I will be having cataract surgery in the near future. I will be meeting with the surgeon next week to discuss the procedure and my options for the new lens implants. I have studied the options quite a bit and I suppose i will have to decide between the fixed focus distance or the new multi focus iols. As I am a shooter and hunter and also do quite a bit close work, the multi focus iols look particularly interesting to me, such as the panoptixs version. I have read most of the old posts here about cataracts and the surgery but I would be really interested to hear more about your / fellow shooters, experiences with distance lenses or multi focus iols. The idea of possibly being free from glasses with the multi focus iols is very appealing. Thanks in advance for your input.
Cataract multi focus iols
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I wore glasses for over 50 years and they kept getting thicker. I had the surgery about 10 years ago and paid the extra for the multi-focal lenses. I consider it to be the best money I ever spent. I would have sold a gun, it was that good.
I shoot mainly handguns and some sporting clays. I also hunt pheasants 3 days each year in SD. All of my shooting has improved since the surgery. Maybe I notice the shotgun the most.
I enjoy driving more and can still see very well at night. I don't need readers unless the light is very poor.
I shoot mainly handguns and some sporting clays. I also hunt pheasants 3 days each year in SD. All of my shooting has improved since the surgery. Maybe I notice the shotgun the most.
I enjoy driving more and can still see very well at night. I don't need readers unless the light is very poor.
skwchock
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I have a problem keeping focused on the target ... the glasses slip and I drop to a different focal lens... very frustrating.
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In very crude layman terms, I told my doctor about vision requirements for shooting, etc. She did my right eye more for distance but it works fine for open sighted handguns, rifles with open sights or aperture (peep) sights, and scopes. Scopes all required lots of eyepiece adjustments after the surgery - no more backing the eyepiece all the way out to focus.
Left eye is for closeup - reading, computer work, etc. I tested the results by threading a needle without glasses, even if it did take two or three tries.
This was about three years ago and I still don't have a need for glasses. What I had done is probably pretty standard procedure. I was hoping my night vision would be better following surgery but the improvement was minimal.
I'm sure all this varies from person to person, but, if possible, spend the money and get the best lenses, not just the ones that Medicare or insurance will pay for. It may be expensive, but as much as we use our eyes, it's money well spent. At least it was for me.
Left eye is for closeup - reading, computer work, etc. I tested the results by threading a needle without glasses, even if it did take two or three tries.
This was about three years ago and I still don't have a need for glasses. What I had done is probably pretty standard procedure. I was hoping my night vision would be better following surgery but the improvement was minimal.
I'm sure all this varies from person to person, but, if possible, spend the money and get the best lenses, not just the ones that Medicare or insurance will pay for. It may be expensive, but as much as we use our eyes, it's money well spent. At least it was for me.
LoboGunLeather
US Veteran
I am about 2 years past cataract surgeries in both eyes. I opted for distance lenses in both, and my vision now tests at 20/20. As others have noted, night vision is much improved; night driving had become more and more difficult (glowing auras around headlights and lighted signs, very difficult to read road signs, etc).
About a month after my surgeries I received new eyeglasses with bifocal lenses for reading and close work. My vision actually continued to improve for about a year after the surgeries and I can now do most brief reading without the glasses. I still use them when reading a book or anything with small print.
All of my shooting can be done without glasses. Open sights are not a problem, aperture sights (M1, M1A, M1 Carbine, old Lyman tang sights, all are easily used). Rifle and handgun, no issues at all. Haven't done any shotgun shooting yet, but I expect no difficulties.
I am very pleased with my results. I hope you will experience the same or better.
About a month after my surgeries I received new eyeglasses with bifocal lenses for reading and close work. My vision actually continued to improve for about a year after the surgeries and I can now do most brief reading without the glasses. I still use them when reading a book or anything with small print.
