How to avoid vision imbalance after cataract surgery in one eye?
Posted , 15 users are following.
I was diagnosed with cataract in my right eye and was recommended for surgery. Left eye is OK. I would like to take this opportunity to remove glasses for distance, but I understand that there would be a big difference between the eyes (0 in the right eye after surgery, and -4.25 in the left eye) and this could result in blurred or double vision. I understand that for balancing the eyes I might need a contact lens in my left eye but I cannot insert a contact lens into my eye. What are the possibilities of using glasses only for reading/computer or even for cinema, and to avoid glasses while walking in the street without inserting a contact lens into the left eye? Is there any lens for glasses that can balance the eyes?
1 like, 14 replies
mjcg david71820
Posted
Hi David! I was in a similar situation having developed a cataract in my left eye (a side effect of vitrectomy surgery). One option was to have laser surgery on my right eye to bring the vision more in sync (I was dealing with 7.0 and 4.5 differences). I very much wanted the chance to give up glasses, but wasn't enthusiastic about laser surgery. But this is an option you might consider. You might also ask to have cataract surgery on your other eye even though you don't have a cataract, to have similar lenses implanted.Since I've been nearsighted all my life, I went with a near vision lens. Note there is no guarantee you will be free from glasses since most people choosing distance lenses need readers. I had my surgery about a month ago and all went well. Both eyes in sync and I got a new prescription for progressive glasses.
Good luck and keep us posted!
david71820 mjcg
Posted
Thanks so much! I was told that I can’t have a laser surgery because I am taking Plavix to prevent blood clots, following heart catheterization. I am ready to use glasses for reading and remove them only while walking. I heard that there are special lenses made by Hoya (Japan) that are designed to bridge the gap between the eyes. I'll try to find out more about it. In your new glasses, will the left lens be 0 and the right lens will have the same number as before?
mjcg david71820
Posted
My left eye is now around 3.75 and Right at 4.25 (same as before). Progressive glasses work well for me and i can read, put on makeup, do my nails, and other close up work without my glasses if needed. I'm actually writing this without my glasses on lol
It is not an easy decision to make, so you've just got to go with what you think will work for you and what the surgeon you trust recommends...
ayeaye mjcg
Posted
hi! ques..did you have very high prescription for distance prior to fixing your near vision? with new lense for near vision also reduce high prescription in glasses for distance afterwards?
gmag21 david71820
Posted
I'm not a medical professional but my opinion is that because your left eye is -4.25 it will be difficult to have "glasses free" distance vision regardless of the lens you pick for the right eye. If you set the right eye for distance, like you said, it will cause a big difference between eyes & likely be uncomfortable with possible double vision issues.
If it were me I'd go for a near/intermediate monofocal IOL in my right eye so my "glasses free" vision is similar between the 2 eyes (i.e. you'll see good up close without glasses). I wouldn't have a problem wearing glasses for distance since you know you already have to correct the left eye and you don't like wearing contacts.
One other option I think is doing cataract surgery on both eyes (which then you could set both eyes for good distance vision to prevent glasses) but you'll still need readers for up close & if you don't really need to operate on the left eye I'd be hesitant.
Good luck!
david71820 gmag21
Posted
Thanks so much! My dream is to remove glasses while walking.... I heard that there are special lenses for glasses, made by Hoya (Japan) that are designed to bridge the gap between the eyes. I'll try to find out more about it.
derek40125 david71820
Posted
Let us know if you do have any luck finding glasses that work for you. I had cataract surgery in only one eye and, fortunately, I am able to wear a contact in the other eye, so everything is great. However, when I take out the contact, I can't tolerate the difference in my eyes for more than ~30 minutes. I take them out only at night when I no longer worry about seeing. I wanted a pair of glasses that I could wear in an emergency situation or if my eye had an issue and I couldn't wear a contact for a day or two.
It's similar to anisometropia and there are some eyeglass options but my optometrist continues to tell me that they do not work well.
Hudsongrl derek40125
Posted
Hi Derek, I had cataract surgery 2 months ago on my right eye that was -6.50 in toric contacts. That eye is now -.50. my non surgical left eye has a cataract but i can still see 20/20 corrected with a -4.50 toric lens. My issue is, as you said, glasses will no longer work because different image size causes double vision. What i am getting now with -4.50 toric contact in left eye and -.50 spheric lens in right eye is some ghosting only around high contrast brightly lit words like on tv screens or signs only at night. From what i have read this may be caused by there being a slight image descrepancy between my two eyes. i can tell images in my right eye are slightly larger than left eye. wondering if my brain will eventually tune this out? 99% of the time i cannot see the ghosting, but it is annoying when I can. Apparently, i also have slight uncorrected astigmatism in my right surgical eye that is so slight it cant be corrected further with a contact lens. I am seeing doc again next week. i don't think there is anything to be done about this., until I
get surgery on my left eye. i am in no rush as it is a 20/20 eye with contact lens. Would like your opinion...or anyone else's that reads this.
saj46572 david71820
Posted
i had same - post vitrectomy after 10yrs.
one eye is +5 and surgeon put in a monofocal. I need 1.5+ on the operated eye. THe difference is a lot but you adjust.
david71820 saj46572
Posted
Thanks so much! Why did the surgeon not put a 0 lens in the operated eye? Do you need glasses today?
Hudsongrl saj46572
Posted
do you think it is possible to adjust to -4.50 in left eye and -.50 in right. having some ghosting around brightly lit, high contrast writing...like on signs at night,
tom69824 david71820
Posted
i had cataract surgery on left eye which went well. i have a cataract in other eye awaiting surgery. in the meantime distance in operated eye is brilliant but i need my glasses for distance in other eye. of course my operated eye doesnt need glasses. so how can i wear glasses. i removed the lens in glasses which worked in my operated eye before surgery thus now giving me great vision. i also can still read without glasses but after second cataract removal i will need glasses as im opting for distance in right eye as well thus not going for monovision..
Sue.An2 tom69824
Posted
If not a lot of time between surgeries (i had 6 weeks) I managed by poking the lens out of operated eye ad it needed no correction.
If you don't need surgery yet on the other eye perhaps a contact lens would work?
RonAKA tom69824
Posted
I have one IOL. I initially did the lens removal trick, and it kind of worked. However I did get new glasses with progressive lenses. Need distance and close in non IOL eye, and close only in IOL eye. Both have some astigmatism, so that was corrected too. However, I am simulating monovision by using a contact in the non IOL eye, and that is my preferred choice over the progressive glasses. I now only use the progressive glasses when the contact is bugging me. Somehow the progressive glasses give me a bit of a dizzy feeling, while the contact does not.