OT: Cataract replacement lenses-Driving and Riding

[titans]

Thanks everyone for all the great replies especially from our resident Retinadoc! I’m no longer in Westchester but would’ve been interesting having a forum member do the surgery and talk about bikes!

I’ve been wearing progressive glasses for years and wearing glasses for up close reading will not bother me. The one worry I have with mono focal lenses is the focus of when objects get closer but it doesn’t appear from the responses that this is an issue. Getting eyes measured next Monday and eye doc has 21 years of experience! Thanks again everyone!

[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.

[unterhausen]

Originally Posted by 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.

They do one eye at a time anyway. I would have the one eye done. The human vision system is really amazing, it adapts to defects in your vision. Most people have one eye that's not as good as the other and never know it. I had a problem with one of my eyes where the center of my vision was just gone. I never noticed it unless I was looking at something that blocked my other eye. It was like nothing was wrong otherwise. But if the other eye was blocked, things would disappear.


As I implied in my previous comment, the drops really bothered me. Just as I started feeling better in the one eye, I went in for the second surgery and it was a couple of more weeks of misery. I have dry eyes anyway, and the surgery made it worse. So waiting a couple of years between surgeries is no big deal.

[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.