Shooting after cataract surgery.

I am shortly to undergo surgery on my master eye .

I would be grateful for  insights and  advice relative to this from any of you good folks that have had this procedure.

Information on any shooting "do`s and dont`s" after the procedure will be greatly appreciated. 

Thanks for reading.

Can't offer any advice or insight but I can certainly wish you well. 

Wishing you a successful operation and speedy recovery.

H

A friend of mine in his eighties had it done a little while ago. He started shooting again 2/3 weeks after the operation and it was frustrating for him for another couple of weeks until the eye settled down. It seemed to be watering for a while. I guess 4/5 weeks after the op. he was better than ever.

I had both eyes done a few years ago, no problems at all just give it time to notice the difference. You will be able to see everything 

Hermit said:

Can't offer any advice or insight but I can certainly wish you well. 

Wishing you a successful operation and speedy recovery.

H

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Thanks for your kind wishes H.

chesterse said:

A friend of mine in his eighties had it done a little while ago. He started shooting again 2/3 weeks after the operation and it was frustrating for him for another couple of weeks until the eye settled down. It seemed to be watering for a while. I guess 4/5 weeks after the op. he was better than ever.

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That`s good to know and must have been very satisfying for him Chesterse. Thanks for your reply which has given me encouragement!

Mike said:

I had both eyes done a few years ago, no problems at all just give it time to notice the difference. You will be able to see everything 

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That`s great Mike - sounds like you had a very good outcome. Thanks for your reply.

Just a quick update to this.

I had the operation in December and I am totally delighted with the results.

The difference made by a 15 minute procedure is truly profound.

Thanks again to those respondents above for the encouraging information in response to my query and I can now add my endorsement of the procedure to theirs.

If anyone is in need of this correction and is dubious or apprehensive  about the procedure I would urge them not to be and just go for it.

While it has enhanced all areas of my activities and pursuits, it`s been worth it alone just to be able to lose the aggravation of steamed up, rain spotted specs on manky winter days out and about!

I had both eyes done just over 18 months ago and the difference is amazing particularly with my rifle shooting as I had to switch to left hand in order to see through the scope but the surgery sorted it. I do find that my eyesight is not as good as it was straight after the op but still far far better than they were.

A further update to this.
A couple of months ago, I noticed a slight occlusion in my operated eye whilst away from home
on holiday.
This deteriorated over a matter of hours, culminating in me ringing 111.
After an excellent response from the NHS to repair what proved to be a torn and partially detached retina, and after a protracted recovery period, I am now delighted to find myself with fully restored vision.
However, I have a quandary. I don`t recollect anything that could have precipitated the event (blow to the head, severe headaches or pain etc) and my surgeon advised that there appears to be emerging evidence that men, specifically, seem to have a higher propensity for retinal detachment some months after cataract surgery.
I am now contemplating if I should shoot again, or regretfully accept a premature, enforced retirement.
I would welcome any input and advice from fellow shots who may have had the misfortune to experience the same mishap.

clipit said:

A further update to this.
A couple of months ago, I noticed a slight occlusion in my operated eye whilst away from home
on holiday.
This deteriorated over a matter of hours, culminating in me ringing 111.
After an excellent response from the NHS to repair what proved to be a torn and partially detached retina, and after a protracted recovery period, I am now delighted to find myself with fully restored vision.
However, I have a quandary. I don`t recollect anything that could have precipitated the event (blow to the head, severe headaches or pain etc) and my surgeon advised that there appears to be emerging evidence that men, specifically, seem to have a higher propensity for retinal detachment some months after cataract surgery.
I am now contemplating if I should shoot again, or regretfully accept a premature, enforced retirement.
I would welcome any input and advice from fellow shots who may have had the misfortune to experience the same mishap.

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Sorry to hear about your vision issues. I’ve been down similar road.

You could contact Ed Lyons - all round good guy and font of all knowledge relating to shooting and vision. He sometimes posts on here; his work office is in Wolverhampton.

He found me a surgeon to sort my (double vision) eye problems. Now I’m shooting with 2 eyes again and can actually hit things !

