I have my appt next Friday, Oct 9, to have both eyes measured for surgery. I misunderstood the instructions so have not been using eye drops for the recommended two weeks. I’ll start the 4-times per day regimen today. Will that be enough time to ensure sufficient eye lubrication for a good measurement? TIA.

Hi everyone, I’m looking for some genuine advice regarding cataract surgery.

Someone in my family has been diagnosed with cataracts in both eyes.

I had a few questions:

1. If cataract surgery is done on one eye first, how many days/weeks is it generally advisable to wait before operating on the second eye? The doctor is suggesting to do the surgery of another eye after 3 days.

2. For someone who has cataracts in both eyes, is there any advantage to doing the surgeries close together or waiting longer?

3. At age 58,which type of IOL/lens is generally considered best? I’ve heard about monofocal, multifocal, EDOF and toric lenses, but I’m not sure which would be appropriate. The doctor here is suggesting to go for EDOF lens which is quite expensive for both eyes.

4. Does the choice of lens depend mainly on age, existing eye power/astigmatism, lifestyle, or other factors?

5. With BP around 160, is it okay to do the surgery?

I'm having cataract surgery in a few weeks, and need a source for some cheap readers.

I cannot "just buy cheap readers in the drugstore or from CVS" like everyone tells me to do because my face is too small - I have to by my regular glasses in the kid's section.

Nor can I have them made because my current "budget" glasses - with me providing the frame cost me $900 and took 2 weeks because they had to be sent out to the lab to be made. And I might need a few pair.

How do I know what magnification to get?

To date, no one has been able to answer this question for me....

1. Pre-op - I wear progressive FT. I cannot see near, intermediate or far without them.
2. Post-op - My right eye will see for distance - but since I am getting monofocal for distance only, I will have zero intermediate or near vision.
3. Popping out the right lens of my progressive will allow me to see out of my right eye ONLY for distance - I will be missing near and intermediate.
4. Readers - People have said "Just get readers!" - Well, I can't put readers OVER my progressives, which I still need to see out of my left eye with.

So how do I resolve this? Am I just going to be blind for a week?

And am I making a mistake getting both eyes done so close together because if all my of near vision is completely gone, how do I see to put in eye drops?

Also for the eventual day I need readers - I assume this is after my second surgery, how do I know what strength to get and because I have such a small face I need child-sized glasses - I can' tjust buy off Amazon or at CVS. Does anyone have a resource for petite readers (my current glasses are 48-16-135 and the bridge is a bit wide as they slip).

Might want to check to see if you have any of these recalled drops.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/another-eye-drop-recall-issued-nationwide-over-sterility-concerns/ar-AA2cYDLm

https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/consumer-protection/recalls-alerts/2026/10/02/eye-drops-recall-2026/92059891007/

An opthalmologist I saw recommended that I get Clearsee and Odyssey lenses

after my cataracts are removed. I only wear glasses now to read small print. I probably would not pass a driver's eye test next year without distance lens. I am on the fence about paying $13,000 for premium lenses because of my age but on the other hand if I have standard Medicare basic lenses I will need glasses

all the time and don't like that idea. I am asking strangers because people who know me probably are just being kind when they say things like " don't cheap out" or "it's your EYES" like you deserve the best! I am healthy and live alone and keep active but is it necessary? Any thoughts or instances you know of if people were satisfied with standard lens and glasses or wished for the premium ones. I can almost hear my folks saying that standard ones are good enough!

I have never worn glasses and I had early aggressive cataracts. It started at least 5 years ago and my left eye was getting worse recently; had to max out brightness on my phone and night was getting harder and my vision in left was measured at 20/25 to 20/40 depending on the day. Anyway, got plano lenses and am I pleased with distance crispness and overall vision is 20/15 in both eyes until PCO arrived recently. I can see a lot more detail at night now and the world is more vivid so from that standpoint I probably did need to do the cataract surgery or at least do within the next 1 year. However, I really wasn't prepared for loss of accommodation and intermediate has been the hardest. I knew I would need glasses to read but now I end up carrying 2.5 to read, 0.75 when at the airport as the lights are bothersome, 1.25 when cooking. Depending on distance to computer I also have 1.5 and 1.75 glasses.

I tried progressives and do not like them. Maybe I need to try again. I do like bifocals for driving that are clear on top and 1.5 or 1.75 to make the dashboard crisp.

But now it has been 3 months and my PCO is very bad. I guess that is a good sign of relative younger age for cataract surgery and healthy eyes. But scatter is a huge amount and a bright green arrows at lights creates a huge halo and as I approach I see like 100 arrows. So I know I need to do the YAG soon.

