I have a cataract in both eyes; never bad enough for surgery, until now. My left eye has progressively gotten worst, so I am ready to bit the bullet and start the process to get scheduled.
While I have had a long talk with my optometrist, and have the name of two surgeons, I wanted to hear the wise advice and thoughts from those here that have had their cataracts removed. Did you chose traditional or laser-assisted cataract surgery, and why? Monofocal or multifocal len?
Currently I only need correction for distance, so just removed my glasses during the day at work while on the computer. I can actually see our tv without my glasses on, although the screen is clearer with them on! As I have never had to wear reading glasses, except in a dark restaurant to read a menu, I do not think I only want to correct the distance and have to wear reading glasses all day at work. On the other hand, the though of going through the procedure and still wearing glasses at other times doesn’t appeal to me either. I wore multifocal contact lens for years, close to 20, before I was unable to get decent vision with them, so had to go back to glasses. As the cataract progressed, my -4.50 vision became -1.00! I also have astigmatism, but I believe they are slight, so may not come into play. My optometrist mentioned when I was last in, that he did not have his corrected to 20/20, which allowed him to go skiing without glasses; he didn’t mind wearing glasses while driving or watching tv, but wanted to be on the slopes without glasses!
As I have been wearing glasses for the last many years, I am thinking I would rather have glasses for distance instead of readers for computer work as I have never needed correction for reading, so would be new for me. If the perfect multifocal lens was available, I would go with that as I am use to not having perfect vision, so that mid range blur wouldn’t be different to me. After I talk with my optometrist at my appointment in a couple of weeks, I will make a consult appointment with one, if not both of the surgeons and see what they think. As you might have figured out, I like to hear others opinions
Did laser, monofocal lens. Lens implant corrects for nearsightedness, so I use cheap reading glasses. Went from coke-bottle eyeglass lenses to 20/20 vision. Definite quality of life issue.
I have always had excellent distance vision until I got cataracts. It really bothered me not to be able to read street signs until I was practically on top of them. I don’t mind reading glasses–I have them all over the house and in my car. I opted for a lens that corrects for nearsightedness. I still use reading glasses. However, I’ve noticed that since I had the surgery (both eyes–one last fall and the other this February) I don’t need to use the reading glasses as much as before. I still need them for very small print. I found the surgery was very easy. All the eye drops were annoying, but I made a chart and followed it.
However, there are some advantages for correcting for distance vision:
If you lose your glasses after driving somewhere, you can still drive home. Or you can do things like swimming or other outdoor activity without glasses.
You can get inexpensive reading glasses for near vision.
If you want to wear or do not mind wearing glasses full time or most of the time, you can get progressive or lined bifocals so that you can wear them for both distance and near vision without taking them off or putting them on.
I had double cataract surgery 7-8 years ago. I wear glasses full-time because my astigmatism came back within months and I like wearing a reader. My near vision is gone. I can drive without glasses, but I rarely do.
I had pretty much every side effect, still have many floaters. Now I’m dealing with a dry cornea, though summer humidity and drops are helping. I’m trying to avoid having it lightly “shaved”.
The best part is waking up in the morning and being able to read the numbers on the clock.
@dentmom4 I am so sorry you had such poor results with your surgery. My SIL also had less than a stellar outcome and decided not to do her second eye because of it. She continues to bad mouth the physician, even though her problem was always a possible side effect of the procedure.
@snowball Actually, I consider my results good: I can see distance, I have glasses that correct my astigmatism and give me the ability to read and work. I HAD to do my second eye; too much disparity between the two after the first surgery. I had to wear a patch and didn’t pick up a dental drill for 6 weeks because there was no way to get both eyes to work together (-9.0 and -5.0 I think).
I NEVER bad-mouth the ophthalmologist: not his problem I have residual side effects. I knew going in I would probably have them. I refer people to him.
The alternative to no surgery would have been blindness, so no thanks to that. I just tell people to be aware of the potential side effects (and I had just about every one) but I would do it again because I have my vision back.
I’ll probably need cataract surgery in a few years, so do not have first hand experience with that part of your question. However, as a teen/young adult, I needed glasses for distance, and they were required for driving, but had great near vision. As my eyes have changed with age, this reversed. Before being diagnosed w/ early cataracts, my Eye Dr. said I’ll probably be one of the lucky few that will only need my near vision corrected as I age.
So, I now need readers, but not distance. If I had to choose, I far prefer not needing glasses for distance. I love not needing glasses when hiking, for movies, to drive, exercise, etc. I have prescription lenses for lengthly reading or computer work, but just wear fun cheaters when needed for menus & fine print. I also need to always carry them with me for occasional use when shopping (female, so typically in a purse), so that may be a consideration.
