My goal was to wait for more developments as time goes on. If you read the history of cataract surgery it is truly amazing how far we have come since the 70’s.
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OK so, most people are most bothered ( really minor inconvenience) by the drops schedule. It helped that I got the 3 combo drops offered by my ophthalmologist and I am very organized. But, the most bothered is the thing I never thought of. I am a very active person who does every thing for myself. If I need help it is very rare. The 15# weight limit and physical exertion limits are really hard. We walk 4 miles a day at a good pace and lift weights. I just gave that up totally during this time and all the chores that involve lifting have been relegated to H who has had a pretty good attitude. The paperwork including taxes are still very much in action, though.
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For how long were you advised to avoid exercise?
Cataract Surgery Recovery: Exercising, Driving and Other Activities - American Academy of Ophthalmology says “Most people can do very light exercise the day after surgery, including walking. For activities like biking, running, tennis, golf and sex, wait 7 to 10 days after your procedure. If you are a swimmer, doctors advise you to wait two weeks before going in the water to minimize your risk of infection and irritation.”
This is what I’ve been doing—I’ve postponed cataract surgery on my other eye while waiting for the ideal premium lens option.
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7-10 days. But, I am getting the second one done in a few days then the clock starts ticking again. Our ‘walks’ are intense and H at 75 chides me at 70 that I walk like an old lady if we do 18 minute miles with hills! I’m probably more cautious than I need to be, but by April 13th the restrictions will be up in my mind.
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What type of lens did you get?
The toric premium lens and to see far distance.
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I broke my “regular” glasses, which the optometrist calls “computer glasses” (monovision that worked well for screen and paperwork). As I was limping along using old glasses and my distance/driving glasses, it did get me thinking about what kind of cataract correction lense I’d like down the road.
I have zero need for reading glasses, though if I do any intense reading of paperwork I take off my glasses. Not sure I want to give that up that convenience, especially since as I get older more and more time will be reading. Also I have dark undereye circles, feel like I look better with glasses than without. Would it be crazy to just stick with a clear lense, even though technology allows some cool improvements? (My husband is really glad he splurged for the lenses that enabled him to ditch his contacts.) I think part of the decision process will depend on whether start with one eye first since I rely on a stable of glasses for various purposes, including distance transitions for indoor/outdoor pickleball and distance glasses with non-polorized clip-ons to work well with the heads-up display on our new car.
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I am pretty sure I am going with near vision correction, and continuing to use contacts/glasses for distance.
I am very nearsighted, so I already know what it’s like to see well up close. I also have double vision and so may need to wear glasses anyway.
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I think I look older without glasses. I’m happy to continue wearing glasses, TBH. I wouldn’t mind mono vision lenses instead of progressive, though … so much less expensive!
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My plan is not to correct my eyes though I haven’t yet had my cataract consult. I’ve worn glasses most of my life and my eyes really aren’t too bad at this point (don’t wear them in the house, for example). I also think I look older without glasses so don’t really mind wearing them. And I love not needing anything to read or see close up. Of course if I start needing reading glasses at some point I’ll be bitter I didn’t correct one or the other but hoping I’ll never need them.
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My plan right now is to correct for distance and get toric for the astigmatism. I have worn glasses since I was five so have no problem wearing readers, if needed.
I’m curious how soon he can get me in after the consult. I am on vacation at the end of June and would love to have it all taken care of by then.
I don’t know whether I look older without glasses, but I can’t wait to find out. My mother’s side of the family always has had a thing with droopy eyelids, and I have facial paralysis on one side so I am kind of afraid that my glasses have been hiding that and I won’t like how I look without glasses. I always can wear fake glasses if I don’t like it.
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I just bought thinoptics mag safe 2.0 so I wouldn’t ever be without glasses in a pinch. I put them on my iPhone (took cover off but didn’t have to). I don’t carry a purse. I also am getting glasses with transition and progressive lens that is clear on top and correct for reading on the bottom. Honestly $85 from Zenni is worth a try. This way I’ll have sunglasses and readers. If you want to wear glasses this could be a solution. It is very sunny here. I also noticed that my IOL for my eye have UV protection in it. Being nearside since 8 yr old, this is an opposite approach than I’m used to.
