Cataracts...

Z

Zenkodiak

New member
Ok I am now 20 and have never really looked into my problem with my eyes before now. Today I went to the doctors for my anual check up to see if my eyes were ok or any changes have happened. I thought it would be a good time to actually find out what was wrong with my eyes but I got back the normal robotic response unfortunately, extremely un helpful. Then I went and asked my parents what was actually wrong with my eyes and if anything can be done about them. They told me what was wrong but not sure if anything can be done now or if it is to late so maybe someone here could help me.

I was born with cataracts in each eye, my left eye was the heaviest hit and had to remove the lenses from both of my eyes. My right eye contains ok vision, I still have to wear relatively thick glasses but in my left eye there is very limited vision, even with thick glasses. (If you have ever took/done an eye test before, I can barely make out the top letter with my left eye.)

How my mum explained it to me was, a part of my brain never woke up and that stopped me from gaining vision in my eyes properly. She said how my brain wasn't able to send a signal to my eyes and that stopped them from working correctly.

This is the main reason why I am here, just to find out if it is to late to do anything about it and just to gather more information on it so I understand it better. So yeah, my main question is, is there anything which can be done to make my vision better in my left eye.

(A surgeon wont touch my right eye nor will I let them because the risk of surgery and I have no other eye to full back on.)

All information is greatly appreciated :D.
 
Have friends who's baby boy was recently born with cataracts in both eyes and he had surgery at about 6 months. I'll try to get more info about it from them.

But here is my first question.....do you see on optometrist for your eye checks or an ophthalmologist? Being in the UK, your NHS has the say as to whether or not you get new lenses as you grow or the new ones that can flex and go from near to far just like the real ones. Even here in the US, insurance doesn't pay for the newest lenses either...you pay a lot of extra money for them.

I had cataract surgery at 53 due to steroid induced cataracts that blew up out of nowhere. Too many cortisone shots for arthritis. And I keep getting a film over the lenses because I have rheumatoid arthritis and they have to blast it away with a laser. And then I got dry eyes on top of it as the RA caused me to develop secondary Sjogrens that causes very dry eyes. I think I'm on a regime that makes me put drops in my eyes at least once and hour. My poor eyes! So I understand your concern and wanting to fix the situation.

I will ask my daughter-in-law too...she's a pediatric nurse. She what she knows.

So let me know who you see while I ask some questions too.

gentle hugs my friend...........Jenny
 
bartlett,

You need to see an ophthalmologist. These are the doctors who are MD's You should look up someone who has experience in advanced eye disease or someone who has experienced with cataracts.

An optometrist has very little knowledge of real eye disease. They are able to look at your eyes and do the require tests for pressure and find the right corrective lenses, however, they are not able to really answer whether or not something can be done to help with your present vision and whether or not there is any type of treatment to help restore your vision.
Here in the US we have a Lasix Surgery that many people have had, which restores their distance vision so that they no longer have to wear glasses. Many people now only need reading glasses. I am sure that there is a similar procedure in the UK. I do not know if this is something that would help you, I am just throwing the option out to you.
Sorry I could not be of more help.
 
Thanks for the reply :). Sadly corrective surgery will not work for me and cannot be done. Since my right eye is the only goodish eye, no one will touch it for obvious reason. Thanks for the reply tho :D.
 
I did some more reading on infantile cataracts. I guess what you have you are stuck with unless your ophthalmologist recommends you get new lenses and then you can get new glasses as well that might not be as thick and cumbersome for you. Or if you can afford it, you can get the newer lenses out in but you'd have to pay for them and the surgery yourself.

The middle of the road option is to start saving your money now so that when you do finally need new lenses(they do wear out as far as I know) you can pay for the upgrade in the lenses while your NHS pays for the surgery and the basic lens cost.

I wish I had been able to do that as well as I have a horrible time driving with my lenses. My doc says they are designed for older folks with smaller pupils and my pupils are still too large as I'm still in my 50's. So light goes around and I get rings and flares and star bursts and all sorts of problems as well as a point where I can't recognize things between near and far.....about 30 feet in front of me. Can't tell if it's a squirrel in the road or a twig with a leaf on it. I should put a sign on my car....I brake for leaves in the road.

But i think your best bet is to talk with your ophthalmologist the next time you see him/her. Ask about when you'll need new lenses and how you could get thinner glasses. Your lenses , if they are the same ones put in when you were a child(or infant) might need some updating or changing. But they won't do anything if you don't complain about having problems seeing. If you don't complain, they will assume all is okay. So start watching to see what problems you do have with your vision. Sometimes we get so used to what we can see, we forget about what we can't see well. So start trying to figure out if you are missing things and that might push them into giving you newer lenses.

Your NHS is very conservative so you'll need lots of evidence you are having vision problems to get new lenses. Write it down and save your money in hopes of getting the better lenses.

About all I can recommend.

good luck friend...............Jenny

PS. I'll write back if I hear more from other sources.
 
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