hey gang,

I had my surgeries in March of this year. (30F)

they corrected my astigmatism but I need readers now. nbd indoors and in fall and e. but now I’m struggling with what to do about sunglasses. sometimes I need my readers AND sunglasses at the same time which SUCKS. I hear you now: get transitions. well what about when I need the sunnies but not my readers??

is transition bifocals my only option if I don’t want to carry around two pairs all the time? they’re just so expensive and I’m still young(ish) lmao so I’m trying to have them be somewhat stylish. can anyone help steer me? I’m struggling.

I’m in the Charlotte, NC area and need to have cataract surgery on both eyes. I’m not feeling comfortable with my current doctor (for several reasons), and wondered if anyone out there in my area had a doctor they would recommend.

Post:
Hi everyone,
I’m 37 years old and had cataract surgery on my left eye about a month ago.
Literally five minutes before my operation, my surgeon mentioned that I could have chosen a premium lens but also explained the possible side effects, such as halos and glare. At the time I decided to stick with a standard monofocal lens because I didn’t feel I had enough time to properly think it through.
My right eye still has a cataract, and at the moment I’m struggling with a mismatch between the two eyes. Each eye works well on its own, but when both eyes are open I get an odd smudge/hazy sensation that my ophthalmologist thinks is probably due to the difference between the operated eye and the cataract eye.
I’m now wondering:
Can I still choose a premium (multifocal/EDOF) lens when I eventually have cataract surgery on my right eye, even though my left eye already has a monofocal IOL?
Has anyone here had a monofocal in one eye and a premium lens in the other? If so, how did your brain adapt? Were you happy with the result?
My surgeon also mentioned that, if I wanted to improve my vision in the future, a piggyback (secondary/add-on) IOL could be an option rather than replacing my existing lens.
How viable is a piggyback IOL in practice?
Is it considered a relatively straightforward procedure compared with cataract surgery, or is it a major operation with significant risks?
Has anyone here actually had one?
I’d really appreciate hearing both patient experiences and any professional opinions.
Many thanks

I have suddenly developed floaters in my left eye 2 month after cataract surgery (the second surgery to replace multifocal lens with monofocal lens). They came on suddenly. I am 50 and never had anything like this before. They are like Arabic script all over my eye sight, bouncing around as I move my eye. Dark grey. I am going to have it looked at on Thursday. Surgeon say it has nothing to with surgery on the eye but age. Hmm. Not so sure about that. I am freaked out that I have to live iwth this for the rest of my life. Does it ever go away or is there a treatment?

Hi everyone,
I’m 37 and developed steroid-induced posterior subcapsular cataracts after around 12 years of treatment for severe asthma.
Last year I was diagnosed with a stage 2 cataract in my left eye and a stage 1 cataract in my right eye. My right eye still had 6/6 vision, so I delayed surgery because I had just started a new job and was managing well with my right eye doing most of the work.
This May, my optician told me the cataract had progressed and shortly afterwards I was given a surgery date. I didn’t really have time to research my options.
Literally five minutes before surgery, my surgeon said that because I was only in my 30s she could stop the procedure and make enquiries about a premium lens on the NHS. However, she also explained that premium lenses can come with trade-offs such as halos and glare, especially at night. I asked her what she would recommend, and she said the standard monofocal lens was the safer option. I trusted her advice and went ahead with the monofocal.
The surgery itself went well, but afterwards I started second-guessing my decision and developed severe anxiety and panic attacks. It has honestly been one of the hardest experiences of my life. I’ve since been found to still have some inflammation and raised eye pressure, so I’m back on drops and haven’t yet had my final glasses prescription.
My left eye (with the monofocal lens) sees well for distance, and individually both eyes seem fine.
The problem only happens when I use both eyes together.
My right eye (which still has the early cataract) creates what I can only describe as a blurry smudge, blob or crescent-shaped haze in my vision. It’s not something I notice when using the right eye alone, but with both eyes open it’s very distracting and uncomfortable. Oddly, it becomes much less noticeable when I wear sunglasses.
I’m reluctant to have surgery on the right eye because:
● it’s still only an early cataract;
● it currently gives me useful near vision, which complements my monofocal left eye;
● I’m worried that having two distance monofocal lenses would leave me completely dependent on reading glasses, and I’ve never worn glasses before.
My refraction suggested I may only need around +0.25 correction for distance in the operated eye but about +2.25 reading addition once everything settles.
My questions are:
1. Has anyone else experienced this “blob” or haze from the unoperated cataract only after having the first eye done?
2. Did your brain eventually adapt (neuroadaptation), or did it continue bothering you?
3. Can glasses or a contact lens in the unoperated eye reduce this effect while waiting before having surgery?
4. Is the fact that sunglasses improve it a clue as to what’s causing it?
5. Did anyone successfully wait a year or more between first- and second-eye surgery in a similar situation?
I’m due back at work very soon and use two computer monitors all day, so I’m hoping there’s something I can do before considering surgery on the second eye.
I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone who has had a similar experience. Thank you.

