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cataract surgery lens options


Original Pennsyltucky

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Eye Dr now tells me it is in my court as to when to get cataract surgery.  Tells me that what he will do is put a lens in one eye that will give me normal distance vision and the other eye will get a slightly different lens to provide clarity at closer distances (Not reading close).  Tells me that the brain will decide which eye is dominate depending on what I'm looking at and that I'll never know.  Sounds like a great option to me but I have a questions for those who have had this option.  I am right eye dominate.  Should I get "normal" distance vision in that eye OR would the "slightly closer" option be the way to go for front sight acquisition?  

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I had both eyes done with that option years ago.  I am right eyed and it looks like my Left eye is the near vision eye.  Check with the ophthalmologist. I have had no problems adjusting.  Clear vision is wonderful.   I can see the targets better but just as slowly.

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I have run into people that have had this option done and were unable to adjust.  I opted for having vision set to make the front sights on my pistols clear and I use readers for fine print/low light reading and am okay for most other situations without the need for glasses.  My understanding is after lens implantation, removal and replacement of the artificial lens is not something that is done often and has challenges.  New lenses allow for some focal adjustment like your natural lenses.  If you are not a candidate for these type of lenses I would talk further with your ophthalmologist about all your options.

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Had mine done 15 years ago.  Declined the option and wanted just 20/20.  I wear readers for computer and close work.  Bifocal Fishing sunglasses are my normal go to when driving and shooting.  Anything closer than the end of my arm needs glasses, all else is fine.

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Had this done a little over 2 years ago. Had worse stigmatism in my right eye that they had seen in 30 yrs, oh and eye was shaped like a football!  Been wearing coke bottle glasses since I was 7 and I had turned 60. Had the special lenses put in at $2 grand an eye over the cost covered by insurance for distance. I figured a could get reading glasses. 11  months later after seeing almost 20/20 on both eyes I go thru a deatached retina in the right eye, twice, within 2 mos of each other!  Fortunately sight came back to almost the same. 

If after getting it done you start to see a “veil” or shadow closing over your sight, run don’t walk to the eye surgeon immediately otherwise you could lose sight in the eye permanently!

got the long distance lenses and am happy!

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I had mine done 3 years ago and have slightly closer vision in my right eye. This works well for a good sight picture and the left eye is good for seeing down range. Just had PCO laser done on my left eye and it is back to 20/15. Your mileage my vary but I haven't had any issues with slightly different vision in each eye. PM me if you want more detail.

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My mom had it done many years ago.  She loved it for a long time but now that she is in her 90's and her vision has changed some, correcting for it has been more difficult.

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After the surgery, your eye will not be as flexible as the natural lens.  So if you set them both at distance, you will need reading glasses.  that was true for me - unless you try his suggestion.

 

What the Doc is talking about is normally called mono-vision.  Years before I got had the surgery, I got some glasses made that way for shooting several years ago.  Set the right eye (strong side) for focus on my pistol and rifle sights - they are essentially the same distance.  I would put the glasses on when I got to the range.  It took just a few minutes to adjust but then no problem at all.  But as others have said, it depends on the person. 

 

Those glasses  worked very well for me when shooting, but I still didn't go that way with my contacts but several friends did it and are happy.

 

To test it, buy some cheap reading glasses and take out one lens.  See if you can adjust to it.  At first you will be just slightly dizzy, but that should go away.  If it doesn't, that may not be the best option for you.

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Guest Texas jack Black SASS#9362

Why not just get multi focal lens That is what I did .I can see near and far, each eye is now 20/15 and no glasses.

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9 minutes ago, Texas jack Black SASS#9362 said:

Why not just get multi focal lens That is what I did .I can see near and far, each eye is now 20/15 and no glasses.

I did a similar thing and can read and see far though over time my eyes have continued to change so it is not as good as it was.

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Had both eyes done with the acrylic plastic lens  18 months ago, now 20/20 ..long distance is great & don't need glasses.

Cataracts were very minor & I had the option to wait or done straight away, I went with the  do 'em now  Doc !!

Best thing I've done, very happy.

Doc's parting words were 'done my part now do yours 'look after them.

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Over 25 years ago I had lasik eye surgery because my vision was 20/200 in both eyes.  Had one distance eye and one close-up eye.  Had no problems adjusting, but over the years my eyes changed and the distance eye became the close eye and vice versa.  Never had a problem adjusting though.

