Surgery next week, Near monofocal both eyes, +2.5
Posted , 9 users are following.
Hello , i just discovered this forum and enjoy the info. I am having trouble searching for topics as there are so many threads here.I am having cataract surgery in a week on right eye, soon after left. both have moderate posterior cataracts.
I am 49 yo (early cataracts run in my family), and have been symptomatic for 10 years. I am now unable to drive a night and have problems with lights in many conditions and situations.I have discussed with 3 opthalmologists over the years, and ultimately decided to do monofocal for near vision (+2.5) for both eyes, with Toric lenses as i have moderate astigmatism. My decision was based on the fact that i have been nearsighted my whole life, and worn glasses since childhood, and would actually prefer to wear glasses going forward. I also want the clearest possible vision without any compromise for any convenience factors, or for avoiding glasses.
I plan to wear progressive lenses pretty much most of the day, and anticipate I will remove my glasses at times to read and see better at close distance. Which is what i have basically done the past several years but now the cataracts are too bothersome.
In anticipation, i have had cheap single vision lenses made at -2.5, i plan to pop these into my current glasses, with each operated eye, post op, to help me bridge my eyeglasses until my new prescription can be properly determined (6 weeks?). Is this the right way to approach glasses for the immediate post op weeks?
Can anybody share their experience if they chose the same mono near iols? Or what i should expect? Or can somebody share a link to a thread discussing experiences with this scenario?
thanks so much ! appreciate all the help, Michael
0 likes, 32 replies
RonAKA Mike2.5
Posted
I seem you have made a post that has been sent into moderation purgatory. The rules at this site are that you cannot post a hot link unless it is to a page at this website. And if you post an image it goes into purgatory to determine if it is acceptable to show.
Mike2.5 RonAKA
Posted
thanks , it seems all my posts (initial and replies) are sitting for a day for "review". they are just plain text. maybe its because this is a new account?
RonAKA Mike2.5
Posted
Yes, that could be it...
laurie30147 Mike2.5
Posted
I had Vivity lenses inserted this year (one eye in January and one in February). I was nearsighted all my life, although my prescriptions were usually no worse than -3.0 D, so I was not as myopic as some posters here. I wanted to retain the ability to read without glasses, both close up (books, phone) and at computer distance.
I ended up choosing mini-monovision. My distance eye is at -0.5 D. My near-vision eye was reported as -1.5 D by the optometrist at the opthalmologist's office during a surgery followup; it was a just a short followup exam, but it did involve reading letters on the screen, not just a machine prescription check. However, my regular optometrist came up with -1.0 D. Maybe the "truth" is somewhere in between; those "A or B" decisions seem kind of uncertain sometimes.
You are most interested in close vision. I am very happy with my ability to read without glasses, including small print. (I am also happy with the monovision, too, which gives me the ability to watch TV across the room and have decent distance vision outside.)
The Vivity lens is an EDOF lens, which certainly affects my results. But targeting -2.5 D in both eyes sounds kind of overkill to me, unless you are a jeweler or something and want extremely good close vision. However, there are some very knowledgeable people on this site, and it's worth listening to them. Opinions do vary, and how we see (and how we feel about it) is a very personal thing.
indygeo Mike2.5
Edited
Mike2.5,
I'm curious to know the outcome of your surgery and if you're happy with the results? I tried looking for an update on this thread but didn't seem to find any (granted, I might have missed it). Have you had the surgery and how are you finding your vision with the -2.50 target?
Regards,
IndyG
Mike2.5 indygeo
Edited
Hi Indy, I've been meaning to get to posting update so I hope I can still be helpful.As a reminder my goal was to maintain my nearsighted life (previous -4.0 bilateral), to actually wear glasses throughout the day, and to achieve the best vision possible without any sacrifice for the convenience of being spectacle free.
I could not be more happy with the outcome of my surgeries. I did both eyes, staged one week apart, monofocal toric, target -2.5 in both. I am now 6 weeks post op.
The surgeries went smoothly, I did them with minimal sedation per my request. I opted for the laser incision. Opening my eye for the first time in the recovery room was a moment I will never forget. First thing I did was look at my hand, and it was perfectly crisp and focused, I saw skin texture I haven't seen in 10 years. Its been over a month and I still can't believe how crisp everything looks and how brilliant colors are. I can see faces and expressions of people a block away which is not only beautiful, but surprisingly makes my life in the city feel so much safer. I guess I didn't realize how scary my life had become not being able to see the faces of people I walk by on the sidewalk . I avoided all types of light before surgery (glares, backlighting, halos and haziness were a huge problem), I used to wear sunglasses well into the evening, and a baseball cap constantly.... that problem is 100% gone. I can walk on a sunny beach now with no sunglasses and everything looks perfect. Nighttime driving is perfect now. While hiking I can see tiny gnats and bugs flying around at all distances, and birds way way up in the sky , even with the bright sun. I can't believe how much I was missing from the cataracts.
I just got refracted this week and both eyes are -2.75. With single vision glasses on, I'm 20/10 with distance, I can see everything arms length and farther perfectly. With glasses off, my vision is crisp from 12 - 17 inches, and usable from about 8-20 inches. My life has returned to my pre-cataract life of near sightedness, which I love. Everything feels natural to me. I wake up and the alarm clock is crisp, so is the mirror when I shave. I put my glasses on and I can function with amazing vision with 90% of my day, including seeing the dashboard and GPS screen clearly in my car. Currently I take my glasses off for reading or doing my hobbies which are all in near vision field.This is all with single vision lenses! My progressives are currently being built (-2.75 with 2.5 add for bottom). I'm pretty confident this will make virtually my entire day clear with glasses on the whole time. I'm still expecting to remove glasses at times for relaxing to read.
It might not be for everybody, but I couldn't be happier with my decision and the outcome.
Bookwoman Mike2.5
Posted
Seeing that alarm clock clearly is pretty amazing, isn't it? So glad to hear that all went well and that you're happy with your vision.
indygeo Mike2.5
Edited
Mike2.5,
Hi there! Thank you so, so much for getting back to me with an update. I sincerely appreciate it. I'm overjoyed that you are happy with your outcome. You are indeed "over the Moon"!It just goes to show that everyone's strategy can be potentially different but equally satisfying when it works out the way one wanted.I was sitting here reading your post with a big smile on my face. Congrats on your fantastic outcome!
Regards,
IndyG