toxdoc42

I am a photographer and a physician, although not an ophthalmologist. I also am not a big believer in elective surgery. I had my cataracts done when I literally had to play golf with someone much younger so that he/she could help follow my ball, and I don't hit the ball very far these days. As someone else said, I am sorry that I didn't have the surgery years ago, but I was stubborn, and, yes, a little afraid of surgery.

There are newer lenses that supposedly adjust as if they were your own lens, but ask the ophthalmologist about them. Most opthalmologists I know, when they had cataract surgery, opted for distance correction. My wife and a friend have one eye corrected for distance and one for reading. I tried that by using glasses in the opthalmologists office and it was not good for me. My eyes were corrected for distance and that made an amazing difference. I still have some astigmatism, so I still need to wear glasses even to play golf.

I have no problem with my camera, since I can "dial in" the correction on the eyepiece. The only problem I sometimes have, is that my sunglasses are polarized. I still like to use a polarizing filter when I shoot landscapes, and sometimes, I can't see, since the polarizers cancel out the light. Then I have to take off my glasses, a bit of a nuisance.

goofybruce

There is a third, more expensive alternative, which I chose. Ask your surgeon if he does multi-focus lens replacements. Most insurance companies will cover what Medicare does, and it is out-of-pocket for the more expensive lenses. The lenses hook into the muscles which focus your natural lens (cataracts is a hardening and yellowing of the natural lens, making it hard to focus and "clouding" your eyesight. The morning after the surgery, you will literally see what I'm talking about).
I chose, because of my profession, to have the more expensive lenses put in. I don't need glasses at all and have 20-15 vision.
The surgery was the same as for the other, less expensive lenses. The multi-focus lens have little hooks around the edge which are embedded into the focusing muscles so they don't slip and the muscles can work as they did before.
I was told by my doctor that the reason Medicare doesn't cover the more expensive lenses is that "the federal government thinks all old people wear glasses so why pay more so they don't have to." Not sure if he was serious or not, but I'm glad, five years later, that I made that choice.

sgt hop Loc: baltimore md,now in salisbury md

i had cataract surgery about 10yrs ago....i had been wearing glasses since i was 8yrs.for nearsightedness......after the surgery, i ended up with 20/20 vision....i do need reading glasses......couldn't believe the before and after difference...everything was bright and clear....

IBE

In my real life I am an Optometrist. If you correct the distance vision you will definitely need help see the back of the camera. You can wear a pair of cheaters down low so it doesn't interfere with the viewfinder. Also for about $5000 you can get multi focal implants and will see reasonably well distance and near. It's a lot of money but it will last the rest of your life. Hope this helps.
IB

u4ea

Hi Rando,

I had both eyes fixed for distance and LOVE IT!

I loved being able to see the scene with stereo vision before shooting a photo.

I tried one eye close and one far before they fixed my 2nd eye and I didn't like it.

I had bad depth perception and it didn't feel right to me.

I adjusted the diopter on my camera and can see perfectly through the viewfinder without glasses.

I would try it before you make your permanent decision.

Good luck to you, whatever you decide.

U4ea

nancyab Loc: Enfield, CT, USA

I had cataract surgery on both eyes a few years ago and I'm sure the surgery and choices are much better now. I didn't want to wear glasses for reading or working on the computer, so I chose to wear glasses for driving instead since most of the time I would be wearing sunglasses anyway. One eye was adjusted for reading and the other for working on the computer - they blend so that the difference between the two is not noticeable. I found that this combination works well for photography since looking in the viewfinder is close viewing and I don't have to wear glasses for this - the camera optics takes care of the distance vision, whether near or far. When I was wearing glasses prior to the surgery, it was a problem since I had bi-focal. I'm sure talking to the surgeon doing the surgery would help you in your decision. What struck me the most once the surgery was done was the amazement about all the bright colors that I couldn't see before. I still have problems driving at night, however, so avoid it when I can. Good luck.

swamp shutter Loc: Tallahassee Florida

Sounds like you have had plenty of responses already and here's mine too. I noticed several rears ago that i thought everything looked smokey and i thought that the forestry department was burning the under brush more often than usual. I went for a regular eye exam and was told that i couldn't be fitted with glasses because i had cataracts. She hooked me up with a surgeon and afterwards it took several weeks but it was like living in a new world,especially colors. At my last visit to the eye doctor the assistant said i could see better than her with her glasses on. To me it was well worth it all.

daeod Loc: Levittown, PA

I am an Optometrist and I would suggest you talk with your surgeon about a couple of options: Multifocal implants, or, a distance implant for your dominant eye and a near focus implant in your other eye.
Good luck. Cataract surgery is not the major operation it was years ago, but it is still surgery on your eyes.

BudsOwl Loc: Upstate NY and New England

I had cataract surgery over ten years ago and my vision is now 20/20 or better on each checkup. I do use reading glasses for close up work although I can read without them if necessary. I know that some people have one eye done for close up and the other for distance. You need to hear their outcome from them. I am glad that I opted for distance. Made it easier for me to drive, hunt, fish, etc.
Bud

RTCreed Loc: Forest Park, IL

I had both lenses done several years ago. My doctor recommended against bifocals as they were really not tested at the time and I have 20/20 in both eyes and just carry my reading glasses with me. Not really an issue, you just need to accept it.

rfmaude41 Loc: Lancaster, Texas (DFW area)

I had my left eye done for distance and the right for near vision.

rfmaude41 Loc: Lancaster, Texas (DFW area)

At night, if you're seeing halos, just have them (the IOL's) cleaned via laser. I've had that done 3 times, about every 2 years. Only takes about 5 minutes per eye, and is painless.

10MPlayer Loc: California

Some people who go for Lasix have one eye done for reading and one for distance. Not sure if that's available for lens replacement but it may be an option. I did have Lasix and because it didn't really come out as well I'd hope I left my left eye able to read and had revision surgery on the right eye for distance. It take some getting used to. All in all I decided to go back to glasses because the distance vision never got better than 20/30. Ok but not good enough.

preacherman Loc: Milton/Pensacola, FL

You can look at youtube to see actual surgery on removing cateracts up close to see what they do. They got it down pat.

sailorsmom Loc: Souderton, PA

Rando, before I had my cataract surgery the doc asked me if I'd rather be near sighted or far sighted! Threw me for a loop! I just said, "Can't you make is somewhere in the middle?", and that's what he did! Don't know how they do it! Took a little getting used to but I'm okay with it. Good luck!!!