Help with cataract surgery

[Nowhere Man]

If you've had cataract surgery and know which lenses your doctor used, please tell me how they work for shooting. I mostly do action type pistol shooting, IDPA and USPSA so, I need to be able to see my front sight clearly and still be able to move about.

I have the onset of cataracts. I met with an eye doctor today to discuss having a lensoctomy and intraocular lens surgery. It's basically the same as cataract surgery but I'm just not going to wait until my cataracts are really bad.

When he explained the operation to me he said I had two choices in lenses. One being, Restor lenses that offer great sight for distance and close up but get fuzzy in the mid-range. The second option was Cystalens which has great mid-range and distance but, are weak in the reading range and may require reading glasses.

The doctor who was recommended to me is not a shooter so, when I explained to him that I need to be able to have a clear front sight, he admitted to not knowing exactly which lens to recommend.


Thanks, Dave

 

[spm]

As someone who will be facing the same procedure in a few years, I will be interested in the responses you get. I will also be interested in what you decide and the outcome. Good luck.

 

[hso]

I'd demonstrate where you need to have the sharpest vision if an explanation isn't sufficient for him.

 

[Nowhere Man]

I wonder if he'd get nervous if I walked in with my 1911. I'm guessing I wouldn't be in the waiting room too long.

On a serious note, I'm to blame for not knowing the distance I need to see clearly. After I got home, I measured both my 1911 (27") and my shotgun (29") and called them back.


Dave

 

[hso]

I just pantomimed a pistol and rifle stance with the caveat that the front sights would be X inches forward of my right hand position and he was able to provide a set of prescription safety lenses in a safety glasses frame that worked quite well (for a while).

 

[Derry 1946]

You might be able to use a laser pointer to demonstrate where you need the sharpest vision. Good luck with your surgery.

 

[Pacsd]

AS an optician for about 30 years, I would recommend you go with the lenses that give you the
mid range and far vision, but in most cases I have found that what you want most is your distance to be 20/20. Be sure and talk to the dr about that.
Sometimes with the multivision lenses you do not get 20/20 in both fields. Also ask the dr about how
the lenses will react out in the bright sunlight.

I asked my wife to answer that. In my case when I first started developing cataracs I let it go for a few years, on the advice of the Dr, as it was not "ripe". When I got it done in my right eye I got the single distance lense which resulted in 20-20 vision. But, I still have to wear bi-focals with no script in the upper part of the lense. No prob with that because I don't wear glasses when I shoot/hunt. I make the scope adjustment with the rear ring adjustment on the scope. Hope this helped.

 

[AlexanderA]

As someone who's had cataract surgery in both eyes, I would agree with what Pacsd wrote. Go with an implant prescription that favors distance, or maybe compromises between distance and mid-range. I would also be conservative, and avoid some of the newfangled lens inventions. In my case, I needed glasses anyway, due to astigmatism. With glasses, my vision is in clear focus from about arm's length out to infinity. This is fine for shooting, where you hold a pistol at arm's length, or look through open sights or a scope on a rifle. I use bifocals for computer work, reading, or really close work. I can certainly see a lot better now than before the surgery.

 

[kevin davis]

i had cataract surgery about 11/2 years ago, with about six months in between. first my right eye went, then the left. i shoot right handed so the scope was only a little help until i could not see at all clearly.

there are two types of lenses: fixed focus and the newer multifocus.
for fixed, they put a distance lens in one eye and a near lens in the other and you learn to use one eye for each purpose. there can be a sacrifice of binocular vision to some extent.
for multifocus, they put a lens in both eyes that allows both near and distance vision. i wore glasses for over thirty years (about 20/100) and now have 20/20 vision. this is not perfect as my very near vision inside 16 inches is very much subject to movement of the head. when i read a book, i have to have brighter light to do so and have to hold the book still. objects in low light are very fuzzy (for example, the keyboard on which i am typing or while playing the piano, as i move my head, it is harder to keep track of the notes on the page as they can go out of focus, and screwing in screws or bolts is harder to find the head) i certainly enjoy the benefits of my improved vision but recognize there are some limitations, but it is better than not seeing at all. initially, while driving at night, you will notice more glare from bright lights. also, there is a big difference in cost. i put about $2,500 into each eye for these. they do give better results for binocular vision than the fixed focus. as a surgeon, i really like them.
i hope this can be of help to you.

 

[AlexanderA]

there are two types of lenses: fixed focus and the newer multifocus.
for fixed, they put a distance lens in one eye and a near lens in the other and you learn to use one eye for each purpose. there can be a sacrifice of binocular vision to some extent.

This is sometimes done, but it is by no means a general rule. Since the lens implant is pretty much a "one shot" deal (it's much more difficult and dangerous to replace an implant lens than to replace the original natural lens), this is no place for experimentation. I have the same correction (fixed focus) in both eyes and it's working out well. My ophthalmologist has done thousands of these procedures and that is what he recommended.

 

[Zeke/PA]

I had Cataract and Lasic surgery done about 5 years ago and the "iron" handgun sights appear as they did when I was in my teens.
My distant vision is excellent but I require reading glasses for close work .
I no longer need glasses to drive.

