Looking for advice on cataract lens choice
Posted , 11 users are following.
I have been nearsighted my whole adult life and have never worn bifocals or contacts. I have distance glasses which I take off for reading and computer work and have always been very comfortable with that habit.
Now I need cataract surgery and the idea of being glasses-free for distance for the first time in my adult life intrigued me until I thought of what it would be like to always need reading glasses for up-close work. I don't like the idea of that. I do feel very comfortable on my computer, phone and around the house without glasses and I'm not sure how I will like needing glasses for those activities.
Also, if I choose near/intermediate lens distance, which distance? That's not such an easy choice. Whereas, if I choose the normal correct-distance-and-be-farsighted option, there is only one choice "see in the distance without glasses". I don't have to decide which distance.
Anyway, I would very much appreciate other people's experiences and thoughts on the subject of whether to go near/intermediate or far in the choice of new cataract lens.
Thanks in advance.
0 likes, 44 replies
trilemma david32346
Posted
There are a load of similar discussions. I suggest reading some past discussions.
But if you want a simple answer, consider your distance eye with plano as a target. Choose 1.5D with no astigmatism as a target.
BUT hitting targets can be a hit or miss. If you are motivated, have the extra money, are close enough to your surgeon to make about 4 EXTRA visits, are willing to wear special UV blocking glasses for 6 weeks, consider RxLAL by RxSight.
Step 1, as a preliminary, post your last two eyeglass prescriptions. For each eye, you need 3 number: sph cyl, astigmatism. You can post the 4th number (axis) but it cannot help somebody with suggestions.
Most ophthalmologists mostly sell certain brands. So if you identify your candidate lens first, use that info to select a doctor. If there is only one doctor in your area, you can get one of the lenses they install.
trilemma david32346
Posted
Try reading with one eye closed. Do you miss 3D vision when reading a 2-D book?
Having one eye focus fairly closely is helpful to those who put on makeup in a mirror.
RonAKA trilemma
Posted
My wife only has vision in one eye only and has been corrected to distance with an IOL. She reads 2-3 books a week and just uses OTC readers. She does not like her progressives. Most often on her tablet, she just increases the font size. 3D vision is not really required for reading vision.
maura04015 david32346
Edited
This forum will be less helpful if one person's opinions are treated as Holy Writ.
david32346
Posted
I just got off the phone with my doctor's office, a consultation phone call at my request with one of the office optometrists and in answer to my question about mini-mono she said that my case is a bit different because a) my left eye is dominant, b) my left eye is where the worse cataract is and needs surgery first, c) my left eye is historical the more near-sighted of my two eyes. Since they usually do the dominant eye first and make the dominant eye the distance eye, my case is different. She doesn't recomment switching to left-eye-better at distance when my whole life it's been the more near-sighted one.
I told her that I was thinking about -1.50 and -0.50 for left and right and she thought -1.50 is too far-sighted for comfortable reading, that it's about 2 feet away. that's actually ok for computer screens and even for a quick glance at a text message on the phone, I think I'll still be able to read the message without digging out reading glasses.
Anyway, I don't have a date yet (for other reasons) so I'm going to continue reading and look up a distance chart (-1.50 = x inches, etc) and she did confirm that I can hold off the second surgery for 6 weeks or so and experiment with contact lense in the right eye while the left eye is healing and I'm getting used to it. So I will most likely do that.
david32346
Posted
Twighlight Zone:
Time Enough At Last
(Why near-vision should be the priority, at least for some.)