Had both mine done few years ago world of difference and no problems had them done at the Bradford Eye Hospital shooting again within few days

Thanks Tinfish and Mikey.
Perhaps I should have started a new thread as my issue is now whether to shoot again after detached retina surgery - rather than after cataract surgery as it was previously.

clipit said:

Thanks Tinfish and Mikey.
Perhaps I should have started a new thread as my issue is now whether to shoot again after detached retina surgery - rather than after cataract surgery as it was previously.

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I had mine detatch nearly 2 years ago. I read up on what to do and avoid doing and what others had done and decided to wait 12 weeks. Actually due to other things it ended up around 16 weeks. It didn't affect my scores. It did cause a cataract to form and I had that done around 4 months ago and I waited around 8 weeks to shoot again. Even now my sight is still improving. I have struggled a bit with consistancy since. Shooting mainly fast trap. The vision is undoubtedly much better and I see the target so much quicker and clearer than before yhe cataract op. But it's messed up my timing, for now at least.

clipit said:

A further update to this.
A couple of months ago, I noticed a slight occlusion in my operated eye whilst away from home
on holiday.
This deteriorated over a matter of hours, culminating in me ringing 111.
After an excellent response from the NHS to repair what proved to be a torn and partially detached retina, and after a protracted recovery period, I am now delighted to find myself with fully restored vision.
However, I have a quandary. I don`t recollect anything that could have precipitated the event (blow to the head, severe headaches or pain etc) and my surgeon advised that there appears to be emerging evidence that men, specifically, seem to have a higher propensity for retinal detachment some months after cataract surgery.
I am now contemplating if I should shoot again, or regretfully accept a premature, enforced retirement.
I would welcome any input and advice from fellow shots who may have had the misfortune to experience the same mishap.

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I had the same thing, detached retina which was followed later by a cataract operation on my left eye. I had laser surgery some 30 years ago, but I was assured that it was not the cause of the retina problem. I was shooting again some 6 months after the retina job, and around 4 weeks after the cataract job. I dis stick with a semi auto until around 12 months after the eye surgery, but have been fine since. I really would NOT consider packing up shooting, but as has been suggested, Ed Lyons is the man to speak to. I found him extremely helpful to me after my eye surgery.

westley said:

I had the same thing, detached retina which was followed later by a cataract operation on my left eye. I had laser surgery some 30 years ago, but I was assured that it was not the cause of the retina problem. I was shooting again some 6 months after the retina job, and around 4 weeks after the cataract job. I dis stick with a semi auto until around 12 months after the eye surgery, but have been fine since. I really would NOT consider packing up shooting, but as has been suggested, Ed Lyons is the man to speak to. I found him extremely helpful to me after my eye surgery.

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On an issue slightly related . I had right eye cataract op last Sept which did not go well . Long story short I have no lense in right eye and opthamologist after carrying out a vitrectomy last November (cleans eye out cos of damage) was going to put an artisan lense in . After over 14 appointments he feels that is not the best option now and intends to carry out the cataract op I need on my left eye . And me to have a very powerful contact lense in right . I have tried a contact lense in right eye and it’s 15 x but still blurred and I can’t see well enough to shoot clays . My intention is to have left eye done and specialist with left eye done and right eye with lense I should be ok . He has said if I don’t like it he could try putting artisan lense in . So friends I at the moment am going to try shooting left handed for a few months ! Any opinions ? Plus what do I do about my two right handed shotguns and air rifle ? Your thoughts please

Cliff said:

On an issue slightly related . I had right eye cataract op last Sept which did not go well . Long story short I have no lense in right eye and opthamologist after carrying out a vitrectomy last November (cleans eye out cos of damage) was going to put an artisan lense in . After over 14 appointments he feels that is not the best option now and intends to carry out the cataract op I need on my left eye . And me to have a very powerful contact lense in right . I have tried a contact lense in right eye and it’s 15 x but still blurred and I can’t see well enough to shoot clays . My intention is to have left eye done and specialist with left eye done and right eye with lense I should be ok . He has said if I don’t like it he could try putting artisan lense in . So friends I at the moment am going to try shooting left handed for a few months ! Any opinions ? Plus what do I do about my two right handed shotguns and air rifle ? Your thoughts please

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When I ran a shooting ground I had a customer who was right handed and right master eyed. Sadly, he was hit in the face by a piece of clay at another ground, resulting in the loss of his right eye. He had no option but to switch to his left shoulder. Within a couple of months he was shooting as well as ever again. He was only in his early 30's, so he had age on his side, but it is amazing what we can adapt to when 'needs must'. I can remember when I did the CPSA Instructors course, many years ago, they had us shoot off our opposite shoulder. I found it difficult and most alien. The guy that I had gone on the course with, could shoot equally well off either shoulder.

