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Cataract eye surgery for older photographers?
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Nov 2, 2018 07:26:20   #
LenCreate
 
I had cataract surgery in both eyes a year ago and had to make the same choice. I asked the doctor aBout patient satisfaction with each type of lense and he responded that a much higher percentage of people who chose the bifocal were dissatisfied and had a second surgery to change the lense. That made my decision easy. I use cheap reader glasses for closeup viewing. However, I don use them with my cameras. I’ve adjusted the diopter settings on my cameras to make things viewed through the viewfinder clear.

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Nov 2, 2018 07:43:32   #
Elyse200
 
I had cataracts and astigmatism and I had surgery on both eyes several weeks apart this summer. The AcrySof.IQ Toric lens was implanted and I am very happy with the result. I can read newspaper small print and also have excellent distance vision. Medicare does not fully cover the cost of these lenses but the results were worth it. I don’t need to wear glasses at all.

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Nov 2, 2018 08:05:55   #
ltj123 Loc: NW Wisconsin
 
I'm getting the surgery this winter in 1 eye only for distance, other eye still okay and can read without any cheaters. Hope can see far and near after!

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Nov 2, 2018 08:40:01   #
jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY
 
As far as I'm concerned, the only logical choice is to get a lens (or lenses) for distance, since that's what you are looking at most of the time. For close-up, I use $1.00 reading glasses.

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Nov 2, 2018 08:50:16   #
KoniOmegaflex Loc: Central KY
 
I'm 75. I had cataract surgery on both eyes last spring. I opted for the Simfony (not symphony, probably a trademark) lens. It helped with both distance and close vision for me. I now have 20/20 both eyes and my astigmatism has been corrected. I had trouble with close up vision before (reading, puzzles). My wife had the same surgery. Before she could see fine up close but had trouble with distance--now she has to have readers for up close but distance is much better. The implants have concentric circles that may have caused the halo effect when looking at lights, a minor problem that may? go away in time. I doubt it. The downside--Medicare only pays for the regular implant lens--these were $2k per eye. Also, not every surgery center offers this optional lens. I think there is an option to have one eye done for close up and one for distance.

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Nov 2, 2018 09:12:10   #
jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana
 
Go for the distant vision--you won’t be sorry. I’ve had it done and have never regretted the decision, which was what my surgeon suggested after “interviewing” me. The dials etc., won’t be a big deal at all.

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Nov 2, 2018 09:23:55   #
RiverRat50
 
Had cataract surgery about three years ago. I am a CPA. I spend a lot of time at my desk. I opted for the lens that allow me to do my work without the need for glasses. Before surgery I was having to use the readers which I hate. Now I don't need glasses for reading. I can even read the fine print on a medicine bottle. I do have glasses for distances. Most of the time I would be wearing sunglasses if I am outside or driving. The only problem is that I will take off my glasses to read something & then forget to put them back on. I have to wander around until I can spot them. Amazingly, they are most always in the place where I left them. I just can't always remember where that was. Too bad there isn't corrective surgery for my memory. My wife had the lens for distance vision. She says that she wishes now that she did like me. I've spoken with others that wish they had opted for up close vision instead. If you spend a lot of time doing up close things, consider what I did.

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Nov 2, 2018 09:25:40   #
BrHawkeye
 
I've had cataract surgery for both eyes, one in 2001 and the other in 2012. An Intraocular lens each time. I need glasses only for driving and flying (I'm a private pilot). My vision is 20/15 with glasses, close to 20/20 without them. I keep a magnifying glass handy for really fine print but otherwise don't need glasses for reading or photography. The surgery did wonders for me.

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Nov 2, 2018 09:43:33   #
Old Coot
 
I too had multifocal lens so that I don,t need glasses at all.
The small drawback as previously mentioned is that every light source has a halo effect surrounding it. Drives you a little crazy at first but your brain eventually gets used to it.
Now I can see clearly both distance and for reading. Wonderful. Not free like the single vision lens but the benefits are substantial and over the long term, the cost is minor

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Nov 2, 2018 10:27:19   #
sploppert Loc: Rochester, NY
 
I had cataract surgery in the spring I chose the distance lens. They do one eye and then the other a few weeks later in case there was a problem with the first one. When I had the first one done I was so pleased with my vision and the vibrant colors that I couldn't wait to have the second one done. I felt like a kid again to be able to see without glasses it was unbelievable. I do need readers for reading fine print but that's all. I don't need any thing for shooting. As is with cameras your view is set for distants so focusing is not a problem.