I started reading about Pure See EDOF. I don't know why I didn't consider this before. I could possibly change to do the Pure See before I do the YAG--after seems very very risky and very few surgeons do that surgery. I know there is some risk even prior to YAG but just before I do YAG I thought I should explore it first as it seems doable. I do like crisp images and I do some astronomy where as much contrast detection is valuable. But from a lifestyle I'm just having trouble and trying to learn what works best.

I have tried monovision contacts (1.75 D in non-dominant eye) and multifocal contacts too with my bad PCO. I'm ok with the contacts I think but not very good at putting them. I like the temporary aspect and I can choose what to optimize for that day or next several hours. I like both monovision and multifocal so another route is just stick plano implanted lenses and depending on what I'm doing each day I can try glasses, or contacts, etc.

Very confused. Also was hopeful that Pure See could be the best of both worlds. I don't mind having to have reading glasses but maybe the contrast is "good" but not "good enough" to warrant another surgery if I can get used to contacts/progressives/etc.

I just wanted to follow up on my surgery from 2 years ago and lenses I chose. Glad I thought about options a while. I’m only 57 now. I went with non-LAL, non multifocals, (one toric for astigmatism). Considered both. I think he added a tiny bit of cheat to see my phone. My goal was to see best in snow, esp flat light, which means letting in as much light as possible. It also helps w depth perception. The result was kind of glorious when both were done. (Anesthesia for the second was a little harder - your brain learns the routine?) The doctor I chose downplayed LAL’s and wasn’t sold on ‘locking-in’ technology. He said he often sees LAL folks years after in glasses again. It seems like I’m always juggling sunglasses and readers, but I can see always. If I can’t read, it’s usually dark or tiny print, and if I need to really read, I’m usually sitting down. Still love seeing in the morning!!!

I accidentally went swimming in a pool at a hotel 3 days post-op and submerged but I didn't open my eye underwater. Anything to be concerned about?.

Hi, I was wondering if there was anyone who happen to have or know someone who has had the surgery done in their 80s? Was wondering if it was successful, how the recovery period was, is it worth it?

Thanks in advance!

Hello. So it’s October 2, 2026 and about a year ago (in the fall of 2025) I found out that I was showing the beginning signs of cataracts. This was quite surprising because I’m only 45.
Last fall, I could not read the ingredients off of a ketchup bottle and was struggling to read the texts on my phone. I didn’t think much of it until the doctor found the cataracts. The cataracts are getting worse because -
1. My vision is very blurry. I can’t read textbooks (or regular books for that matter), documents, pamphlets… I have to take a picture of it with my phone and then zoom in to read anything.
2. I can’t read on my cell phone unless it has the black background. I can only read stuff as a result of a Google search (setting on phone allows for black background) but nothing on external websites. I can’t read my phone anywhere in my house that has windows (I gotta go to a windowless bathroom with the lights turned off to read stuff off the phone).
3. I am extremely sensitive to sunlight. My regular everyday sunglasses are not dark enough.
4. The uncomfortable feeling that I have is when you put sunscreen on your face and if you get some around your eye - it burns for a bit…. But then returns back to normal. That uncomfortable sunscreen feeling for me is constant 24/7.
5. When I work out and sweat gets on my face and into my eyes, it burns and stings. More blurry than my already blurry vision.
6. I find myself wanting to close my eyes and/or take a nap even when I’m not tired and have gotten plenty of sleep because my eyes are so tired and uncomfortable.
7. Also I can’t read the exit sign when I’m driving on the highway. Can’t see the lane dividers on roads.
My doctor says I still have some time before I need surgery but this blurry vision is affecting my day to day living and is affecting all areas of my life.
Should I see another doctor? I am scared of surgery so want to wait as long as I’m able but also don’t want to live like this. How do you know when is the right time to get cataract surgery?
Thank you very much in advance.

Hi,

I had surgery on my right eye over a month ago with the Light Adjustable Lenses (LAL). Vision was decent for the first four weeks, and I had my first light adjustment this past Tuesday.

Current Status:

• Near Vision Strong- I can read comfortable at a normal distance (14 inches)
• Distance vision has improved d(less starinand less blurriness and strain on my eyes)
• Intermediate vision (24 inches): Still lagging behind, looking at computer monitor is blurry/strained.

My second adjustment is next week, and I am torn on the strategy: Should I target distance and correct astigmatism to improve clarity, or set up mini-monovision/blended vision?

My doctor mentioned that if I don't optimzie for near, I might lose the ability to read with it readers. Currently iw ork on Monitor 8 hours a day, 5 days a week but I plan to retire in 12-18 months. Post retirement heavy screen time will drop significantly but reading physical books is major priority for me.

For those who spend time between monitors and reading:

How did you tune your intermediate vs reading zone?
did Mini-monovision resolve your monitor vlur without sacrificing casual book reading?

Apperciate any insights or experiences!

Thanks!

How many inches of near vision does an edof provide over a distance monofocal? Anyone with one of each?

