Cataracts
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Cataracts
I know this has been discussed on here but I wondered was the lastes is on cataracts. I had to go to the urgent eye clinic at the weekend at my local NHS clinic, as I had a concern over an eyesight issues (floaters or detached retina.
Went through triage with a nurse and saw a doctor, we went through the issues and he did what I think is called the slit screen examination. He could not find anything wrong with my eyes in relation to the problem I was experiencing, but he did say I had cataracts, I assume he mean early stage. I was a bit shocked, as I am 55, and I though this condition affects people only in their seventies or eighties. up to know I have just worn reading glasses, but the suggestion is I see an optician for prescrition glasses, and there is nothing wrong with that. He said enventally I might need surgery in terms of replacing the lens. I did some research and much to my suprise between 10 percent and forty percent of men between 54 and 65 have some evidence of cataracts. That is quite alot of airline pilots.
So my questions are as follows:
(a) From intial diagnosis how long have you waited before surgery is required? i say that because I wonder if I could put it off until I'm sixty five?
(b) What age were you when first diagnosed?
(c) What are the results and time to resume a class one medical.
(d) Is this procedure permanent, unlike hip or knee joints that sometimes need replacing?
Many thanks for you answers in anticipation.
Went through triage with a nurse and saw a doctor, we went through the issues and he did what I think is called the slit screen examination. He could not find anything wrong with my eyes in relation to the problem I was experiencing, but he did say I had cataracts, I assume he mean early stage. I was a bit shocked, as I am 55, and I though this condition affects people only in their seventies or eighties. up to know I have just worn reading glasses, but the suggestion is I see an optician for prescrition glasses, and there is nothing wrong with that. He said enventally I might need surgery in terms of replacing the lens. I did some research and much to my suprise between 10 percent and forty percent of men between 54 and 65 have some evidence of cataracts. That is quite alot of airline pilots.
So my questions are as follows:
(a) From intial diagnosis how long have you waited before surgery is required? i say that because I wonder if I could put it off until I'm sixty five?
(b) What age were you when first diagnosed?
(c) What are the results and time to resume a class one medical.
(d) Is this procedure permanent, unlike hip or knee joints that sometimes need replacing?
Many thanks for you answers in anticipation.
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You are in the "younger" age group for cataract development, but, not out of the unusual. Bit like me going grey at such an early age.
I'm left wondering how the doc made the diagnosis, and, more imortantly, how it's affected your functionality ? (Can you see okay).
Unfortunately, if you are a pilot, then I guess you have a duty to follow this up, but I' hazard a guess, if you're asymptomatic, it's nothing to worry about.
I'm left wondering how the doc made the diagnosis, and, more imortantly, how it's affected your functionality ? (Can you see okay).
Unfortunately, if you are a pilot, then I guess you have a duty to follow this up, but I' hazard a guess, if you're asymptomatic, it's nothing to worry about.
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The UK CAA require a period of at least six weeks after cataract surgery. You will need to inform them of the date of the surgery and your medical will be suspended from that date (therefore the privileges of your licence will be suspended).
They require you to be formally signed off by the consultant after follow up appointments and you will subsequently require another CAA medical, obviously the eye test being the critical issue.
After it's been done, you will be amazed how much your sight had deteriorated.
The CAA have more info on their website.
They require you to be formally signed off by the consultant after follow up appointments and you will subsequently require another CAA medical, obviously the eye test being the critical issue.
After it's been done, you will be amazed how much your sight had deteriorated.
The CAA have more info on their website.
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At the age of 59 I smacked my head hard enough on a low tree branch to detatch the vitreous humor in my right eye. This tore the retina and resulted in an emergency vitrectomy and laser surgery to seal the tears. My eyesight returned to normal but within six months a cataract started to develop in the lens of my right eye. I could see the moon surrounded by eight fainter images just touching each other and the central brighter image. A couple of months later my optician advised that the condition was advanced enough to refer me to the local hospital for a cataract operation. That happened when I was 60, so pretty young by normal patient standards for the operation.
