Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Need post-cataract surgery (scoped) shooting experiences

I'm soon to have a cataract removed from my dominant eye. My questions are specifically for those who have had the same procedure and were fitted with a monofocal intraocular lens (IOL). What focal distance did you select (the power of your specific lens would be helpful) and how does your IOL work out when using a telescopic sight?

My thinking is that a hunter needs to be able to spot his prey at quite some distance, which favors a very long focal distance. But since I no longer will have adaptive focus, will that long focal distance IOL prevent me from being able to clearly see the scope's reticle?

Both eyes fixed 18 months ago and both fitted with distance lens......readjusted the focus on my scopes and binos and life is good.

Don't know what they used, but I can see distant, and need reading glasses for up close.
I can see perfectly from about 3' to infinity.
I do have to dial in about +2 diopters correction in my binoculars, though.
No problems seeing a scope reticle.

Same here, use cheap reading glasses for close work, have almost 20/20 for distance.
Both eyes done about 13 years ago.

Both done 9 years ago. Both corrected for distance and I wear readers. Life with a scope is excellent. If you need it, get it done. You sure won't regret it.

+1 on what Rock Chuck said! I had mine done in April of last rear. Both eyes corrected for distance. No issues with scope, but iron sights will be an issue. i found a set of readers that allow a perfect front sight and near perfect rear - the target will be a little blurry but I get the sight picture I used to see thirty years ago.

+ 1 on what Rock Chuck and CraigD said. Had cataract surgery on my right (shooting) eye a year ago, and immediately had 20/20 vision again with that eye. No readers needed if the light is good, and my far-off vision is like it was sixty years ago.

Surgery on my left eye two years ago, however, made its macular degeneration more apparent. Fortunately, monthly injections into that eye have greatly improved its vision, too.

I've had no issues with shooting. I only wish my insurance company would have approved my cataract surgeries years earlier.

Bill Quimby

Had both eyes done last may. My lenses are set for distance. My recent check up i scored 20/13 on eye test. What you will notice is you will have to adjust your scopes ocular lens.

Your scopes will amaze you once your eyes are fixed!!!!

Mine was done maybe 8-10 years ago distance corrected. Nead readers Beats the heck out of over 50 years of 4-eyes! I did have to get laser zapped a year or two afterward as dead cells had built up on the back of the lens sac but the Dr. Said that would probably happen. Scope and binocs work fine. Open sights not so much.

XL5,

Thanks for posting the question as I will be trying to get my second eye done soon. Had the right(Dominant) one done last year and believe it's a 20/20 lens, not what I was used to before surgery (20/13) but better than blurry from the cataract. Now the left is getting worse and I am wondering what level to have in that one. Doc that did the right said there's different options, go with close vision in the left and avoid readers, go with 20/20 in both and maybe need readers for really small print, go with a longer distance one and need readers for sure.

Have only shot a few times since the right was done, but use binocs frequently. No problems with scope or binocs at all.

Left eye sucks tho, especially at night. Hope it goes as well as the right did.

Good luck,

Geno

I had a great experience with mine, also. The other day I read about a new lense which more or less duplicates your living lens. It might be worth looking into.

FYI - I had mine done 9 years ago and my wife had hers done about 3 years ago. She had one eye set for distance and 1 for reading. It works well for her. However, the doc said that for some reason, it usually doesn't work well for men. Men are usually happier with both eyes the same.

Best thing I ever have done for vision. Told Doc I hunted and shot as a hobby. Asked what he recommended. Vision wound up being 20/20 in my right and 20/25 in my left. Can be corrected to better than 20/20 with glasses. I use CVS readers for reading. Hasbeen

There's a life lesson or a signature line in there some where.

My experience post cataract surgery mostly mirrors the comments above; in my case use of iron sights improved, use of peep sights improved dramatically. I went with the distance lens.

I have found my eyes to be much more light sensitive now so use sunglasses a lot more

I think everyone who has it done is more light sensitive afterwards. Using sunglasses is a good idea whether you have it done or not.

Guess it's been maybe two years or so since I had mine done. Both eyes set for long distance. Other than readjusting the focus on scopes and the diopter on the bins they've been great. Short story; last year on an elk hunt we were moving to another location when I said to stop the truck, there's a huge deer right over there by that big rock. The guide who I've hunted with before who has a superb game eye couldn't see him until he got nervous and trotted off. Wished to hell I'd had a tag for that one as he'd been high up in the book according to the guide. Never had a really good game eye but it's 100 percent better than when I was nearsighted. Even iron sights are feasible for me now.
Paul B.

I had both of mine in December of 2014. It would have been $2000/eye to put the super lens in. I use 1.5 readers from Target. Now I can see the sights a lot better on my M-1, K31, 91 Argentine etc. A guy commented on it at the range shortly after when he saw me hitting pretty consistently from the bench. Asked if my vision was 20-20.

To anyone,

How long are you restricted from shooting with regard to recoil or any other jolting ?

Myron