If you wear glasses for near and distance anyway, why not just shoot for -1.25 in both eyes and save some money? It would work for computer, the paper, cooking, etc. OR, bilateral multi focal. OR, try to nail the mono vision. Lots of options including many I haven’t covered.
2 Likes
This is all so interesting. I’m sure I’ll eventually need cataract surgery, as my eye doctor is watching me carefully. The thing is, I used to wear contacts, but I switched to glasses - and I have absolutely no issue with continuing to wear them. I do remove my glasses when reading, even though I have progressive lenses. It’s clear that I will need to do a lot of research when the time nears.
1 Like
No, at that time, it wasn’t very common. I’d like to do things without glasses if I could. I have to wear reading glasses, when I cook, when I eat, comuter work etc…then I have to take them off while talking to people across the table and watching tv.
This thread is great! I know I’ll have to have cataract surgery eventually, but I had no idea there would be so much decision making. I started wearing glasses for severe near sightedness in 4th grade, went to contacts sophomore year of college and have had monovison contacts (if I’m using that word correctly - one eye for near and one for far) for about 15 years, developed an astigmatism about 5 years ago so added that to the contacts. Have had to change the mixture of near/far each year recently as my eyesight has been changing frequently. I’m currently giving up some distance vision to not need reading glasses with my contacts. But, just got new progressive glasses and have been wearing glasses more than I have in years because they are the optimum vision correction for me right now. It will be interesting to find out what cataract surgery could do for me.
2 Likes
While I’m sure you will be able to find a surgeon who will do it, having a monofocal lens in one eye and a multifocal in the other won’t provide the same vision as if you had multifocals in both eyes.
Also, replacing lenses if you don’t like them isn’t as easy as it seems. We’re talking about something that is surgically implanted into your eye. Removing it and inserting a new lens is not without risk.
I understand my vision will not be perfect, however, it must be better than what I’m having now. Replacing a new lense is easier if the implants are new; I am not talking about replacing the lense in my other eye 7 years ago which should not be replaced because of complications. I’ve researched this for a long time and H is an MD.
1 Like
This is VERY individual. I had quite a few mixed patients that were quite happy.
Five percent of patients (that number is probably a little lower now) have multifocals explained because the glare is untenable, one eye or both.
Indeed, explanting is not a walk in the park. I wouldn’t look at it as an easy out. It must be done before the capsule scars.
I agree that is is very individual. I’m sure your “mixed patients” were chosen very carefully.
That’s what I chose to do…and I’m glad. Much better, but not perfect distance vision. Totally perfect near point vision. I’ve worn glasses almost my whole life…and readers just were not my style.
1 Like
I take those AREDS…DX of dry macular degeneration. I see my eye docs every six months. So far…so good.
Plus…oddly, I was having some knee pain and within three or four days if starting the AREDS, that knee pain completely went…away!!
OCT done once a year (I also have glaucoma).
1 Like
I’m with others in wanting to keep my “no glasses needed” near vision. I’ll need the surgery sooner or later. My ophthalmologist was telling me for about three years to hold off on cataract surgery because I was going to have to do something about my droopy eyelids. And better to get the eyelids fixed first. Then early last year he said my cataracts weren’t changing much but my eyelids were terrible! So that (and brow lift) is all behind me.
Next checkup is January so we’ll see. But I absolutely do not want to have to wear glasses while reading in bed. I’ve been wearing glasses (or contacts) since age 10 and don’t play sports so don’t mind glasses for distance. I currently have night glare issues and would like to avoid that. But I trust my practice to advise me. And all of you!
Also my dad had macular degeneration so I’ve been taking Areds 2 for years. I guess I have a couple of issue cells that haven’t changed in years so hopefully that has helped. Also diabetes 2. I always have to get retinal imaging done at my appointments.
2 Likes
I wear progressives. So this would apply to me?
I could end up with no glasses at this? Does a surgeon know to obtain -1.25?
My husband had his recently and the back and forth and what was being offered was very confusing to me. My goal would be to not have to wear glasses of any kind.
-1.25 would not achieve your goal. It’s a good option for no glasses 80% of the time for most, but you’d need glasses for fine print and driving at least some of the time. It’s a compromise that some would like, but vision perfectionists would hate.
The best shot at no glasses for any distance is bilateral multifocals. The problem is that glare can be an issue and some don’t feel that the clarity is good enough to justify the expense.
The problem is, no one can know what it will be like in advance unless the choose to replicate a situation they already have. For example, I’d choose to use standard IOLs shooting for -2.00 and then always wearing glasses. Why? So I can read in bed without correction.
It’s all about setting expectations.
1 Like
@eyemgh : Asking for your input. I’ll need cataract surgery soon. My preference is to correct for distance. I’d far rather hike, swim, watch movies, or drive without the need for glasses. I don’t mind wearing glasses to read or use the computer. My ‘assumption’ was to correct for distance only. But I have astigmatism. That means I’ll need to pay out-of-pocket, since Medicare won’t - even if only correcting for one option?
1 Like
had the procedure done this year. eyes got increasingly worse in 2023 resulting in 3 exams b4 getting approved.
nearsighted with prescription nearing -10 in both eyes. prices for fancy prescription implants neared $5k per eye.
goal was to simply improve them so my frames wouldn’t have to be so small to compensate for strength of lenses needed.
imagine the surprise that resulted in being eyeglasses free since being a teenager. doc said this was uncommon, tho. saved $10k. ur mileage may vary 
3 Likes
Medicare covers a standard, spherical IOL. Remember, their goal isn’t to eliminate your refractive error, but rather to eliminate the blur caused by the opacity in your natural lens.
If you want to shoot for the best uncorrected distance vision, a toric lens may or may not be needed. It depends on the amount and orientation of your astigmatism. The would may counteract what you have. If you do need a toric, that upgrade costs less than a multifocal.
Good luck!
1 Like
Congrats! At -10.00, you can miss the target by two standard deviations and still be radically better than you were.
1 Like
I went from a -8/-10 to 20/20 in both eyes after cataract surgery. Wearing cheap readers for reading and computer work is a small price to pay.
Buying sunglasses off the rack is also a new experience.
7 Likes
which type of lenses were implanted?
Lenses for distance only.
1 Like