OldSchool-WI Loc: Brandon, Wisconsin 53919

The eyes are the most important physical tool for photographers. The premium multifocal lens implants are not yet covered by Medicare and members of Congress should be urged to have them included. Certainly near and far vision is needed with cameras and regular glasses are difficult if there is a better way with multi-focal distance implants. Please share you experiences if you have had the multifocals implanted.---

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Discussion with my ophthalmologist absolutely ruled them out for me.

Your “visual mind” needs to choose from the multiple choices offered to it by the multifocal implants. It’s a mental issue. In Photoshop terms, your mind needs to continually “post process” multi layers and then “flatten image” about 20 times per second.

For patients who take their vision of the world as literally a view of reality, the mind will play the necessary tricks to ignore the less well-focused images and deal with only the best focused image. That represents a successful outcome.

It was clear to my doctor that as a visual artist I fail to “see the world” and I tend to navigate the world by accepting that I see only an image, not a “substantive reality”. This means that if I were presented with multiple focuses, I would see multiple focuses simultaneously. I would not automatically perceive only the best focus. Think of photographic “focus stacking” gone wrong

My inability to see the world as substantive reality, but always as a representation, an image, is not an eyesight flaw. I would see that way even with perfect eyes. It’s a perceptual phenomenon. It’s a mental mode and I have only that one mode. I have perfect eyesight now, post surgery, at all distances beyond about 3 or 4 feet. But I’m never unaware that I’m seeing an image, an analog of reality. Been that way all my life. And that rules out multifocal implants for me and anyone else like me.

An interview with your doctor may be necessary to ascertain “how you perceive what you see”. As a lifelong visual artist it was a quick verdict for me. I’m “mentally unfit” for multi focal implants. I would have to continuously very consciously make an effort to sort out the images. It would never become automatic.

If somehow I’m failing to communicate to you, show your doctor what I’ve written here and ask him to explain and discuss the issue with you.

The most important take away is that the experience of other patients is of zero value to you. If you understood what I wrote, then you realize that.

FWIW I have a simplified version of multi focus, called “monovision”. I have my dominant eye corrected for generally “20/20” (possibly even better than that) and my other eye is intentionally idealized to 18 inches, IOW one eye is nearsighted, but is very sharp at about 16 to 22 inches (that range widens a bit in bright light but it remains nearsighted). “Monovision” is a fairly common patient choice, but not everyone chooses 18 inches.

OldSchool-WI Loc: Brandon, Wisconsin 53919

Thank you for your quick response. Fortunately in my own personal experience I am fortunate that I have only one cataract and can focus a camera with my left eye. Your decision was well thought out. The technology is changing almost by the month though and there are a number of approaches to including and manufacturing the different focal lengths. A noted artist I am in contact with has chosen the multi focal distance lenses, but has not had the surgery yet. It is much like photo camera sensors and lenses--which vary by the month. In my own case, I can hold off a bit longer till the dust settles although the right eye is quite severe. I am using the Russian eye drops which have proven to halt and in clinical test somewhat reverse cataracts. So, I have put up this thread to see the satisfaction level of someone who has actually had the multifocal distance lenses and uses them for camera work.---Thanks again for posting.----ew

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You will ultimately need cataract surgery. The continued growth of the cataract does not make your future surgery more difficult. It’s the same job for mild or severe cataracts.

Therefor I’d be wary of “Russian Eyedrops” that slow the growth. If they are effective, that means you are chemically messing around with your eye. Sounds like some risk of affecting unintended parts of the eye, parts that are not replaced by your inevitable surgery.

