Hi My Friends.

It looks like I'm going to need cataract and lens surgery SOON.

I'd truly appreciate your advice.

Thanks very much.

Blessings, Steve

Having both eyes done in mid February.

I’ve heard nothing but good about the 15 minute procedure. The now available lenses can also correct astigmatism.

There is a recent thread here about cataract surgery and the availability of different lenses for different desired results.

Correction for astigmatism would be a game changer for me.

Ask about Reflective Lens Exchange

I just had cataract surgery done, right eye on 1/12/23 and the left on 1/24/23. Very pleased. Use the drops and follow their instructions.

Friend Steve, Belinda had both of her eyes done a year and a half ago. She had the choice of three different grades of lens. I encouraged her to get the best and she is very happy with the results. She only needs readers for very small print.
I hope all goes well.
Blessings, Dave

I had both eyes done about this time two years ago. Comparatively easy surgery with positive results. Don't need gasses for anything more than two or three feet away. As I recall my prescription for reading glasses changed a little and I had to refocus my rifle scopes. I still need glasses for reading but that's about it.

Rooms,

I had both done about 1-1/2 years ago, with some correction for astigmatism, but mostly for severe near-sightedness. A month later my vision tested 20/15, and has been holding that way since. (Just had it tested again last month.)

As somebody else already noted, take the drops as directed!

Best,
John

I asked a similar question here a short time back. Some of the responses may be of interest to you -- Cataract Surgery.

FWIW I have decided to get the single distance lens instead of the multifocal due to the potential for night vision problems

Had both of my eyes done earlier this month. Went with two distant lenses. I have to use reader glasses for close up work. Take the drops as directed, should not have any issues.

Good Luck,
Steve

I don't have any advice Steve, but you certainly have my prayers for a safe and effective treatment. Hugs to Miss Karen.

DZ, I had both replaced about six months ago and went for distance vision because I was still going to need some correction for astigmatism and reading. I’ve worn glasses for many years so that didn’t bother me because with glasses I’ve avoided the proverbial stick in the eye many times in the woods in the dark. Plus that means I always have some eye protection when shooting since I always get the impact resistant lenses.

I ended up being 20/20 for distance with no glasses and better than 20/20 with a little astigmatism correction. I’m also able to read well lit print of reasonable font without correction too but it’s more comfortable with 1.25 diopter bifocal part.

Others have mentioned the drops before and after the surgery and I’ll echo that. Do them religiously and the outcome is a lot more predictable. A friend of my wife wasn’t very conscientious about using them and she had problems with infection in both eyes. Not good Maverick!

You’ll probably see a big difference. I noticed it after the first was done and with the “old” eyeball, everything was a little yellowish as if lit with a 100 watt incandescent bulb but with the “new” eye it was brighter and whiter, as if it was lit with a 125 watt fluorescent bulb.

Good luck with yours.

I had right eye done a year ago, left still has 20 vision. I paid extra to get the multifocal lense. I need no glasses to read even though I only had surgery on the one eye. If you live in the Houston area, go see Dr. Jeff Whitsett. I would highly recommend him. The surgery is amazing, blue sky I’d brighter, trees are greener. I can’t imagine how bright things would be if both are done.

I don't have any advice about it. My mom had it done several years ago. She was very nervous about it of course. Afterwards she said that there was nothing to it,..that all of her anxiety was for nothing.

I had my lenses replacd more than 15 years ago. No complaints. About a 15 minute operation, after paperwork and prep, per eye, one month apart.

I chose long range vision over short, or one of each. I require readers for reading , computer work- anything within arms reach.

They have likely made improvements since then, from the sounds of above posts.

I did have to go back in a year later to have them shoot lazer holes through accumulating dead blood cells, or something at the back of the eye.

No cause for anxiety. Follow directions!

Steve, I have no advice, but will certainly offer up prayers for a successful, uneventful surgery and complete restoration of youthful vision!

Ed

John, not to hijack Steve's post, but did you notice any changes with pistol shooting or using iron sights on rifles after the surgery?

Ed

I had both eyes done in 2020. I went with distance and have 20/20 but use readers for reading and computer work. I did have another procedure done this morning on my right eye. According to my optometrist quite often some tissue will form on the replacement lens creating some dimming or blurring. Long story short a 3 minute painless laser treatment removed the problem.

You will wonder why you waited so long to have it done. I had mine done in 2009. Told doc I was a shooter. Day after surgery 20/15 in my right eye. Two weeks later 20/20 in my left. Last eye exam last year not quite as good. He said everything was still good just getting old and wearing out. I opted for the distance vision ( cheapest). Need readers for close up.
Wife had it done just before the first of the year. Multi- focal lens. She is real pleased with hers. Hasbeen

I went for distance and astigmatism fix.

Not hard to find readers, don't need them unless doing fine work or reading small print.

My only advice would be to find the best surgeon in your area.

