Shooting eyesight cataracts

Todhunter

Well-Known Member
Some time ago, after helpful advice here, I decided to be lasered, only to find that I actually had cataracts. I explained to the specialist that I could stand reading glasses well enough, but badly wanted my out door long sight back, with a right master eye. It is important to make this clear, as I have heard stories about changed master eyes etc. In fact the result is now brilliant and I advise anybody putting this off to go ahead and get it done.
It is less unpleasant than the dentist, and no more glasses on to see the rabbit and then off to shoot it etc.The only problem is that I have now lost the dodgy eyesight excuse-- I am wondering if there is a painless operation that would speed up my footwork
regards Todhunter
 
Some time ago, after helpful advice here, I decided to be lasered, only to find that I actually had cataracts. I explained to the specialist that I could stand reading glasses well enough, but badly wanted my out door long sight back, with a right master eye. It is important to make this clear, as I have heard stories about changed master eyes etc. In fact the result is now brilliant and I advise anybody putting this off to go ahead and get it done.
It is less unpleasant than the dentist, and no more glasses on to see the rabbit and then off to shoot it etc.The only problem is that I have now lost the dodgy eyesight excuse-- I am wondering if there is a painless operation that would speed up my footwork
regards Todhunter

Glad to hear it went well, can I ask a few questions:

Where did you get it done?
How much did it cost?
Which type LASIK or WAVEFRONT etc etc?

:D
 
I had a cataract removed from my remaining half of an eyeball and it cost me £2005 at Carlisle.
I have glaucoma also but there is no cure for that.

HWH.
 
Hi, Answers to questions above: The ops cost a bit less than £4000, but were free to me as I have private health insurance. The NHS will do it but tend to delay and delay unless you can get a Doctor to say that the problem is interfering with health, job, etc. Privately it was done at a fortnight's notice in the Spire Hospital, Norwich. The method is keyhole into the eye under local anaesthetic, with a new replacement lens inserted and the one you were born with removed.The methods in the question I think refer to lasering which is treatment of rather than replacement of part of the lense. Regards, Todhunter
 
Hi, Answers to questions above: The ops cost a bit less than £4000, but were free to me as I have private health insurance. The NHS will do it but tend to delay and delay unless you can get a Doctor to say that the problem is interfering with health, job, etc. Privately it was done at a fortnight's notice in the Spire Hospital, Norwich. The method is keyhole into the eye under local anaesthetic, with a new replacement lens inserted and the one you were born with removed.The methods in the question I think refer to lasering which is treatment of rather than replacement of part of the lense. Regards, Todhunter

Mine was the slit and replacement method. My limited sight is brighter now and long sight is good.
Little point in having money making only poor interest when more important matters need attending to.

HWH.
 
I am faced with cataract surgery on L dominant eye. It's a side effect of accelerated cataract development due to repeated Ozurdex (dexamethasone implanted pellets to treat underlying retinal disease. I understand the chosen replacement lens is as per prescription for glasses. But, I have thiese for both long and short vision as varifocal glasses. Here are my questions.

Do the plastic lenses come only with a choice of long or short vision?
If they do, do I choose long vision to see down the telescopic sight?
Can one see the cross hairs on focus?

Thanks, K
 
Hi K

My brother had his (congenital) cateracts removed (NHS) and had a long sight lens in his right eye and a medium? one for the left, apparently your brain then compensates.
I did ask if he had the option of a ranging reticle to be lasered on one or other of the lenses but he didnt ask beforehand........

L
 
My advice - have it done!! - I had my right (master and shooting eye) 3 months ago and cannot believe how badly I must have been seeing before the operation - the result is far beyond my expectations - everything beyond about 20 feet is crystal clear and so much brighter. My local council (B.A.N.E.S) changed its policy last October so that if your specialist says your eyesight is not so poor as to stop you driving, then the operation cannot be done on the NHS. As a result I had to sell a couple of shotguns and scopes to pay for the operation - £2,650 in the Bath Clinic. The cost would have been £2,200 but my surgeon said that as I was a shooter, I should have a special lens.
The operation was very quick - first anesthetic drops were put in my eye and a cloth was placed over my face with a breathing (oxygen) tube underneath to prevent suffocation. A slit was then cut in the cloth to give the surgeon access to the site of the operation and once the eye was numbed, the eye was injected (it did not hurt - I was merely conscious of a sharp ***** and then a little pressure as the syringe was emptied). The surgeon then made the necessary incisions (1mm in the corner, 2mm on the outside and 3mm under the eyelid in my case) followed the ultrasound which (I understand) breaks up the cataracts. The broken up cataracts were then removed (the surgeon's hands were so steady he would make a good shot) and in my case the surgeon inserted the new lens into the eye pocket at an angle of 23 degrees to the horizontal to counteract my stigmatism.
My surgeon provided a lens which is designed to focus at distances upwards of 20 feet and I still require glasses for reading.
My apologies for the gruesome details but the op really is painless and the results are fantastic - the only snag is that I will probably have to sell another couple of rifles to pay for the other eye to be done.
If anyone is interested my surgeon was Mr Comaish and I cannot recommend him highly enough.
 
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