Cataract Surgery

[JIMYJAC]

On my own dime. Medicare does pay a portion I understand but when I went to Doctors it was pretty well spelled out and broken down on out of pocket expense. I felt there is a benefit to upgraded lens. I had to get something done so I went this route. So far I do not regret my decision. I see distance fairly well do computer work and can read large print in good lighting all without glasses. I get my 2nd eye done this coming Monday. Good day.

 

[Snake Pleskin]

On my own dime. Medicare does pay a portion I understand but when I went to Doctors it was pretty well spelled out and broken down on out of pocket expense. I felt there is a benefit to upgraded lens. I had to get something done so I went this route. So far I do not regret my decision. I see distance fairly well do computer work and can read large print in good lighting all without glasses. I get my 2nd eye done this coming Monday. Good day.

I think you made the right choice. if you are going to do it, do it right. Good luck with the upcoming procedure!

 

[vintovka]

When i had mine done there was no mention of premium lens only near and far. The far works great for me as only intense work less than 6-12" inches away from this big ole nose seems to barely justify dollar (now 1.25) store cheapy glasses. Even then they are not mandatory. Visited here yesterday and every second of every waking minute is a visual treat!! Think i even see perfectly in my sleep (LOL).

https://stateparks.oregon.gov/index.cfm?do=park.profile&parkId=86

 

[Frank in Fairfield]

Retired from USAF, I had Cadillac surgery three years ago at the air base. Colonel just back from the desert. My friend in KS had his before me. The doctor asked what my activities are now that I am retired? I shoot. Daily. I think I just need distance vision. You are correct. My friend in KS chose near and far. He has to wear glasses all the time. I wear glasses to read and play with iPad. Not for anything else. Open sights, peep sights, scopes, everything is crystal clear. I shoot indoor 10m air rifle and pistol as well. So, at a soon to be 78, it is like a new lease on life.

 

[vintovka]

Must say every time I stop to consider what I can see now it still amazes me. Every thing is eye-candy!!!

 

[Wil]

I had my right eye done with the lens that corrects all the distance, close to far but I had to pay almost $3000 out of my own pocket, even though I have Medicare. It was worth it. I can now use open sights and can actually see the target. I probably could have gone through the VA but they wanted me to drive for 2 hours to get there and have it done. I did that for hearing aids and had to keep returning for follow ups, just like I had to do for my thyroid problem. No thanks.

 

[GregK]

Well after my post in August 2022 I just recently had both of my Cataracs replaced with distance lenses. I went to an ophthalmologist instead of my retina specialist. He said I needed to have them replaced as soon as possible because I was just about legally blind. I told him what the other specialist had told me could happen, and he just was literally shocked they would tell me something like that because it wasn’t true. His experience with them has been that they only care about the raptor and nothing else to do with the guy. They didn’t refer me to an ophthalmologist, I complained multiple times about my cataracts and they just ignored it. After going to the ophthalmologist I also learned that I have glaucoma started in both eyes. Anyway, fast forward to now and I’ve gone from almost blind to 20/25 in my left eye and 20/20 in my right eye with 20/20 combined. I wear cheaters to read and be on my iPad or phone but other than that I haven’t seen this good since I was a kid.

Greg

 

[edmehlig]

I had my right eye done with the lens that corrects all the distance, close to far but I had to pay almost $3000 out of my own pocket, even though I have Medicare. It was worth it. I can now use open sights and can actually see the target. I probably could have gone through the VA but they wanted me to drive for 2 hours to get there and have it done. I did that for hearing aids and had to keep returning for follow ups, just like I had to do for my thyroid problem. No thanks.

Did you ask them if you could go to a community care doctor that is affiliated with the VA? The nearest VA hospital is over an hour away. Whenever they want to send me there I ask if I can get community care Dr. Then they ask me for my zip code and list the doctors that I can go to.

 

[Wil]

Did you ask them if you could go to a community care doctor that is affiliated with the VA? The nearest VA hospital is over an hour away. Whenever they want to send me there I ask if I can get community care Dr. Then they ask me for my zip code and list the doctors that I can go to.

No, I didn't think to ask them that. In the past, I tried to get a doctor or specialist close to me for other issues and it's always like pulling teeth. They even wanted me to drive for an hour and a half through NASCAR race like driving traffic to go take a stress test. Go figure.

 

[fishdfly]

Anyone else notice a change in colors?

Nope, still color blind, red/green and blue/green.

 

[oldfrank]

I had both my eyes done in January 2023. I could have paid for the more expensive lens for one eye but the other was not a candidate. I elected to let medicare pay and get both eyes done for distance.
It worked very well. I can see everything clearly except small print so I had glasses mad with progressive lens. My right eye is not perfect and they told me it would never be in advance.
Big difference to be able to see the alarm clock in the morning or to step out of the shower and be able to see. Everything is brighter and the colors are better too.
With my right eye being so bad I still need a little help to use open sights but scopes and red Dots are just fine.
I wish I would have had it done 30 years ago!

 

[Ka'imiloa]

Finally got my cataracts done last Fall well into my 79th year. Long time hunter and shooter and result was important to me in those realms, especially open sights and eye protection, but also in realm of utility and convenience for home/reading/computer use.

Wife, also hunter and shooter and frequent computer-user and reader like me, chose to get her new eye lenses for distance. That was about seven years ago. But I learned that now they can put in a close-viewing lens for whatever distance you like regarding focus, and also can put somewhat different lenses in your two eyes. (For example, my glasses have been made for years with a quarter-diopter difference in the right eye's prescription so I can see a rifle front sight or my bowsight better with that dominant eye. The left l glasses lens was set up to provide maximum clarity at far distance. Your eyes/brain don't care about such relatively small differences in lens function.)