Good luck

I had both of my eyes implanted December 2018

Two separate surgeries

My only recommendation is buy the upgrade lens if you can and be ready for a "getting used to" period.

At first you won't like them....I didn't

One other thing....if you turn your head just right with the correct lighting people will see your lens reflect and shine like walleye eyes in a flash picture.

Get used to people noticing

Yeah, I tell that too.

Wonder if they light up like a deer across the field?

Had my left eye done this morning, right will be in two weeks. Paid for the deluxe lenses, hopefully I won't even need readers. We will see.

Yessir, that’s the one.
Thanks.

Hey Guys, what a wonderful bunch of responses. THANK YOU!!!!

In reading through all of your comments, I'm truly getting a feeling of what to expect and ways to avoid what few problems I might encounter along the way.

Again, thank you and please keep the comments coming.

Blessings, Steve

Steve,
My dad (70) had both his done in brief, separate procedures over the last three weeks and he’s reporting normal healing and adjustment so far.

He and mom are closely following the drop regimen and logging when they put them in and hoping for the best result. So far, so good I’m told

I wish you an equally uneventful yet completely successful surgery.

A grateful fan of your writing,
Todd

Steve,you will be able to see like when you were a kid no matter which lenses you get.

I’ve had no trouble driving at night, but only had the right done.

Good luck Steve! I have not had mine done yet, but I am sure it is in my near future.

I had my right eye done 2 weeks ago with a multifocal. Fantastic and glad I did it. Supposed to have my left done tomorrow, but was canceled due to our TX ice storm.

Mom had hers done about 5 years ago. She was pretty near-sighted but is now out of glasses except for readers. She says it's the best she's ever been able to see in her life.

I will warn....

I didn't get perfect vision after surgery

I wear contacts

-.5 in my right eye and a -.75 in my left

I had both eyes done in 2019 plus astigmatism correction in one eye. My yearly checkups are so good I could qualify for USAF fighter pilot school. No reading glasses.

Indy, what lenses did you opt for?

Set up a written schedule of meds (mainly drops) and follow it religiously. Mark off each time the drops are administered. Whoever is nursing you needs to be 100% committed to your care for several days, nothing else. The results that my wife got are astounding. She had the "forever lens" installed. Needs to use 1.50 readers but can see like a hawk.

Good luck with your surgery.


RS

My wife had both eyes done last Winter. she is getting along fine.

Sorry for the long reply, but this may be of interest to someone trying to decide which option to choose.

I had both lenses replaced a year and a few months ago, right before I turned 60. Up until then, I’d worn glasses all my life for nearsightedness, changing to bifocals in my 40s and adding computer glasses in my early 50s. I started noticing some lack of acuity and started comparing notes with my wife when we are out on walks – “Can you read that sign?”. So, I asked my optometrist, who said I had minor cataracts, and he referred me to the ophthalmologist that runs the clinic. The ophthalmologist spent an hour (!) talking to me about different options. Then he sent me to a specialist clinic in Tulsa, partly because of some astigmatism that needed correction IF I was going to get the best vision possible. They also did some testing and spent considerable time talking with me about the options. It was mainly a choice of:

• Multifocal lenses – but both doctors were concerned that I wouldn’t be happy with them due to the risk of reflections and possible compromise on how sharp my vision would be. Many people are completely happy with them, so my sense is that the recommendation was based on my personality and high expectations.
• Fixed focal length lenses – then the question is do you (1) want both eyes corrected for long distance (and have to wear readers or computer glasses), (2) both eyes corrected for near focus, which for me would’ve been more or less the status quo pre-cataracts, or (3) “monovision” – one eye (right eye for me) corrected for long distance and the other corrected for near focus – in my case, about the length of my arms.

After thinking about it, I chose (3) – it’s worked out quite well. I have 20/20 or better distant vision and can read books with very small print. But every choice has its benefits and drawbacks. When I decided on (3), I realized I might want glasses correct one or the other eye. Later, I ordered a pair of reading glasses that mainly correct the right eye, and a pair of “nighttime driving glasses” that would correct the left eye. I’ve found that I almost never wear either pair, but… if I’m working on something really fine or using the computer with a really small font I may use them. Really small lettering or details with low contrast can be a problem. I sometimes squint a little trying to read the number of steps on the Fitbit when it’s sunny. I sometimes use a magnifying glass.

In the other direction, the only issue I find is that at night my brain can get tired of making the automatic correction to using only/mainly the right eye and I sometimes see some blurring of lights that can be corrected by closing my left eye or wearing the “nighttime driving glasses”. I noticed this driving 6 hours on a drizzly night, a month after the surgery. So I ordered the “nighttime driving glasses” and have used them twice when I was going to be driving long distances at night. So, I could probably get by altogether without the extra glasses, but they help at times.

Another minor disadvantage to the monovision – I had to replace one pair of compact binoculars that didn’t have individual eye focus! And of course, I have to remember to wear safety glasses of some sort more often, for situations where I usually didn’t worry about it wearing my old glasses with polycarbonate lenses.

