1. Community
  2. Eyes
  3. Cataract

Upcoming cataract surgery and return to work

Posted , 12 users are following.

John5006
John5006

Hi there,

I am in Britain and am about to go for cataract surgery, on 2 July, one eye only.

Can anyone give me an idea - assuming its straight forward of course - of the timeline I can expect before I can ....1) drive my car again and resume my employment as a bus driver and 2)  when I can return to work on light duties.

My employer is looking at providing me with clerical work for a limited period of time, basically, paper shuffling, computer work and active work such as meeting and greeting passengers and showing them bus departures.

I have researched DVLA requirements and am in the loop there but its very difficult to get a timeline on it.

Probably due to the fact that we all heal differently.

Many thanks in advance.

John

0 likes, 21 replies

21 Replies

Next
  • frances75444
    frances75444 John5006

    Posted

    Hi John,

    I had my right eye done 2 1/2 months ago but I was driving right away I waited a few days just to make sure I was okay to drive. Everyone has a different healing time. I just made sure everything was clear and not blurry.  When I had my other eye done I drove immediately it was clear right away.

  • soks
    soks John5006

    Posted

    What lens are you getting implanted?
    • John5006
      John5006 soks

      Posted

      Thank you for your thoughts - the short answer is, I just do not know what my lens will be. I have to say though, that I am so grateful for everyone's responses, a much wider range of responses than I was expecting.

    • Sue.An
      Sue.An John5006

      Posted

      John you mention living in England.  I have loads of family there.  Good start for England in opening games World Cup.   Fingers crossed we do better in this one!!! 

      If surgery is covered through NHS you will be getting monofocal lenses.  Nothing wrong with those and many prefer them to multifocal or EDOF - extended depth of focus lenses which I have.  You should think about which distance you want to see best at - as you will need glasses afterwards.  I assume distance but others prefer intermediate so they can read and see computer distance.   Some do a mini monovision approach where one eye is set for distance and the other for intermediate to have better all round range of focus.   Hoping you have time to discuss these with your surgeon.

    • John5006
      John5006 Sue.An

      Posted

      Hi Sue_An,

      Thanks for your comments. I'm not sure what sort of lenses I am getting. The surgeon should have the current prescription of my existing glasses. I am now wondering about lenses as my glasses at the moment have a Varifocal lens, that is they are graduated - the lower bit is for close work, eating, reading and computer work and TV, then there is middle distance graduation, then finally long distance graduation. So long as the graduation is done right then my preference is for close work to be the priority. Middle and long distance is less of an issue for me.

      I shall be putting a call through to the Hospital Assessment Team in the morning and have a chat to them about the lens. Certainly, at this stage nobody has discussed lenses with me.

      This is looking to be a bit of a minefield !

      Whereabouts are you in this wide, wide world? Where are your 'loads of family' based in England? I am in Cornwall.

      Yep, England World Cup hopes are looking good. Mustn't get too confident though.

      Thanks again.

      John

    • Sue.An
      Sue.An John5006

      Posted

      My family is spread out - some in Essex and some in Portsmouth and some near London.   All my dad’s side of the family is there.  Spent many a summers there and holidays.  Fond times and thanks to Facebook keep in touch.

      Thinking you should read up as the IOLs you will be getting are not like your glasses.  You lose all accommodation and you’ll have to decide which distance you want to see best at.  If distance you don’t be able to read without readers.  There are premium lenses but NHs won’t provide that option and you’ll have to have them done privately.   If all goes well you are much more glasses independent.  I actually never need glasses but they come st a trade off of night vision.  I have more halos that are concentric circles around certain light sources.  If you drive at night a lot these mightn’t be something you want.  I know pilots due to thatbteason are only permitted to get monofocal lenses.

      Will you have a consult before your surgery?  It would be beneficial to discuss the options and your preferences etc before hand.

    • John5006
      John5006 Sue.An

      Posted

      Hi Sue.An,

      Well now day 5 post cataract op and thanks to you all who commented on my original post/query.

      Sue.An, you asked for me to keep you posted. Well, feeling just fine and the two major sensations I am now experiencing are 1 ) - how bright and clear it is outside (here in Britain we are experiencing a summer of warm, sunny weather with clear blue skies) and 2) how my vision is returning in the operated eye - to the point that it is making the 'good' eye not quite so good as it seemed. ( Nothing wrong with it except a pure and simple aging issue).

      I have been out and about but have not driven yet … haven't needed to and to be honest, just haven't felt like it. Legally, I can drive as I am more than capable of meeting my drivers licence criteria, reading a car number plate at 20 metres.

      I have had to declare my surgery for my Bus Drivers licence to our drivers licencing authority (DVLA) and they have put me 'off the road' until they receive back some papers they have put in the mail to me. Their medical services team have been very helpful and have told me that I can return to bus driving at any time so long as I have a new eyesight test and that the results meet their stricter requirements applied to bus drivers.

      Accordingly, I have booked an eyesight test for 11 July with an Optician. If I pass it I can return to work any time - that being the case I still have to meet the bending/heavy lifting requirements which is two weeks at least.

      I have to say the most amazing thing is that I can see TV and read whatever script is on TV clearer than I've done for years, and actually can do all this, even without my glasses on. Amazing. I will need a prescription for new glasses lenses but that can't happen until the 6 week mark (post op).