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I did not realize that the whole process is 6 weeks start to finish if you do both eyes. Im fine with that.
OK, y’all, I had my consult yesterday, and this did not go as expected.
I really liked the guy, who also is a glaucoma specialist. He found evidence of possible glaucoma so I have to have additional testing. I’ve always had borderline pressure readings so that wasn’t a huge surprise. He said that he can fix that at the same time that he takes care of the cataracts. OK, fine.
But what threw me for a loop is that he recommended the basic lenses. While I appreciate the lack of an upsell, I’m a little disappointed. I told him that I am not vain and this isn’t about getting rid of glasses or anything, that i’ve worn them since I was 5. What surprised me is that he said that if he fixes me for distance, it’ll make my close vision a lot worse and that’s why he doesn’t recommend correcting for distance. So many people, he says, don’t understand the changes and can be dissatisfied with the results (even though he does great work! lol) He said that because I told him that I don’t mind wearing glasses that that’s what he’d recommend.
So, anyone have any thoughts? I just thought that if I am going through the trouble of surgery that I wanted to be able to not wear distance glasses for the first time in almost 60 years, even if it costs me more. I believe him that I don’t know/understand how bad my close vision will be and that he has the experience to know that I wouldn’t be pleased with the results.
Is there some way to know how much better my vision will be just getting rid of the cataracts without a lot of Rx change? I always have had an astigmatism, which I think might be a complication.
I don’t know. I’m so bummed that I can’t think straight. Any stories of experience would be helpful.
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Are there situations where you need distance vision but prefer not to wear prescription glasses (e.g. water sports or activities)? Or the other way around with near vision without prescription glasses?
Seems like if you correct for distance vision, you would need to use reading glasses for near vision activities, or wear multifocals with no correction on top and reading correction on the bottom.
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H has worn glasses off distance nearly all his life and awful vision. The ophthamologist corrected him for distance so now he can see fine at distance but has challenges reading due to double vision and would need a prism of something to correct it. He and we didn’t expect that. It’s a big change for him to no longer need distance correction but he is bothered by difficulty reading now.
He’s hoping contacts (which he wore for decades) may be able to correct his close double vision—glasses don’t unless he wears special prism glasses.
His cataract surgery was completed nearly a year ago—both eyes. He’s 83.
I got the same recommendation and that is what I did. I would have loved the lenses that correct for both distance and close…but as someone with glaucoma, I was not a candidate for those.
My doc further explained that if I went the opposite way and needed readers, and my near point was not corrected, I would have difficulty seeing to do things like putting in eye drops, and putting on mascara.
My far point was much corrected, and my new glasses are MUCH thinner than my old ones. My glasses are progressives but the bottom is clear glass because I don’t need correction for close up work.
I’m very happy with the results.
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I haven’t had cataract surgery yet (I need to) and that was my doctor’s recommendation too. It makes sense to me – I am already used to not seeing well at distance so I have had a lifetime of being used to putting glasses on to see far away. I would NOT like being unable to see close up. I also have double vision and may need to wear glasses for that, so I probably don’t have "no glasses"in my future anyway.
My vote is to slow down and take your time to think about this. I have taken my own advice and have an appointment for a 2nd opinion from a neuroopthamologist before I move ahead.
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I am having cataract surgery this summer and only doing basic lenses. I’ve worn glasses for distance since third grade and don’t mind them especially as my eyes have improved over the years and I no longer really need them around the house. I love not needing glasses to read, eat, see my phone, etc. not willing to give that up. With the surgery he said my vision will be about the same as it is now which is fine. My only real regret is not getting rid of the astigmatism which means I’ll still probably have blur. But there was no good way to do that and keep my close up vision. I wasn’t much of a candidate for the bifocal choices as I trued one near, one far contact lens and bifocal contact lenses years ago and it didn’t work for me at all. So basic lenses it is. My first surgery is at the end of July, the second about a month later, fingers crossed I can drive at night again!
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