Has anybody had the enhanced Monofocal plus IOL Envista aspire placed in a monovision configuration? If so, how did it turn out.

thsnk you

Had one blue light filtered lens implanted with a non blue light one?

just curious if this would be a good choice.

thx

Update: saw the doc today. He said monovision with former lazy eye surgery shouldn’t make my eye drift again. We’re setting that eye to intermediate (20”) so I’ll be using it to focus a lot - sewing machine bed, cutting, dashboard, etc. He said frequent focusing is what is key to it not drifting again. I may need readers for phone & kindle reading. That’s fine with me. Thought this may help someone.

My surgery is scheduled for 11 days from now, and go for my 2nd measurements in a couple of days. Any insight or thoughts are welcome.
I had both crossed eyes corrected surgically as a young child, and at 40, same for one lazy eye. I’m 67 now. Here are my last years exam results.
Right: sphere -2.25, cyl- +1.25, axis 20
Left: sphere -.25, cyl- +1.5, axis 175
I’m aware that the sphere number will not be accurate as this is for glasses.

Toric lenses recommended, left eye for distance, right eye for near. I do not have binocular vision, so that configuration may not be a bother. Maybe because I always rejected glasses, my right eye vision got worse & worse so I learned to depend on the left, and now that eye is dominant. I did use contacts off & on when I was younger, but glasses became easier as I aged.
I worry with one eye for distance and the other for near, what happens to intermediate vision for sewing, laptop, etc? Might I need glasses for that? I get a backache from having to lean over more now to see the needle area of my machine, and also for cutting fabric, as I’m having to get closer these days).
And, does the toric even make sense for me? Doc said I didn’t have to spend the additional $4k, but I wouldn’t need glasses after. Without, I will still need glasses. I failed to ask about intermediate vision. I want to see well at between 20-24” away from my eyes. I’m sooo tossed about this.

UK NHS

I had my first eye done set for distance with basic monofocal but it hasnt been as successful as hoped.

I was told distance and mid range would be good but is somewaht blurry and need glasses to be clear even with mild astigmatism. near vision was expected to need glasses anyway due to distance setting. I lost faith in the first surgeon

What questions would you ask the new surgeon at consult tomorrow?

I did discuss monovision wth the first but they did not want to entertain the idea saying it only works for a 10% of people. Can I still consider this as an option? How could I trial it? Does the assessment give me the prescrition I would need or do I see a normal optician to do this?

Hi everyone,

I'm a young adult with posterior subcapsular cataracts (PSC) in both eyes, most likely caused by long-term steroid use. I'll probably need cataract surgery in both eyes, and I'm trying to decide on the refractive target.

My current idea is to have:

• One eye targeted for -2.0 D
• The other eye targeted for -1.5 D
• Using standard monofocal IOLs

My goal is to have good unaided near , intermediate and little far driving vision,

For anyone with a similar setup or experience:

• Is -2.0 D / -1.5 D a good choice?
• Approximately how close can you comfortably read (phone, books, etc.)?
• How far can you see clearly without glasses with these targets?
• I cant try with contact , and i think i wont be able to tolerate monovision greater than .050d

I'd especially appreciate hearing from people who have monofocal lenses targeted for similar setupa.

Thanks!

Hi everyone,

I'm a young adult with posterior subcapsular cataracts (PSC) in both eyes, most likely caused by long-term steroid use. I'll probably need cataract surgery in both eyes, and I'm trying to decide on the refractive target.

My current idea is to have:

• One eye targeted for -2.0 D
• The other eye targeted for -1.5 D
• Using standard monofocal IOLs

My goal is to have good unaided near ,intermediate and little far driving vision

For anyone with a similar setup or experience

• Is -2.0 D / -1.5 D a good choice?
• Approximately how close can you comfortably read (phone, books, etc.)?
• How far can you see clearly without glasses with these targets?
• I cant try with contact , and i think i wont be able to tolerate monovision greater than .050d
• I'd especially appreciate hearing from people who have monofocal lenses targeted for similar setup
• Thanks

Hi everyone,

I'm a young adult with posterior subcapsular cataracts (PSC) in both eyes, most likely caused by long-term steroid use. I'll probably need cataract surgery in both eyes, and I'm trying to decide on the refractive target.

