Questions for those who have had cataract surgery.

A few months ago my Dr convinced me the surgery, scheduled next Monday for my right eye with distance vision, 3 weeks later for left eye with near vision. Look forward to the same results as others have mentioned. Thanks for the encouragement.
--

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Hi Juli,

I had cataract surgery in both eyes about a year and a half ago. My ophthalmologist recommended multi-focal implants, which cost $2000 more (per lens) than my insurance would cover. I was legally blind in one eye and rapidly losing any ability to focus in the other. So, I took his advice.

I was in the clinic for about 2 hours for each operation, mostly in the waiting room and then lying on a gurney while the attendants were putting pain-killer and muscle relaxant gels in the eye to be operated on. The actual procedure was probably less than 20 minutes and painless. It was weird. As somebody else said, all you see is the white operating light, out of focus, and instruments at the periphery of your vision.

The good news: My distance vision is now 20/25 in one eye and 20/30 in the other. Reading vision is 20/20. I don't need glasses to drive. I don't need glasses to read. By adjusting my 5D's diopter setting, I don't need glasses to look through the viewfinder. The doctor staggered the near and far focal lengths of each lens so that I have a fairly broad range of in-focus near (reading) distance, and a fairly broad far distance range.

The bad news: Middle distance vision isn't very sharp. (This is easily correctable for me: I bought +1.00 reading glasses at the drugstore, and I see almost the entire range from 10 to around 30 feet very clearly, and I use them for working on the compute, sitting about 2 feet from the monitor.) I see halos and concentric circles around streetlamps, and rays emanating from oncoming car headlights. Of course, it's completely tolerable, and nowhere as bad as the halos and rays I saw when I had my cataracts. And the lenses do not focus very well in dim light, so I have difficulty reading in low light or seeing road signs at night. I believe that this depends on the type of lens. It's my understanding that people that have the single-focus lenses complain less about halos. Also, complaints about night vision and halos vary among people using the multi-focal implants as well.

Overall though, since I don't drive much at night and I turn the light on to read, I do very well without glasses.

I wouldn't get two single-distance lenses one set for near and the other set for distance. It will screw up your depth perception and you will probably wind up wearing glasses for both near and far. If you decide on single-focus lenses, correct for distance, say, and use reading glasses for close up vision. Or vice-versa.

Also, most important, as someone else suggested. Make sure you have the best ophthalmologist you can find! One who has done many surgeries with a high success rate, and who specializes in retinal problems as well. It's worth it!!!

Best of Luck,

AA

--
'But you see if it wasn't for bad luck, ... I wouldn't have no luck at all'

Juli,

I'm sorry you are needing that surgery.

One, if not the primary cause of cataracts is UV light over the years. Anyone outside for extended periods of time should be wearing wrap-around sunglasses. Small lens sunglasses will allow UV in through the sides and the pupil is open more, so...

Paul

AndreTorng said:

A few months ago my Dr convinced me the surgery, scheduled next
Monday for my right eye with distance vision, 3 weeks later for left
eye with near vision. Look forward to the same results as others
have mentioned. Thanks for the encouragement.

Click to expand...

I'm an Ophthalmologist (I'm actually the one Juli referred to, and we've exchanged several emails on the subject at hand), and your post caught my attention.

When you say that your doctor "convinced" you to have surgery, it made me concerned about whether or not you feel it is necessary. Generally speaking (there are always exceptions), cataract surgery is purely elective, and something that the patient asks to have done, because they are dissatisfied with their level of vision, and feel that it is actively interfering with the requirements of their daily activities.

Hopefully everything is fine, and the language in your post is just a bit confusing, but I wanted to make sure your Doctor wasn't convincing you to do something you didn't really think was necessary.

Best of luck!

--
Don Cohen
http://www.dlcphoto.com
Ultimate Costa Rica Photo Safari, May 30 - June 9, 2008
http://www.dlcphoto.com/CRPS1207/PhotoSafari5General.htm
Brazil's Pantanal Photo Expedition, Nov. 1-10, 2008
http://www.ietravel.com/itindisplay.asp?itinid=1067&ieid=628774

When my doctor 1st told me I may need cataract surgery last year, I didn't quite believe him. Then I begin to notice my right eye saw light a little dimmer in the night compare to my left eye. Both my parents had cataract surgery and are not quite happy (dry eyes, vision changed later), so I hesitated for a few months. a couple months ago I had my vision examined again, first my right eye (the bad one), I asked the eye Dr why is their reflection so dirty and dim, when I switched to my right eye, suddenly I realized the reflection is clean and bright. That's when I know it's time to take the surgery. Someone told me there's an eye drop invented by a Russian Dr. that can decrease the syndrom in a few months. I don't want to take the non-FDA way.

Because of my heavy near-sight and stigmatism, I have to do both eyes in a month.

The only consideration I have is whether I should have right eye far sighted and left eye near sighted or vice versa. I'm right eye dominated, and right eye sees thru the lense, so why not have left eye far sighted so if I shoot with both eyes open, I can see clearly both eyes. This I consulted with other photogs and everyone seems happy with right eye far sighted and left eye near sighted. So that will be my decision.