 

A few years ago when I had cataract surgery, luckily I had the same eye surgeon so they had my original eye measurements which made the cataract surgery easier to get right.  I chose to have two distance eyes and wear reading glasses when needed to read all the fine print on things now.

 

Just make sure you take time and weigh the options before making an informed decision and understand the consequences of each option.

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I had cataract surgery in Jan of this year. After the surgery I am 20/15 but I need readers. I bought a pair of sunglasses with reading correction to use shooting and at other times outdoors. Works great for cowboy, outdoors and having to look closely at firearms to make safe. Best decision I have made in years.

 

 

Imis

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I opted for ReStor multifocal lenses.

They were more $$$ but well worth it for me !!!

I have better than 20-20 in both eyes & don't need glasses..... not even readers.

 

Ck w/ yer Doc and see if they will work for you and what your extra cost would be....

If it's do-able, then I say go for it !!!!

 

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Multifical lense in both eyes is the only way to go - depending on insurance it can cost you around 7-8K$ out of pocket but is worth it - just my opinion - I can now see anything from very close to very far with no glasses at all

 

dont let the cost be the deciding factor

 

goos luck

wicked wayne

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Muleshoe Bill,  ahhh Medicare, we're from the govmint and we here ta help ya.  yeah, it's like buying a pickup, at one time you could buy a plain Jane/John   vanilla truck for cheap and now you can spend $80,000 on one!   The question ya have to ask is what does your supplemental insurance, if you have any, cover.  Also, if you have those football shaped eyes rather round eyes. the surgical cost is not something that is covered. In my case I was told it's $250 an eye.  I have my appointment to get measured in a couple of weeks and I'll be able to be more conversant then. 

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Well it finally hit me about three months ago as I was watching TV, my vision was blurry and I told the wife that I needed to go back to my eye doctor. I had been putting off my appointment for several months because my A1c (Diabetic} readings were very good at 6.2, I should of kept that appointment.  I was told that I have cataracts  in both eyes and  that my left eye had developed  a stigmatism that will require a special lens to correct. The other good news is that my Humana Insurance does not cover the cost of the lens which is in the $1200 range. 

I had both eyes measured about  three weeks ago but I had to go back yesterday to look at them one more time before my surgery. I'm happy to see that I have a Doctor that likes to make sure. They are going to do my right eye first and then around 2 weeks or so later, they are going to do the left eye.

I'm hoping that I will have my sighting vision return but if not I will continue to use my special shooting glasses that my eye doctor had ordered for me. If your eye Doctor is a shooter then it's easy for them to understand what you are requesting . My pair require that I put them on for at least 30 minutes before shooting so that I may become acclimated . The right lens is for sighting and the left is for infinity sight. It takes a while as I lose my depth perception at first. Well my fellow cowboys, I hope to be seeing y'all with better eyesight by the end of July. Later Fairshake

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Before having lenses implanted that correct distance in one eye and close up in the other, I would recommend having a pair of glasses made to do this.  This option is not for everyone.  I tried the glasses prior to having my cataract surgery a couple of years ago.  I could never adjust to the different lenses for each eye.  I felt disoriented, didn't have good depth perception and after about an hour of trying to adjust I developed a severe headache.  I tried them several times with the same result.  I'm very glad my eye dr. suggested trying the glasses first!  So with that option being ruled out I opted to go with a new multifocal lens called Symfony.  It gained FDA approval in July 2016 for use in the USA.  It had been on the market for a couple of years prior to that in other countries.  I'm pleased with these lenses.  I do need 1.5 readers for very fine print, but for the most part, I'm glasses free.  My surgeon discussed all of my options prior to surgery and we decided to go with the Symfony lenses to match my lifestyle.  He told me that no matter which option I chose, I would most likely need readers at times due to the fact that I had had Radial Keratomy (RK) vision correction surgery years ago.  RK involved making small cuts in the cornea of the eyes which reshaped the eye as it healed, thereby changing the focal point to correct your vision.  This was the procedure that was used prior to Lasik.  RK patients have a greater chance of needing corrective glasses after cataract surgery than those who have not had it.  Overall I am very satisfied with the results.  Hope all goes well for you.

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  • 2 weeks later...