      My glasses lenses are what here in Britain we call graduated varifocal lenses, i.e the lower bit is for reading/eating, the middle is medium distance and the top bit long distance. They also have a coating of anti glare and also are known as reflections. That is,  when indoors they are normal, when going outside they darken and become like sun glasses.

      So Sue.An, that's all my news. Thanks for your interest. We'll see how it goes next week. If I do pass the eyesight test the earliest I'd return to work would be 20 July. My official post op review back at hospital is 31 July.

      John

       

    • Sue.An
      Sue.An John5006

      Posted

      Congrats John - sounds like the surgery was very successful.  And can’t help but add what great timing to have your vision crisp and sharp - in time for England’s historic win against Colombia on penalty kicks.  I can’t wait to watch quarter final vs Sweden tomorrow.  Fingers crossed we make it to semis.

      Football aside - sounds like you’ll be passing that vision test for bus drivers and soon be back to work.  How are you managing now that you have one eye operated on and other needing glasses?   Are you planning on a contact lens?   I had a 6 week wait between my surgeries and ended up wearing my old glasses with a lens poked out.  Wasn't the best but I managed.

      Enjoy your new vision - yes it is amazing how bright everything is once cataract is removed.  I couldn’t get over the colours.  Still need sunglasses far more often than before - especially summer - we had a heat wave last week - temps in high 30’s.   

  • mlcoopa
    mlcoopa John5006

    Posted

    Hello John5006.. I am in the USA and barring any unusual problems you should be able to drive the next day. I had both eyes done this year. The right on Mar 19 and the left on April 10. I drove myself to the next day post surgery follow up appointments with no difficulty. 
  • agnes90839
    agnes90839 John5006

    Posted

    Hi John, EVERYONE is different when it comes to Cataract Surgery, firstly, I think your employers are wonderful to offer you alternative job till you up and running.  I maybe wrong but after cataract surgery you have to get the OK to drive, you cant make this decision yourself, I am also sure that you have to have an eye check at the opticians after the op, the hospital will give you a form to take to him/her so many weeks after surgery, please check this out, you will have plenty of advice and help before and after surgery.  Hope all goes well, please let us know, its a fairly straightforward op so dont worry.

    Regards and best wishes, Agnes

  • jantje32476
    jantje32476 John5006

    Posted

    It also depends  on how simple or complicated will be your operation. Both my husband and I were up and ready to go the minute we got out of the Operating Room, but we drove each other home after each operation. One patient operated on the same day originally planned to take a lift from us, but as it turned out his cataract surgery was technically more complicated, requiring a few stitches.

    Before each cataract surgery, we had to submit a clean bill of our health from our family doctor to the eye-surgeon. So we kept fit and watched our diet. After each surgery a 4 to 6 weeks recovering period was sufficient for us.

  • marie55850
    marie55850 John5006

    Posted

    for driving you have to be able to see 20metres, I was capable of paper shuffling the next day by day 3 I could see perfectly, this is my second surgery though, my first was harder as I couldnt deal with the strength changes in my eyes and it took a lot to be able to manage, seriously though it depends what strength you are having done and also I would imagine on whether you have cataracts in both eyes and to what extent it bothers the eye not being operated on.
    • marie55850
      marie55850

      Posted

      I should say I am in the North of endland and just had my 2nd eye surgery sunday last week.
  • Sue.An
    Sue.An John5006

    Posted

    Hi John5006

    From the replies it is hard to pinpoint as everyone is different.  Myself I took a week’s sick leave after each eye’s surgery.  I have a good employer and paid in full both those weeks.

    I could see clearly next day.  Takes several hours for drops that dilate your pupils to wear off and eye is blurry.  You won’t be able to drive yourself after surgery.  That is if all goes well and no complications.

    However with the post surgery drops / each for me 4 times a day I would have found it difficult to work.  Each person reacts differently to those drops and for some the steriod drops make eyesight blurry.

    Also from pamphlet I got - you’ll want to avoid dusty places as your eye has had an incision and you don’t want anything to get in it.  With removal of cataract I found everything so bright - had to wear sunglasses even inside for a couple of weeks.  You’ll also be wearing an eye shield at night and naps to protect the eye and so you don’t inadvertently rub it.  Takes eye till end of drop regime (6 weeks) to completely heal.  My advice is to take a bit of time off - myself wish I had scheduled 2 eeeks versus one.  Although people say simple procedure- i think surgeons deal with retired seniors so ‘resume normal activities ‘ for retired senior is different than someone who works.

    Just my 2 cents.  Wish you all the best.

    • John5006
      John5006 Sue.An

      Posted

      Hi Sue_An,

      Thanks for your comments.

      I agree most definitely with your last sentence. I have had so many problems with the NHS making the assumption that I am a non working retiree and that I'm just bumming around at home. Their mindset just can't grasp that many retirees have elected to continue working.

      Basically, todays 70's (if in good health, which I am thankfully) is yesteryears 50's.

      John

    • Sue.An
      Sue.An John5006

      Posted

      Oh for sure John - we definitely have a different quality and expectations of life today than in any previous generation.  I am 54 and have a high school student.  Will be working many years till child is through university.

      They make a lot of assumptions and if you don’t ask the questions they will likely do the monofocal lenses targeted for distance.  Do lots of reading as many people might prefer a different set-up.  Myself don’t drive a lot for work but do live in Canada so even travelling home half the year from work is after sundown.  

Back to top
Next

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.