Hello All!

I am enjoying reading the threads about cataract surgery, I have mine in 2 weeks. Fortunately, my eye doctor and his colleague doing the surgery are gun/shooting friendly! I have been wearing glasses for almost 40 years, and the prospect of losing them (to a degree) is very exciting.

I have a question that hopefully those of you that have had the surgery and selected distance lenses for implant can answer.

With the implanted distance lenses, can you raise a pistol and obtain a sight picture without glasses? Not asking about sustained shooting, but more along the line of a flash sight picture for defensive shooting.

Thanks for sharing!

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Judge control not gun control!

Yes Sir, I can see the sights now and there is no fuzz. I still need a set of reading glasses for up close work but I no longer need specs to drive. I think you'll be very happy with the results.

At the moment, in order to gain a flash sight picture, I have to look through my bifocal's reading lens. I definitely don't want to have to rely on glasses in a self-defense situation!

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Judge control not gun control!

Had one removed 6 years ago in my right eye. The doctor installed a lens for distance. I agree completely with OFT II and my results were the same.

Be SAFE and Shoot often!

I'll take the word of those who have distance vision lenses. However, I have a near vision lens, and it's good for the front and rear sights on a handgun. The depth of field for artificial lens implants is quite small. You want to focus on the front sight, of course. I can "see" a "target" fine without glasses, but not focused in detail.

I went from being nearsighted to far-sighted when I got the new lenses. You may notice some flare at night when driving. It’s tolerable though.

Bob


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I had cataract surgery, both eyes, several years ago. I opted for multifocal lenses. I told the surgeon I wanted to be able to see my front sight clearly. With these, I can read, see the front sight, see at a distance, etc. IIRC, he used Bausch + Lomb lenses. Night and color vision improved after the surgery.

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NRA Life, COTEP 640

Yep, I also had the corrected lenses placed in both eyes. It is like corrected glasses, only the lens is in your eyes. My insurance didn't cover the cost, because they were considered cosmetic lenses (makes no sense to me) but I've been enjoying 20/20 vision over 10 years now. The only small drawback is that I can see the reflection of the lenses on the inside of sunglasses at times...no big deal, just sayin. It was worth the money in my opinion.

spricks

I too had the multifocal lenses installed and can pick up my handgun sights quickly.

I had cataracts removed from both my eyes a little over a year ago. I remember being amazed at the clarity of the "the world" after having them removed. I still need readers (because they wanted $4,000 per eye to correct that!) I had even stopped driving at night because of them.

I can see my sights again, and my red dot sights are no longer "red clusters". I can focus on the front sight of a rifle, but without using a peep on the rear, it's not real clear. However my pistol sights at arms length are fine.

You're going to see a whole new world. The sky is bluer, the clouds more distinct, and I no longer see 4 red lights at night.

I had both eyes done for distance, no problem seeing the sights.

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Don

Your options should be fully explained prior to the procedure. Your choices may include distance lenses (for which you may require eyeglasses for reading or close work), near vision lenses (fine for close work but you may require eyeglasses for distance), a combination (each eye with a different lens, with the assumption that your brain will train itself to differentiate as needed), or custom lenses (seldom covered by insurance).

Others may contradict my brief explanation, but the point remains that you can make the decisions in consultation with your ophthalmic surgeon in advance of the surgeries. Making a change afterwards might be a more difficult option, so discuss your concerns with your doc before proceeding.

Yes, the sky is bluer, the stars are more brilliant, I can't remember all the colors that have always existed before my eyes went to pot. I chose distance lenses for both eyes with eyeglasses for reading and close work, now I am 20-20 for distance in both eyes and I can go about my daily business (including night driving) with no problems. If I want to read the newspaper or the government warning on a beer label I need my eyeglasses.

Shooting on the range is not bad at all. I will never be competitive for PPC events again, and I doubt that I will ever achieve 'distinguished' status in Service Rifle competition, but I can easily distinguish handgun sights and turn in acceptable results at defensive handgun ranges. I am very happy that current medical technology allows me this much!

Same results for me....you will NOT regret having this done!!

Randy

Due to astigmatism I still need glasses full time. My daily wear glasses are progressive safety glasses. That is all I need when shooting a pistol that has a red dot.

When the pistol has iron sights things get more involved. For shooting at 10 meters the daily wear glasses work fine. When the target distance is 25 yards I take the prescription glasses off and just use another pair of non-prescription safety glasses that has a 5/64 diopter taped to it. The diopter just serves to increase the depth of field which gets rid of some on the unsharpness.

You may have to experiment a little depending on your eyes, prescription, and target distance.

Left eye is near and sees sighta fine. Right eye far and sees target fine. Both eyes open and its all good. I can reaad the paper or a road sign a ways off at 68 had both eyes done about 3 years ago

After surgery, my sight picture with both pistols and rifles was very workable. I don't need correction for shooting.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

I had both eyes down about three years ago with distance lenses. 20/20 in one eye and 20/15 in the other but front sight on a pistol is workable but not crisp shooting at an indoor range. Front sight gets better when shooting outdoors in good sunlight.

