Cataract eye surgery for older photographers?
Nov 2, 2018 11:55:31 #
Picture Taker
Loc: Michigan Thumb
I had my eye done about a year ago. Left eye so bad I had a problem see the chart not the letters. Went in at 6:00AM w .as 3rd in line was at a restaurant at 10:15 AM eating breakfast and could see thru the plastic eye cover. No pain before during or after
Nov 2, 2018 12:02:33 #
Don W-37
Loc: Bangkok, Thailand
I'm 81 and my eye doc says I will probably need cataract surgery in 2 or 3 years. (If I'm still around!) I plan to go with "mono-vision." I'll have my right eye (which is my dominant eye) corrected for distance, and my left eye for reading. I wore contact lens for over 30 years, and used that approach. It worked well for me. Good luck with whatever you choose. Don
Nov 2, 2018 12:08:16 #
Anhanga Brasil
Loc: Cabo Frio - Brazil
I am considering my case. My Ophthalmologist decide himself to give me one
eye for distance and the other for close focus. I do not like it... I hate it so much
that I am willing to get another surgery to correct that mess.
When I am driving and it is raining, one eye sees the usual blurred rain on the
windshield and the other sees the f...ing droplets clearly. Trust me: it is a PITA.
There is the option of getting a multi focal IOL (Intra Ocular lens), but from what
I've heard it is not a good option.
So, I would opt for distance vision and wear the glasses that we all, who are over
40, naturally use for correcting our Presbyopia.
One thing is certain: you will need to wear sunglasses in sunny days. I never
liked to use those and after the surgery I feel I need them.
Just my opinion, FWIW. Good Luck.
eye for distance and the other for close focus. I do not like it... I hate it so much
that I am willing to get another surgery to correct that mess.
When I am driving and it is raining, one eye sees the usual blurred rain on the
windshield and the other sees the f...ing droplets clearly. Trust me: it is a PITA.
There is the option of getting a multi focal IOL (Intra Ocular lens), but from what
I've heard it is not a good option.
So, I would opt for distance vision and wear the glasses that we all, who are over
40, naturally use for correcting our Presbyopia.
One thing is certain: you will need to wear sunglasses in sunny days. I never
liked to use those and after the surgery I feel I need them.
Just my opinion, FWIW. Good Luck.
Nov 2, 2018 12:13:18 #
When I had cataract surgery I had lens implants. It dimensions and radii of curvature should be able to reproduce 20/20 vision. About 18 months after my implants I had to have minor laser repairs. Make sure your eye doctor is experienced in cataract surgery - in other words not a newbie. The usually do one eye at a time at a month interval, so compare the colors rendered by each eye separately - the new eye will see white as white, the old eye as a brownish yellow. Good luck and report your progress.
Nov 2, 2018 12:15:43 #
I'm 75 and just had the cataract surgery on both eyes done three months ago. The ophthalmologist described the options and I decided on "perfect distance vision". The results have been miraculous! After using a variety of contact lens prescriptions over the last thirty years or so including multi-focal, near-far and toric, all with varying degrees of success, the improvements I am now enjoying in detail, depth perception and color vision following the surgery are remarkable. I too was uncertain about seeing the settings on my camera but have found it to be manageable un-aided in bright light. I have a one-day soft contact near vision prescription for my left eye only that I use if I expect to be in conditions that would make "cheaters" hard to use. Most of the time I am glasses free and enjoying the heck out of it! Good luck. Hope yours will be as successful.
Nov 2, 2018 12:42:14 #
I did one and one -- right eye close up vision, left eye far vision... this seems to work for some people and not others. I love it. You might want to try it out with a contact in one eye for a while ???
Nov 2, 2018 14:39:23 #
mackolb wrote:
I'm scheduling cataract surgery and was told that ... (show quote)
One think not mentioned often is how you spend your time when not with your camera. If your hobbies and activities require you wear safety glass's, go for fixed far sight and bifocal glass's. You are going to be wearing glass's anyway.
Nov 2, 2018 14:40:10 #
For the sake of convenience of always having the reading glasses with me, I opted for bifocals with no correction in the top. Thus I wear my glasses full time. BUT
There is a lot to be said for viewing the entire image in the viewfinder. With glasses , I only get about 7/8 of the image . I can see the entire image but not all at once. I have to move my eye behind the viewfinder window and try to remember what was just obscured when I moved to see the part of the image that was previously obscured.
