Update on Cataract Situation

[Anna Mason]

Quick recap Catract Op 19th April steep cone meant they couldnt decide on power of IOL to implant so they didnt put one in.

Well folks I was too grumpy to post before. Went to Oxford and had my lens fittings and was a bit gutted that the results were not good. I should have known but you always hope. It was reiterated to me that I really needed to have had the op done by a corneal expert but I thought that any cataract doc should know about eyes. She's not saying he did anything wrong just the journey may have been easier anyhow we are where we are.

Anyway situation is that a lens for internal insertion (IOL) has been identified but first they want to try some scleral options. I feel a bit like a Guinea pig here I have been told that a complication could be that the front of the lens will be so acute I may not be able to close my eye over it easily - Yeuk!

So I have a test lens arriving potentially early July and then potentially another after that. I am to get a copy of the letter they send to the consultant.

Great isnt it they are all very interested to see how things develop.

The good news is that my vision in my other eye appears much sharper so me and my right eye are best mates and the left one just tags along for the ride.

So being 50 something I have now made the only sensible decision I have made in years.

I am actively shopping for a new horse I'll keep you posted on both.

[Andrew MacLean]

Thanks for the update.

What are you looking for in your new horse?

Andrew

[Anna Mason]

A nice kind forward going 16hh 6 or 7 year old to do some dressage a bit of Cross country for fun and some showjumping.

This time last year when my Mum was seriously ill I sold my young Irish Sport Horse who had grown to 17hh and was going to kill me one day too boisterous by far.

The way I look at it is if I will need my right eye messed around with in the future and that may reduce what I can do speed wise on a horse I may as well go and do it now. Your a long time dead as they say.

[Anna Mason]

Yet another update new lens didnt take 3 to 4 weeks its here. Large scleral with magnifying glass in middle. Its something like +15.15 I think. Currently makes me feel very odd and cant take more than 2 hours of it.

Plus point is I can see my dinner without glasses minus point I have a suspicion that my blinking is pushing it south so my eye hurts. I will persevere until end of week then contact Oxford to give them an update. If I need an IOL it is to be +19 or +20.

[Anna Mason]

Another Update - Scleral lens gets uncomfortable after 15 mins and unwearable after 60 to 90 minutes even after a week. It feels like my blinking is pushing it Southwest so it hurts the bottom quartile of my eye. Off to Oxford on Friday to see what happens next. Its a shame because the close vision is great. I think this was meant to be the better option

[Anna Mason]

Yet another update following my last Oxford visit I was to try one of two designs and the next lens arrived just on a week ago.
Its a Mini scleral and there is good and bad.

Vision wise I have quite good close vision and with my lens in my other eye giving me driving vision the combination is excellent although I was under the impression I looked like a Supermodel and either the mirror is faulty or I aint!

Comfort wise not so good can wear for about 5 hours but feel a portion of the edge all the time like a mini grain of rice. This starts (using clockface terminology) at 11 but after half an hour has taken up a position between 7 and 8. The lens isnt agony just uncomfortable and makes me tired. When I take it out the white of my eye at about 4 and 5 has a red area which is gone by next day.

So I am off back to Oxford for 3pm on Friday next. I shall take a sleeping bag as the great Ken will be consulted so God knows how long I'll be there. We have to travel the M5 which will be such fun as its the day the schools break up so I anticipate a major requirement for chocolate.

I hope I can get it sorted without a second Op as I am schooling my best friends horse for her and searching for a new one for me and Sods Law will be invoked that the one turns up when I am sidelined.