Cataract Lens Options?

It seems I have reached the age where cataract surgery is necessary. The question now is the type of lenses to get.

My use case isn't typical for people the age my calendar claims I am. I do smt assembly, sometimes using a stereo microscope or other magnification.

The lens options are:

> Plain lenses set for close vision

> Plain lenses set for distance vision

> Mixed Plain lenses, one set for near, one for distance

> Extended focus lenses

> Multifocal lenses

I've worn glasses since the 1970s (which can't have been that long ago!), so I'm not adverse to continuing to do so.

It seems to me that mixed lenses, multifocals and even extended focus lenses may not play well with stereo microscope use (somewhat borne out because ophthalmologists don't seem to choose those options).

Lenses for near vision seem like a good option for working close, seeing my phone screen and so on (who would ever have thought good vision would be required to use a PHONE? ). The downside of this is being unable to drive or do nany other things without glasses.

Lenses set for distance seem like a better choice for the necessities of daily living without glasses. Driving, reading signs in stores, etc., with progressives or single-vision glasses for close work. I'm a little freaked out – my doctor says I'd probably need +3.5 diopter glasses for near vision. The sounds like I'd need a seeing-eye dog to help me shave without classes!

I'd like to hear the experiences of people with similar use cases. Comments very much appreciated.

I have single-focus lenses for distance vision, which are good for anything beyond about 1 metre. I use a few cheapo non-prescription reading glasses (£1.50 per pair from Poundland) of various strengths for any close work.

Get the ones you need for everyday use - varifocal or multifocal? They are the the really important (and costly) ones.

Then get a single-focus pair or two for the microscope and computer work. They are a fraction the cost of the complex lenses. One par may be OK for both, if the microscope has adequate focus adjustment?

I've been using varifocals for probably 15 years. They are very good, though the in-focus area on a computer screen is not very large. I got a fixed focus pair for extended use to prevent eyestrain.

(I'm short sighted & have worn glasses since soon after I started school).

[edit - ps. I was referring to glasses, assuming single focus distance implants].

You should go for fixed focus distance \, and use progresive lensed glasses to correct for close up work. If you have astigmatism, you may be able to have this corrected at surgery with a lens that fixes this . the surgeon will put a mark on your eye before surgery to align the replacement lens rotation angle.

jaclement said:

the surgeon will put a mark on your eye before surgery to align the replacement lens rotation angle.

Click to expand...

Ekkkk. Visions of the doctor marking my eyeball with a Sharpie!

I do have astigmatism so this may be it.

OK, I had both mine done 12/13 years ago.

First off, I was very young for cataract surgery - it was caused by excessively high blood pressure, my lowest systolic reading was 240. I only went to the doctors (I hadn't been for 30+ years) because my eyesight was deteriorating rapidly, I'd have my eyes tested, order new glasses, and by the time they came I needed new glasses again.

Now I was VERY short sighted, without my glasses I could read a book without my glasses only an inch or so away, it was quite good for fine electronics work. I'd been wearing glasses since I was eight years old, when they came round school doing eye tests - as you've never known any different, you don't realise you can't see properly.

In the UK we have the NHS, which is totally free - but you only get a choice of plain distant, or plain near, lenses - although you could presumably have one of each if you wished, but I suspect that could be quite confusing?. If you want anything else, you have to go privately and pay for it - but apparently the plain lenses have a higher success rate anyway.

So given the choice, I choose distance vision - and while not perfect, I can confidentially drive without my glasses (but never do), previously I wouldn't have dreamed of attempting it, if I could even find the car

Astigmatism has been mentioned, but a common side effect of cataract surgery is causing astigmatism, and I had it anyway. I believe the guy who did my second eye (the left one) fitted the lens at an angle, to try and reduce the astigmatism.

So I now wear multiple pairs of glasses:

1) An expensive pair of varifocal ones, which I wear full time - without them I can't read prices in shops very well As well as giving me close and mid-range vision, they also correct for astigmatism.

2) Reading glasses - cheap on-line prescription glasses - this gives you full width/height vision for reading or electronics work. I have two pairs, one at work on my workbench, for soldering etc. and one at home on the bedside table, for reading my kindle.

I also use "Doc Brown" magnifying headsets for exceptionally close work, over the reading glasses.

3) Computer glasses - cheap on-line prescription glasses, avoids you moving your head up and down all the time while on the computer I have one pair next to my computer at work, and one pair (which I'm wearing at this moment) next to my computer at home.

The expensive ones were about £400, mostly for the top quality varifocal lenses, the others were only £10-15 on-line.

You mentioned +3.5 glasses for near vision, the implants in my eyes are both around +6.5 - they gave me little cards with all the details on, which I still have.

Just checked my prescription from back when I ordered the glasses, the reading glasses are +2.75 over the prescription, and the computer glasses are 1+.5 over the prescription.

I'd suggest the plain distance lens for the implants, wear varifocals for normal use, and separate cheap single vision for reading and computer use, as I do - I find the combination works really well.

How short sighted are you currently?, if you're seriously short sighted (as I was), it puts you at high risk of detached retinas, and again it's also a potential side effect of cataract surgery (and also of getting old). I've had both mine done, the left 12 odd years ago, six months after the implant was fitted, and the right one last August/September. It's something you should discuss with your optician and surgeon, assuming they haven't already talked to you about it..

I'm moderately short sighted – a phone screen is sharp and clear, but a computer screen or a book on the table is a bit fuzzy.

I think the distance implants sound like the way to go. A friend of mine opted for near-focus implants – he's a network IT guy and has to respond to emergencies at night, so he wanted to be able to read his phone w/o glasses.

I've got a few weeks to decide, so please feel free to keep the comments coming. Different viewpoints (no pun intended ) are helpful. Thanks.