I had cataract surgery for both eyes the end of last year and opted for plain lenses, this got most coverage by insurance. Plus I had been wearing glasses since between my junior and senior year in high school when I started driving. Needed distance vision correction. So I figured no issue with continuing to have glasses. After surgery my distance vision is perfect and drove for the first time without glasses and I'm now 63. I need glasses for reading and working at the computer. Got prescription glasses for workin at computer and reading at my desk. Use over the counter readers for close up work. Using plain shooting glasses works fine just can't read with them, looking to get some with reader bifocal inserts.

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  • 5 weeks later...

Follow up -  I had my left eye done last Wednesday, along with "limbal relaxing incision."

This limbal thing is to help correct the shape of the eyeball and is an optional thing.   Having a lot of trust in my eye-guy I went for it.

The day after the procedure my eye ops checked 20/20.

The first problem that you will encounter is having one corrected eye and one uncorrected eye- my solution was simple thanks to my pack-ratting wife of 47 years who kept the clear lens when I bought a pair of ole timey round wire frames for CAS and had prescriptions lens put in, oh so long ago.

I didn't have a lot of apprehension till I slid onto the butcher block.  While the happy juice they give you won't give you any rush I don't recall crap or any discomfort, just a bright light. 10 or 15 minutes later it was all over.

You'll get a set of wrap around sun glasses and you'll need them, dang the world is bright!

I get my right eye done Thursday morning.

 

The only thing that is inconvenient is putting those drops in 4 times a day.

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Went with 20/20 both eyes. Now use reading glasses. For shooting had Doc adjust left eye for front sights, took firearms with me, and clear for right eye on shooting glasses, Being left eye dominate use shotgun dot on right eye so both eyes open. Shoot left handed

Works great for me

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Had my right eye done one year ago and drove without glasses for the first time in almost 50 years. I opted for the Basic package. Distance perfect and wearing reading glasses to read and computer. I had been away from shooting for a while because of the blurriness in my dominant eye, but I am back and seeing better than ever. The left eye is not bad enough to need the surgery...yet. Best thing that I ever did, I never realized how blind I was!

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Going in today to have my right eye done then in two weeks my left. Just using what Medicare will cover, but also the correction of my astigmatism at additional cost. I’ll need readers. 

 

Ned

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On 7/14/2018 at 12:37 PM, Allie Mo, SASS No. 25217 said:

Yay, Yippee, Yee Haw! My cataract surgery for the worst eye is scheduled for 8/29. I saw the Ophthalmologist yesterday.

If you would let me make aware of the situation that cost me more money. I unfortunately did one eye before end of year and one eye after the first of the new year, with each year having a $3,000 deductible that had to be met. Not knowing your insurance benefits and deductibles, you may want to consider this when planning to get the other eye done so both operations fall within the same policy year and save you money in not having to meet another deductible amount?  Just a suggestion. 

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I had surgery for a detached retina in my right eye.  Unfortunately it was more than could be handled by laser treatment in the retina specialists office.  Had to go into the hospital, general anesthesia, and a long time of healing.  They told me that the surgery would probably cause a cataract to form.  Yep.  Meantime I went back to the retina specialist and he laser stapled all the weak areas in the other eye.   On 8/27 I go get this derned cataract fixed.  Due to previous eye surgeries it's back to the hospital again.  They're going for distance vision and a reshaping of the cornea.  More measurements first under anesthesia.  (I've been back for measurements twice in the office, now they have me on antibiotic/steroid drops 3x day and I go back for more measurements 8/20.  If I get good distance vision, I can get shooting glasses that give me a good view of the front sight.  That's what I used to have so no problem there.

 

In the meantime, since I can't see the front sights and the targets are blurry, I've been point shooting.   Not too bad, been averaging about 3 misses a match and my times are improving.  Wee don' need no schtinking fron' sights!  :P

 

 

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  • 2 weeks later...

Hi Folks,

 

I had my first cataract surgery today. I wanted laser. They tried; but couldn't do it. Hubby said it had something to do with the shape of my eye.

 

I'm sure glad I only have to wear the "patch" for today and a few nights. It is annoying.

 

I will probably have the second one done after the Nevada State Match in October.

 

Regards,

 

Allie

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Had my left eye done yesterday...wow we live in great times to have this type of procedure to really improve quality of life.

maybe I’ll look into that Uberti 1886 to do some long distance shooting.

 

Ned

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