You will find a few threads on here regarding eye dominance. Apologies if I am repeating what is in some of them - I am right handed and left eye dominant and have always shot off my left shoulder. My experience when I returned to shooting at 45 was that it took a lot less time to get used the left shoulder thing than I expected. I now know of a few other people who have done the same with it being surprisingly painless - regardless of age. The only thing I would add is that you will need a left handed gun - some Brownings have no cast and work OK but it's much better to get a refit after you have been shooting off the left shoulder for a little while.

Having returned to shooting after about 40 years, I soon became aware that I am left eye dominant. I am right handed but tried shooting left handed, with a fairly neutral gun, found it pretty easy and hit more clays. Got myself a gun, had it fitted and have not looked back. It soon becomes natural to shoot left handed, but a little more time to get used to breaking the gun and loading etc. Personally, I think it's much easier to change hands than it is to deal with cross dominance, closing one eye, Vaseline on glasses, barrel appendages, etc. It was also a good opportunity to get some coaching in order to avoid developing limiting habits that I probably had shooting right handed.

Paul120 said:

I had mine detatch nearly 2 years ago. I read up on what to do and avoid doing and what others had done and decided to wait 12 weeks. Actually due to other things it ended up around 16 weeks. It didn't affect my scores. It did cause a cataract to form and I had that done around 4 months ago and I waited around 8 weeks to shoot again. Even now my sight is still improving. I have struggled a bit with consistancy since. Shooting mainly fast trap. The vision is undoubtedly much better and I see the target so much quicker and clearer than before yhe cataract op. But it's messed up my timing, for now at least.

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Thanks Paul. it`s only been two months or so since I had my op and I`m scheduled to visit my surgeon for post-op review (the third, and final one I hope) in a couple of weeks.
I`d be delighted if I find myself where you are now in two years time!

westley said:

I had the same thing, detached retina which was followed later by a cataract operation on my left eye. I had laser surgery some 30 years ago, but I was assured that it was not the cause of the retina problem. I was shooting again some 6 months after the retina job, and around 4 weeks after the cataract job. I dis stick with a semi auto until around 12 months after the eye surgery, but have been fine since. I really would NOT consider packing up shooting, but as has been suggested, Ed Lyons is the man to speak to. I found him extremely helpful to me after my eye surgery.

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Thanks Westley.
I am contemplating a semi-auto as an option which would cover pigeons and clays (and my fellow syndicate guns would be content with it under the circumstances) and also fully utilising the weighting system and pad options on my sporter to reduce recoil. I am also considering using lighter cartridges for clays. The gun is adjusted to fit me (and could accommodate the changes mentioned), so no slapping around, and recoil is already minimal in use as it stands.
I am familiar with Ed Lyons work through videos and articles and I think that`s a good call.
It`s early days yet, but I am looking ahead a couple of months to when I will have to decide whether to pull the trigger again balanced against the risk of undoing the surgeon`s good work.
Your experience and the insight of the other chaps is appreciated in assisting the thinking.

ScotMac said:

Having returned to shooting after about 40 years, I soon became aware that I am left eye dominant. I am right handed but tried shooting left handed, with a fairly neutral gun, found it pretty easy and hit more clays. Got myself a gun, had it fitted and have not looked back. It soon becomes natural to shoot left handed, but a little more time to get used to breaking the gun and loading etc. Personally, I think it's much easier to change hands than it is to deal with cross dominance, closing one eye, Vaseline on glasses, barrel appendages, etc. It was also a good opportunity to get some coaching in order to avoid developing limiting habits that I probably had shooting right handed.

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I am sorry to hear of the trials and tribulations of you other chaps on here and hope that good resolutions can be reached in all cases.
I am right handed and right eye dominant , and I`m totally in awe of those of you that have switched to shoot left handed! Respect!