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Nov 2, 2018 10:27:22   #
Wrongway Loc: Hewitt Texas
 
I had surgery last August both eyes were to be corrected for distance and I would wear reading glasses. I had my left eye done first and everything came out perfect I had 20/15 vision for distance well 2 weeks later I had my right eye surgery and at first I couldn’t see anything far away, so the doctor did some checking of my eye ball itself and discovered the right eye was smaller than the left I ended up with 20/15 vision for close distance like reading in the right eye. Well I was told that I have a vision that people pay a lot of money for and I got by accident. I don’t wear any glasses except sun glasses and I adjust my camera to my distance eye

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Nov 2, 2018 10:48:45   #
berchman Loc: South Central PA
 
mackolb wrote:
I'm scheduling cataract surgery and was told that I must opt for which correction I want to wear eyeglasses; I've been using trifocals for the past 15-years.
My initial thought that having my eyes corrected for permanent (whatever that means) distance vision and then get eyeglasses for close focusing seemed right.
But, needing to be able to see what's going on with my camera controls, chimping and focus, leads me to think that perhaps getting surgery to require distance glasses may make more sense.
Seeing the profiles of many participants here, it occurs to me that there are likely many who have opinions worth sharing.
Thanks for your thoughts.
I'm scheduling cataract surgery and was told that ... (show quote)


I can see the settings for all controls in the viewfinder of my Fuji X-T3 so I don't need near vision correction. I corrected my eyes in cataract surgery for distance and astigmatism only. However, there is now a lens which will give you both middle and far correction. Some people opt to put distance in one eye and near in the other.

Monofocal lenses give a single, sharp focus at a distance or near, but can be placed for monovision correction — where one eye sees distance and the other eye sees near — to give a very functional range of vision. Monovision correction is very popular for older individuals getting LASIK.
Multifocal lenses offer two focal points in each eye, one at far distance and the other at a near distance. Most people are free of glasses, however they may see less clear at mid-range distances, and may see rings around lights at night, Dr. Krueger says.
Extended depth-of-focus lenses can help you see more clearly at a distance and mid-range and at all points in between. They are less likely to have glare and rings around lights at night, but the full range of correction for near viewing is sometimes compromised, and not as close up as with a multifocal lens or monovision lenses, he says.
Toric lenses correct astigmatism (caused by an uneven curvature in your eye’s cornea), so that you can see clearly at distance or near without glasses.

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Nov 2, 2018 10:52:58   #
RolandDieter
 
I opted for monovision - one eye for distance, the other for close-up. Since they only do one eye at a time, I had the right one done first, for distance. Then, in the two-month intervening period, I could decide whether have the distance-corrected right eye along with my natural near-sighted left eye worked for me. It did, so I had the left one set for close-up. I have both distance and reading without glasses. Some people adapt to this without trouble; others can't. But the time between surgeries lets you know which will work for you.

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Nov 2, 2018 11:03:59   #
Bultaco Loc: Aiken, SC
 
kdogg wrote:
I had both eyes done about 12 years ago. I also bifocals and opted for permanent distance vision lenses so I use cheap Wal Mart reading glasses. I have one pair for the computer and one for reading. I don't use any when taking pictures, I just use the diopter adjustment on my camera which serves me well. Surgery is a piece of cake. I spent more time getting prepared for surgery than what time was needed to do it. Good luck with your surgery let me know how it goes.


My wife and I opted for distance. Glasses for reading.

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Nov 2, 2018 11:09:41   #
sb Loc: Florida's East Coast
 
DWU2 wrote:
I went to the opthamologist today to consider cataract surgery. He strongly recommended against multi-focal IOL's. He said that since I'm an engineer, I'd never be satisfied with the correction they provide. He also said that for many people who get them, they end up with glasses within 3 years.


Glad to read your comment - I tried the "bifocal" contact lenses a few years back, and while they did improve both close and distance focusing, NEITHER was as good as with progressive/bifocal lenses, so I canned them. I have wondered if - when the time comes - variable focusing IOLs would be good or mostly frustrating.

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