Post by muttsnuts on Feb 19, 2024 12:00:26 GMT 1
As some of you are aware I've been out of action for a little while, this is because I've had eye surgery, now this isn't for everyone, especially the squeamish amongst us !
However, now that my eyes are settling down, for the benefit of those like me that are petrified about anything to do with eyes, I thought I'd share my experience and what I learnt
Firstly, you cannot substitute research and recommendation, especially when it comes to this subject, I read online many, many reviews and horror stories, to the point it put me right off having my eyes sorted out, however, a couple of customers of mine had their eyes done (lens replacement same as me) and shared their experience, both had it done at the same place - Sheffield Hallamshire Hospital.
I researched the Hospital and found it was highly regarded and actually one of the top eye hospitals in the country, also, the proceeds from the surgery goes back into the NHS, which I also liked
I went for a consultation and they where excellent, you can opt for a free consultation and then if you decide to proceed have a full examination and assessment which you pay for, or have both done at the same time (£150), I opted to have it all done at once, then I knew exactly what I was looking at in respect of costs and what might be achievable
I needed a full lens replacement (same as a cataract operation), if you get one on the NHS you only get the option of a "mono-focal lens" so you can have short sightedness or long sightedness, privately you have the option of various lenses, I need a tri-focal lens (typically the most expensive), but then my eyes have been getting worse over the years and cataracts where beginning to form)
So to the operation itself, TBH the worst part of the operation is the time leading upto it, thinking about what to expect etc, etc, is actually worse than the procedure, despite the consultant assuring me at the time it was nothing to worry about, its painless etc, your mind does go into overdrive (well mine did anyway)
On arrival they put some drops in your eyes to numb them, and also a little pellet which you can't feel at all, once that has done its jobs (approx 45mins), then you go into theatre (just as you are dressed, no gowns or out daft), the consultant put more drops in, oddly in my right eye I didn't feel much, in the left eye it stung like a bar-steward for about 3 secs, then nothing, it turns out each eye can be very different and he wasn't wrong.
The next step is the first part I wasn't keen on, they have to draw orientation lines inside your eye, so with a pen (yes a pen), they put marks in, it feels exactly like you getting something in your eye, so lasts for no time at all, but you feel it.
Next they cover your eye over with a pad, which holds your eyelids open, then they cut an opening with scissors, that was sort of freaky as well, scissors that close to your eye makes your arse pucker abit, then the worse bit as far as I am concerned, they shine a super bright light into your eye, you want to blink but can't, you want to move your head away but can't, this is a little uncomfortable (not painful), and lasts a few seconds, after that you don't feel anything other than a little pressure on your cheek etc as they work on your eye - you just keep staring at this light.
When they are ready to remove the lens they tell you, you will hear a noise (nothing to worry about) this is them removing the lens - I say to people its like the sound you make when you stand on a snail
but TBH it doesn't make any sound, but I say that as it makes people pull allsorts of faces and makes me laugh !
Next they put the new lens in, that is weird as you see allsorts of colours and shapes, they then orientate the lens into position, then you are all done and they start on the next eye if your happy to do so, in all it took approx 12 to 15 mins per eye, my right eye was quicker to do than my left - no idea why
After the operation you can see , but it looks like everything is a foggy day, this is the anesthetic etc and takes a few hours to wear off, I had to wear sunglasses (they provided some) as the eyes are super sensitive, when I got home, I went and laid down in a dark room for a few hours and slept, when I got up, my eyes where already beginning to get better and by early evening I could actually read my phone texts etc no problem, I still had to be in a darkened room and bright light was painful, I dropped the brightness on my phone from maximum (10) down to 3, also had to do the same on my computer
Over the next few days my eyes have got better each day, you need to do drops 4 times a day, which is a pain, but necessary, bright daylight can be painful and its taken nearly 2 weeks before my eyes have settled to the point I can look outside without having to wear sunglasses.
The brightness of everything was the one thing I wasn't expecting, it turns out as we get older our natural lens turns brown and makes everything darker, so a new clear lens being fitted means everything is super bright and that is what takes time to adjust to, my eyes get tired, after a while I need to rest them, but it gets better each day, they reckon around 4 weeks on average and I'd say that is about right, I've been able to do work etc, but I just need to be careful and not over do it on the eyes
What I can say is that my eyesight after 2 days was better than 20/20 at the post op assessment, which was less than 48hrs after the operation, the care and attention has been 1st class and any questions I have had have been answered super quickly etc.
Nearly 2 weeks on and I can read anything and everything again and I am expecting to have 20/20 plus 1 or 2 better when I have my full post op asssessment in 2 weeks time, although my eyes still get tired, I can go a full day now without the need to rest them, although some early nights have certainly been welcome!
On closing, I have to say its early days, but its one of the best things I've ever had done and of course I'll never get cataracts, so one less thing to worry about as we all get older........