The following day, I had perfect vision in my right eye. Although the replacement lens was a fixed focus one, because of my relative youth, I can focus the eye at closer distances and am able to read without glasses. Although to be honest, reading glasses do make a difference and make it easier to read paper books. Reading on an iPad, computer, or Kindle, you just turn up the screen brightness a bit and everything is easily read.
The vitrectomy was uncomfortable and required lying with my head in a fixed position for several days, with 5 minute breaks for nature calls only.
The catarcat operation took 20 minutes and required no aftercare apart from eye drops for a couple of weeks.
I have been told that a cataract is slowly starting to develop in my left eye now and the signs are evident once you know what to look for, doubling or smearing of pinpoint lights in the distance, even with glasses for correction. I will have no hesitation in getting that cataract removed also when or if it develops to a stage where it interferes with normal activities.
There is a 1 in 500 risk of infection or some other complication involved in these surgical proceedures. Given the age at which most people have this surgery done, I feel the odds are a lot better if you are younger. Apparently smoking can promote cataracts so I haven't done myself any favours on that score!
The following day, I had perfect vision in my right eye. Although the replacement lens was a fixed focus one, because of my relative youth, I can focus the eye at closer distances and am able to read without glasses. Although to be honest, reading glasses do make a difference and make it easier to read paper books. Reading on an iPad, computer, or Kindle, you just turn up the screen brightness a bit and everything is easily read.
The vitrectomy was uncomfortable and required lying with my head in a fixed position for several days, with 5 minute breaks for nature calls only.
The catarcat operation took 20 minutes and required no aftercare apart from eye drops for a couple of weeks.
I have been told that a cataract is slowly starting to develop in my left eye now and the signs are evident once you know what to look for, doubling or smearing of pinpoint lights in the distance, even with glasses for correction. I will have no hesitation in getting that cataract removed also when or if it develops to a stage where it interferes with normal activities.
There is a 1 in 500 risk of infection or some other complication involved in these surgical proceedures. Given the age at which most people have this surgery done, I feel the odds are a lot better if you are younger. Apparently smoking can promote cataracts so I haven't done myself any favours on that score!
I had one at 46, just one eye. It took a while to diagnose as the opticians didn't think it was likely but it does happen. It is a wonderful, painless and minimally invasive procedure taking ten minutes under a local. I was recommended to go for a mono focus lens considering my being a pilot, less risk of complication but a slightly increased need for reading glasses (hardly any, it was already happening).
I drove the next day and no one could see anything different about my eye within a couple of days. As well as the improved clarity I also get slightly more light and colour through the new lens. Best of all they can actually fix some or even all of any myopia you may have by having a correction in the new lens! In answer to your question they normally last a life time. Do exactly what your told regarding drops etc.
I'm not in the CAA jurisdiction but I do think six weeks is excessive, I was flying in less than a month and really was back to normal after about 2.5 weeks. Initially it was a bit blurred and some sensitivity to light was there for the first two weeks then went completely.
You will have a risk factor for detached retinas after so take careful note of the symptoms your consultant will inform you of. Overall nothing to worry about.
I drove the next day and no one could see anything different about my eye within a couple of days. As well as the improved clarity I also get slightly more light and colour through the new lens. Best of all they can actually fix some or even all of any myopia you may have by having a correction in the new lens! In answer to your question they normally last a life time. Do exactly what your told regarding drops etc.
I'm not in the CAA jurisdiction but I do think six weeks is excessive, I was flying in less than a month and really was back to normal after about 2.5 weeks. Initially it was a bit blurred and some sensitivity to light was there for the first two weeks then went completely.
You will have a risk factor for detached retinas after so take careful note of the symptoms your consultant will inform you of. Overall nothing to worry about.
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I, an 72 yo MD, just had my cataracts done this past month. We docs make terrible patients, but it wasn’t all that bad. I did accuse the anesthesiologist of skimping on the Versed.
I discussed this with my ophthalmologist for 3 years. He agreed with my view that I would wait till I got sick of seeing poorly, then go for it. Though this is now a very routine procedure, occasional complications can occur. There is no rush to do it, especially if you still pass the vision standards of your profession.
Once it is done, of course your original lens structure is no more. Repeat operative procedures are very rare, though laser treatment for recurrent capsular clouding is not uncommon.
