Any knowledgeable opinions would be appreciated.

Years ago, I was a commercial photographer. About the time I began thinking I couldn't see well enough to do my job as well as I'd like, Photoshop allowed me to make a living with way way way less pressure. That worked really well for a while.

Fast forward to - I can't see shit anymore. It was gradual like boiling a frog but I had enough so I asked around and went to a highly recommended optometrist...

Seems I have cataracts but not bad enough to do anything about... I kept asking if that is really the best she could do? I couldn't even read the, rather large sign for the office until I passed it.

Another appointment later, for the first time in years, she dilates my pupils and referred me to a cataract surgeon saying maybe...  they have access to one test she didn't.

I don't know but what I do know is I could see a whole lot better driving home with dilated pupils wearing my dead father's old codger wraparound sunglasses. Short drive, wow. Open the garage door, Wow! Take off the sunglasses... walk into the kitchen, WOW. Walk down to my very well lit shop, whole crap! Something is definitely wrong with my eyes.

I've not done a Q trip for at least 5 years in part because I honestly can't see as well as I'd like and it matters to me so I'm planning ahead.

Cataract surgery seems to be a one shot deal so I'm looking for experienced opinions on what to expect and avoid or embrace. I'll be 63 this month FWIW.

Thoughts?

db wrote on Jan 4^th, 2022 at 7:26pm:


  I was having the same problems. I thought I just needed reading glasses when I was still working at 65. I had safety glasses with readers built-in.

Never had an issue driving even at night. When I retired and started on SS/MEDICARE, I decided to get a thorough eye exam.

  I was shocked to find that my vision in one eye was so bad I couldn't legally drive and in the other eye I was just barely legal to drive and NOT at night period!!!

I asked my Dr how could my eyes be that bad but I didn't notice it? He said that you adapt to the situation and since the vision loss is gradual over time, many like me don't even realize how bad our vision really is.

We discussed the options. He's done thousands of cataract surgeries. I asked about the ones using laser/lenses?

He said that IF you get optimum results, the finished product means you don't need reading glasses. He also said that when you don't the problems are annoying and often not fixable.

I asked what was the best choice with the best record of patient satisfaction? He said the old-fashioned lens replacement. He said I could have 20-20 vision either at a distance or up close but not both without glasses.

Being an outdoor person, I opted for 20-20 distance vision and reading glasses.

Like you said about the eye dilation db, after my worst eye was done, the difference was striking. I didn't realize what I had been missing.

So far I'm glad I had the surgery. The worst part for me wasn't the actual surgery, it was having to put eye drops in on a schedule after the surgery.

  Everyone is different but I'd make sure you hear about the negatives of each surgery option so you know what could go wrong.

I thought ST had a good analysis. 

But the point about choosing wheter to get near or far vision is not exactly true.  My wife had hers done and opted for "mono-vision".  One eye is adjusted for close vision.  The other for far vision.  Over time the brains learns to rely on the eye giving better vision.

With her it has worked great.  But she alrady was prepped for it as that is how her contacts worked.  Her eyes were already trained.  Others mileage may vary.

I think everyone I have spoke with thinks they are better off with the surgery.  A few find the outcome less than ideal, but at least an improvement.

We both had both eyes done back in 2008.  We were "borderline" needing it done, but it seemed prudent to get that taken care of before the kidney transplant (which was January of '09.)  I can't really speak for Spartan1, but in my case it made a real difference in my sight, especially driving at night.  I opted for the lens that gave me up close sight, and still wear glasses for distance.  Just seemed easier to adjust to.

Both of us had some clouding of the new lens a year or two after the surgery and had to have a few zaps with the YAG laser.  Not hard to do, not painful, and except for some spectacular "floaters" for a few days, no side effects.  It cleared up the cloudiness well.

We were glad that we got it done, and we faithfully did the drops for each other.

I can't speak to the improvements in the process in 14 years, but I am sure there are some.

Good luck and Godspeed to you!

I haven't had cataract surgery yet.  But my eyes over time evolved so one eye sees things up close (reading) and one eye sees things far away (driving).  If I am reading a book or newspaper I will use reading glasses as the glasses make the print easier to read.  If I am driving I will wear glasses and the glasses will make my weak eye see better.  If I am outside in the sun, I would wear sun glasses anyways.  My wife had cataract surgery on both eyes.  One eye sees things close and one eye sees things far away.  She is happy with the result.