are very lucky to be on his patch. The Transit calendar will look a bit different this year, but I don't think that France and Scotland will be going away, and the family can visit you at home instead!

    'Vibing positively' in your direction!

    Spindrift51

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    1. I can feel the vibes from here, Spindrift. :-) I'm very glad to hear you confirm my very positive impression of Mr B, who was immensely careful and thorough in his examination and gave me a lot of time and information. Yes, I agree we're very lucky in our consultant, which helps enormously when facing more surgery than anticipated over a much shorter timescale. It's undoubtedly exciting, but also a bit scary.

      The calendar has been virtually scrubbed clean and we'll have to play everything by ear, which does of course give us more time for socialising here in Wales. :-)

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  35. It is amazing what doctors can do these days when it comes to cataracts. It seems so many of my friends are having the same surgery you are considering lately. They have all been very pleased with the results. Surgery always requires careful thought and consideration of the risks and the benefits. I think you are doing a great job with this. I wish you well. I hope your wait is not too long.

    P.S. I have been so busy lately that I have not had time to read and respond to blogs. I hope that I will now be able to keep up better.

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    1. I'm not surprised you haven't had time for blogs and blogging, Sue, with all the upheaval of a house move. Glad things are settling down.

      Writing this post and reading all the informative and encouraging comments it has received have been enormously helpful in working through the information I've been given and all the implications. I can't think why I didn't know about this kind of sight correction before, as it's obviously becoming more and more common, which is reassuring in itself. Certainly my surgeon had no hesitation in putting me on his list, despite my very short sight. To be honest the wait is the least of my worries, as a few months soon passes at my age. :-)

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  36. The vicar we have just left had exactly the same ops and speaks very, very positively about it all. Any eye op is something to think about as eyes are so precious.

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    1. My feelings exactly, Harriet. I've always hated the idea of having anything done to my eyes, but knowing that the sight in that eye is steadily diminishing makes the prospect of an operation less daunting. Thanks for telling me your vicar's very positive experience. Every example helps a lot.

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  37. I had my nearsightedness corrected with a lens during cataract surgery. My left eye is not yet ready to have its cataract removed. I found my brain figured out the difference between my eyes and adjusted rather quickly. Two weeks after my cataract surgery, my husband and I flew from Seattle to St. Louis and then went on a 1600-mile road trip. I took my eye drops with me, drove the entire way, and didn't wear my old glasses a single time.

    Always good to know the risks, however uncommon they may be.

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    1. It's really encouraging to hear your brain adjusted so quickly to the difference between your corrected and uncorrected eye, Linda, as this had been bothering me, given the severeness of my short sight. But you and others have reassured me that it shouldn't be unmanageable and it's a price worth paying to get the final result. I hope all goes well for you when it's time to have your second cataract removed.

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  38. I was in exactly the same position 5 years ago. I wasn't really offered a choice - I'm not shortsighted now after two operations. I've worn glasses since I was two years old, and being shortsighted was part of who I am. I used to have amazing close-up vision and I miss that. I no longer have complex lenses - no more free eye tests! Much better looking spectacles though, no more milk bottle bottoms. Given the choice again, I wouldn't go back. Pauline

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    1. Pauline's loss of that incredible close-up vision, however, means that I have lost my intelligent microscope!! But I'm not complaining... Pauline has a more comfortable face... NO DENTS where the bridge supports dug in for one thing... and she has a wider choice of frames, too... another thing to consider. Tim as Tim [not Pauline as Tim]

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    2. Gosh, it's like having comments in stereo! :-) Thank you both so much for yet more helpful advice and experience.

      Your sight sounds even worse than mine, Pauline, as I got by without glasses until I was in the juniors at primary school by sitting closer and closer to the blackboard and squinting. I know just what you mean about the amazing close-up vision. My focal length used to be about an inch beyond the tip of my nose, but it's lengthened with age to about 5 inches, at which distance I used to be able to see absolutely every detail. But the downside of not being able to see anything properly beyond that range is a big price to pay for close-up clarity and now even that clarity is being eroded by the cataracts. I think I would be ready to swap it for good distance vision and your final remark strengthens that preference for me. Thanks again.

