minniev Loc: MIssissippi

I had cataract surgery about 18 months ago. I've been terribly nearsighted and astygmatic since childhood, and had worn contacts my whole adult life. As I got older I used contacts with different correction for near (left) eye and far (right eye). The surgeon brought in a second doctor with expertise in lens selection to try to emulate that type of correction, which prevented me from needing reading glasses. Though the surgery was easy and recovery quick, the left eye was unworkable. The implant was too weak and there was too much difference between my right and left eyes, leaving me dizzy and unable to see well enough to drive. After reviewing options, I decided on a contact lens for the weak left eye to add some extra correction, though not as strong as the vision in my right eye. That solution has been workable. I can read large print without readers but use them for smaller print and computer work.

A year after the surgery both my eyes began clouding over, and my vision was back to the point it was before the cataract surgery if not worse, with the same starbursts of light at night. Turns out this is not uncommon after cataract surgery. An in-office laser procedure called a Zag procedure was done with good results.

I was disappointed at all the trouble this was, partly because almost everyone I knew who'd had cataract surgery considered it an easy marvel with superman vision results. I'm hoping you will follow the crowd and have perfect results with no problems. But be aware that problems can occur, and that there are usually solutions to those problems.

TBPJr Loc: South Carolina

I had both eyes done, August 4 and August 11; my ophthalmologist recommended the basic lenses set for distance vision with the expectation that I would need glasses for reading and for a correction for astigmatism, and I agreed after reading what the other lenses choices meant. The surgeries went very well, the recovery was easy, and the results pretty darn good, given to what poor eyesight I had become inured.

I have only just ordered my new glasses--I had to wait for three weeks after the surgeries to get a new prescription, so I haven't had the right glasses yet--I still need reading glasses for close work and reading screens, but I don't need anything beyond about a foot-and-a-half. It will be a week to ten days before I get my new glasses, but I expect them to work really well.

I have been using my old glasses to take pictures, or really, just to chimp afterwards or to read the info on the review screen--I can see plenty well to take the pictures through the viewfinder. I think I made the right choice for me in taking the simpler implant lenses and using glasses. I have never minded bifocals (mine have especially large reading sections) but my experience with lineless trifocals and bifocals was unsatisfactory, and I didn't think I would like implants with either bifocals or trifocals because I expected the size of the reading and screen areas to be too cramped for me.

So, I suggest you discuss the options with your doctor and tell him exactly what you want and expect and get his recommendations, and make your decision from that. I would lean toward the options that are the least complicated and most likely to fit what you want in terms of the field of vision. Good luck! I am basically certain you will like the results of replacing the cloudy lenses you must have now.

DavidPine Loc: Fredericksburg, TX

I told my doctor that I wanted f/22 vision. That was five years ago and I made the right decision for me.

MadMikeOne Loc: So. NJ Shore - a bit west of Atlantic City

Minnie, thanks for sharing your story. I am so sorry for all the problems you encountered. At least things are back to normal now thanks to your persistance. Let’s hope that all goes well with my surgery.

MadMikeOne Loc: So. NJ Shore - a bit west of Atlantic City

Thank you for sharing all those details. After doing quite a bit of research on the internet and reading the comments here on UHH, my first inclination is to go with distance lenses. Of course, that may change after my visit with the doctor. Believe me, I have quite a list of questions as well as expectations to go over in detail with my doctor. I’m hoping to be able to schedule my evaluation appointment very shortly. I’m anxious to just get this over with!

