Vision problem cataract surgery

Status
Not open for further replies.
3

351 WINCHESTER

Member
Joined
Mar 19, 2007
Messages
4,884
Location
NE FL
I am about to have a cataract removed from my right eye. I shoot right handed and I'm right eye domanat. Two years ago I had my left cataract fixed with a distance lens. Right now my right eye is for close up so I have the best of both worlds as I have monovision.

I went to my eye doctor today and I'm torn as to what lens to get (close or far) for my right eye. He told me that if he puts a close "lens" in my eye that they usually don't do well (( forgot his explination, but has to do with the brain). He said my brain may be different.

I'm a hunter/shooter both rifles and pistols. If I go with the distance lense will I have to wear glasses for handgun?

This is a hard decision so anyone who has been thru this or similar circumstances I would appresiate your feedback.
 
I had this done in both eyes. I can see much, much better than before.

The lens implant will be a fixed focus (unless you go with one of those new, experimental types). So, one way or the other, you'll need glasses to correct for either distance or close up.

I'd opt for a moderate distance implant in both eyes, and then get bifocal glasses. This is the safest, most "conservative" route.
 
I had Clear Lens Extraction in both eyes this year (Cataract surgery without the cataracts, only surgery I was a candidate for to correct my vision.). I went with both eyes corrected for distance vision. Doing the monovision where one eye is for close up and one for distance would drive me nuts. One of my issues with contacts was that they couldn't correct my vision in the left eye to get me to 20/20. It was beginning to really bother me after a couple of years which is why I went with the surgery.

I haven't had any issue with my handgun after this. I can get by without reading glasses out to about arm's length, so it really doesn't affect the sights on my handgun much. What does give me issues somewhat is with the scopes on my rifles. The reticles are slightly out of focus while I can focus on the target. The red dot gives me the least problems with my rifles.

Robert
 
Good Luck to ya 351 WINCHESTER, hope everything turns out great, prayers be with ya...............
 
Go to a different doctor.

About 5 years ago I had this done. Vision improved remarkably. They have new lenses out that enable you to see both far and near with both eyes. Insurance will not cover these new lenses, so it cost me a few thousand $ each eye and it is worth ever single penny. I had both eyes done with this type lens. Before I could not see **** - now I can see without any glasses - both reading up close and far away. Shooting has become enjoyable again.
 
I'm having my first cataract removed in Novermber. I'm going with the multifocal lenses, so hopefully I'll be able to see up close and far. Mine is a little more complicated because I had Lasik surgery about 12 years ago. The surgery isn't more complicated but getting the lens to be correct is.
 
Not everyone can dispense with the need for glasses after having cataract surgery. For example, it's very difficult to correct for astigmatism with the implant lenses (the lens has to be oriented in a specific way). If you're one of those people who are going to need glasses anyway (which was the case with me), you might as well opt for the simplest implant prescription, which is a fixed-focus lens optimized for distance.

With my glasses, I can see clearly from about arm's length to infinity. Therefore, shooting a pistol is no problem. No problem, either, in rifle shooting, seeing a scope reticle or looking through a peep-type iron sight. An open notch-type sight mounted on a rifle barrel might be a slight problem, although I was surprised I could use that too. (This is without using bifocals, which I use for reading.)

Before my cataract surgery, I had a problem with "vignetting" using a spotting scope set at high power. In other words, all I could see was a small spot in the center of the scope's field of vision. (This was a function of the small "exit pupil" of the scope combined with the clouded condition of my natural lens.) This problem disappeared after the surgery.
 
Last edited:
Thank's to all's input as this is a really hard decision for me and others too. I'm leaning towards having the same distance lens put in to keep things simple. I had my left eye done for distance 2 years ago and I can't focus on the sights on a pistol or rifle although a scope is good to go. I wonder if I will need reading glasses to shoot or something different?

Thank's to all.
 
