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A life changing experience, sort of...

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coldplugs

coldplugs

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I had cataract surgery a few months back. The surgery itself wasn't a big deal but dealing with the results has been, um, interesting. Before the surgery, I was severely nearsighted – terrible in one eye and far worse in the other, about 20-200. They asked what I wanted the results to be – still nearsighted or the opposite. No option for just perfect vision afterward – one or the other were the options.



I figured it'd be great to finally be able to see distances, so that's what I picked.


The result: great distance vision – 20-20 without glasses and 20-15 with. But I am now very farsighted. Anything closer than about 6 feet is hopeless. For my whole life (up to the surgery) I could read without glasses but couldn't drive. Now it's the opposite.


Actually, I'm pretty happy overall but wow, every day is a whole new adventure. Still trying to get used to it. I'm not complaining, it could be a lot worse.


Has anybody else gone through this? Similar experience?
 
I too was very near sighted.
but I only needed one eye's cataract replaced with an IOL ( intra ocular lens).
Like you, i chose to have the surgery eye adapted for farsightedness.
but my other, natural eye remains nearsighted, so I can read without glasses.
This concept is called mono-vision. It's not perfect, and even now ( several years later) causes me eye strain in certain circumstances. But it's ok overall.
In general, after the age of approx. 45. Nothing offered in ophthalmology is as good as your "natural original equipment" was.
 
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I needed cataract surgery two years ago. I was given the option of choosing multi-focusing lens implants which allow me to see both far and near without glasses. My right eye responded perfectly, but my left eye required additional lazak surgery. I now see very well both far and near. Not everybody may be a good candidate for these surgeries, but this is an option for many. I would suggest anyone requiring cataract surgery at least look into this option. (Medicare and my supplementary insurance plan did not pay for the additional fee. I paid a bit over $3000 out of pocket. Best three grand I've ever spent.)
 
Have to say, my cataract surgeries were the best thing I've done in a long time.

Cataracts began forming soon after my retinal detachment, so the left and right eye surgeries were done about a year later. Nothing to it - and my non-glasses vision definitely improved. I could actually see leaves in the trees without having to wear glasses.

Unfortunately, my astigmatism, coupled with the retinal detachment damage and strong near-sightedness, meant there wasn't much choice in the implants to use. So I still need bi- or tri-focus glasses.

After a few years, my right eye developed a secondary cataract (actually a "posterior capsule opacity"); a five minute laser treatment cleared that up completely.

Amazing, the wonders of medical developments over the last hundred years.

Tom M.
 
Had the I.O.L. procedures done in '05. was pleased to be able to see the GREEN of the backyard jungle through clear lenses. Had 20-20 for about a year. Almost to the day, had a retina detach in the left eye. Weeks of dealing with that, now I've a scleral buckle in the left socket and laser "spot welds" in both. And now back to glasses for distance/driving.

Had this all happened thirty years earlier I believe the outcome would have been MUCH different.

You're right, Tom. It IS amazing.
 
Had cataract surgery on my right eye in 2010. About a year later I developed the posterior capsule opacity and they cleaned it up with a YAG laser treatment. Do not recall if the lens they implanted corrected my near sightedness. I do notice that when I compare a white sheet of paper with one eye then the other that the colour is different. Non treated eye has a yellow tint to the white. That eye is due for cataract surgery eventually.

My right eye has been through the wars.
First a retinal tear that was laser welded back. Then the cataract surgery, next YAG treatment. Then they could see that the retina had an issue again. There is a swelling that distorted my sight, rectangles necked in at the middle. Several years later it is still an issue and the retinal Dr. is at a loss as to the cause. Drops seem to be either helping or preventing further deterioration.

I can still see OK with it but it use to be my Good Eye.
Be thankful for modern medicine.

David
 
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