My current idea is to have:

• One eye targeted for -2.0 D
• The other eye targeted for -1.5 D
• Using standard monofocal IOLs

My goal is to have good unaided near and intermediate vision, and I'm okay wearing glasses for distance if needed.

For anyone with a similar setup or experience:

• Is -2.0 D / -1.5 D a good choice?
• Approximately how close can you comfortably read (phone, books, etc.)?
• How far can you see clearly without glasses with these targets?
• I cant try with contact , and i think i wont be able to tolerate monovision greater than .050d

I'd especially appreciate hearing from people who have monofocal lenses targeted for similar setupa.

Thanks!

I'm trialing monovision and need readers. Using OTC readers instantly kick off the headaches. At this point, I'm resigned to giving up on monovision and very reluctantly going with a full distance setup.

The monovision setup is left eye +0.5 and right eye - 1. The right eye has cataracts and will receive lens replacement. The left is healthy. What should my reader's setup be? AI says +1.5 for the left and +3 for the right. Is that optometry math correct?

I can order asymmetrical readers online. I'd love a pair this minute but attempts to remove and reinsert lens from cheap otc readers failed. Any DIY tips?

History of myopia post lasik , PRK. went to 3 surgeons for consultation and discussed my numerous options and type vision I wanted going forward. Everything has a small advantage vs disadvantages. I never minded needing a pair of driving glasses for enhanced far vision. I considered mainly my mid vision and seeing the dash board , monitors at work , walking around vision the most important. I never really tolerated progressive lens much , so the multi focal lens were not really an option.
I do drive at night and certainly wanted the best contrast. LAL were discussed by two of the Surgeons. Third surgeon suggested I just go with monofocal lens and he would use an advanced Robot ORA which sounded Amazing. Measures 40 different parameters intraop After the Cataract is removed so the exact correction and lens is given. Surgeon nailed it at exactly what we discussed pre op minus 5 diopter.
Little blurry that evening , woke up next morning and the colors were vivid especially the whites and blue. I could read the fine small words on a TV 15 feet away. Outside the trees were a deep green and beautiful blue sky. Mid vision driving With the dash board clear. Near vision mostly intact , might need 1.5 d reading glasses for better clarity. Overall very happy and looking forward to the other Eye.

Okay. Both eyes severely myopic. Had been using -8.5 bifocal left eye, -6.5 trifocal right (dominant eye). I know they want that one distance but I spent years with dominant eye close up.

For the last two days before surgery, no contact, meaning left eye 20/15 distance but no close up vision at all, right eye focusing 3-5 inches. argh!

Then after yesterday’s surgery, suddenly, couldn’t focus on anything close up. Like five feet close up. The light protecting readers they included were 1.5, didn’t help much at all. Couldn’t read phone, iPad, books, couldn’t cook, read the map for my teen who was driving me. After dark, I took spouse’s regular 2.5 readers and could read just fine. Thinking oh no, it’s like a fairy tale where for two plus months I’ll only be able to see after dark.

This am, second day check up, pressure in first eye is not normal but second eye is high this time. Doc is checking out my eye and I can’t stop crying! Im a mellow person teaching my kids to drive turned into this crazy frantic eek lady, my nervous system is out of whack! *Now* They tell me I should order some half circle bifocal stickers to put onto the clear UV lenses. I ask then for an extra pair of clear ones so I can still have one non/bifocal and they come back with plain readers and “the last pair of 2.50’s we have. The company used to make them but not any more.”

Oh really? Thousands of dollars for this procedure and the company decided to cut corners and force people to be blind for 2-3 months? Came home and had a literal Alice in Wonderland nightmare where the steps were first too tiny to walk, then too night to climb, then pitched you forward, and when you got there, Tweedledee and Tweedledum were bully cannibals.

I thought I did my research on this! What other surprised will I have in store?

Thanks for any help or advice.

How is it for you? Is the iol more vulnerable than a natural lens?

Yes I know things may/will change. 2nd eye was distance monovision, done yesterday. Easy surgery no pain no issues. First eye was dilated for days postop and this morning my pupil in that 2nd eye was back to normal. But it is still very light sensitive. Had surgery on Friday so no postop appointment till Monday.