Regarding shooting, almost all of my shooting in the last year has been with rifles with scopes – and the monovision seems to me to work fine. Though, to be clear, most of my shooting has been either deer hunting here (max. distance 100 yards) or practicing / load development / hunting for cape buffalo in Zimbabwe, so neither one needs 1/2 MOA accuracy!

I hope this helps. Good luck with your surgery!

Good luck BUT be fore warned, I had my left eye done may of 2022 and an still waiting to get the right one done. It seems in about 1 or 2 percent of those people that get the operation the eye will swell slightly .it happened to me and my eye doc will not do the right eye until the pressure gets below 20 right now it sits at 22 and hasn't moved for a couple of months ,so I put drops in my left eye twice a day and wait . I had to take the left lens out of my glasses so I could see to function, drive,read,ect. Be sure to ask your doc about this problem! Don't wish it on anyone

^^^^
Good info.

Steve,

Check your pm’s when you get a minute please.

Thank, Les

Good luck, I’am scheduled to have my cataracts removed the last week of March.

Not really, but need to explain why. Before the surgery I wore glasses with "lineless progressive" lenses for my near-sightedness, and by tilting my head a little could get rifle irons and handgun sights in focus.

I can shoot irons on rifles fine now, as the front sight is in focus--but it sometimes helps to wear lineless progressive "readers"--which can be purchased in some stores that sell reading glasses. (Found 'em in an office-supply store in my area.) The great thing is they only cost $30, about a 10th of the prescription glasses I wore before the surgery.

But I also suspect my eyes have changed just enough since the surgery to use irons--or I have adapted better. Was shooting ground squirrels on a local ranch this past summer with the Colt Frontier Scout I inherited from my father, a smaller-sized .22 rimfire version of the standard Colt single-action--and killing them out to 30-40 yards, while wearing non-prescription sunglasses

John, I take it you had both eyes corrected for distance, am I correct?
(Looking at eye work in the near future, myself)

I found this thread late and my cataract surgery was a little more than a year ago. I was nervous before the first surgery and the pre-op check showed me with blood pressure about 145/90. The surgery was a breeze and my blood pressure was 108/68 two weeks later before the second eye got done. There was no anxiety for round two. I need reading glasses for anything closer than arm length but have 20/15 distance vision. It is an absolute blessing and pleasure to be outdoors in the rain and not have glasses. The cataract surgery was life changing. Ward

Good stuff, Ward.

Mine starts next Thursday for the right eye and the left eye the next Tuesday. Man, I’m past ready to get this done.

Steve, wishing you all the best with your eyes.

Take care.

Bump this back up ^

I had Laysik in 2004, was great for almost 20 years and worth every penny.

Flash forward; cataracts in my right eye made it look like you were looking through your backup camera with a dirty lens since Sept of 2022. Also my near vision had me putting reading glasses all over my house. Took till Dec 13th till I got in to see the eye doc. Hunting season literally sucked this past year. If there wasn't snow I couldn't see crap.

I paid for the Toric lenses, the best package. I'm pretty young so figured they'd be best for me. Left eye for seeing up close and right for further (right is dominant). Left eye Jan 30th, right eye Monday the 13th.

You have no idea how much better I see now. I can read the paper without glasses. A medicine bottle with very fine print I "might" have to put readers on. Would spend the 6400 bucks a thousand times over. Worth every penny.
ETA: I'm 20/25 one day after my surgery. It should get better with time.

Both eyes done and tuned up for distance. Prep time was longer than the operations. Was near sighted up to date but now need glasses for reading. Neat to no longer need glasses for distance. I can again spot those Beldings ground squirrels at 100+ yds. Do follow the doctor's post-op orders.

I just had both eyes done with Symfony multifocals. The right eye was done in January and the left done 2 weeks ago. I can see near, intermediate and far with both eyes. I'm typing this glasses free. No issue with night vision. I see the starburst/halos around bright lights at night, but it's not an issue in the least and I'd go the same route again if I ever had to.

I just spent the last 3 nights hunting coyotes with thermal scopes and had no issues at all.

If anyone needs some info or wants to discuss my experience, before they go down this path, feel free to PM me.

Had the right eye done this morning with a lens implant to correct for astigmatism. Minor discomfort except for the eye drops burning like hell when I put them in.

Vision much improved without glasses and the “fog” of my right eye vision appears to be gone.

Left eye scheduled for Monday morning.

Doc says 2-3 weeks for full appreciation of the procedure to be realized.

My wife had astigmatism in one eye and cataracts in both. Had both done in December. She is still having to be cautious about what she does, but no more Coke bottle bottom glasses! She wears "cheaters" for reading. That's it.
No "halos" driving at night!

My friend got his left eye done today and he will go back tomorrow before he can come home.

Just to make sure he has no problems after the op.

Says it feels sore but it has a patch on it tonight.