Opticians Today.

[Caran]

OH informed he has cataracts. Optician said she will arrange it and he will get an appointment in about 3/4 months. I thought there were long delays and problems with cataract lists, but hey if his comes through that will be okay.
I was told my glasses do not need changing but I have a "freckle" at the back of my eye. This needs investigating she says. What could be done about it? Anyone got any ideas?

[queenofmean]

Could maybe be a quick blast of laser to prevent it growing or forming anything nasty. Chances are it will mean a trip to an eye hospital Caran who will give you a thorough investigation - lots of lights and maybe photos etc...Hope OH gets an appointment quick and all sorted

[Mamyalynne]

Sounds like a Choroidal Nevus Caran , rarely problematic but does need monitoring, which will be normally be done at your local hospital eye unit.

Wishing Mr C a speedy turn round for his cataract surgery too.

[Caran]

Thank you Mamya and Queenie, answers very much appreciated.

[Togo]

Caran the "appointment" list is only the beginning. If the consultant deems OH to be a recognised ( by NHS criteria) case worthy of treatment, he will then be put on the waiting list for the actual operation. Some of the NHS trust waiting lists are 10 months before the op without taking cancelations into account. I went private at a cost of £1800 for one eye rather than wait 18 months and be unfit to drive due to the fact that cataracts get progressively worse. The consultants are under pressure to defer these ops for as long as they can. I bet that if you enquire about going private you will have a consultancy date in the space of 10 days. It is wicked. But all the while this is going on we are bombarded with ads and begging letters to fund cataract ops in Africa for 20 quid, and give someone back their life pleas.

[BAKERS DOZEN]

From being told I would need to have a cataract operation to the actual date was 5 weeks. That was at the end of July. We are away for four weeks in September and I will be back at the Eye Hospital in October for my final check up and to be booked in for my op of the other eye. No complaints here.