wise words. Not wishing to temp fate but I can't believe how good my eyesight is in my right eye now. I have been lucky enough so far not to experience any problems. I expect saying so is the kiss of death.

The only problem is not saying anything as my wife rides the clutch then blames the Euro whatsit laws for making the car gutless when pulling away from a snails pace in 3rd.

A successful cataract operation should give you exactly what you're experiencing - good vision without recourse to glasses - but it's up to your consultant/surgeon to advise you when you can restart driving - if you weren't told that by the consultant (not a nurse) then phone the consultant's secretary and ask that specific question.

DVLA Fitness to Drive simply states "If you have surgery to remove cataracts, your eyesight after the surgery must meet the standard of vision, set out below, to allow you to continue driving. If your condition affects both eyes you must let us know"

ie, no specified interval after cataract surgery if you meet the normal (low!) standard of vision for driving.

But doctors can/do issue limited time driving "bans" and driving against their advice would have serious consequences in any court case. In the case of temporary conditions they don't need reporting to DVLA.

I'd been under investigation for heart irregularities and as soon as they downloaded the history from an implanted "reveal" I got an instant ban, not even allowed to move my car from a short-term parking area - the ban continued until 2 weeks after my pacemaker was fitted.

RT - your cardiologist was following the DVLA "Fitness to Drive" protocol for cardiac arrhythmia, whereas Lrac's ophthalmic nurse seems to have been using her own initiative / common sense!

Maybe - I'd been under investigation for a couple of years after being diagnosed with cardiomyopathy and arrhythmia and received cardioversion twice, all without any driving restrictions from the cardiologist - in my case the ban only started when the implanted reveal showed that my heart stopped for more than 5 seconds, which indicates it may not restart - all sorted with a pacemaker, condition reported to DVLA and driving again a fortnight later.

I need cataracts doing on both eyes and seeing the opthalmology consultant in August with a view to doing the right eye in October - short-term driving restriction is top of my list of questions! I want it as short as possible but will accept his opinion - I do know him as he's also my wife's consultant for glaucoma.

Surely the doctor or consultant can only rely on what you tell them.If you consider that it is safe for you to drive,then drive.There are already too many people who drive whilst not meeting the required standards and many who can see but don't look.