I have scheduled my cataract surgery for the beginning of September for the first eye, and the second eye two weeks later. My slight astigmatism will not need correcting, so we are going to go with monofocal lens for near/mid range; I might still need correction for distance.
As I mentioned above, I work on the computer all day for work. As I can do so currently without corrections, I decided to keep it that way. I would rather be able to see the computer and my cell phone without glasses; I can deal with wearing glasses while driving and out and about. Decided not to go with the multifocal lens; not interested in spending an additional $7K and still not have perfect vision! Once I met my deductible, which I will with the surgery, anything else I do this year will be covered at 90%. Time to do a couple of MRIs this year!
As I have always been a contact wearer prior to my cataracts, if the vision doesn’t turn out as expected, I can always go back to contacts. Might be able to wear multifocals if needed.
We will all be interested to hear your progress report afterward. I think I will do the same when mine progress. It would be a scary thing to need to see my phone or medicine bottle in the middle of the night and have to find my glasses first.
I normally need cheap glasses to read as a result of cataract surgery. I requested a book from my library, and only the large-print version was available. It turns out I can read it without my readers! Something to consider when borrowing more books.
Both my wife and I find having reading glasses stashed all over the house is a very very small price to pay for not having to wear glasses for driving, etc. for near-sightedness. Buying sunglasses off-the-rack is a new experience, vs. either prescription sunglasses or clip-ons or wearing gi-normous ones over eyeglasses.
@MADad I hear you, and if I had needed reading glasses in the past, I might have gone that route; I only needed reader for menus in dark restaurants. My optometrist has similar vision, so we discussed this during every visit for 4 years! Seeing the computer and my phone, which I use far more often that distance, was more important to me. I have been wearing glasses since the 4th grade, so while it would be wonderful not to need them at all, I chose needing them for distance over reading. Especially now as I have on a face shield or goggles at work all day; I don’t want anything else on my face!!
My only other thought was the multifocal, but price and lack of perfection made that a no for me.
@snowball I hear ya as well, different folks have different needs. Funny, I also got my first pair of glasses in 4th grade! Got rid of them by and large in my early 60’s. If I wasn’t retired when I underwent cataract surgery (I was a chemistry teacher/HS administrator) I might have made a different choice, who knows?
Agree 100% with you RE: multifocal lenses. They don’t seem to do either function extremely well, and yes, the cost, for something you’re not going to be happy with!
Assume you aren’t doing a special lens or laser, the surgery is covered under medical. I just paid this week for mine as my first eye is this Tuesday. I will meet my deductible after the first eye, so will only owe 10% for the second.
I had laser assisted cataract surgery on one eye and expected to do the second fairly soon after. The first eye received a monofocal lens. My close vision was still quite good in both eyes before surgery despite the cataracts, so didn’t notice any improvement just a greater need for computer and distance glasses. Due to astigmatism, I’ll likely still need glasses most of the time after my second surgery.
My doctor changed her mind about the timing of the second surgery and suggested waiting a year. Then Covid-19 hit and all elective procedures were canceled, so I ordered another pair of glasses and hoped the remaining cataract wouldn’t get worse. The hospital is now encouraging people to do all such postponed operations, but I’m not comfortable with the idea just yet.
We’re hoping circumstances will make it possible for dh to get his first eye done in January or February, then I want to do my second surgery a month or so later, and he hopes to get his second in May. We’ve had relatively low medical expenses this year and would like to group everything we possibly can in the first half of 2021 before we lose our current health insurance.
I have worn glasses my whole life. So when the time came for making a decision when my cataracts were done, I elected to continue mostly because I didn’t want readers hanging around my house or neck all the time. My distance vision is easily twice better than it used to be…so much so that I was actually able to purchase rimless wire rim glasses for the first time in my life.
I have progressive lenses but the bottom part is clear as I need no correction at all for reading. I actually take my glasses off to read. It’s actually nice to be able to do so.
My vision is so much better that sometimes I leave my glasses in another room…by mistake.
I’m could have opted for perfect distance vision…but I would have needed readers. Plus, my ophthalmologist told me that I also would have difficulty doing close up things without glasses on…like putting on mascara or using eyedrops.
The surgery itself was terrific. It’s painless and quick. The only pita is all the drops before and after the surgery, but that’s not forever.
Free advice…if you are planning to paint a room in your house…do NOT choose the paint before your cataract surgery. Ask me how I know!