I just had this done not 3 months ago. My eyes were too small for the adjustable focus implants, so I went with a corrected lens. Making both eyes 20/20 at mid range and distance. Handgun sights are a bit fuzzy, but useable, and I found the front sight on my M14 (finally!) right where I left it. I just use a pair of cheaters for computer work, or other small things. Best thing I ever did!.

Jim
 
This is a tough decision that I also had to make 10 years ago. My right eye was the dominent eye and the implant they put in the right eye was for distance. The left eye, they gave me a lens that allowed close vision and I am able to read quite well and also to see fairly well at long distance. The problem is they they usually have to undercorrect a little.
I can see well for general stuff but for driving etc I still prefer the crystal clear vision I get from wearing glasses.
Since you should wear eye protection anyway, I would have the right eye corrected for distance and see the target nice and clear. The real problem is that while removing the cateract, they also have to remove the lens muscles that allow you to change focal distances. Sorry to say but you will never really see the clear sight picture that you had before, if corrected for long distance, the sights will always be really fuzzy, BUT TAKE HEART! After some experimentation and practice, you will get to the point where you figure out a way to compromise and shoot well again. It took me several months but now I am printing them all in the black again.
Hope the surgery goes well
Roger
 
I want to thank all for their input. It really is a tough decision. I have decided to go with the same lens they put in my left eye, for distance.
 
Not everyone can dispense with the need for glasses after having cataract surgery. For example, it's very difficult to correct for astigmatism with the implant lenses (the lens has to be oriented in a specific way).
Click to expand...

Astigmatism isn't a real problem if you need it. That's what I got. The issue is that the Astigmatism correction is only available in fixed focus lenses, the multi-focus lenses aren't available for Astigmatism correction. At the rate the FDA approves things, probably won't see that for 20 more years.

Robert
 
Hmmm. My wife had serious astigmatism. 3 years ago she had cataract surgery on both eyes 2 weeks apart. She got the "Restor" multifocal lenses. She doesn't need glasses, for anything.

18 months ago I had the surgery and got the Restor multifocal lenses. I only had a slight astigmatism. At my six week checkup the doc said I had 20/15 vision. I don't need glasses for anything. 2 days ago I had another checkup. Still 20/15. It cost me $1500/eye extra for the multifocal but I have zero regrets.
 
will I have to wear glasses for handgun?
Click to expand...

No you won't. I had both eyes done 10 years ago and only use glasses for reading. Something to do with the lenses not being able to reduce down to a reading level. I use a durgstore 1.5 power set to read the small print on my computer screen. Otherwise no additional glasses needed. I did need to wear sun glasses for the first two years even indoors.

Jim
 
Hummm interesting on the multifocals, I was told the choice was either multifocals with no astigmatism correction or fixed focal with astigmatism correction. It is possiable that that is due to my perscription (one of the reasons I got the surgery was that they don't make astigmatism corrected softlens in my perscription in one eye, and I was at the highest diopter correction that I could get astigmatism correction in the other eye). He didn't make the distinction but I'm happy as a lark with mine. I was wearing reading glasses over my contacts and still wear them after the surgery.

Robert
 
My wife has been an optician for 30 years so, I'm gonna let her explain.
I realize that the monovision is working good for you now, it is because it had no choice. But...with your rt eye being
your dominant eye you need to have a distance lens put into it also and use readers or a bifocal for reading. It has to do with the fact that the rt eye is your dominant one. What Alex says is the way you should go.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

N
  • Locked
Help with cataract surgery
Replies
24
Views
4K
JohnB
J
Mike OTDP
  • Locked
Need advice on IOL for cataract surgery
Replies
20
Views
1K
entropy
entropy
M
  • Locked
Anyone shooting after cataract surgery?
Replies
21
Views
6K
Tob
T
F
  • Locked
Oh crap - shooters after cataract surgury - please chime in
Replies
22
Views
4K
dogrunner
D
lionking
  • Locked
Eye care
Replies
21
Views
1K
rpenmanparker
rpenmanparker
Back
Top