Wish me luck on the surgery.
--

• Pro freelancer taking assignments in sports, concert, event, portrait, food, product, especially fun assignments

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Bill English said:

I had both eyes done, the left in Feb the right in March. My
cataracts developed rather quickly. I opted for lenses that
corrected for distant vision. My Dr did not recommend the multi-focal
lenses that correct for distant, medium and close vision, as the
technology is not yet there on this lens.

Also, he did not recommend having one eye corrected for distant, the
other for close vision. This option often has issues with depth
perception. His recommendation was to have both eyes corrected for
distant vision, which I did.

I do not use glasses for photos, I see great thru the view finder..I
can see all settings on the settings bar as well as a clear view thru
the viewfinder window and lens.

I do use reading glasses for the LCD and menu settings. My distant
vision is 20/25 at this time. I only use glasses for reading and
close-up tasks.

Prior to surgery I could not take a photos due to the complications
of the cataracts. Seeing clearly thru the view finder was impossible,
I could not make out the settings in the settings bar..with or
without glasses

Click to expand...

Exactly the same. I was nearsighted going in, regular sight coming out, but a need for +1.50 or +1.75 reading glasses. That was five years ago, and all still works well, though I'm having some problems with my left eye (flickering something like a gray shutter sliding across) that may be monitor related (CRT still).

The reading glasses are a bigger pain in the butt than having to wear bifocals, though. I'm considering going back to bifocals and wearing glasses all the time, instead of having to mess around with lifting a pair out of my pocket to read settings on a camera, table saw, or measuring tape.

If you can get--they weren't available five years ago--the bifocal lens replacements, I'd strongly suggest you do so.

--
Charlie Self
http://www.charlieselfonline.com

apple64 said:

Juli,

I'm sorry you are needing that surgery.

One, if not the primary cause of cataracts is UV light over the
years. Anyone outside for extended periods of time should be wearing
wrap-around sunglasses. Small lens sunglasses will allow UV in
through the sides and the pupil is open more, so...

Click to expand...

Yeah. I dislike sunglasses, so I seldom wore them until AFTER cataract surgery, which in my case came at a relatively young age (64).

--
Charlie Self
http://www.charlieselfonline.com

Thanks for the clarification.

Again, just review my original post, in terms of the commonly accepted indications for surgery, and make sure they apply to you. Cataract surgery is indicated, when the patient is aware that their vision is limiting or making too difficult, their desired daily activities. In general, they are pushing their Doctor to operate, rather than the Doctor pushing them. A Doctor pushing their patients toward cataract surgery can sometimes indicate an overly aggressive Doctor (and unfortunately, although they are few in number, they are out there).

As far as the farsighted/nearsighted issue, this is a very individual issue. We often do "monovision" (what this is called, where one eye is used for distance, one eye is for near) with Contact Lenses (where it is reversible!). In my experience, the majority of people do not tolerate this well, but there is a small percentage of people for whom this works quite well.

I wouldn't consider a monovision approach with cataract surgery unless the patient had a long, established, successful use of monovision with contact lenses, or if their eyes just happened to be that way to begin with.

In any case, I wish you the best of luck in your surgery!

--
Don Cohen
http://www.dlcphoto.com
Ultimate Costa Rica Photo Safari, May 30 - June 9, 2008
http://www.dlcphoto.com/CRPS1207/PhotoSafari5General.htm
Brazil's Pantanal Photo Expedition, Nov. 1-10, 2008
http://www.ietravel.com/itindisplay.asp?itinid=1067&ieid=628774

first hand experience. I had both eyes done one year ago,one month apart.
I was offered options,
1. correction with no need for reading glasses, $5000.00
2. correction, with one eye for close, one for distance. $2500.00

3. both eyes corrected for distance 20/20 must use reading glasses like I did at 40. in fact using the same glasses. No charge, medicare/medicade
I have no problem with a viewfinder(corrected the diopter)

yes I would highly recommend it but only if you have know of an established highly trained eye surgen. Actual time for the surgery 20 minutes per eye. And I was using the eye the next day.
FANTASTIC results for distance my eyes are 20/20 which is what I WANTED.
Good Luck with you're choice.

Forgot to mention the lenes I have are uv. But after surgery you will use UV sunglasses, you like that.

I had the cataract from my left eye and the surgery for the right eye is scheduled for Wednesday. No problems at all with the left eye and vision in that eye is now 20/20. Will continue to wear glasses after the right eye is done but mainly for reading and such. Photography as well I suppose.

Just wanted to let you know you are in for a big surprise. Particularly about how light everything is and how brighter colors are. The cataract has a yellowish cast to it so it is not only blocking light but dims the colors you are seeing. There is an amazing difference.

The cataracts had been in my eyes for at least three years but the doctor kept saying they were not bad enough to be operated on. Despite the fact that night driving had become a real adventure what with big halos around lights. Solved that problem by having my daughter drive me around. But then the doctor finally concluded the cataracts had reached a point where they should be removed.