I certainly see better at a distance, and the colors are brighter. I still need a new refraction for near vision, likely 3 more weeks. I elected standard lens for distant vision, not Toric lenses or mono focal vision. Keep it simple, please, let the other guy choose the fancy stuff.
I discussed this with my ophthalmologist for 3 years. He agreed with my view that I would wait till I got sick of seeing poorly, then go for it. Though this is now a very routine procedure, occasional complications can occur. There is no rush to do it, especially if you still pass the vision standards of your profession.
Once it is done, of course your original lens structure is no more. Repeat operative procedures are very rare, though laser treatment for recurrent capsular clouding is not uncommon.
I certainly see better at a distance, and the colors are brighter. I still need a new refraction for near vision, likely 3 more weeks. I elected standard lens for distant vision, not Toric lenses or mono focal vision. Keep it simple, please, let the other guy choose the fancy stuff.
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Gingermt and others...
Than you for your comments, up till noe justnreadining glasses, I'm 55, but tomorrow on the sugestion on the doctor it is precriptive glasses. At a guess the doctor was mid twenties, so HO or SHo, but I think he knew what he was taling about.
I as sais before, I do not have at the moment any symptom, I just need corrective
Than you for your comments, up till noe justnreadining glasses, I'm 55, but tomorrow on the sugestion on the doctor it is precriptive glasses. At a guess the doctor was mid twenties, so HO or SHo, but I think he knew what he was taling about.
I as sais before, I do not have at the moment any symptom, I just need corrective
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I had a traumatic cataract after a car accident. I found an eye surgeon called Will Ayliffe in London who understands aviation and advised that the choice of lens is critical; he used the only one approved by NASA/USAF and the result is remarkable, better than 6/5 vision and no problems with lights at night. Interestingly my AME couldn't even detect I had had cataract surgery as there was no scarring or other evidence.
Psychophysiological entity
Oooo, sorry. I forgot I was on the serious section. But I promise to stop rambling when I'm dead.
I raced to get the second eye done because 10 years ago a vitrectomy in the UK and cataract in the US gave me years of brilliant vision. A small cyl correction was the same, idicating it was the cornea that was responsible and unchanged.
My main battle right now is with depression and getting back to 20/20 was psychologically disproportionate. Back to the science -
Lying with the gas or air bubble at the back - i.e. face down - is because of the work on the retina. An ordinary vitrectomy should be pretty easy to live with afterwards, though obvious care needed. It seems the bubble helps hold the microscopically thin retina in place better than swirling water.
One should soon - 24 hours - be able to see over the bubble. Just. A week and there was only a small ball left. Danger! Look down while chopping food and the bubble goes up and leaves you with one eye and impaired judgement.
A cataract almost always follows a vitrectomy, though one American surgeon reckons he introduces the new water in a way that stops that happening. If that were true, the procedure would have spread world-wide by now. One would hope.
I'm only partly pleased with my vitrectomy and peel and then cataract this time around. The latter was promised to be by the consultant that did my vitrectomy, but some young girl did it and the result is somewhat annoying. In fact, bloody poor and took much pressure and YAG laser to get rid of a lot of detritus.
My argument for getting things as I want them is because I'm unusual at my age with doing fine work and hours on the computer. In other words, a need to work. The result was worse than a walk-in jobbie in Texas, c $2,500 which was fine.
I can not imagine wanting two focal distances. Just the slight difference drives me crazy. All my technical specs don't work.
It seems I have a fold in the lens. Specsavers say they see that 'all the time'. After all, they oblate the lens and wash it out, then put the new one in a small hole and unfold it - if you're lucky.
They think I'm a pain because I have 20-20 vision, but I'm a pain because some days it's perfect and others certain bits degrade the vision. A bit of vitreous membrane and the lens fold. Inner and outer issues. Together its tedious at worst and of course they see a lot of desperate people, many of them young. It's hard to justify pressing to get things right but I could have had perfect vision with a bit more care. But I'm like that with everything. If it's not perfect I'll do it again and again and again until it's bloody well right. I have not however, managed figured out a way to operate on my own eye.
