Two differing diagnoses. Do I get a third opinion?
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I went to my ophthalmologist because I was having some blurry vision in my right eye. Without any dilation, the MA determined that I had a "bad" cataract in my right eye and one also in my left (not as severe). The physician came in and quickly looked at my eyes and agreed. They scheduled me for a follow up, which was also performed by the MA. Based on her findings, the physician also agreed that there are cataracts in both eyes, with each eye being very similar in severity.
I went for a second opinion with my eyes dilated at this appointment. After the MA did all of the tests, the physician examined my eyes. He said that I had the healthiest eyes he had seen in weeks and that I did not have cataracts. He suggested I get glasses to help with night vision, but did not see any need for surgery.
I just turned 62 and had Lasik surgery about 25 years ago. I have not had any problems other than needing cheaters to read.
Should I get a third opinion?
0 likes, 5 replies
Sue.An2 michele32578
Edited
If your vision can be corrected with glasses no need for cataract surgery. You may gave the beginnings of a cataract but not affecting vision yet. If you are able to see with glasses I would not get the surgery done. There may be better IOLs by the time you do need it.
In the interim experiment with contact lenses to see how well you tolerate monivision that way you can know if that set up would be for you. My cataracts were too advanced to try out monovision.
rwbil michele32578
Edited
Don't know what is going on with your Ophthalmologists. But I am a procrastinator and if you can see good using glasses I 2nd what Sue said. It was years from the time I was first told I had cataracts until I got surgery in my left eye and I still have not had cataract surgery in my right eye.
My advice is delay as long as practically possible. You never know what new IOL might come out or IMHO just as important, if not more important, other new devices like the modular system where they install a base that fills the bag and then the lens, which makes changing lens in the future a piece of cake.
RonAKA michele32578
Edited
You either have cataracts or you don't. Here in Canada they will not do surgery just because they are there. It has to be bad enough to affect your vision. The cataract blurry vision can be corrected to some degree with a new prescription, but it may not last a long time. As the cataract grows it changes the power of the natural lens in your eye. It kind of depends on how fast it is changing whether a new prescription will be a longer lasting solution or just work for a few months. With cataracts we kind of go through stages. The first stage is when a new prescription can last a year or more, and then it starts to change so fast that new glasses every three months can get expensive. Then we go for cataract surgery. My view is that it is best to defer the surgery as long as possible, but at some point it becomes essential go get it done when you can't get good vision with glasses.
michele32578
Edited
Thank you, all! At this point, I'm not even wearing glasses other than +1.5 drug store helpers. I'm going to wait this one out a bit.
RonAKA michele32578
Edited
You also may be pressured to get both eyes done at the same or nearly the same time. Especially with your good vision there is no need to rush the second eye, when the first eye becomes necessary. Once you get the first eye done your ideas about what to get for the second eye may change, and new lenses may become available.