tumbleweed, Have you had your surgery yet? I had a monofocal lens for distance implanted in my left eye on 24 january 2013 which was 2 days ago and my right eye is scheduled for 07 February. What I can tell you is that the color white is much whiter and I can no longer read the digits on my wristwatch and cell phone with my left eye. I plan to purchase a pair of reading glasses at Walgreens Drugs later today which will hopefully allow me to read after the second surgery is completed. After my right eye is done, I will ask my doctor to prescribe eyeglasses with progressive lenses as I have been wearing progressive lenses for many years and am fine with that. Do discuss the various options with your doctor. senior41 26 January 2013
The Following User Says Thank You to senior41 For This Useful Post: tumbleweed (01-27-2013)
Thanks senior41, No I am not yet scheduled for surgery and am not sure when my vision will be bad enough to risk it. I am told that my left eye is "ready" now (after being told 6 months ago that it would be 2 to 5 years away), but I do not detect any difference in my left and right eye vision, corrected or uncorrected. The reason for my question was that I have tried variable focus spectacles in the past without any satisfaction, because I had to look through the bottom of the lens for reading, the middle for "in room" and the top for distance. If all a multifocus lens will do is offer the same "facility" without the ability of removing them when it gets too annoying, then it does not seem worth paying 3 times the price. My ophthamologist says that multifocus will mean not needing spectacles (an attractive proposition as the memory fades!), but I have been unable to determine what sort of vision (see above) the multi-focus lens will provide - I do not fancy having one of each!
Were you offered a multi-focus implant? if so would you mind sharing your thoughts on deciding against?
Last edited by tumbleweed; 01-28-2013 at 12:28 AM.
tumbleweed, My eye doctor gave me literature listing the various lens options. Multifocal implants can present certain complications as far as calibration is concerned and they are not covered by USA government health insurance. I have been wearing progressive (variable focus) eyeglasses for 15+ years after graduating from bifocals. With variable focus, everything appears wavy at first but after a short time one adapts. What motivates you to have surgery? In my case, I was experiencing difficulty driving at night. I drove my car last nite and can detect improvement. senior41 27 January 2013
I'm not that motivated - it is just that the ophthamologist sesm to be pushing me that way, as I said before apart from my night vision which has been going off for several years, I do not notice any difference between my eyes at present. When the "incipient" cataract was first detected 6 months ago, I was told it would be 2 to 5 years before any treatment would be required, I am beginning to wonder if the ophthamologist has some vested interest in pushing me towards surgery, anyway.
About 30 years ago when I first noticed "mercedes" streaks from traffic lights at night, I was told this was an early indication of oncoming cataracts, but nothing has changed on that front.
Last edited by tumbleweed; 01-28-2013 at 12:27 AM.
Reason: Added note about mercedes streaks
Cataracts gradually worsen over time and nothing can reverse the process. Doctors can offer opinions, but the final decision on surgery is yours. Good Luck
This is very interesting as it sounds as if your cataracts began 30yrs ago.....very slow moving I don't blame you for not rushing into it if you can still see as well as you did last year....
