Between cataract surgeries
Posted , 6 users are following.
Hi,
I've just discovered this site and I'm looking for some advice.
I'm due to have cataract surgery on my left eye in 3 weeks, and on my right eye 3 weeks after that. My concerns are about my eyesight during those three weeks. Both eyes are currently -6.5 dioptres, and my surgeon is going to target both for -2.5, so there will be a significant temporary imbalance. Additionally, i have diplopia, and 7.5 base-out prisms in both lenses.
I've only discussed this very briefly with my optician (I have another appointment next week) but she has already said that my situation will be "horrific" - which is honest, if not particularly reassuring!
Any tips/ideas/advice from those of you who may have been in a similar situation?
Zander
0 likes, 5 replies
RonAKA ZanderGreen
Posted
One option, although it is not one that I particularly like is to have both eyes done at the same time, if the surgeon is willing. The down side of that is you are taking a chance the surgeon will miss your -2.50 D target in both eyes. Since you will be needing glasses that is not such a big disaster though. My understanding is that prism cannot be addressed with IOLs, so you will need glasses regardless.
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Other than that, one option may be to correct your non operated eye with a contact lens. That tends to minimize the difference between the eyes issue.
Bookwoman ZanderGreen
Posted
I wouldn't quite call it horrific, but it wasn't fun. I had a 6 diopter discrepancy between my eyes after the first surgery (-8 and a -2 IOL). I certainly couldn't drive, and was somewhat disoriented, so I basically stayed home. I was fortunate that my husband had recently retired, so he did all the shopping, drove me the day after surgery to the doctor, etc. I had the second eye done two weeks later.
One possibility might be to tape your non-operated eye shut with surgical tape, or use an eyepatch.
RandallG ZanderGreen
Edited
I think HORRIFIC is exaggerated. I was in a similar situation for about one week (although it was ~3D difference) ... after which I told the dr that I could not do any meaningful work on the computer. He prescribed some contact lenses and I was able to do quite well.
Until I got the lenses, I used my old eyeglasses with one of the lenses removed and I was able to manage OK.
Good luck to you!
RebDovid ZanderGreen
Posted
Last Tuesday morning, my surgeon implanted an Eyhance IOL in my first (left, nondominant) eye, targeted at c. -1.97 D. I had intended to wait until my (delayed) one week check up next Thursday before providing an initial report, my current experience may encourage you to follow RonAKA's advice and try wearing a contact lens in your unoperated eye.
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During the late winter and early spring I wore contact lenses (for the first time) to trial mini-monovision. With my surgeon's blessing, I'm now wearing a contact lens in my right eye. Hence, instead of having a c. 4.0 D difference between my Eyhance and unoperated eyes, I have, if the surgeon exactly hit the target, about a 1.25 D difference, which I'm finding non-problematic. (I'll have a better idea next Thursday, and I trust an even better idea by the time my second eye is done on August 8.)
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Good luck.
Guest ZanderGreen
Posted
I've had a 4D difference for almost a year and its fine. Using my glasses (with -4 in one eye and 0 plus an astigmatism tweak in the other) is fine. It was weird at first but I adapted quickly. I think a contact lens would work better but I hate contact lenses.