Cataract's alleviation/correction experience

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FineWine

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#3245793 7-Jun-2024 17:58

Well guys it is Day +1 after my op. They managed to get me in a week earlier than originally booked.

BRIGHT Bright bright everything's bright!

All went very well, though apparently it took 50% longer than normal as I apparently have a smaller pupil than normal (who knew) and they kept having to add dilator drops and insert a bigger access ring to gain better access to the cloudy lens. Plus my lens was quite a bit thicker than normal.

The registrar did all the work via the multi-headed microscope with the consultant on one of the other eye pieces. Being awake I heard it all and the consultant came across as an excellent teacher and the registrar as an excellent student.

A bit scary when they inserted the original anaesthetic needle into the eye area as I saw it coming. But the good/great part was when the new IOL unfurled and I could distinctly see each individual theatre ceiling lights - wow.

Point of interest was that every time they pressed on my eyeball I could hear my heart rate go up. So yes, post op eye pressure is a worry and I was told no bending head down or strenuous exercise. For me that's the gym, aquarobics and certain Tai Chi moves. Also no gardening (bending and soil microbes).

I was very impressed with all the nursing staff. I had a 24 hr post-op phone call this afternoon and in 4 weeks a face to face consult.

In 4-6 weeks my normal optometrist for new glasses.

Whilst the difficult we can do immediately, the impossible takes a bit longer. However, miracles you will have to wait for.

k1w1k1d

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#3245804 7-Jun-2024 18:49

Happy it is all going well for you.

My left eye is still causing issues after 18months. Have to use steroid drop every second day until I see specialist again in July.

Sienna

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#3494964 24-May-2026 18:21

I had cataract surgery on my left eye 5 and a half weeks ago and chose a monofocal lens set to distance. I had my 5 week follow up appointment with the eye specialist last week. I expected this to be a very quick appointment just to confirm that everything was healing as it should. At the end I said that I was struggling to decide what to do next as the progressive lenses that I had worn full time for years were no longer correct. Somehow I ended up deciding to go ahead with cataract surgery on my right eye. It did have a cataract, but it was not as bad as the left eye and so could have waited a while before surgery became necessary.

Having decided to do this surgery, I selected the first available spot which is this coming Wednesday which is 6 days after the consult. I have selected to get a distance lens in my right eye. At the consult the specialist discussed multifocal and EDOF lenses which I decided against due to their side effects. I asked about monovision but he strongly recommended against it on the basis that my brain would find the difference between one eye set to near and one set to distance too much to untangle. Based on this discussion, the only option was to select a monofocal lens set to distance. I am now having buyer's remorse about this even though I have not yet had the surgery. The reason for this is that since the consult I have been down the Google/Reddit rabbithole and found there is a thing called 'mini (or micro) monovision' which sounds like a very good option to me.

I now don't have time to investigate this before my booked surgery. With mini monovision I think I could have had one eye set to distance and the other to intermediate which should have enabled me to live glasses free most of time. I realise that I might find that it doesn't work but I regret not being able to research it fully to see if it might have been suitable although I am not sure how I could have trialled this option given that I have astigmatism in my right eye and don't wear contacts. I don't know anyone that has had cataract surgery who I can ask about their lived experience. With the wisdom of hindsight, I wish that I had stated that my goal was to be able to see clearly to complete the activities of daily living (walking, gym, cooking, personal care, shopping, driving and seeing the dasboard etc) without needing glasses and that I was ok to use glasses for close up things such as crafting and reading. I don't even know if the option I have selected (both eyes set to distance) will enable me to see the food on my plate without wearing glasses.

Both with the elective surgery I had last year, and the first cataract surgery I had this year, I was at peace once I made the decision to go ahead with the surgery. I feel anything but at peace with the decision to have the second cataract surgery in a few days time and am seriously thinking of cancelling it. Normally I research everything to the nth degree but for some reason did very little research about cataract surgery and I had no idea that the decision about what to choose for the second eye would be so much more difficult than deciding about the first eye.

I think that mini-monovision might be routinely offered overseas so I don't understand why it wasn't discussed especially given that I bought up (full) monovision. I feel like I have glimpsed a promised land that is now out of reach to me.

I would be very appreciative for any comments particularly if you have experience of having both eyes set to monofocal distance. I have asked ChatGPT lots of questions but don't fully trust what it tells me.

Thanks

RunningMan

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#3494967 24-May-2026 18:47

I can't give you advice about what to choose, but if you're having significant doubts about any upcoming medical procedure then speak to them about it sooner rather than later. I wouldn't go through with something like that because you were worried about speaking up.

Rikkitic

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#3494980 25-May-2026 01:08

I had cataract surgery on both eyes a few years ago. Since it was on the public health, I wasn't offered a choice of lens so I got distance lenses in both eyes. As a result, my vision is like a hawk's but I need reading glasses for everything close up. Before the surgery I was short-sighted and mainly only wore glasses for driving and movies. If I had been given a choice at the time, I probably would have chosen distance lenses anyway because the idea of not being short-sighted anymore would have appealed to me. But in hindsight I think close up lenses might have served me better. I was already used to being short sighted and even in old age I could still read newspapers without any aides. Now I need reading glasses for everything and I have to keep a pair in every room because I keep getting caught out. When watching TV I keep having to put the glasses on to see the remote and take them off to watch the screen. It gets a bit tiresome.