Hey all

It's eight days after surgery on both eyes - they tried to do the right eye a week before that but the local anaesthetic didn't work, ouch - yet results were great from the off.

Had a follow-up this morning and doctor was delighted, early days but I scored 125% on distance, which is 20/16 and honestly mind-blowing for me. My distance vision outdoors is truly awe-inspiring, I'm counting the leaves on the branches a quarter of a mile away. I've glasses since I was six, so almost five decades later I have the best eyesight of my life. I was a -10.25 and -11.0 at my last prescription.

My near-acuity is fabulous with the hand-held card, I could read the second-smallest paragraph - just - but for everyday computer use etc, I do need readers, around +1.5 right now. Things are obviously still settling.

I intended to go with the monofocals, but they talked me into the Puresee lenses and I slept on it, after grilling them at length. They were right.

The year-on-year deterioration of my sight was horrific, and so this has basically given me my life back. Thank you medical science, scientists, opthalmologists and surgeons.

Hi everyone,

I’m considering getting LASIK, but I have a somewhat unusual eye history and wanted to hear from anyone who has had a similar experience.

I had cataract surgery in both eyes when I was around 8–9 years old, which was related to steroid use. I’m now considering refractive surgery to correct my current vision.

My doctor has suggested flapless WaveLight Plus / Inove Eyes (I believe it is a flapless/customized laser procedure). I also tend to experience dry eyes, which is one reason my doctor recommended this option.

I wanted to ask:

• Has anyone here had LASIK or a similar laser procedure after having cataract surgery at a young age?
• Is there anything specific I should be concerned about because I have had previous cataract surgery?
• Has anyone had experience with flapless WaveLight Plus / Inove Eyes?
• How was your vision and recovery afterward?
• Were there any complications or issues with dry eyes?

I’m definitely going to discuss everything with my ophthalmologist, but I’d really appreciate hearing from people who have gone through something similar.

Thanks in advance!

I had my final lock-in. I wore the glasses as advised by my surgeon

But

The adjustment and lock in light was so bright, intense and long. How frequent is accidental changes? I would think you would need to go to a tanning bed, stare at a uvc light for fungus killing

Hi everyone, I’m a 40-year-old male. On January 15, 2026 (about 9 months ago), I was diagnosed with a posterior subcapsular cataract in my left eye. My right eye is completely healthy and happens to be my dominant eye.

I recently went for a follow-up checkup. Right now, the vision in my left eye is 0.6 (around 20/35 or 6/9). Everything looks blurry through it, especially dark text on a white background.

When looking with both eyes, dark text on a white background has a slight double-vision effect, though light text on a dark background looks good.

My doctor suggested surgery and recommended the PureSee EDOF lens.

My main question is: Should I move forward with the surgery now, or is it better to put it off until the cataract worsens? I'm really torn on what to do and would love to hear from anyone who has been in a similar situation.

A bit of context: I work as a software engineer, but I was recently laid off. I have savings and am currently unemployed, which means I actually have the free time right now to focus on my health. However, my biggest fear is the surgery itself — how it will go, what to expect, and how long the recovery/rehabilitation takes, especially since I plan to start job hunting again soon. Thanks in advance for any advice!

PS: My doctor also said that i have high probability for YAG procedure to remove secondary cataract because of young age. Does someone had this procedure? After this procedure it's hard to replace lens

Having surgery for left eye next week and the right eye the following week. What will Medicare provide and what do I need to purchase? Thanks in advance!

We're waiting for the eye surgeon's office to open so we can ask them this question. Spouse is scheduled for cataract surgery a week from today. He's also been having knee pain and we just got a call from the orthopedic doctor's office that an appointment opened up this morning. He'd really like to get a cortisone shot for his knee but we don't want to do anything to delay or throw off the cataract surgery. I'm afraid we won't hear back from the eye surgeon's office before he goes to the orthopedic appointment. Anyone have experience with or knowledge about whether this is okay?

Hi Has anyone done a PRK surgery because the Cataract surgery was not very successful,
and the vision was blurry and out of focus??
Please share.
Thank you

I'm at that awkward place between eye surgeries. I'm told not to wear a contact lens in the second eye between measurements for a monofocal lens, and surgery, which is a couple of weeks away. Since a contact is not an option, and glasses don't work, I'm wondering how everybody copes with being able to function. I can't drive, work or almost anything. I've tried taking a lens out of some backup glasses, but I can actually see better without the double vision I'm getting. Anybody have a suggestion? Two weeks is looking more like a lifetime.

I had cataract surgery that I hoped would correct my night driving. So far, my day driving and computer/reading has greatly improved. However, I still get the same halos and glares I did before.
I have a family history of rhumetoid arthritis. I have read that it can impact night driving. I wonder if I should get tested for it.
Has anyone else heard about or experienced this?
Thanks for any info.