If your results are like mine you will be absolutely amazed! When the patch was removed the day after surgery I absolutely could not believe how much brighter things were. And . . . no halos around lights at night.

Julie, I am sure you will do well. Although we have never met I always read your posts and have come to think of you as a friend. Again, the colors in your photos will just dazzle you after the surgery.

--
Shoot lots of pictures, always fill the frame

DonCohen said:

When you say that your doctor "convinced" you to have surgery, it
made me concerned about whether or not you feel it is necessary.
Generally speaking (there are always exceptions), cataract surgery is
purely elective, and something that the patient asks to have done,
because they are dissatisfied with their level of vision, and feel
that it is actively interfering with the requirements of their daily
activities.

Click to expand...

I too wondered about that post. My doctor told me 3 years ago I had cataracts but not to the point where surgery was indicated. At each annual exam he said the cataracts were still there. I did complain that night driving had become a problem because of the halos around all the lights. So I stopped driving at night! Then a month ago he said they were at a point where vision could be improved if removed but said it was my choice. I did elect to do so and what a change! Never did my doctor ever tried to convince me to have the surgery, just kept telling me to wait and finally said it could be done if I wanted it done.

Oh, and just to alert you, Julie has lots and lots of friends in these forums so everything better go well!!
--
Shoot lots of pictures, always fill the frame

I had both eyes done about 5 years ago about 9 months apart when I was fifty. I waited too long for the first one, I was seeing ghost images (2 or 3 faint out of focus images). I went from not being able to read the big letter E on an eye chart ( I was extremely nearsighted, +12 dipoter lens) to 20-15 and 20-25 (both set for distance (the mutlifocal were not an option when I had it done).

After the first one, the difference in color brightness was amazing between the the implant eye and other eye with a cataract.

I agree the biggest hassle is putting on the reading glasses after looking through the view finder to read the LCD's.

Stilll no problems with the implants.

good luck.
--
MichaelV

I posted it in the Canon 5D/1D/1Ds forum orginally because I hang out over there although not as much as i once did. Someone complained and had it flipped over here. Thanks for the well wishes.
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Juli
http://www.pbase.com/julivalley/galleries

Canon FiveDee, Canon 4oD, Canon Gee 9, Canon S7o, Fuji Eff3o, Canon Ess Three IS.

I knew Medicare covered distant vision. I think I will go that route. I'm becoming more and more aware of the cataracts and look forward to having them removed.
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Juli
http://www.pbase.com/julivalley/galleries

Canon FiveDee, Canon 4oD, Canon Gee 9, Canon S7o, Fuji Eff3o, Canon Ess Three IS.

I'd probably want to re-edit some of them, too.
--
Juli
http://www.pbase.com/julivalley/galleries

Canon FiveDee, Canon 4oD, Canon Gee 9, Canon S7o, Fuji Eff3o, Canon Ess Three IS.

Juli:

I have had cataract surgery in both eyes and implants in both eyes. I have had the laser burn to remove the scar tissue that formed in one eye.

I was very nearsighted and I elected to have distance correction in both eyes to preserve my depth perception. I now wear glasses all the time which have a little distance correction and variable reading glasses (no line) with transition sunglasses built in.

I am extremely pleased and have no problems with any situation. Without my glasses, I can see 20/25 in both eyes.

I would not recommend having one eye done and then the other at a much later time. This was my situation, and with only one eye with the implant, I had to wear a contact lens in the untreated eye to equalize the image size. Perhaps because I had such a strong correction the image size could not be equalized by glasses alone. In this situation, I found that I was using only one eye and of course my depth perception was gone....no good for playing tennis! The contact did fix the problem as did the eventual cataract surgery and implant on the second eye.

Because of this experience, I have been leary of the correct one eye for distance, one eye for close vision.

This is a bit disjoint, sorry.

-
Don
http://www.pbase.com/dond

I need a strong correction for distance so my situation will probably be similar. The doctor said both eyes had changed a lot in the 18 months and that I could move ahead or wait a little. I look forward to seeing better at night.
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Juli
http://www.pbase.com/julivalley/galleries

Canon FiveDee, Canon 4oD, Canon Gee 9, Canon S7o, Fuji Eff3o, Canon Ess Three IS.

Juli Valley said:

I need a strong correction for distance so my situation will probably
be similar. The doctor said both eyes had changed a lot in the 18
months and that I could move ahead or wait a little. I look forward
to seeing better at night.

Click to expand...

Yes, the "starring" and brightness of oncoming headlights will be significantly reduced.

As someone else mentioned, the yellow haze will be gone, to reveal the long absent vivid colors, esp. sky blue.

--
Don
http://www.pbase.com/dond

I started feeling more handicapped with my vision today noticing more the haze. I had also noticed in the past few months that I didn't enjoy reading books as much either.
--
Juli
http://www.pbase.com/julivalley/galleries

Canon FiveDee, Canon 4oD, Canon Gee 9, Canon S7o, Fuji Eff3o, Canon Ess Three IS.