Iol's without correction?
Posted , 4 users are following.
Has anyone had cataracts removed without correcting vision? I don't need glasses for reading, but mainly wear glasses for driving? I'd like to continue this way!
0 likes, 15 replies
Posted , 4 users are following.
Has anyone had cataracts removed without correcting vision? I don't need glasses for reading, but mainly wear glasses for driving? I'd like to continue this way!
0 likes, 15 replies
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Sue.An deb52264
Posted
michael74313 deb52264
Posted
You'll probably want your IOL set for near to mid-range (not distance). That will allow you to continue reading and seeing things up close but you'll still need glasses for distance. Some (who don't mind wearing glasses for distance) prefer to have the non-dominant eye set a little more in close while the dominant eye is set around 1/2 diopter out a little further so that they can read and also see better mid-range (such as a computer screen) while still needing glasses for driving.
lin59 deb52264
Posted
You can have IOLs set for distance so you won't need to wear glasses for driving anymore or as some people have mentioned on here, you can get mini-monovision where you won't need glasses for distance or for most up-close things either.
lin59 deb52264
Posted
So I guess you're saying you want to still wear glasses for distance after the cataract surgery? I'm not sure how that's done, maybe someone else knows. Or maybe you just have the IOLs set for up close vision only? I'm not sure.
michael74313 lin59
Posted
Correct- the doctor can set the IOL anywhere (near, mid-range or distance). Most do choose distance but some like me set one eye in 1/2 diopter for mini monovision which works great as I almost never need reading glasses except when reading very small print. I keep one of those credit card magnifiers in between my phone and the soft silicon protective case around it so it's easy to access if I don't have reading glassess if I ever need it.
michael74313 deb52264
Posted
But if you re-read the original post, she said she would like to continue this way (just wearing glasses for distance) which is why I said she should ask her doctor about near vision for the non-dominant eye and perhaps mid-range for the dominant eye. With mini-monovision, you might still need reading glasses. I have mine set for distance and one eye is set about 1/2 diopter in closer and for me I can even read my phone if it's about a foot away but things to tend to get a little more blurry in close and it's an adjustment and many still do need reading glasses with mini-monovision.
lin59 michael74313
Posted
michael74313 lin59
Posted
I think there are always going to be compromises somewhere in this day and age. If one chooses a monofocal lens then they will probably need glasses for either up close or distance (at least sometimes). If they choose a multifocal lens then they are far less likely to need glasses but the multifocals can have other problems including possible halos and less clarity than the monofocal lens. I don't think the original post prefers glasses but rather if they have to have them then they would prefer to have them for distance rather than up close tasks because that is what they are used to now. That's how I interpreted it. For that, they might be able to get away with setting one eye to distance and the other 1/2 diopter in (as I did) but it might not work for them. If they absolutely don't want reading glasses, then at least one eye should be set for near while the other can be adjusted slightly further out. This all of course assume they are selecting a monofocal lens but they have not indicated that or discussed the possibility of considering a multifocal lens.
lin59 michael74313
Posted
We'll see if she comes back to clarify, but I took it to mean she wants to continue wearing glasses for distance.
lin59
Posted
And also doesn't mind if she ends up needing glasses for reading at some point but hopefully she'll return to clarify.
michael74313 lin59
Posted
No one would get a monofocal lens and expect to need glasses for both near and distance. I think she probably thinks that she has to choose glasses for distance or near with a monofocal lens which is mostly true. But, of course in this day and age we "want it all" and not have to have glasses for any range. Sometimes this can be achieved with a monofocal lens with a slight difference in diopters (mini-monovision) but I would not recommend full monovision. She also didn't indicate whether she has an astigmatism which would require a toric lens if she doesn't want glasses. I'm not sure if that would be required if she stayed with near vision though.
deb52264 michael74313
Posted
Thanks to you and Nina for your thoughtful discussion. I have no astigmatism. Can read this small print without glasses. I do realize that this will change someday and that I'll need reading glasses. I'll speak to my ophthalmologist soon and see what he suggests. Surgery is scheduled for mid October.
Sue.An deb52264
Posted
Hi - even though you can read near now if you opt for monofocals set for distance you will lose your near vision for good and require reading glasses. Or you can select monofocals for near and then need glasses for distance. Some people can tolerate monovision or mini monovision - see Michael's post. Alternatively if you want to spend for premium lenses you can get multifocal or the Extended depth of focus lens (Technis Symfony) which would give you a range of vision. The compromise with those are often more night time halos glare etc.
michael74313 Sue.An
Posted
Sue - for most people this is true but my doctor set one of my eyes 1/2 diopter in and I have what I would call "pretty good" up close vision as well as good distance. One should not expect this but it can happen. I think it's best to go with a slight difference (mini-monovision) either from the side of near or distance to get the best range.
Sue.An michael74313
Posted
It's good you could do that. Wish I had been able to test those possibilities out with contacts prior to having cataracts.