      Tim, it hadn't even occurred to me that those uncomfortable dents on the bridge of the nose might become a thing of the past. Now that's a consummation devoutly to be wished. :-)

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  39. I think that it must be helpful to read all the good comments you receive as it keeps you mind on the subject and may help you to decide. It is a difficult decision and you must feel good about it once made. The no driving would be hard for me as my husband is not allowed to drive anymore, so I don’t know what we would do as we have to drive everywhere, but if you don’t have to, then it’s not a problem.

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    1. The comments have been fantastically helpful and encouraging, Vagabonde, and I've been overwhelmed by the thought that so many people have taken time to share their experiences with me. I don't really have a choice about having some kind of operation as I'm now barely legal to drive in any case, so gaining better distance vision would be a big bonus from having the cataracts removed.

      I can well see that if you're the sole driver, not being able to drive for even a short time would be very difficult and I consider myself fortunate that this isn't a factor I have to consider. I hope your sight continues to be good, so that you aren't faced with this difficulty in the future.

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  40. I'm sorry you have to go through an operation of any type at all Perpetua. I'm also marvelling at the wonderful things which our medics can now achieve. You will have near-perfect sight by the year's end - and the consequences of that miracle will be fabulous (driving is just one I am sure). Good luck with it all. Yx

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    1. Thanks, Yvonne. I've known for a good while that an operation of some kind would be inevitable sooner or later, but my mind is still boggling at the prospect of having my very poor sight corrected in this way. It truly is marvellous what can be done and I don't think I could ever take it for granted.

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  41. I think this is brilliant news, maybe . . . . .
    I don’t wish to be in your shoes, yet , at the same time, I do . . . . .

    Perhaps you can be the guinea pig and I’ll take my cue from you, provided that they can perform a similar miracle for me. Unfortunately, I only have one goodish eye, so if it goes wrong, I’m done for.

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    1. I share some of your mixed feelings, Friko. Of course the possibility of being given back good sight is wonderful, but a part of me is still fearful of potential complications and ending up worse off than I started. I know there's only a small chance of it happening and I don't think it's enough to deter me from grasping this opportunity, but I can't dismiss it entirely from my mind as I make my decision. I think I will just have to trust my consultant and hope I will be one of the fortunate majority.

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  42. Crikey, that's a big decision to take, and it's not an easy step to take. I sympathise; PF and I had a difficult decision to take just over ten years ago when we discovered that our six-year-old needed major heart surgery. Sending lots of positive MM vibes your way. Soon you'll have the best vision on the blogosphere ;-)

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    1. Gosh, that must have been a much bigger decision, MM, as you weren't making it for yourselves, but for someone else and it was heart surgery too. Glad it all went well.

      Thanks to all the enormously helpful information and experience
      that so many kind people have shared with me in their comments, I'm now pretty well sure I will go for gold. The risks are the same and the benefits so much greater with this option, even though it does mean anticipating a second operation that would otherwise have been further down the line. Your vibes are much appreciated. :-)

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  43. Too many comments to read through, so I'm sorry if I repeat what someone else has said. First of all, the best of luck with your operation, whatever you choose. My Nan was blinded by cataracts, and I'll never forget her face when she saw us, her grandchildren, for the first time in her life, after her operation.

    Second, I hate these late minute "alternatives". My brother, for example, was practically on the operating table when they asked him, as an afterthought, whether he would prefer pig valves or titanium valves in his heart - the first only last about 10 years (he's in his 50s) whilst the second last for ever but you can hear them clicking away. What a choice to make at the last minute!

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    1. Thanks for the good wishes, Pueblo Girl and for the heartwarming story about your Nan's restored vision. How wonderful for her and for all of you. It must have been very hard for your Nan to be effectively blinded by something now so simple to deal with as cataracts. Thankfully even my bad eye has some useful vision, though it is deteriorating and something has to be done.

      What a hard choice your bother had to make with no thinking or research time! That really should NOT have happened and I hope he has been happy with his decision. In my case I've been given plenty of thinking time, as I only need to tell the surgeon what I've chosen when I see him for the pre-op assessment shortly before surgery and that is probably still some weeks away.

