OT: Cataract replacement lenses-Driving and Riding

[titans]

Did a search and read two threads on Cataract surgery and lenses but didn’t read anything on real life experiences driving and biking with the mono or multi focal lenses. If you have the mono lens in one eye for far sight, at what point does the highway sign become less focused when driving a car? Can you see the dashboard? For biking, usual focusing point is much closer like maybe 2 city blocks and 1-3 secs ahead for pothole identification especially when riding in the dark. Can you see the potholes and cracks in the pavement? Can you see your bike computer? Please chime in with your driving and biking experiences with mono and multi focal lenses. I have the low down on the different types of lenses, costs etc. Just need some real life examples and experiences driving and biking. Thanks in advance!

[Ken Robb]

Originally Posted by titans

Did a search and read two threads on Cataract surgery and lenses but didn’t read anything on real life experiences driving and biking with the mono or multi focal lenses. If you have the mono lens in one eye for far sight, at what point does the highway sign become less focused when driving a car? Can you see the dashboard? For biking, usual focusing point is much closer like maybe 2 city blocks and 1-3 secs ahead for pothole identification especially when riding in the dark. Can you see the potholes and cracks in the pavement? Can you see your bike computer? Please chime in with your driving and biking experiences with mono and multi focal lenses. I have the low down on the different types of lenses, costs etc. Just need some real life examples and experiences driving and biking. Thanks in advance!

I had severe myopia for years and wore glasses since I was 10 years old. I went from bifocals to progressive lensesin my 50s. Post cataract surgery I have 20/40 vision in one eye and 20/25 in the other and at least 20/40 overall. I still wear progressive glasses but with a much weaker prescription. Heck, sometimes I forget I'm not wearing my glasses until I try to read something with small print. I think my astigmatisms prevent achieving 20/20 unlikely through intraocular lens replacement but my improvement has been very satisfactory.

[PaMtbRider]

My wife had lens replacement surgery 10+ years ago. She wore glasses since an early age and her prescription was something like a +11. She went with multifocal lenses in each eye. Her vision has remained 20/20 and she hasn't worn prescription glasses since the surgery. Her only minor complaint is driving at night. Oncoming headlights can have starburst appearances. No issues riding or seeing a bike computer. She uses eye drops frequently to moisturize her eyes but that was true before surgery.

[oldpotatoe]

Originally Posted by PaMtbRider

My wife had lens replacement surgery 10+ years ago. She wore glasses since an early age and her prescription was something like a +11. She went with multifocal lenses in each eye. Her vision has remained 20/20 and she hasn't worn prescription glasses since the surgery. Her only minor complaint is driving at night. Oncoming headlights can have starburst appearances. No issues riding or seeing a bike computer. She uses eye drops frequently to moisturize her eyes but that was true before surgery.

VERY similar for me. Both eyes, Multofocal lenses both eyes. Now read and drive and ride w/o any corrective glasses at all. Some 'halo' around lights at night but you get used to that. And yes, eyedrops for dry eye and the $ of the lenses($1600 per eye). Monofocal lenses no $, paid by Medicare(wife has these, needs reading glasses but nothing to drive)...

BUT, we both had cataracts also...to qualify for the no $ surgery..

[Doug Fattic]

This is a timely discussion because i'm older than many when they get cataract replacements. So my time is coming. My younger wife was already had this done and it went very smoothly for her. My issue is that when I am brazing or filing lugs making a frame, my nearsightedness makes my eyesight perfect for that distance to my work when I take my classes off. When brazing I can use tinted glasses without any kind of prescription. This makes me think I will not want to get near/far replacements when surgery is necessary.

In other eye news, some time ago I was having eye issues occasionally where my vision was more out of focus than usual. Just sometimes and not consistently. In fact this was happening a few years ago when I went for my regular eye checkup. I couldn't see even the big E on the eye chart. The doc insisted I go immediately to a specialist for cataract surgery. It was $4000 I didn't have right then because I hadn't yet signed up for Medicare. But what I did do is start taking Ocuvite over-the-counter-pills sold by Bausch and Lomb. My wife's eye doctor had recommended them to her. Once I started taking them regularly I never had those eye problems again. I'm not one inclined to taking supplements but Ocuvite really worked for me. When I went again (to a different doctor) I told him I was taking Ocuvite and he said to continue because they can make a difference in degeneration. There is a prescription strength one too but they are expensive.