Under excellent light conditions, I can see the pistol/revolver sights. Usually out doors. On the indoor ranges I need to use Walmart reading glasses. Certainly need glasses to read. I also have macular degeneration in my left eye, up to 40 injections at this time frame. Therefore, I have very little or no depth perception.

I got the distance monofocals for both eyes about 3 yeas ago. Long guns no problems, indoor pistol can be difficult without cheaters, but outdoor is fine. All red dots work very well.

As stated above in post #4, I had a distance lense put in right eye now 8 years ago. All good !
My left eye now has a sever cataract and I just got glasses a couple of weeks ago. Having problems adjusting to them. Saw the surgeon that did the first eye and he recommended putting a distance lense in that one also. Said 90% of his patients did that. Couldn’t guarantee if he put in a multi focus lense that my brain would adjust to it. He said once the lense is put in it can’t be taken out and replaced with another. It’s a one shot deal.

I don’t really like wearing glasses and if I can’t adjust to them, I will have to get the surgery.
Looking for any additional comments from those who have had only the two distant lense put in that didn’t have other eye issues but only cataracts. I’m 74 and enjoy shooting handguns. I also carry concealed.
Comments are also welcome from those that posted above (with a 2 year update). Thanks for everyone’s input!

I went with distance lenses, and wear reading glasses for some things. I am not wearing them right now working on the computer, but most things on my cell phone and reading the newspaper are easier with the cheaters.

I have no problem getting a good sight picture with both handguns and long guns.

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Only a cold warrior

I had mine done about 10 years ago and I chose the multifocal. I think that was about $6,000. However, I consider it money well spent and recommend it.

I am a much better shooter and driver now.

[QUOTE=Execpro;141406162.
Looking for any additional comments from those who have had only the two distant lense put in that didn’t have other eye issues but only cataracts. I’m 74 and enjoy shooting handguns. I also carry concealed.
![/QUOTE]

I'm 80 and a couple of years ago I had distance lens placed in both eyes. I can see great at a distance and do not have a restriction on my drivers license but I need glasses for reading. I can see pistol sights better since surgery but not as good as when young.
I can't shoot small groups at long distance anymore so I rarely shoot at longer than 15 yards but I feel pretty confident at that distance. I enjoy shooting as much as I ever did but the targets are looking worse every year. Larry

Had both eyes done a few years ago.

Without glasses like in a defensive action I can see well enough to shoot at reasonable distances.

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14 S&W Revs none with locks!

I'm 68 and had both eyes done......15+ years ago now.....both eyes distance lenses ....... still 20/20.
Cataracts run in the family ..... father and Grandfather.

I use three sets of drug store readers;they have been 3 for $15 at CVS
general close work 2.5........ 12-18"
Computer work 1.25........these or a set of 1.0 work for front sight/arms length distances
reading in bed 3.0...... book resting on my chest 12"

Front sight without glasses is good for flash sight picture at self defense ranges.

Some options to consider:
Fiber optic front sight!

Hansen Eagle Eye shooting glasses..... for range work. For handguns they have a bi-focal like insert in the upper (nose bridge) corner of the lens ...... out of the way when doing most "stuff" but crisp front sight picture when you drop your head for a sight picture. I've got two pair one in the door pocket of my truck the other in my range bag. IIRC about mine were just under $200 a set...... 10 years ago. eagleeyeshooting.com

I did have two fast-degrading cataracts, but no other issues. I just got my second (right) eye done with the standard distance focus last month. The left one was done last year. Now both are 20/20 at distance (over maybe four feet or so away)

Seeing the sights of any gun with sufficient clarity is not a problem; even though the rear sight of a rifle might be a bit blurry, it’s functionally irrelevant.

Like the others I do need simple non-prescription readers for book-sized script or reading texts on my phone. Strength 1.75 seems to work best. And these don’t blur up the distance enough to be a problem if I have to shoot someone while wearing them

So I bought a bulk pack of cheap readers on Amazon and distributed them all over my house and van, so I always can grab one if needed. I do read a lot, but the option of near-focus lenses for the surgery, with glasses for everyday life, did not appeal to me.

Had both eyes done two months ago. Sight picture and computer screen are much improved. Still have some issues with bright lights but the doctor says that will improve.

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Foster Positivity.

I want to thank everyone on this post for your comments !!
They were all very helpful !!
If I can’t adjust to the glasses, I will have the distance lens installed in my
left eye. Thanks Again !

On my last range trip before my surgeries, I was shocked at my **** poor shooting. Shocked. First trip after, back on target, so to speak. You will be pleased.

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No baby we aint

My bad shooting is not eye related. It's just getting old and lack of practice. I can see the sights pretty well, but the only handgun I shoot really well is my SAR CM9 G2 with a center mass laser on it. As long as I can see the dot, I shoot very well. With just the sights, not so great. I have super steady hands and once the dot is on target, I have zero issues keeping it there.

I had both my eyes done back in 2010. did not need corrective lens at that time.
although I need glasses for reading and driving I have to use regular safety glasses when shooting. its the only way I can get a sight picture.