OldSchool-WI Loc: Brandon, Wisconsin 53919

I presume that is the case--(I will need a new lens) --but I am waiting till the dust settles on the technology and hopefully the multifocals get covered in Medicare. The eyedrops found to actually clear cateracts somewhat have the chemical---N-acetyl-carnosine in mild solution and are sold over the counter and have been for a decade. Maybe it is my imagination--but I believe there is slight improvement after a month. I just ordered a book on the use of N-acetyl-carnosine for cataract. Since cataract surgery in the largest surgery for money in the USA--I suspect there is little about these drops. And maybe they do nothing. But that chemical has not been banned in this decade and the drops are available on line. But anything to clear the blur just somewhat I welcome. Although there is presbyopia in the other eye, I am lucky that is sharp and, without glasses, --I can adjust my camera viewers for seeing to sharp focus.---ew

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Interesting. mono vision would absolutely drive me nuts though.

Celtis87

I had the surgery and decided on the multifocals. Best decision I ever made. Used to be tethered to my prescription readers. Had an astigmatism that made the prescription necessary. Four years in and very pleased. Changed nothing visually, except for a reduced ability to read in dim light. Technology has progressed and newer multifocals seem pretty amazing. Just my experience. Had to do something due to the cataracts and this was my best option. Would absolutely do it again.

Cheetah34 Loc: Virginia Beach

I had multifocal lens put in about 4-5 years ago. Have been totally satisfied with near and distance vision and no problems with taking pictures. Extra cost above Medicare was $3000 per eye. Totally worth it and I think the price has come down. I play the trumpet and need “readers” for that intermediate distance of a music stand. Several months after my procedure, they perfected the lens for all distances. Wish I had waited but am totally satisfied with what I got.

JeffL Loc: New Jersey

Since spending $3,000 for multi focal lenses was too much of a stretch for me, I opted for the mono vision lenses covered by Medicare. However, as having to constantly switch between bare eyes and readers was annoying, I found an alternative solution. The VA made glasses for me that are plain glass at the top and middle and progressively become readers towards the the bottom. I have been wearing glasses for decades, so that was not an imposition. And, it beats switching back and forth all day.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

I had cataract surgery in 2008. Both eyes are set for distance (monovision).

This makes perfect sense for photography because whether you’re focusing on a ground glass or an EVF LCD viewfinder, it is a single plane. The camera lens controls focus, regardless.

I just set the diopter dial to give me the sharpest view of the finder screen.

When not using the camera, the monovision only becomes a slight annoyance when I need reading glasses to read the camera menus. I solved that with progressive lens glasses…

Bill_de Loc: US

Congress should get right on this! Or, maybe folks should find a way to earn what they want to help their photography.

Maybe while they're at it they will send me a Z9. That way somebody else can pay for it.

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It’s nearly imperceptible in daylight but indoors or at night it’s noticeable. In dim light the world looks normal but fine detail is c*********d. To read a distant sign at night I blink the nearsighted eye for about a half second. Gets to be a nonconscious habit.

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That is NOT monovision. Please do not confuse things. Monovision is having a different focus distance for each eye.

I believe your choice is called binocular vision but I’m not at all sure thaz the right term.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

My opthalmologist described it as mono focus vision. He simply meant that the lenses were fixed-focus at a single distance like an old box camera set for the hyperlocal. Everything is in focus from around four feet to infinity in good light, and around six feet to infinity at night, since our eyes have small "sensors," short focal length lenses, and use small but variable apertures. I have some residual astigmatism that occasionally forces me to wear my progressive glasses. I do have toric lenses that correct most of my moderate astigmatism. I was part of a pilot program to test the efficacy of those lenses.

I'll add that if I had it to do over again, I'd do it exactly the same way.

My sister has one eye set for reading and one for driving. She likes it, because, "If I lose my glasses, I can still see well enough to survive without them. (Her glasses correct severe astigmatism that her lenses could not.)

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

There are two additional factors to keep in mind.

First...no matter which choice you make, there is no guarantee that your vision will not change after you receive your implants and recover from the surgery, or later on down the road.

Second...any astigmatism may affect the final results of your vision. Correction for astigmatism, and has been for some time. But it is available only in relatively large steps and may not be perfect.