[Hindmost]

OP, I am not sure that your impression of monofocals is accurate. I recommend looking into the multifocals/enhanced lenses. The cost was worth it for me.

[titans]

Originally Posted by Hindmost

OP, I am not sure that your impression of monofocals is accurate. I recommend looking into the multifocals/enhanced lenses. The cost was worth it for me.

Thanks. I have read reviews and seen videos about all the lens types along with the pros and cons of each. Extended Depth Of Field lenses may be an option but I’ll discuss in detail with my doctor before deciding. Just wanted to get some real life experiences here so I can ask questions regarding them. Thanks again!

[dvs cycles]

Originally Posted by oldpotatoe

VERY similar for me. Both eyes, Multofocal lenses both eyes. Now read and drive and ride w/o any corrective glasses at all. Some 'halo' around lights at night but you get used to that.

Same for me last year. Have not needed reading glasses since. Like I got back my vision as a 40 year old.

[Fat Cat]

I've had both eyes done. Totally painless. No problems whatsoever. Same surgeon both times. Great guy in every way.
Everyone's eyes are different. Discuss the practical corrections with your surgeon. The doc will probably have better information related to your situation than anyone on the internet.

JMO of course

[2LeftCleats]

I had multifocal lenses in both eyes, with my dominant eye slightly more dialed in for distance and the other optimized a bit towards close up. Covered the full visual range pretty well, and I didn’t have problems riding, driving, using computer or reading. Turns out that severe myopia and cataract surgery are risk factors for retinal tears and detachment, which I had. So, I’m back to glasses.

[jadmt]

I was nearsighted from a young age and my ophthalmologist told me you could either have lenses to have perfect distance vision or perfect close up vision but was really hard to have both and most people ended up wearing glasses if the tried to multifocal lenses. We are friends and he recommended with my life style far vision would probably be a better choice. I went that way and my vision is 20/20and clear as a bell. My close up correction for readers is +2.25 so not terrible. Only thing i need readers for is reading. No issues seeing dash of car or motorcycle or bike computer uncorrected.sitting at my computer I do not need readers but prefer to wear them. no need for driving or biking.

[Ken Robb]

Originally Posted by 2LeftCleats

I had multifocal lenses in both eyes, with my dominant eye slightly more dialed in for distance and the other optimized a bit towards close up. Covered the full visual range pretty well, and I didn’t have problems riding, driving, using computer or reading. Turns out that severe myopia and cataract surgery are risk factors for retinal tears and detachment, which I had. So, I’m back to glasses.

Nobody told me about the myopia problem and so far-so good several years post-op. Ironically at a routine visit to my eye doc a year or two before I "qualified" for cataract surgery he discovered a torn retina and got me in for laser repair two hours later. I guess a tear is easily fixed with a laser but a tear can become a detached retina which is a much bigger deal. I was lucky. The surgeon gave up his lunch hour to take care of me.

[unterhausen]

I'm a big fan of simplicity, so I just have the cheap lenses. I can read my computer without glasses if I left my reading glasses downstairs. I definitely can see the car dashboard, and signs are never a problem. Reading road signs was what finally got me to get the surgery, lighting had to be perfect before the surgery.

If you can afford to buy the expensive eye drops, do that. I really had trouble tolerating the cheap ones. It's a one time expense in your life.

[Hindmost]

Alcon Vivity lenses in both eyes. Excellent all around vision for driving and biking. Need and use reading glasses for detail activities.

[rounder]

I had cataract surgery a few years ago and went with multifocal lenses for both eyes. I was hoping that my vision would be perfect, but it is not. I have to wear reading glasses to read the newspaper. I also bought some regular glasses with a weak prescription, because I wanted to see as well as possible for night driving. Most of the time, including driving and biking, I do not wear glasses now. I have friends who went with the single prescription lenses (one eye for distance and one for closeup), who said that it took them a while for them to get used to the two different lens types. It did not take any time for me to adjust.

I think I paid about $3,000 for each multifocal lense but think that Medicare covers the cost if you go with single prescription.