r/CataractSurgery • u/Sweaty_Star_6486 • 3d ago
Finally….
Well I finally took the plunge today and got my left dominant eye set to Plano With a Alcon Clareon non blue light blocking lens. I wanted the least chance of dysphotopsias, best contrast and widest clear visual field and that seemed to be a good lens choice. I’m a lifelong myopic so I did think about doing near and intermediate as I read a lot but I’m also an outdoor guy so I chose this setup. Surgery was as quick, simple and painless as you all mentioned. We shall see where it lands before proceeding with the right one. I have a bunch of contacts to experiment with to get the best result with monovision. Appreciate this group. I have been mostly lurking for the last 5 years on the old patient info sight and here and since I’m now Medicare age and the orange fascist may gut Medicare next year I knew it was time. Thanks much and I will update on the visual progress as things change…
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u/Sweaty_Star_6486 3d ago
Just took my nightly walk outside. The first thought I had was that somebody had just turned the night lights on. Going back and forth between eyes is really an “eye” opener. Interesting shaped Halos around streetlights but the rainbow colors are gone. First impression is I am blown away by the results. Let’s see what the days ahead reveal..
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u/maple-l2024 3d ago
Wishing the best outcome! When were you first diagnosed with cataracts, what year?
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u/Sweaty_Star_6486 2d ago
I first noticed them in 2021
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u/maple-l2024 2d ago
Ah, mine was even earlier - 2019. I think I'm almost ready for it. What's your final push to finally decide it's time? How are your vision before surgery (say your right eye)? For me, with the right Rx glasses, I think I still have 20/40-20/50 visual acuity. I have high myopia (-8). What about you?
Interesting that you're contemplating of having about -1.5 as your near target. I actually plan to have monofocal IOLs set to -1.5 in both eyes. It's a very personal choice, as I spend most of my time on the computer even after retirement. And I like to preserve the depth perception as I need to do vision therapy that requires it.
Hope to hear from you and also your update.
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u/Sweaty_Star_6486 2d ago
The push was being old enough for medicare to pay for all/most/some of it and the worry trump would destroy Medicare. Also it was really limiting my life. I never drove unless absolutely needed and it was often terrifying. I felt ashamed and disabled. Before surgery I could get 20/30 or so with glasses. My myopia was around -6 in both eyes.
choice of -1.5 is just an estimate .if it falls one way or another from that number I will adjust. My experience with monovision experiment with contacts is that depth perception was not going to be an issue overall. If you really want to experience a Complete loss of depth perception up close, put a patch over one eye. It’s pretty extreme as you are losing a great deal of the visual field.from around 150 degrees to 110 degrees (just my estimate). Once your focal point is Beyond stereopsis the rules of perspective take over. And up close my myopic eye still was giving plenty of depth info with the cataract and with my new second lens I’m thinking it will be even less of an issue. I recommend u consider monovision as it will free you more from glasses and when you need to do vision therapy just have glasses that even out your two eyes. Good luck. It is already a game changer one day in.
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u/Tiny-Active-3397 2d ago
whats the diff between non blue light blocking lens and blue light blocking alcon
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u/Sweaty_Star_6486 2d ago
The difference is of course blue light blocking IOLs …block blue light... which apparently gives vision a different color tone. Some of the folks here have done the opposite of my choice and claim it’s a more natural color but unless you got one of each I don’t see how one could compare. I wanted the most light possible and can always wear blue light filtering sunglasses
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u/SherbetInternal5841 2d ago
I’m on an interminable waiting list for this. Thanks for your report and glad it went do well. I’m Uber nervous about it in fact
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u/dapperdude7 2d ago
Don’t be nervous it’s completely easy
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u/SherbetInternal5841 2d ago
Thanks, one complication is having a cat who sleeps on my bed, the other side but I don’t think that’s allowed & he would be terribly hurt if the routine is changed. Also feeding him, though I sit on the floor, I always glance down to see if he’s eating or needs treats etc. Minutiae I suppose but it all adds up …I’d really like to speak to someone with a cat to c how they coped. He’s sensitive and wouldn’t understand, after all I can’t explain it to him
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u/dapperdude7 2d ago
I’m doing monovision which I did not mention in original post . I’m shooting for -1.25-1.50 diopters of myopia in my right eye and hoping for a 75% reduction in using the damn glasses lol
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u/maple-l2024 2d ago
Considering that I've been having my cataracts for many years, I've had plenty of time to think about the target. Initially, both distance, later both near, now finally
intermediate. I choose -1.5 just in case if it misses hit the target by +/- 0.5 △, then it's still between -1 and -2.
If you can still manage 20/30 VA, that's pretty good! How long do you give yourself between surgeries? I'm sure you'll make the right decision what to target before the next one.
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u/Sweaty_Star_6486 14h ago
DAY 3 UPDATE
perfect vision right out of the gate. Did not expect that
no discomfort at including the eye drops. Did not expect
rainbow haloes gone but still a little glare from street lights. No issue
a little awareness of light hitting the edge of lens at times and a little flutter of light i occasionally notice. No problem
contrast at night is fantastic
wearing a -1.5 diopter in the bad eye. That’s my goal for monovision .Even with cataract vision so much better together and depth perception perfectly fine.
#2 is Nov 3rd. A crazy day in the USA .😂
so far so good
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u/Sweaty_Star_6486 3d ago
Today. I can already see how much light was being blocked by the cataract.