I am petrified about eye operation and my wife has not helped

DEAR DEIDRE: I’M booked in to have surgery to remove a cataract but I’m so scared I’m tempted to cancel.

At 70 I need the operation because my eyesight is so blurry and I can no longer drive at night.

But as the surgery date looms, my fears are getting worse.

What if the doctor has an “off” day and I go blind?

What if the anaesthetic doesn’t work?

I told my wife how scared I was, hoping she’d reassure me. But she just said she’d be terrified too.

DEIDRE SAYS: Do not cancel the operation. It is understandable to feel anxious before surgery.

Doctors have a lot of training on how to look after nervous patients, so you should find they soothe your fears.

If you are still worried, ask if a nurse could hold your hand during the operation.

Cataract operations usually last between 30 and 45 minutes and are painless. You’ll be fine.

If you worry a lot in everyday life, my support pack Living With Anxiety will help.