If I hadn't lost all quality of hearing I'd be off to Morfields - which has been offered, but struggling for perfection now is kind of wasted. I had no idea how much I'd miss piano, but I fear the two carpal tunnel ops I've had are wasted after a virus got into me cochlea. Next lifetime perhaps, though I can imagine being given a life of spider for being such a pain in this life.
I've only just found out spiders don't have ears, which made talking to my bathroom spider something of a waste of time.
The sequel. I gave Spidey a drink most nights, but he started to get a bit big. I helped him into a glass - minding his little feet* - and took him to the greenhouse for the warmth. A bloody great spider ran out and killed him and then ran back from whence he came. If this is not bad enough, just imagine what my trusting Spidey is thinking of me in spider heaven.
*Oh, have you ever looked at a spider's feet at about times 30? Totally bewilderinly beautiful. Like three tortoiseshell combs. I kept a leg for showing the kids with my old Whatson Scientific which is here now. (Checked me own vasectomy with that, I did.)
I raced to get the second eye done because 10 years ago a vitrectomy in the UK and cataract in the US gave me years of brilliant vision. A small cyl correction was the same, idicating it was the cornea that was responsible and unchanged.
My main battle right now is with depression and getting back to 20/20 was psychologically disproportionate. Back to the science -
Lying with the gas or air bubble at the back - i.e. face down - is because of the work on the retina. An ordinary vitrectomy should be pretty easy to live with afterwards, though obvious care needed. It seems the bubble helps hold the microscopically thin retina in place better than swirling water.
One should soon - 24 hours - be able to see over the bubble. Just. A week and there was only a small ball left. Danger! Look down while chopping food and the bubble goes up and leaves you with one eye and impaired judgement.
A cataract almost always follows a vitrectomy, though one American surgeon reckons he introduces the new water in a way that stops that happening. If that were true, the procedure would have spread world-wide by now. One would hope.
I'm only partly pleased with my vitrectomy and peel and then cataract this time around. The latter was promised to be by the consultant that did my vitrectomy, but some young girl did it and the result is somewhat annoying. In fact, bloody poor and took much pressure and YAG laser to get rid of a lot of detritus.
My argument for getting things as I want them is because I'm unusual at my age with doing fine work and hours on the computer. In other words, a need to work. The result was worse than a walk-in jobbie in Texas, c $2,500 which was fine.
I can not imagine wanting two focal distances. Just the slight difference drives me crazy. All my technical specs don't work.
It seems I have a fold in the lens. Specsavers say they see that 'all the time'. After all, they oblate the lens and wash it out, then put the new one in a small hole and unfold it - if you're lucky.
They think I'm a pain because I have 20-20 vision, but I'm a pain because some days it's perfect and others certain bits degrade the vision. A bit of vitreous membrane and the lens fold. Inner and outer issues. Together its tedious at worst and of course they see a lot of desperate people, many of them young. It's hard to justify pressing to get things right but I could have had perfect vision with a bit more care. But I'm like that with everything. If it's not perfect I'll do it again and again and again until it's bloody well right. I have not however, managed figured out a way to operate on my own eye.
If I hadn't lost all quality of hearing I'd be off to Morfields - which has been offered, but struggling for perfection now is kind of wasted. I had no idea how much I'd miss piano, but I fear the two carpal tunnel ops I've had are wasted after a virus got into me cochlea. Next lifetime perhaps, though I can imagine being given a life of spider for being such a pain in this life.
I've only just found out spiders don't have ears, which made talking to my bathroom spider something of a waste of time.
The sequel. I gave Spidey a drink most nights, but he started to get a bit big. I helped him into a glass - minding his little feet* - and took him to the greenhouse for the warmth. A bloody great spider ran out and killed him and then ran back from whence he came. If this is not bad enough, just imagine what my trusting Spidey is thinking of me in spider heaven.
*Oh, have you ever looked at a spider's feet at about times 30? Totally bewilderinly beautiful. Like three tortoiseshell combs. I kept a leg for showing the kids with my old Whatson Scientific which is here now. (Checked me own vasectomy with that, I did.)
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Gingernut... I had to look up the word 'asymptomatic' The interesting thing is that I have no symptons of cataracts, no family histry, and no risk factors. Possibly I need to reduce UV-B exposure through sunglasses, which I have never like wearing.
