New lenses (after Cataract Surgery)

[MikeT49]

I had both eyes done in march '22. Left eye first. Also had relief incisions done on that eye. Blurry for a few days then started to work great. Everything was brighter and colors seemed enhanced. When I closed that eye and looked with the right eye, it was like looking thru dark yellow sunglasses. I never noticed it getting that bad or the yellow tinge. About a week after the left eye, the right got done, no relief incisions for it.
I opted for the multi-distance lenses. My insurance only would pay for single distance lenses, so cost me ~$2500 per eye. IMO, not worth the money. I'm typing this without glasses, but need readers for close work. Distance vision is 20/20.
The best part of getting the surgery done is I could not see very well at night while driving. Major halos and a sort of "tunnel vision". Kinda spooky. Had to quit driving after dark. Now I see very well at night, makes my hunting trip drives to Wisconsin much faster. Two stops instead of three. Maybe only one this year.
I can see iron sights again. Perhaps I gave my nephews, my dad's and grandpas Model 94s too soon? Loved hunting with those sweet old guns. Oh well.
Bottom line is, if you have cataracts and perhaps would like to be able to see, get the surgery done by a competent eye doctor.

 

[butchlambert]

The only real way to avoid any kind of glasses after cataract surgery is to have the light adjustable lens implanted. They are becoming more popular.

The downside is the entire process takes about 50 days, due to the return visits to adjust the lens. I had a total of three visits before I achieved 20/20 vision with no correction. You also have to wear dark Glasses untill they finally “lock” the lens.

The other downside is cost. Insurance did not cover mine, as I did not have cataracts bad enough. I just couldn’t see.
However, my wife is having the same procedure this month, she has cataracts to the extent that insurance is picking up about 50% of the cost, which in total is around $11,000.

I'm glad I'm Choctaw.

 

[jonbearman]

Man are we getting old or what. I think I am developing one in my left eye myself.

 

[nmkid]

When I had my lens implanted I told the doctor that I shot rifles with scopes and I wanted to be able to continue doing so. He said it would be no problem. Present day, I can, most days see up close without any cheater glasses. However, I practically run out of adjustments on all my scopes before I get a clear picture!

 

[Kittitas George]

My SCUBA diving partner's vision was 20/300., I think he was legally blind with out glasses. Our diving masks had a plastic glasses frame with a center suction cup to hold it to the glass in the face mask. It worked fairly well. When age finally required he have cataract surgery he could get by without glasses for distance. He was a good basketball player when young, but was hampered by the glasses and cataract surgery wasn't available in the 1950s. Modern medicine, amazing!!!

 

[Larryh128]

So just curious? as I will have to have the cataract surgery in the future. When shooting with a high power scope and having the distance lenses put in for correction, can you see thru the scope without glasses, or do you need the reading glasses to see thru the scope ?

Thanks

This is what I did and it doesn't mean it's for everyone, I have my right eye (dominate) far sighted and my left eye near sighted. I can legally drive without glasses now BUT my corrected vision in both eyes is 20/15 as I told them I wouldn't settle for less. Forum Boss, get them done, forget the halos. Scope or no scope it works for me.

 

[fkimble@charter.net]

Been talking cataract surgery with my eye Dr. Have a question ya'll might be able to help with. I shoot XTC, both with irons and scope. I also shoot pistols and revolvers. Will a distance lense work with the handgun sights or will I need glasses? Same for rifle? Currently for handguns I simply tuck my chin a little and look over the glasses. Sights look good, target a little fuzzy. Can also look over the glasses with iron sights but target a little blurry and number boards hard to make out unless very big. Any advice appreciated! Also have a big floater that likes to park itself right in the middle of my shooting eye. A sideways glance will move it but only have a second or two to get the shot of before it returns. As my former shooting partner use to say "getting old ain't for sissy's."

Frank

 

[ebb]

My guy says no correction needed with scope or irons. I've been kind of scared to find out, I haven't been to the range yet. I was going this week, but wife was injured and we have been to hospital and surgeon.

