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Distance vision

Posted , 8 users are following.

judith93585
judith93585

I've been wavering between mini-monovision and IOLs set for distance. I spoke to a friend who went with distance for both eyes. She can see within 3 feet, it is not a complete blur. That said, she uses readers for near and intermediate print. I believe I've read others describe having a very different experience where they feel surrounded by a blur. Would love to hear from members who went with distance and what you can see without glasses. Many thanks!

0 likes, 43 replies

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  • judith93585
    judith93585

    Edited

    Thanks Ron! I would need to have first surgery on non-dominant LE and make this the distance eye because LE has the worst cataract. I only anticipate a contact lens trial after surgery for LE when a contact could be used on the RE as a trial.

    That brings to mind choosing a cataract surgeon. How much time do you think cataract surgeons generally set aside to get to know the lifestyle and vision needs of new cataract surgery patients? I've noticed younger surgeons (late 30's - 40's) are much more helpful and better at communicating than older surgeons, at least in an academic setting. I'm wondering if it's more important to choose an extremely experienced surgeon (50's) if communication is difficult or a less experienced surgeon (30's-40's) who is great at communicating.

    • RonAKA
      RonAKA judith93585

      Edited

      There is no clear evidence that the dominant eye should be the distance eye. My cataract was worst in my non-dominant eye, and I had surgery on it first and set the target for distance. It has worked out well for me.

      .

      I kind of had my mind made up what I wanted and did not depend heavily on advice from the surgeon. This said I was disappointed with the help I did get from my surgeon and I think the outcome in one eye was compromised by his rushed approach and unwillingness to discuss options in detail. I should have gotten a toric lens, but didn't because I think shorted me of time to discuss it. My outcome was still very good, and I guess I should not complain, but I know now it could have been better with a toric lens.

    • laurie30147
      laurie30147 judith93585

      Edited

      I think experience in the surgeon is important. From reading this forum and from my own experience, it would appear that surgeons who are great communicators and who take a lot of time to understand each patient are very rare. You can make up for that by educating yourself as much as possible and figuring out your own vision priorities ahead of time. But you can't make up for a less experienced doctor. Just my 2 cents...

    • judith93585
      judith93585 RonAKA

      Posted

      Thanks for sharing your experience, it's very helpful to know!

  • Lynda111
    Lynda111 judith93585

    Edited

    Judith

    An informed choice means making an effort to inform yourself ( which you have done) and then making a decision and hoping for the best. That's all you can do. That's all anyone can do. And remember, this is not a life and death situation. I have known women who had advanced breast cancer and needed to decide between a radical masectomy, a modified masectomy, chemotherapy and radiation or some combination thereof. Whatever you decide ( and eventually you will), you will be all right. The vast majority of patients who have cataract surgery don't understand anything about optical terms. They just do what their cataract surgeon suggests, and most do fine. You now know way more than they do. You will be fine too.

  • douglas21840
    douglas21840 judith93585

    Edited

    Hello. I had both eyes done just over four weeks ago. My vision was so bad I couldn't read the address on a letter and had to be accompanied shopping. It took a year and a half wait for the NHS (which is quite quick by all accounts) but the procedure was over in about an hour. I didn't feel a thing and all I could see during it was some bright lights. It was the best feeling when it was finished and I could see faces again after a year. I was given drops to use four times a day for four weeks. All the blurred vision is gone and everything is now so clear and bright. I got distance lenses but can read the computer screen without glasses and only really need them for small print and reading books close up. I am using a cheap ready made pair until I get an eye test in a weeks time.

    • RonAKA
      RonAKA douglas21840

      Edited

      What lenses were provided by NHS? At no cost? The reason I ask is that there is another thread here asking about going with NHS vs a private clinic (which is extremely expensive). The practice here in Canada is to give you a small card, the size of a credit card, which identifies the manufacturer and model of the lens, along with a serial number.

    • Lynda111
      Lynda111 douglas21840

      Edited

      Douglas,

      Your vision was really bad: you had to be accompanied when you went shopping! Now you see well.

      Great! I hope this will give some comfort to Judith.

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