Cataracts - Don't be scared

thats how I was, I cried a lot when they said the word cataract on an ordinary visit for an eye test as I also hate anything to do with eyes and knees. There is no pain at all, you see it all going on albeit just a mass of bright colours swimming about and its all over within 15-20mins. I went home after the rest period and thought I had boils but it was the heart monitor pads they stick all over you, just shows how they take it seriously whereas my sister had none of that nor any strict germ barrier stuff either.

Exactly the same for me. Night driving was a nightmare and dazzle from oncoming cars, even with dipped headlights wiped out my vision. The OH always used to do the driving at night.
The, I gave up work, which involved staring at a computer screen 8 hours a day. After about 12-18 months of retirement, lo and behold, I could then drive in the dark without any real issues. In that time, my eyesight has deteriorated a small amount (as it does with age), but my night vision is now good.

My biggest problem is keeping my glasses clean… I never used to wear them (except later for reading - particularly detailed aviation maps when flying) but now wear them most of the time with different glasses for the computer and normal vision.
No sooner have I cleaned them, than they seem to get all smeary again :roll_eyes:
I don’t know whether its the coating on the lenses or what, but its becoming a huge annoyance :face_in_clouds:

Stop wiping your fingers on them at lunch :rofl:

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Keep a stock of those microfibre towelling lookalike cloths that come in multicoloured multipacks. They are deffo the best in my experience.

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I have a microfibre cloth purchased from a leading optician chain - white on one side a pretty picture on the other… I use only the white side for cleaning the glasses (to avoid cross contamination) but still to no real advantage… Also used the Nettoyant lunettes spray from similar sources - still basically useless as well as the fancy Zeiss lingettes (wet wipes) which work in a fashion but 10 minutes later they’re just as bad as before…

Ha those are a useless rip-off, you need these and possibly washing-up liquid.


possible

suggested source?

I get mine in the supermarket or feu vert or wherever, they usually come in a multi pack so you can have one handy and wash them straight away ( and still have one handy). Also good for tablet or telephone screens.

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Cut up old clean t-shirts, very good for cleaning glasses.

Probably less good (for the glasses) but I find supermarket window cleaner gets rid of the grease and smears.

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I have been cleaning glass all my working life. I became a bit of a specialist - “If you want perfectly clean glasses or bottles, hire Chris Nation”

If a picture of a glass of Coca Cola is to go on a squillion bus shelters and 48-sheet billboards around the world, McCann Ericson do not want it in a smeary bottle or glass. Same with the beer ads - foaming 1664 or whatever.

The answer, and this includes specs, is a dollop of washing up liquid, washing with hot water with your hands, rinse with running warm water and dry with virgin [cotton] cloth if required now or left to dry naturally if not.

With specs, I put a spot of any kinda soap on tip of thumb and index finger, clean the lenses either side and rinse under the tap. They will stay as clean as crystal until you filthy them up again.

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Even better for wrapping your hair after you have washed it**, much less abrasive than a towel.

**Or just polishing your head if hair is no longer relevant.

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Yes! The cloth is for when a tap isn’t at hand.

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Actually Chris is spot on with the washing up liquid on the finger and thumb and then rinsing… OH’s German penfriend (mentioned previously) is the wife of an optician in Germany and years ago, that is precisely what she advised V to do…
I just wondered if there was a better way but it seems not.

Was this here in FR or in UK? Was the first approach to GP/MT or optical porofessional? I live alone and need to drive to shop.

The ferry arr’d at Ouistreham at 21:30. I thought that at this time of year [6th Aug] I’d make the 70 mins home in daylight/tending to gloaming but I was surprised at how dark it went so quickly. The drive was, in parts, terrifying.

Not at all. The prospect of having your eyes messed up - :scream:

It’s not like one has alternatives if it goes wrong. Many knee replacements go very well but my ex’s cousin, one of Britains leading actresses, had hers done and it ended her ability to act in the theatre. She couldn’t handle 2-3 hrs on stage any more but can still do films and TV, with all that sitting about, waiting.

Hahaha! You are presuming that the T-shirt is clean when you decide it’s for cutting up! :rofl:

In France as has been my home for 30 years. Visiting UK is something I have not done for years. Never went to doctor as it was the three yearly eye check up that informed me and then I was asked to go yearly until the opthal said she would book an op and again three months later for the second one. You know yourself when something is not right and have to do something about it.

So the whole process was in France and happened under the direction of your opthal professionals.

Any idea how one would initiate the process in FR if one has had no dealings with FR opticians/opthals?

Thinking about the drives I’ve had where I have been badly affected by the problem, apart from the danger to myself - running off the side of the road without involving another vehicle - I’m just as likely to go the other way, into oncoming traffic or, for the vehicle behind, come to what is a stop on a clear road …

I’m OK in built up areas with plenty of street lighting but beyond that I’m a liabilty.

Explain the problem to your local doctor and ask to be referred to the best local hospital eye clinic. They’ll either make the appointment for you or you can do it yourself. They’ll give you a referral letter.

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I don’t do that. I wipe mine on my T-shirt, the one that @billybutcher would cut up to polish his lenses! :crazy_face:

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