All of my shooting can be done without glasses. Open sights are not a problem, aperture sights (M1, M1A, M1 Carbine, old Lyman tang sights, all are easily used). Rifle and handgun, no issues at all. Haven't done any shotgun shooting yet, but I expect no difficulties.
I am very pleased with my results. I hope you will experience the same or better.
I had the ‘latest/greatest’ multi focal lenses about 3 weeks ago. One week apart. My vision seems great from about 16” to 100’. Anything closer than 16”, readers seem to help. Further than 100+ ft, it starts to get a little blurry. I see much better now without glasses than before. The cataract in my right eye had gotten to the point it was not correctable. I go back to the optometrist on Monday for an exam to see if I still need glasses. The surgeon said “be patient, it takes a month for your eyes to adjust to the new lenses”. I’ll report back after my next appointment.
Telecaster
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Most of what I do is close-up so I chose the near vision lenses. Shooting without glasses is no problem but the target is a little blurry with open sights. Bifocals for driving or other outdoor activity, no glasses at all indoors.
Chubbo
Member
Eye surgery
You should give this operation a lot of thought.
If the more versatile implants appeal to you, I urge you to get them!
I can relate to this matter, as I’ve been there, and done that.
My eye physician, in FL, strongly advised me to have the more versatile lenses implanted, when I returned to OH. He was an avid shooter.
Don’t let a physician, playing the role of GOD, make your decision for you, as mine did for me.
For whatever reason, my surgeon, at the last minute in the operating room, refused my choice, of the better implants, implanted his choice of implants, and forever ended my ability, to enjoy the advantages of the better lenses.
You should give this operation a lot of thought.
If the more versatile implants appeal to you, I urge you to get them!
I can relate to this matter, as I’ve been there, and done that.
My eye physician, in FL, strongly advised me to have the more versatile lenses implanted, when I returned to OH. He was an avid shooter.
Don’t let a physician, playing the role of GOD, make your decision for you, as mine did for me.
For whatever reason, my surgeon, at the last minute in the operating room, refused my choice, of the better implants, implanted his choice of implants, and forever ended my ability, to enjoy the advantages of the better lenses.
Telecaster
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Sounds like malpractice. Did you pay for the multis?
Chubbo
Member
No. At that point in the procedure, a patient has signed away all his rights. Doctors pretty well have their ankles covered before they preform surgery, of any kind. Most of them seem to be equally learned in the practice of law, medicine, and finances.
deadin
US Veteran
I tried the "left eye for reading" and "right eye for distance" with contacts a number of years ago. My eye doc told me some people could adapt to this, and some couldn't.. I was one of the latter. (My head felt like it was being torn apart.)
Sure glad it wasn't implants that would have been much more difficult to change out....
Sure glad it wasn't implants that would have been much more difficult to change out....
Going for the first eye with the multi on Monday. Had LASIK in 1999 with one eye distant and one close, took a few days to get used to it but your brain makes the adjustment. Hope this works out just as well.
Boox
Member
I had it done in April, one eye one week the other a few weeks later...came out of it with 20/20 vision in both eyes. Do need readers now to see up close but my shooting went from 8 in groups to 3 in.
Now I haven't been able to shoot for almost 3 years while I waited for the cataract to get big enough.
Have worn glasses for 62 years, now only for reading...what a difference... hope you're as lucky as I was.
Now I haven't been able to shoot for almost 3 years while I waited for the cataract to get big enough.
Have worn glasses for 62 years, now only for reading...what a difference... hope you're as lucky as I was.
VaTom
Member
Thanks for post and responses. My wife is having it done in the fall and exploring options. I had her read the thread. It is helpful!
vonn
US Veteran
Everyone has different vision problems and the best solution for me might not be best for anyone else. I got three medical opinions and then had mine done . Well worth the money in my opinion. Know three people well who weren’t able to adjust to the one eye near and one far. I don’t have to have glasses except for fine work up close but they do make reading and such things more comfortable. Good luck!
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