MikeMck Loc: Southern Maryland on the Bay

Good MOrning, I had both eyes done starting in January 2020. I had to wait a couple of months for the second eye because of the coronavirus. My right eye was my first and driving back (my daughter did there driving) from the surgery center, I noticed an immediate improvement in my distance sight. When I got home I noticed that I needed reading glasses. I went to the local Walmart and purchased 2.5 reading glasses, which solved the problem. I need the reading glasses for work on my PC and to read, but not to watch TV. The second eye was a similar process, distance was a great improvement, but I need glasses to read. I remember being awake, one eye was covered and I could see a bright light in the eye that was being worked on. No pain and I really don't remember much, I had what they call IV sedation. I did not get laser surgery, I got the old fashion kind, the type that medicare pays for. The only pain in the butt was I had to apply eye drops in the eye being worked on for 4 weeks. Prior to that in 75 years I never used eye drops, I got to be really good. Good luck and stay safe.

yssirk123 Loc: New Jersey

I had cataract surgery on both eyes in January 2020 (no sedation), after putting it off for several years; wish I had done it sooner. It was a 15 minute operation, and I couldn't believe the difference in clarity and color. I looked at edited images pre-surgery, and saw how much the cataracts affected my color perception.

I opted for single vision lenses as the experience with vari-focal lenses was mixed. The most common choice is to correct for far vision, but you'll need glasses for everything that you do up close.

DAN Phillips Loc: Graysville, GA

Both eyes last year. For the first time since I was 27 yrs. old; no restrictions on my drivers license. Only wear readers for a close look. Praise God!

1Feathercrest Loc: NEPA

"Transpired" is NOT another word for "occurred". To occur is to happen. What has transpired is what someone relates as having occurred. This is a ubiquitous error among even "well educated" people today.

cincykid

Both my wife and I have had the surgery done by laser without issues. As with any surgery follow the doc's pre & post op instructions.

My wife had the bi-focal implants & they work well for her. It was recommended that I just go with lenses to correct my vision for seeing in the distance because my eyes were so bad.

Like a camera I see everything in focus when it't bright and sunny. I still prefer to use glasses with a slight correction when driving at night. I use Costco reading glasses.

One other thing I noticed is that I need a baseball hat when driving a convertible or outside. There seems to be more overhead glare than pre-op. I am 76. Go for it.

nimbushopper Loc: Tampa, FL

My wife had astigmatism in both eyes and wore glasses her whole life. She went for the cataract surgery last December and got the restore lenses(which weren't covered by insurance) and now doesn't need glasses at all!
She can read and see distance perfectly now.

BrHawkeye

I've had cataract surgery in each eye, done several years apart. The more recent surgery was done more than five years ago. My hobbies include photography and flying, so both distance vision and the ability to see the instrument panel clearly were important to me. I, too, had been wearing glasses since I was 7 and am now in my late 70s. After surgery, I have needed glasses only for driving and flying. My distance vision was 20/15 for years though it has regressed a bit in the last couple years. The surgery was easy. I, too, was conscious during my second surgery and the surgeon was talking to me about what she was doing and what I was experiencing as she did it. The surgery itself took half an hour.

dfrodin Loc: Colorado Springs, CO

I had both my eyes done at the same time. It took about twenty minutes and I was out the door. My 20/400 eyes were at 20/40 minimum after the surgery and now I need glasses for reading only. All in all, it was a very positive experience. Good luck to you!!

Al Beatty Loc: Boise, Idaho

Hi Mike,
I had the operation (one eye at a time & one month a part) a little over a year ago. I got the single lens so I have to use "readers" on the computer, reading a book, etc. The world is sure beautiful now compared to what I lived with for so many years. TIP: Take the proper lens out of your old glasses after the first-eye surgery so you can see better for the month between the two operations. After the second operation be prepared to see a whole new world! Take care & ...

LenCreate

I had both eyes done separately, a month between the surgeries, in NJ a year and a half ago. I chose to pay $1,000 per eye for the laser procedure because Medicare only pays for the traditional knife surgery and my doctor said that laser puts less pressure on the eye and heals more quickly. I chose the single vision lens because my doctor said that more people were dissatisfied with the bifocal.

My eyesight improved significantly. I use reading glasses for close items and have them everywhere in my house. I bought a multipack at BJ’s. I can drive at night again; contrast was very poor before the surgeries. I’m no longer bothered by glare on bright days.

The actual surgery only takes a few minutes. With pre-op and post-op, it takes approximately two hours. There was no pain after the surgeries, only a little discomfort.

All surgeries should be so easy.