Without glasses,I can see the entire image all at once. I think that it has something to do with the distance from the eye to the viewfinder eyepiece.
There is a lot to be said for viewing the entire image in the viewfinder. With glasses , I only get about 7/8 of the image . I can see the entire image but not all at once. I have to move my eye behind the viewfinder window and try to remember what was just obscured when I moved to see the part of the image that was previously obscured.
Without glasses,I can see the entire image all at once. I think that it has something to do with the distance from the eye to the viewfinder eyepiece.
Nov 2, 2018 16:10:57 #
camshot
Loc: Peterborough ontario Canada
I'm 86 had both eyes done for distance. I still like my trifocals. I like everything from close reading to infinity to be in focus. The top portion is clear of course.
Nov 2, 2018 16:35:54 #
Currently the diopter adjustment on cameras is enough to see in the viewfinder. I had cataract surgery early, at 45. The doctor told me it was because I refused to wear sunglasses due to the fact that any weight on the bridge of my nose would give me a sinus headache.
Nov 2, 2018 16:52:30 #
I'm 81 and have performed a lot of cataract surgery and i am near sighted. My far point of focus is about 12 inches. I have enjoyed my sharp near vision especially since requiring a multifocal lens in my distance correction.
I remove my glasses to see fine detail at near. If I ever need cataract surgery, I plan to remain near sighted. It's what I'm accustomed to. Most surgeons now shoot for good uncorrected distance vision and if you are far sighted(hyperopic)
or have had a minimal need for distance correction in the past that is the way to go. But if you have been nearsighted,analyze how much you use your uncorrected near vision before deciding. I know several people that have been disappointed,
even with excellent results, at losing their near vision without correction.
I remove my glasses to see fine detail at near. If I ever need cataract surgery, I plan to remain near sighted. It's what I'm accustomed to. Most surgeons now shoot for good uncorrected distance vision and if you are far sighted(hyperopic)
or have had a minimal need for distance correction in the past that is the way to go. But if you have been nearsighted,analyze how much you use your uncorrected near vision before deciding. I know several people that have been disappointed,
even with excellent results, at losing their near vision without correction.
Nov 2, 2018 17:25:51 #
I had both eyes done many years ago. I like that I can walk around, drive and see distance perfectly without glasses, but I do wear the cheap reading glasses for reading and chimping. The Dr who did my surgery said it was OK to do that and that they would not hurt my eyes. He does cataract surgery for many famous people, did Ronald Reagan's surgery, so I trust what he tells me. He says the cheap glass in Walmart cheapos is ground to the same diopters as the glass in your eyeglasses and close-up filter/lenses for cameras. I'm happy to add that you never feel a thing during the surgery, so don't waste any stress over having it done. Being nervous is useless.
I LOVE what the surgery did for me!
Oh...I also meant to say, I use the viewfinder without my readers.
I LOVE what the surgery did for me!
Oh...I also meant to say, I use the viewfinder without my readers.
Nov 2, 2018 21:05:41 #
I had cataract surgery quite some years ago in the UK. The replacement lenses were intended to make my left eye short-sighted and my right long-sighted. It has worked out perfectly for me. If I read my left eye becomes dominant anything further it's the right eye that takes over. I no longer needed spectacles. For my cameras, since I use my right eye to the viewfinder, I adjust the diopter there.
I was told, at the time, this technique is not possible with everyone's eyes.
I was told, at the time, this technique is not possible with everyone's eyes.
Nov 2, 2018 21:44:44 #
This is great! Please, keep em' coming. Your experiences and insights are helping.
I'm still struggling with the choice.
I'm hoping to replace/augment my Nikon DSLRs with a Z7 and using both the rear display and viewfinder, preferably without glasses. And, I spend a great deal of time on computers as an editor (photo and video) and as trainer at the Apple Store. So, getting it right for the balance of my life . . .
I'm still struggling with the choice.
I'm hoping to replace/augment my Nikon DSLRs with a Z7 and using both the rear display and viewfinder, preferably without glasses. And, I spend a great deal of time on computers as an editor (photo and video) and as trainer at the Apple Store. So, getting it right for the balance of my life . . .
Nov 2, 2018 22:07:19 #
Please keep sharing all your experiences and advise about which way to go. I'll be 66 next week and need the surgery soon. I have my computer set to 150% zoom right now and magnifying glasses all over the house. I used to wear contacts, one for close and one for distance and didn't have a problem adjusting. Thanks all
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