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.

[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.

[mtb_frk]

Ugh yeah I just had this conversation with my Dr. Apparently my right eye is bad enough to need the surgery, but my left eye isn't yet. Im getting double vision in my right eye, its annoying, but not to the point where I need to go in. Im concerned about just having the one eye done, and am debating waiting until my other eye gets worse.

[Elefantino]

I’ve had an IOL for 36 years in my right eye, after an accident. I had the doctor focus it for computer screen distance. I’m nearsighted in my left eye so I wear prescription lenses for distance. No issues driving or cycling.

[eri]

I had cornea transplants in both eyes, they did the lenses at the same time.

They gave me choices but I can’t understand why anyone would choose to be stuck with multi focal lenses built into their eyes. It’s like being stuck wearing bifocals all the time.

I opted for full field of distance vision in each eye. If I want to read I wear reading glasses, if I want bifocals I’ll wear them. I’m a little miffed my first dr used a blue filter on my right eye so now my color vision depends on which eye I’m using.

I’m sure having eyes done differently, one for reading, one for distance, can work fine but from so much time wearing a patch I’m acutely aware of having to turn to use the good eye. A friend got his eyes done differently and he says the novelty wore off and he wished he hadn’t.

I really enjoy my outdoor vision and being able to wear any normal sunglasses. Biking, skiing, driving hiking it’s awesome being able to see.

I think whatever your considering you should try wearing glasses with that feature and see if you like it - before you get them put into your eyeballs.

[Retinadoc]

I am not a fan of multifocal lenses. I have seen enough patients that are unhappy with the results. When that happens the fix is not that easy, you can't just swap out the lens. This is of course selection bias, as they would not be in my chair if everything was fine. When my father had his cataract surgery, I said no multifocal lens, and no laser capsulotomy. Like many things simplicity in surgery usually yields the superior results.

Cataract surgery in the best hands can be performed in under 10 minutes. Choose a surgeon who is relatively high volume and established. Bedside manner is a plus, but you first want someone who is technically competent and experienced. it is a learned skill that requires at least 1000 cases to begin to approach a minimal complication rate. A >40 y.o surgeon will almost certainly have superior results compared to someone recently out of training.

For many the surgery can be life changing. If your vision is a daily problem go for it. Cycling and even reading your bike computer should not be an issue if the lens measurements are correct.

[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..