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  44. Whatever you decide, and it sounds like you are getting lots of advice, I hope it all goes well and will be thinking of and praying for you.

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    1. Thanks, Sue, much appreciated. Before I wrote this post I had no idea how many people have had the same surgery and would be willing to share their experiences and advice with me. I feel very fortunate and much more well-equipped to decide.

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  45. Dear Perpetua, I do know what you are going through, though I experienced it in a different way. I opted to "go for the gold". My procedure was such that the lens replaced in my distance eye first, then, a few weeks later, my eye that sees up close was to be done. (I had laser surgery some years ago and before that had contact lenses that corrected one eye for distance, one for reading - which was quite something to get used to at first). After much consideration, as you are thoughtfully doing, I made my decision. In the interim, Tom developed a serious problem related to long-term diabetes. We have the same doctor, who said I would have to wait until Tom was stable. I was fine with that and, actually, it settled a differing of opinion between Tom and I about it. I ended up having my second surgery about 4 months later. It was a bit tricky until then, but, I did fine with it, even better when the second eye was finally done and enjoying my restored vision. Just saw my doctor recently. He said he was sorry I had to wait. I joked and said "I'll bet you were wondering how the two of us would do putting drops into each others eyes". All that to say, Perpetua, that you will make the right decision for you. I wish you the very best.

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    1. Gosh, another one who has had the same surgery! It seems as though at least half my followers have either had it themselves or know someone else who's had it, Penny, and yet I didn't even know it was possible. I must live on another planet. :-)

      It's really helpful to know that you were able to manage pretty well for 4 months between operations, as I'll be waiting at least 3 for my second one. I too used to have one contact lens for distance and another for reading, but that's some years ago and I now wear varifocals, which were fine until the cataracts caught up with me. I've pretty well decided to go for gold. Without the cataracts I would have happily carried on as I am, but since I have to have surgery, it seems sensible to get the greatest possible benefit from it.

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  46. Wow! so much to take in and so many comments to read through.

    Firstly, I cringed when I read it was cataracts as my optometrist told me I would probably get them soon. "After all, everyone gets them from age 40 onwards" she cheerily announced.

    I was thinking maybe you would be writing about cancer, because at least I know something about that, but I see you have already been there done that (sadly).

    My mother had a cataract op in one eye, and freaked over it, day surgery and she was seriously stressed. The next time she went in for the other eye, she had a GA, and didn't survive a year. Poor dear, she was freaked out, it was her first time in hospital in nearly 80 years of life for an operation.

    On the other hand, my neighbour in Spain has had both eyes done without a problem. His hearing is poor, but he can see well enough. Not as well as his wife who can't read or write!

    As for me, I've gone back to glasses in the last few years. I suddenly like them. I would hate not to be able to peer at something close-up. Even with glasses, my partner can't always see small print. Me, I can see the tiniest print in the world. Not sure I would be giving that up in a hurry.

    But, if your eyesight is deteriorating, not much choice is there? I wish you well with whatever decision, you take, sounds like you have made it, and I wish you a very speedy and good recovery. No doubt I will be going down the same road in a few years time.

    Thinking of you.

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    1. I'm suffering from serious information overload, but am very grateful that so many people have taken time and trouble to share their own experiences with me, positive and negative. One of the many benefits of this world of blogging.

      Surgery itself doesn't freak me, as I've had a reasonable amount of it over the years, and am glad that this kind doesn't involve a GA. But any threat to the eyesight I have, however poor it is at present, does give me pause and if I could avoid eye surgery I would. But I can't if I want to go on being able to see and do things, and as sight correction doesn't involve any additional risk, I've decided to have it done. My focal length at present is not much beyond the end of my nose, so no use for anything other than squinting for a short time at the finest of detail. Like Pauline above I'll be sorry to lose that ability, but I believe the loss will be outweighed by the sheer pleasure of not being dependent on glasses to do almost everything.

      Thanks for the good wishes. I'll be reporting back as things develop so hopefully you'll end up with a better idea of what may be in store for you too some day.

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