Cataract implant experiences, please!

[lrrifleman]

On January 24 I had my first cataract surgery, with a distance lens implanted. During the pre-op appointment and two post-op appointments, the surgeon has seemed to be pushing a reading lens for the other eye, suggesting that if I go that way, I shouldn't need glasses in the future.

Currently, it seems as though the eye that has been worked on is fighting the eye that has yet to be operated on, leaving me with headaches when I try to read, the sensation of imbalance, and a sensation of increased pressure in the eye that is awaiting surgery.[My ophthalmologist claims that what I am experiencing now is common.]

My questions to those of you that have had cataract surgery and both distance and reading implants:
a) do you get the sensation that one eye is fighting the other?
b) are you experiencing any depth perception issues?
c) are you really free from the need for glasses?
d) do you experience headaches more frequently than before your cataract surgery?
e) does having the two different lenses seem to affect your balance?

On all three visits, I have stated that I wanted distance lenses in both eyes with the desire to continue wearing bifocals, with (minimal) non-corrective distance and corrective reading distance prescriptions.

Would you please share your experiences with your mixed implant lenses?

Thanks!

 

[Salty RI]

I got both eyes for distance but my SIL got one for distance and one for reading and she wished she got both for distance.

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[DWalt]

Personal opinion, both implants should be corrective for distance, using glasses for close-up or reading (if necessary). I have bifocal glasses, upper part of lenses has very little correction, lower part is needed for reading. No experience with toric or close and distance paired implants.

 

[geneinnc]

2nd best thing that ever happened to me. Legally blind in one eye since I was 3. It was trifocal time. Now I just need dime store reading glasses for the fine print. If I turn the fonts up on my phone I don't need that.

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[Bekeart]

a) do you get the sensation that one eye is fighting the other?

YES!

I had left eye doe for distance. Had worn glasses since second grade - would continue.

The doctor was going to do a procedure to reduce my astigmatism.
Well the astigmatism was reduced.

NOW for the BAD NEWS:
Horizontal lines are WAVY!
Reading with both eyes does not work well.
The two eyes do not track well. I see two independent images that are not in registration.

Hope you luck is better.

Bekeart
If you were near western KY I would identify the Doctor.

 

[growr]

Had both eyes razor sharp for medium and distance. Use reading glasses for .....reading!! I have NO vanity in that aspect....

Randy

 

[dave1918a2]

Got the left eye done 7 Years ago and the right 1 1/2 years ago. Got distance lenses and just passed My drivers license test w/o glasses. DO NOT, REPEAT DO NOT get one of each. I have not met anyone who has done that that is happy and wished They hadn't. You opthamologist should be able to get You a prescription that will ease the strain until the 5 week or so time of adjustment is up. It takes 5 weeks or so for Your eye to settle and less than that for Your eyes to adjust to the new ability to see. But it does take time and You will be amazed at how good Your vision has become.

 

[LVSteve]

With the Vegas dust I wish implants had been a thing when mine were done.

 

[Jeromejr]

About two years ago. I had surgery on the eyes for cataracts. Great, no side affects. Eye drops before and after.
Know I can play pool and shoot well!

 

[fiasconva]

I had the surgery he's advocating done about 6 yrs ago and it was a great success. Your brain doesn't know if you are using your left or your right eye and will take over when needed. I haven't experienced any of the problems you are asking about at all. I was legally blind for distance without my coke bottles and no longer have to wear glasses, which I had done since I was 10. My distance vision is 20/20 and reading is even better. I will wear some cheaters if doing really closeup work but don't need to if the lighting is good. If I had a downside it would be that my right eye was done for distance and since I'm right eye dominant the front sight is fuzzy but I can live with that. I'd do the surgery again in a heartbeat. Good luck and you will love the results. Please let us know how everything turns out, if you don't mind.

 

[MT99]

Monovision can sometimes work well. Lots of variables though.
Do you have any other eye disease like macular degeneration?
Do you have a strongly dominant eye? Which eye is dominant?
Did both eyes have good, equal visual acuity before cataracts?
Do you have a significant astigmatism?
How old are you and is night driving important to you?
Do you expect to be able to read a novel late in the day or just need to see you phone or dashboard without glasses?

