Post cataract glasses prescription

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Hello

Before my left retinal detachment and cataract surgery, both of my eyes were the same and I just needed readers with a +0.25 prescription. I wore glasses where I had eyes down for reading and ahead for screen work. I have astigmatism. I also have a fixed pupil because of the surgery so I get glare at night and struggle in bright rooms too.

I had a fixed distance lens fitted in my left eye. Is it to be expected that my right sphere is +0.25 as before and my left is now -0.25? I read at arm's length with my right eye and now at least two arms' length with my refurbished one.

Left and right 6/6 distance acuity

Left and right N5 Near acuity

Reading addition +1.5

I also don't understand the N5 result when my left eye is so bad with close up reading. I have asked Google and I gather my distance vision isn't great in my left eye when actually it is the better of the two now. I am a bit worried in case this prescription is wrong as I will be taking it to an optician where I won't be spending the £310 quoted at boots.

Any info would be appreciated. I am sorry, but I am not well versed in eyesight as you can probably tell.

Happy Easter!

0 likes, 7 replies

7 Replies

  • Edited

    I also find the readings strange. It is almost as if the distance and reading acuity numbers they gave you are with the prescription correction applied. This is something I never get on my eyeglass prescription. They just give me the eyeglass prescription. My right eye has an IOL set for distance, and my left is non IOL and with a developing cataract. My prescription for glasses 6 weeks after surgery looks like this:

    .

    Eye - Sphere - Cylinder - Axis - Add

    O.D. 0.00 -0.75 080 +2.50 (right)

    O.S. -1.25 -1.25 077 +2.50 (left)

    .

    Do you have something like this on your prescription? I am in Canada, and perhaps the format for prescriptions is different in the UK?

    • Posted

      image

      Thank you for taking the time to reply. I do have information similar to yours, and I have tried to attach it but I'm not sure if if had worked. I'll add the info manually if the link doesn't work.

      It was a bizarre eye test. I was prepared to see almost nothing with my left eye when she asked me to read a book but all I remember is telling her my right eye was doing all the heavy lifting. We didn't really go back to square one. I would agree that if my close up is N5, the smallest print in the book, then it would seem my vision is fine! Part of me wishes I used my insurance so I could have a multifunction lens but the waiting times were longer and I figured I'd always use glasses anyway.

      I have a fixed pupil ever since my detachment. I don't think that affects my prescription though.

      I had my op on 24 Feb, so it was around the same time as yours. It's like a miracle surgery. I hope you are as delighted with yours as I am mine.

      Let's see if my photo uploaded!

    • Posted

      That is quite normal. Your left eye needs a -0.25 spherical correction. That is the normal target for a IOL set for distance. It is better to be under than over. You have a small amount of astigmatism.

      .

      The 6/6 and N5 must be with the prescription, not without.

    • Posted

      I see! The -0.25 is a correction rather than a measurement of my eye. I am quite new to glasses, can you tell? 🙂 It threw me with the acuity readings too but I think you’re right in that she is kind of marking her own homework in saying I’ll have fabulous vision with the above mentioned corrections. Thank you so much! It’s a four day holiday weekend here and I’d have been puzzling over this into next week were it not for your help.

    • Edited

      To be sure you may want to have your eyeglass vendor confirm what I said when your get your eyeglass prescription filled. If you have a prior to cataract surgery prescription that may help to. Explain that you have had cataract surgery in one eye, and that is the reason for the change. Ask for their confirmation that all looks right.

    • Posted

      I’m probably skating on thin ice but I intend to use the prescription at my previous opticians where they hold my info. I’ll definitely be having that conversation, not least of all because I’m not sure how things would work out for me if the prescription is wrong. Thanks again!

    • Posted

      In your right eye the +0.25 spherical is pretty much cancelled out with the -0.50 cylinder (astigmatism). The cylinder counts about 50% compared to spherical. I would think your distance vision without glasses would be pretty good in this eye?

      .

      On the left IOL eye the -0.25 spherical and -0.25 cylinder is going to leave you slightly near sighted, but again I would expect your distance vision to be pretty good in this eye too without glasses.

      .

      Your other option to buying prescription glasses would be to use some over the counter reading glasses for the times when you need close vision.

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