Wrong iol implant for cataract surgery? Want my near vision back!
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A month ago I had cataract surgery for my right eye with a single focal implant for far vision. I did not realize I would lose near vision focus until, alas after the surgery was over. About 95% of my life consists of near vision work, computer, reading, artist work, etc. I never had to wear glasses for close up or computer work before whereas I have worn glasses for distance driving for 40 years and have no problem continuing to do so. (Now I am left with blurry vision for even the simplest close up chores. I don't know what to do to correct this and what Imy options are for the left eye which also needs cataract surgery. I was told I wasn't a candidate for multifocal in my right eye since I have a macular pucker but it is probably an option in my left eye. Haven't been able to get a clear answer from the surgeon as to the alternatives so I am going to be researching finding a new surgeon for the 2nd eye and possibly to correct the first (before I go nuts trying to see my paperwork and computer!) Any insights most appreciated! Thanks in advance.
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Macjazz Carolyn7171
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The third option he presented was to have one eye focused for distance and the other focused for reading. He said that some people find this a good solution while others find it hard to adjust to. He suggested the possibility of a trial using contact lenses to see how it felt to me, if I were to chose that option (one near focused and one far). So this could be one potential solution. Good luck!
Carolyn7171 Macjazz
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diane97793 Carolyn7171
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Carolyn7171 diane97793
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softwaredev Carolyn7171
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Its too late now, but you mentioned your first eye wasn't a candidate for a multifocal. I suspect you could have considered a Crystalens as an option in the first eye since it is a single focus lens, but has the possibility of giving some better intermediate&near, although not as much near as a high add bifocal.
There are many people who have one eye with a monofocal and the other with a multifocal (or Crystalens). Your profile describes you just as living in the "northeast" so I'm going to guess you are in the US (this is a global site, it could for instance be the northeast in the UK, but the odds seem lower). That matters because there are more options outside the US that aren't approved here
The multifocals currently approved in the US are all bifocals. The older bifocals tended to give good distance vision and very close near, with a bit of a drop off in intermediate vision. Last year they approved new lower add bifocals that are focused more at intermediate distance, with not quite as good really near. So you'll need to decide which distance is most important for you if you consider a multifocal. The new lower add bifocals tend to have lower risks of visual artifacts like halos and glare when driving at night (though there is some risk even in a monofocal of those issues). Overall I tend to hear better things about the Tecnis lenses than the Alcon lenses, but which one is best may partly depend on what distance you prefer, they have different adds.
Multifocals do split the light for different focal points, so there can be some reduction in vision in dim light. Ideally people would try multifocal contacts before they get cataracts to see if they work for them (though their optics aren't as good as a multifocal IOL), I was happy with them before I got my cataracts. The new low add bifocals seem to also have better contrast sensitivity (vision in lower light) than the high adds.
To me intermediate vision was more important than really close near since it includes computer distance, most social distance, and household tasks, when out hiking/running the trail ahead of you (e.g. rocks/ice), etc. The new low add bifocals weren't available in the US when I had my surgery. Thats why I initially planned to go to Europe for a trifocal which is good at distance, intermediate, and near and then just before I got my surgery the Symfony came out and I went to Europe for that (slightly better than a trifocal at intermediate, perhaps not as good at near, and low risk of visual side effects comparable to a monofocal). They are available in Canada as well now. In my case I had my surgery at age 52 so I figured I have more decades to live with the results than the typical cataract patient so I decided it was worth the effort to travel to get a better lens.
peter1110 Carolyn7171
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Glad to hear you don't seem to have any of the annoying visual aberations a lot of us on here are suffering with.
Good luck.
Carolyn7171 peter1110
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Macjazz Carolyn7171
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softwaredev Macjazz
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Carolyn7171 Macjazz
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Carolyn7171 softwaredev
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georgia10706 Carolyn7171
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Carolyn7171 georgia10706
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Carolyn7171
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Carolyn7171
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