Having said that, I don't really have any major complaints. My vision overall is so much better than it was and I regard the surgery as something of a miracle. I can't advise you on what you should do but if it was me I would probably have the second eye done like the first one so they match as closely as possible. Otherwise it seems like you may just be asking for trouble and this isn't really something you want to experiment with.

Plesse igmore amd axxept applogies in adbance fir anu typos

jamesrt

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#3494996 25-May-2026 08:01

I had EDOF [paired] lenses implanted about 18 months ago, aged 57.

I think overall they're great during the day; and not quite as good at night or in some artificial lighting; I find one eye sometimes gets a little blurry under those conditions due to the way the lenses work, from my understanding.

Overall, I'm happy; I do need +1 reading glasses for comfort; I can just my phone/laptop or read my Kindle without; it's just a little easier with them.

I do my however agree that if you're having second thoughts, do something about them ASAP before the surgery.

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Sienna

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#3495213 25-May-2026 17:38

Thanks for the replies.

There has been a development. The booking clerk rang today to advise a change of time for my surgery. I told her that I was having doubts about my choice of lens. This was passed onto the surgical coordinator who rang me and had a chat and then communicated this to the specialist. Apparently it is possible for me to get my second eye set differently to my first to increase the distances at which I will be able to see clearly without using glasses. However the specialist wants to see me first to explain and as best as possible to demonstrate. I will be seeing him tomorrow. I have no issue with needing glasses for prolonged close-up reading etc nor for extended computer use. If possible though I would like to be able to live the rest of life mostly glasses free. The thought of continually putting glasses on and taking them to switch between activities would drive me crazy. If it turns out that I can't have the mini-monovision for whatever reason, then at least I will feel satisfied that it was seriously considered.

I am feeling more relaxed about things now. Also the clinical coordinator said many times that its fine to cancel/defer the surgery even at the last minute if I am having doubts. I am not sure I would have been assertive enough to contact the eye clinic with my concerns however when they contacted me I had no qualms mentioning them.

I will update this thread again after my consult tomorrow.

Eva888

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#3495227 25-May-2026 19:13

@Sienna I had a macular hole in one eye and when it was repaired was told that as soon as some time passed I would need cataract surgery on that eye as the cataract grows fast.

Had the cataract surgery and a new lens put in. Wasn’t asked and didn’t know I could have distances or short. This was in Sweden. I was under anaesthesia for mine. Unsure how I would have coped having it live.

So now I have one eye that is normal but short sighted and the repaired eye has a long lens. I need glasses for reading but not for driving and I can see perfectly well with no glasses except for reading where I wear a +2 and can type here easily with them on while I glance up at the TV over the glasses and can see that perfectly.

MikeAqua

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#3495420 26-May-2026 09:05

Rikkitic:

I was aware of seeing rainbow halos around the moon and street and car lights at night (rather beautiful; I miss them!) b

There are substances for seeing those again, temporarily 😈

Mike

MikeAqua

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#3495424 26-May-2026 09:10

It amazes me that the Fred Hollows foundation can do cataract surgery all round the world for $25. Meanwhile in NZ people live with impaired vison in one of both eyes, because there aren't the resources to provide enough cataract surgeries. Perhaps the surgeries FHF are doing are much less sophisticated than what the seven ophthalmologists in NZ are doing

Anyhow ... more reasons to keep Southern Cross.

Mike

Sienna

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#3495597 26-May-2026 17:59

I saw the specialist today. He did offer an option that would offer slightly more clear vision in the intermediate range but I am not sure how meaningful it would be. He suggested I go to my optometerist to trial it with daily contacts. I am not sure how feasible this is given that the eye in question has both a cataract and astigmatism. Anyway, I have cancelled tomorrow's surgery. I had serious reservations about it from the moment I booked it so cancelling it seemed a very sensible thing to do. I realise that I may end up with what was originally suggested but if I do, it will be an informed and considered decision.

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Eva888

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#3495706 27-May-2026 09:44

Sienna:

I saw the specialist today. He did offer an option that would offer slightly more clear vision in the intermediate range but I am not sure how meaningful it would be. He suggested I go to my optometerist to trial it with daily contacts. I am not sure how feasible this is given that the eye in question has both a cataract and astigmatism. Anyway, I have cancelled tomorrow's surgery. I had serious reservations about it from the moment I booked it so cancelling it seemed a very sensible thing to do. I realise that I may end up with what was originally suggested but if I do, it will be an informed and considered decision.

I was also been given the option to get glasses to see very slightly better to balance the two eyes after the cataract op but frankly it wasn’t enough of a difference to warrant it since somehow the brain has compensated for the differences and having to wear glasses for distance and then change for close up seemed pointless for the very slightly better distance clarity. I can’t wear progressives as they make me nauseous.

Good that you’ve postponed until you feel confident.

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