If your acuity is still good enough in the cataract eye, ask to try a soft contact lens that would simulate monovision.

The vast majority of my patients end up with two distance implants. I think this is a good thing because I think they will be safer drivers when they are nearing the end of their driving careers.

 

[bgrafsr]

I have Macular Degeneration and Astigmatism in my left eye. I had distance lenses put in both eyes when I had the Cataract Surgery done. I need glasses for reading and closeup, but I'm happy with the distance vision.

 

[lrrifleman]

The vast majority of my patients end up with two distance implants. I think this is a good thing because I think they will be safer drivers when they are nearing the end of their driving careers.

Honestly, much of what you asked is Greek to me. I am 62, a single parent, and very dependent on my ability to drive.

I have worn some flavor of prescription glasses for close to 40 years. My vision had been corrected to 20/15. When I am not being the active care giver to my kids, I am either in some stage of reloading, shooting, reading, or attempting to do maintenance. Reading is a big part of my life.

I have been diagnosed ages ago with an astigmatism. Night driving is important.

My cataracts became symptomatic in early November on the way back from the Sig Academy. Between being unable to read speed limit signs until I was within 60 yards, losing the ability to read license plates beyond ten yards, halos around oncoming headlights, and triple vision (traffic lights and street lights looked like 3 leaf clovers, I then started getting light induced headaches. Right eye is dominant. Macular degeneration is not a term I remember hearing.

 

[MT99]

In simple terms, if you get distance only correction, your vision should be excellent for everything when wearing glasses and if you are lucky, your far vision will be good enough to go without glasses for some things.

If you get one eye done for reading, you may be able to see adequately enough for many things close and far. But your vision will not be as good as with both eyes giving 100%. Your depth perception will be compromised as well. At age 62, this might be okay. At 82, you might be a hazard on the road. That is why I always recommend full distance correction.

It annoys me to no end to hear my patients tell me the cataract surgeon told them they won't need glasses to drive. Inevitably, the patient thinks they are entitled to drive without glasses no matter how they actually see after surgery.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

Had both done 5 years a part. No problems with vision. No glasses needed. Then several years later my left retina detached. They fixed it. Several years later my right retina detached. They fixed it.........SPOOKY....Being blind in each eye for awhile. Found out by studying retina detachment is fairly common after lens replacement in the eye.

 

[billwill]

Wife did both for distance and loves her choice. Readers for close up, no problem.

 

[vonn]

Did both for distance and can get by without glasses for almost everything. Glaucoma in left eye and astigmatism corrected, night driving is no big deal. Hunted without glasses and iron sights are useable. Well worth every penny for the operation. Do have to use drops for dry eyes sometimes and large print on phone and iPad.

 

[pawngal]

My opinion, the OP's doc is trying to make more money by recommending doing one eye each way.
Perhaps a second opinion is in order.

 

[ameridaddy]

Yes to (a), and my surgeon pooh poohed it.
Well, when I had the 2nd eye done 13 years later, that sensation is now gone.
I have fixed long distance focus implants, and I'm quite happy with it at 20/20 in one eye and 20/15 in the other. I keep a pair of glasses for computer and gun sight distance, about 24", and a pair for close up about 14-16". They are prescription because I have astigmatism in one eye from a corneal injury at age 15.
I bought a pair of drugstore 3.5 diopter glasses for really close work, like digging out a splinter or hobby work. I don't mind carrying the 2 sets of glasses or changing them for different tasks, because I really like the full field of vision, which I didn't get with bifocals.
All's well now.

 

[BigBoy99]

My problem is, I believed the eye surgeon. He said I needed cataract surgery and I didn't realize how bad my eyes had gotten. He said there would be a vast improvement in my vision after I had the surgery. Well, I believed him and in retrospect, I should have gotten a second opinion. I had the surgery done on both eyes. All I can say is, the Dr. really needed to make a payment on his big yacht he owned. After the surgery, I didn't notice ANY difference between my vision. My vision before and after the surgery was the same. Shortly after my surgery, there was a notice in the paper that he was leaving the city to "expand his business" in a city about 100 miles away. I think he had screwed enough people and was getting out of town before he was tarred and feathered. The Dr. was damn crook.