The doctor I saw at the NHS eye clinic said I should see a optometrist for corrective vision. So today I went to Specsavers, I have to say very thorough, it took over an hour. I went there because, because I like thier adverts, which are based on forty and fifty something men in denial that they need prescripton glasses. That is me.
Anyway, good news, the optometrist said the cataracts are in a really in a very early stage, and infact he said had I not mentioned it he might have missed it!!!!! i think the doctor at the hospital perhaps should have said that it was very early stage, downside is that the progression of cataract varies, but while I am asymptomatic, I'm reasonably happy, but if things get worse, hopefully later rather than sooner, that would be good.
The optimetrist said that with precription glasses I would be 20/20 vision, so the options were:
(a) One pair of reading glasses, one pair of distant glasses.
(b) BiFocals
(c) Varifocal
I really had not thought this through, but he felt Varifocal would be best in my circumstances, for example looking an approach plate, instrument panel and long distance, but I not sure how this affects the ovehead panel.
So my questions are:
(a) If I need corrective vision for short and long vision what is the best options, both in relation to flying and every day life?
(b) Is it diificult to adapt to varifocals, I was told 10% of people do not get on with them, what is your experience, flying or otherwise?
(c) My other question with a prescription which gives me 20/20 vision, do I need to declare to my UK AME, the fact I was diagnosed with the very early stages of cataracts, which might equally be present in thirty or forty year olds? My concern is that the UK CAA medical branch will go a little overboard on this?
The doctor I saw at the NHS eye clinic said I should see a optometrist for corrective vision. So today I went to Specsavers, I have to say very thorough, it took over an hour. I went there because, because I like thier adverts, which are based on forty and fifty something men in denial that they need prescripton glasses. That is me.
Anyway, good news, the optometrist said the cataracts are in a really in a very early stage, and infact he said had I not mentioned it he might have missed it!!!!! i think the doctor at the hospital perhaps should have said that it was very early stage, downside is that the progression of cataract varies, but while I am asymptomatic, I'm reasonably happy, but if things get worse, hopefully later rather than sooner, that would be good.
The optimetrist said that with precription glasses I would be 20/20 vision, so the options were:
(a) One pair of reading glasses, one pair of distant glasses.
(b) BiFocals
(c) Varifocal
I really had not thought this through, but he felt Varifocal would be best in my circumstances, for example looking an approach plate, instrument panel and long distance, but I not sure how this affects the ovehead panel.
So my questions are:
(a) If I need corrective vision for short and long vision what is the best options, both in relation to flying and every day life?
(b) Is it diificult to adapt to varifocals, I was told 10% of people do not get on with them, what is your experience, flying or otherwise?
(c) My other question with a prescription which gives me 20/20 vision, do I need to declare to my UK AME, the fact I was diagnosed with the very early stages of cataracts, which might equally be present in thirty or forty year olds? My concern is that the UK CAA medical branch will go a little overboard on this?
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For 30 years of professional flying I wore contacts for distance correction.
In later life as I began to need reading glasses, I wore those on top of the contacts.
I have a pair of Bi-focal glasses as emergency back up.
My ophthalmologist spotted the start of a cataract in my left eye about 10 years ago (outside the bit I looked through).
It is only now that this cataract has developed sufficiently to reduce my vision in that eye to become a problem.
I will have a new lens put in this winter (fixed, for distance vision), which will correct my myopia in that eye at the same time. This will be done privately, as I`m not blind enough for the NHS to do it.
From all that I have read/heard, choose a surgeon who does lots of them and is aware of the caa rules etc. and it is very straightforward.
In later life as I began to need reading glasses, I wore those on top of the contacts.
I have a pair of Bi-focal glasses as emergency back up.
My ophthalmologist spotted the start of a cataract in my left eye about 10 years ago (outside the bit I looked through).
It is only now that this cataract has developed sufficiently to reduce my vision in that eye to become a problem.
I will have a new lens put in this winter (fixed, for distance vision), which will correct my myopia in that eye at the same time. This will be done privately, as I`m not blind enough for the NHS to do it.
From all that I have read/heard, choose a surgeon who does lots of them and is aware of the caa rules etc. and it is very straightforward.