So if any of you are thinking about eye surgery, hopefully this will help you
However, now that my eyes are settling down, for the benefit of those like me that are petrified about anything to do with eyes, I thought I'd share my experience and what I learnt
Firstly, you cannot substitute research and recommendation, especially when it comes to this subject, I read online many, many reviews and horror stories, to the point it put me right off having my eyes sorted out, however, a couple of customers of mine had their eyes done (lens replacement same as me) and shared their experience, both had it done at the same place - Sheffield Hallamshire Hospital.
I researched the Hospital and found it was highly regarded and actually one of the top eye hospitals in the country, also, the proceeds from the surgery goes back into the NHS, which I also liked
I went for a consultation and they where excellent, you can opt for a free consultation and then if you decide to proceed have a full examination and assessment which you pay for, or have both done at the same time (£150), I opted to have it all done at once, then I knew exactly what I was looking at in respect of costs and what might be achievable
I needed a full lens replacement (same as a cataract operation), if you get one on the NHS you only get the option of a "mono-focal lens" so you can have short sightedness or long sightedness, privately you have the option of various lenses, I need a tri-focal lens (typically the most expensive), but then my eyes have been getting worse over the years and cataracts where beginning to form)
So to the operation itself, TBH the worst part of the operation is the time leading upto it, thinking about what to expect etc, etc, is actually worse than the procedure, despite the consultant assuring me at the time it was nothing to worry about, its painless etc, your mind does go into overdrive (well mine did anyway)
On arrival they put some drops in your eyes to numb them, and also a little pellet which you can't feel at all, once that has done its jobs (approx 45mins), then you go into theatre (just as you are dressed, no gowns or out daft), the consultant put more drops in, oddly in my right eye I didn't feel much, in the left eye it stung like a bar-steward for about 3 secs, then nothing, it turns out each eye can be very different and he wasn't wrong.
The next step is the first part I wasn't keen on, they have to draw orientation lines inside your eye, so with a pen (yes a pen), they put marks in, it feels exactly like you getting something in your eye, so lasts for no time at all, but you feel it.
Next they cover your eye over with a pad, which holds your eyelids open, then they cut an opening with scissors, that was sort of freaky as well, scissors that close to your eye makes your arse pucker abit, then the worse bit as far as I am concerned, they shine a super bright light into your eye, you want to blink but can't, you want to move your head away but can't, this is a little uncomfortable (not painful), and lasts a few seconds, after that you don't feel anything other than a little pressure on your cheek etc as they work on your eye - you just keep staring at this light.
When they are ready to remove the lens they tell you, you will hear a noise (nothing to worry about) this is them removing the lens - I say to people its like the sound you make when you stand on a snail
but TBH it doesn't make any sound, but I say that as it makes people pull allsorts of faces and makes me laugh !Next they put the new lens in, that is weird as you see allsorts of colours and shapes, they then orientate the lens into position, then you are all done and they start on the next eye if your happy to do so, in all it took approx 12 to 15 mins per eye, my right eye was quicker to do than my left - no idea why
After the operation you can see , but it looks like everything is a foggy day, this is the anesthetic etc and takes a few hours to wear off, I had to wear sunglasses (they provided some) as the eyes are super sensitive, when I got home, I went and laid down in a dark room for a few hours and slept, when I got up, my eyes where already beginning to get better and by early evening I could actually read my phone texts etc no problem, I still had to be in a darkened room and bright light was painful, I dropped the brightness on my phone from maximum (10) down to 3, also had to do the same on my computer
Over the next few days my eyes have got better each day, you need to do drops 4 times a day, which is a pain, but necessary, bright daylight can be painful and its taken nearly 2 weeks before my eyes have settled to the point I can look outside without having to wear sunglasses.
The brightness of everything was the one thing I wasn't expecting, it turns out as we get older our natural lens turns brown and makes everything darker, so a new clear lens being fitted means everything is super bright and that is what takes time to adjust to, my eyes get tired, after a while I need to rest them, but it gets better each day, they reckon around 4 weeks on average and I'd say that is about right, I've been able to do work etc, but I just need to be careful and not over do it on the eyes
What I can say is that my eyesight after 2 days was better than 20/20 at the post op assessment, which was less than 48hrs after the operation, the care and attention has been 1st class and any questions I have had have been answered super quickly etc.
Nearly 2 weeks on and I can read anything and everything again and I am expecting to have 20/20 plus 1 or 2 better when I have my full post op asssessment in 2 weeks time, although my eyes still get tired, I can go a full day now without the need to rest them, although some early nights have certainly been welcome!
On closing, I have to say its early days, but its one of the best things I've ever had done and of course I'll never get cataracts, so one less thing to worry about as we all get older........
So if any of you are thinking about eye surgery, hopefully this will help you