 

[teele1]

EBB, beware of possible PCO after your eye surgery. IF it gets to seem like you are looking thru waxed paper .. maybe PCO. I had that in both my eyes after i had RLE. But a quick laser and they're back good as new. hope the Mrs is alrite. seeya

 

[Ranger188]

Wife had both done, almost 2 months now and the dryness in her eyes is really
bad. Not sure having the cataracts was better or not.

For those that had dry eyes, how long did it last?

What drops seemed to last the longest?

 

[Dave Zander]

I had cataracts removed and distance lens implants in both eyes.
I couldn’t believe how crystal clear I can see now. I do need reading glasses , kind of a pain but that’s the way it is. After a year it was getting a little Hazzy , doc said it was normal and they did a cleaning of the lenses with a laser and I’m good as new.

 

[Bob3700]

Question for those that have had the cataract surgery.

Did any of u have an issue before or after surgery with floaters? My problem is that my right eye( dominate eye) has a mass of floaters that makes it appear I am looking thru a fine screen. My iron sights ( rifle) I see fine, it's the target that turns into a big grey q-tip. When that happens I can center the q- tip in the front aperture but the shot is way off call.
I try to blink the floaters to move them but they return pretty fast.
One fellow I know , when he had cataract surgery, also had a procedure to remove the floaters as well. His were pretty bad though.
Anyone have a similar experience/ condition?

 

[Rick300]

Wife had both done, almost 2 months now and the dryness in her eyes is really
bad. Not sure having the cataracts was better or not.

For those that had dry eyes, how long did it last?

What drops seemed to last the longest?

I too have dry eyes after surgery. Systane works well, but the best solution is to have plugs put in the tear ducts

 

[Dave Zander]

I had floaters before and still have them after. Mine Aren’t real bad , usually I just blink a little and they move away. Really the only time I notice them is when I’m looking thru the rifle scope.

 

[teele1]

After my surgery i have dry eye real bad. Left cornea changes daily if not hourly causing further issues. I also had a tear duct dam also in my left eye. BLINK gel is best for my dry eye, BUT its still better than before by far and since i paid out of pocket for this i'd still do it again.

 

[Outrider27]

Cataract surgery in both eyes, right eye a bit over a month ago, left eye 2 weeks ago on 9/25; so far, no dry eye problems with either eye. I have stopped with the moisturizer drops a couple of days ago, so we'll see what happens. Still have to take the prescription drops they gave me for about 2 and a half more weeks in the left eye.

 

[GotRDid]

This is similar to what I see when gazing at the sky. Amoeba type strands suspended in the vitreous humor inside my eyes. I don’t have focal interference most of the time, but they do migrate into view. I turn my head in quick snaps a couple of times in the same direction (as in left to right) and it moves them out of alignment with my pupils.
They will have to be addressed eventually.

 

[butchlambert]

Just finished with the second laser yesterday. Both are done now. I was near sighted before cataract surgery and now farsighted I guess. I still wear glasses. Only real difference is I can do a better job on the eye chart. The March 48X Highmaster cured my problems.

 

[okie]

View attachment 1476998
This is similar to what I see when gazing at the sky. Amoeba type strands suspended in the vitreous humor inside my eyes. I don’t have focal interference most of the time, but they do migrate into view. I turn my head in quick snaps a couple of times in the same direction (as in left to right) and it moves them out of alignment with my pupils.
They will have to be addressed eventually.

I thought everybody had a view like this????

 

[Will Henry]

I am the odd man out. Had a cataract fixed in my right eye with followup laser treatment. Wish I had not had the surgery. Ever since I've had vision troubles I didn't have before. It's like a translucent shade gets pulled down in front of my eye. I can see but it clouds up. Doc says all is well and normal for my age. BS. Optometrist says it is normal too. BS. Need a 3rd opinion.

I know what you're saying. I had mine done several years back. Since then, I have been plagued with floaters and the cloudiness you describe. I was told they were always there but the cataracts made them difficult to see. With the new lenses, I can notice flaws I could not before. Whatever. It's disconcerting. It gives one more distraction to try and ignore when I'm shooting. Doc says it will improve with time. He's assuming I have the time! WH