 

[Sav .250]

I had the surgery......... The "after" results was amazing!

Used to were glasses. Used too.

No problem shooting, what so ever. That includes a peep/scope.

Things are some much clearer/brighter now it`s un-real!

 

[Nowhere Man]

Thank you for all the responses. I've only got one chance at this and I want to make the correct descision.


Dave

 

[highlander 5]

I had cataract surgery done at 5 yaers old ( I'm 62 now) wore very thick and heavy glass lenses for most of my life. the surgery screw up my pupils badly as well. 12 years ago found out that there was a procedure that could fix all the problems that I had. Involved rebuilding my pupil and putting in lense implants. Now my eyesight has never been 20/20 but with glasses I'm 20/30 in my left eye,20/50 in my right and the fact that I can roll over and read my alarm clock warms the cockles of my heart.

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

I had my left eye done 2 years ago for distance. My right eye was for close up but it was going bad. I told the Dr. that I liked my monovision and asked that he put in a lens for close up in my right eye. He and others talked me out of it because some folks brains have trouble adjusting. Anyway it's always been my belief to keep it simple. I just had my right eye done with the same lens Tues. morning. It's still fuzzy and I'm putting 3 different drops in. Hopefully it will be ok and I know I will need glasses for pistol and rifle with open sights, but I didn't have the funds for the latest and greatest crystal lenses.

Good luck with your sugery.

 

[camar]

Just so happens that my eye doctor is a shooter. I had both eyes done. He set me up for long distance shooting and needing glasses to read.
I can't believe how much better I can shoot and I can read without glasses at full arms length.
Mid range is like long range.

 

[GarySTL]

Like camar, I have fixed focal lenght lenses fitted for distance. I shoot and drive without glasses and am very pleased with the results. I did buy several sets of Optix 20/20 stick on reading lenses that I've applied to my shooting glasses. These allow me to read the timer and keep score for pistol events.

I do generally wear glasses for reading with no upper correction.

 

[Pacsd]

One more quick comment. I only had my right eye done (probably have the left done this spring), but I didn't remember snow being that white!!!!! What a diference it made.

 

[Doc Savage]

Had the Clear lens replacement done this year. Eyes were too bad for lasik. I LOVED it. Had both eyes corrected for distance. Got slightly better than 20/20 with the first one, and 20/20 with the second. Really didn't hurt my shooting. I can do without reading glasses at about arms length, so front sights aren't a problem. Have one scope that is cheap and not adjustable, and it is hard to get good focus on the crosshairs on it, but the others work perfectly.

Robert

 

[AlexanderA]

I didn't remember snow being that white!!!!! What a diference it made.

Yes! That's the first thing I noticed after coming out of surgery, even while my vision was still blurry (it takes a while to stabilize). The natural lens -- with or without cataracts -- tends to yellow with age and exposure to sunlight. This comes on so slowly that you don't notice the change. But you see all the whites as cream-colored (even though you have nothing to which to compare them). The clear lens implant restores the colors to the way they should be objectively. Most all lens implants include an ultraviolet filter to protect the eye from further sunlight damage.

With all these advances in medicine, we're coming closer to the idea of the "human-machine hybrid." Eye implants, tooth implants, joint replacements, heart pacemakers and stents, etc., have all become commonplace. In many cases, the replacements are better than the "original equipment."

 

[KevininPa]

I don't know how much help I'll be but.....

.....here we go. I had Lasick and my elderly mother had cataract surgery. We both see distance well now. We both need reading glasses. Our eyesight is about the same now. There's the parameters for what I'll say now as a shooter.

Holding a pistol at full arms length while supporting with my off hand, I can see rear and front iron sights and the target. Various pistols and revolvers. Much clearer on the target and front sight, slightly less on the rear sights, depends on focus point.

I have an unconverted Saiga with Mojo rear sights and an aperture front sight with cross hairs. The Mojo ghost ring is a little blurry but the aperture and target is clear. Can see the rear and still line up quick. Just did this change-over and still sighting in, but have great hopes for it and already find it better than original sights.

Also have a Remington 7615 pump with a ghost ring. Naturally since the ring is closer to the eye, it's a bit more blurry than the Saiga. But workable for me. I wish I could get a front aperture for this, at least I haven't found one.

Shotgun beads I can see fine, can still point and shoot.

I hope this helps in some small way at the least.

 

[Nowhere Man]

Update

I decided to have the lensectomy surgery with Restor lenses. I had my right eye done last Monday. All good so far. I walked out to the mailbox Tuesday afternoon. Halfway back to the house, I realized I could read the mail w/o my glasses.

My left eye looks to me like I'm trying to see out of a dirty milk glass. I'm set to have that one done next Monday.

Dave

 

[KevininPa]

Great! Good for you. I hope that the next step goes as well!

 

[Mr. Tettnanger]

I am an optician.

Get the single vision type lens that gives you clear distance!

 

[JohnB]

I am an optician.

Get the single vision type lens that gives you clear distance!

I am a 22 month veteran of Restor lenses and I have clear vision at any distance. I don't need glasses to read, to see the computer, and I can see the front sights on rifles and pistols...