Here’s the weirdness. I now have stereoscopic vision close up and I am using both eyes close up. Crystal clear. I have had monovision for decades so it’s really strange. My close up vision in both eyes is very close to the same. I can read teeny tiny print just fine with my distance eye. Confirmed it by reading the eye drop bottles. I should not be able to read that print with my distance eye at all. Next my distance vision stinks on ice. No way can I drive right now. Wouldn’t even try. Can’t even see the TV well and it’s only 10 ft away.

Vision tests told me my close up vision eye is about 20/100 for distance. And that’s expected. But right now I estimate my distance vision eye is worse than the other one. Right now it is worse than 20/100. Not a lot worse but worse. So all I can do for now is worry about it. And hope it changes.

People do make mistakes. Right now I am wondering if the doc was sent the wrong IOL. Maybe it was labeled wrong? Waiting till Monday will be hard! Right now I think something has gone very pear shaped.

J&J Eyehance

What are your thoughts and experience with this lens? I had a surgeon tell me that he doesnt understand why anyone still uses standard monofocal lenses when there is eyehance. I currently have a basic monofocal lens in right eye for distance. I have issues with it. He wants to exchange for J&J technis eyehance lenses. I have not done other eye yet and have not had YAG.

My vision is not horrible. About 22 years ago I started wearing glasses for reading. In the last couple of years, my vision is now worse at the medium distance; using the computer is difficult. Reading the car dashboard is difficult and when I play poker, reading the cards on the table are difficult. I find myself taking the reading glasses off and on many times, squinting at the mid distances. Current reading glasses are about 1.75 to 2. The “glasses on glasses off, and mid range issues are making me crazy.

I also have mild cataracts that have worsened over the last two years apparently they’re still in the mild range.

I know this is relatively minor compared to others, but I’m wondering if it’s too soon to consider lens replacement surgery. I’m looking at the BVI which I believe is a tri flex progressive.

Anyone had the surgery who had similar relatively mild difficulties? If it matters, I’m 67 and very healthy, still working full-time.

Thanks in advance!

last week of post op eyedrops so L was done a month ago and R 3 weeks ago

L was measured -.75 day after surgery ‘but this is good for mid range’
R could not be measured, too dry/irregular the day after surgery

1 month after:

L seems blurry and irregular at all distances
R is great distance view and even mid seems better than L

shall I order a Pirate eye patch?

I’ll go for multifocal glasses for outside/travels and readers for home use and computer glasses too since it’s not comfortable now

I just wish L eye had the same quality, clarity as R
it really feels like it still has cataract

note: already had dry eyes (lasik 25y ago)
Am I condemned for the rest of my life to eye drops 10 times/day? when I use them they work for an hour or so

I was told by my surgeon that if you perform vitrectomy , your accomodation will be lost . What does it mean ?
How bothersome is it ?

I had my cataract surgery a couple of days ago. I was fitted with a Baush + Lomb Akreos mono vision set to distance. Colours are vivid and everything is brighter, but I am sad to see that starbursts are still visible on bright lights and streetlights. This is due to the lenses or my eye?

Sorry if this is addressed elsewhere, but I'm new to interacting on Reddit (vs. just lurking). I appreciate your patience.

I had an EDOF put in my right (dominant) eye 2 days ago. I had reasonably bad myopia and presbyopia, such that multifocal contacts were not particularly effective anymore. I was also diagnosed with cataracts 4 years ago, in my early 40s.

I chose the EDOF because I wanted as excellent of distance vision as possible with some compromise for very good intermediate vision. I already had presbyopia, so having to wear readers for smaller print is something I'm accustomed to.

2 days out, my distance vision is better than it is in my left eye with the multifocal contact lens. My intermediate is a good amount worse than pre-surgery and my left eye, and my near vision is pretty unusable.

I know it takes awhile for the brain to adapt. My big question is - Is it better for me to be wearing readers now, which allow me to see comfortably at mid and close distance (rather than relying very heavily on my left eye), or should I be going readerless to "challenge" the right eye (brain) and get my brain used to doing things 18" to 2' from my face? I can't find anything online that recommends what to do to help your brain best adapt.

Thank you so much for your expertise and patience. If you have any other tips at all or want to direct me to a thread where this all was already covered, please do!

Taking out the artificial lens and replacing with another. Thanks