So I got my new implanted lens for near-focus use. Lens in left eye is for a distance of approximately 15-16" focus, for reading a book or magazine in my lap, or using iPad or laptop computer. Right eye got a lens for focusing at 20-21" for use at desktop computer or reading something on a counter or desk. Your eyes work fine with such a setup.

Why.... it allows me to run around the house most of the time without any glasses, but whenever I go outside I must put on my glasses and thus my eyes are protected from wind, dust -- and especially twigs and snags out in the fields and forests, or when shooting. (Wearing glasses since a child has saved me from literally hundreds of eye-pokes I otherwise would have suffered, otherwise I would have likely been blind in at least one eye by now!)

If you go this route of getting your implanted lenses of the type for short distance focus, just get your "outdoor-use" glasses made as "bifocals" which have a clear-glass lens in the usual lower area where a magnifying reading lens would be for bifocal-type regular glasses. The remainder of the glasses' lenses now give you clear long distance focus. Now I can see just fine for close things either with or without my glasses, but I am forced to always be wearing my eye-protecting glasses when outdoors.

Sure glad I talked to the cataract surgeon and learned that there are now all sorts of choices for implanted lenses, not just the former "close" or "long distance" implant lenses.

Aloha, Ka'imiloa

 

[JIMYJAC]

Well after my post in August 2022 I just recently had both of my Cataracs replaced with distance lenses. I went to an ophthalmologist instead of my retina specialist. He said I needed to have them replaced as soon as possible because I was just about legally blind. I told him what the other specialist had told me could happen, and he just was literally shocked they would tell me something like that because it wasn’t true. His experience with them has been that they only care about the raptor and nothing else to do with the guy. They didn’t refer me to an ophthalmologist, I complained multiple times about my cataracts and they just ignored it. After going to the ophthalmologist I also learned that I have glaucoma started in both eyes. Anyway, fast forward to now and I’ve gone from almost blind to 20/25 in my left eye and 20/20 in my right eye with 20/20 combined. I wear cheaters to read and be on my iPad or phone but other than that I haven’t seen this good since I was a kid.

Greg

Greg, I hope and pray everything works out well for you. My family has a history of glaucoma the ones that have it are doing well they just have to stay on top of it. As far as lenses go I did well and need no script for readers. On the other hand we paided for ungraded lenses for my wife and she still needs cheaters. There`s no guarantee. I`m glad you got a 2nd opinion. Smart of you. Good day

 

[GregK]

Greg, I hope and pray everything works out well for you. My family has a history of glaucoma the ones that have it are doing well they just have to stay on top of it. As far as lenses go I did well and need no script for readers. On the other hand we paided for ungraded lenses for my wife and she still needs cheaters. There`s no guarantee. I`m glad you got a 2nd opinion. Smart of you. Good day

Right back atcha! I’m glad it worked out so well for you. They couldn’t see any reason for me to upgrade to the premium lenses.
I don’t play the cheaters because it’s only for reading. It’s just so awesome to be able to see again!!!

Greg

 

[Wilyote1]

Good luck with your surgery and keep up posted. I have had a cataract in my left eye going on two years. The eye doc says it isn't ripe enough yet to repair . The left eye has cloudy blurry vision. Thinking of seeing another Dr. Since my hearing really sucks, I depend on my eyes.

 

[Ka'imiloa]

Had "Lasik" eye surgery done long ago and the results were life-changing (20/250 to 20/20). Had cataract surgery this year on both eyes, opted for cheaper lenses. Night vision (oncoming headlights, reflective road signs) improved remarkably but close vision did not.

Pick an opthomoligist (SP?) who's done thousands, not the one just back from a seminar. I'd have it done again, but opt for the best lenses. At least now, when I'm lost, I can read those road signs.

A few thoughts and points, Sheriffjohn: You are ever so correct to go to an Ophthalmologist eye surgeon who has done a great many cataracts, if at all possible.

However no one will get perfect close plus far vision from replacing your own clouded eye lenses with new ones. Removing the clouded lens means there is no longer an inborn mechanism present to alter the form of the lens and thus allow good vision at any distance.

My wife had her cataracts done about three years before I did, and got the usual long-distance-vision lenses. This means she needs reading glasses, and "cheater" cheap glasses for open sights on her guns or bow. But as a retired Physician myself, I was astonished to learn that the Surgical Clinic had a whole array of possible lens implants. All I had to do was ask about the alternative lenses and say what I wanted.

In my case, I have worn glasses since as long as I can remember, and that fact has saved my eyes a great number of times, both in the shop and hobbies, and especially in the fields and forests. So I opted for the reverse of the usual, and got lenses put in which give me excellent vision at about 16-18" for book reading in my lap (right eye), and also excellent vision at about 22" for computer work (left eye). Since this is not commonly done, to my knowledge, I was amazed that my surgeon knew just what lenses to put in to achieve both goals, from his large lens inventory.

What this means is that I can function around the house just fine without glasses, but must put on my glasses to drive and go about outdoors. This forces me to have my lifelong eye protection (glasses) when I am afield. And they give me 20-15 long distance vision! I highly recommend this option to hunters and shooters, to protect your eyes. But do discuss it with your surgeon at least a couple weeks in advance, in case they do not have what you need in stock, or your surgeon needs to discuss the best closeup lenses for you with colleagues.

Aloha, Ka'imiloa

 

[sheriffjohn]

Wish I'd known about the options you wrote about. Folks who wear glasses 24/7 for decades, then switch tp contacts or go without glasses as I did almost all get something in an eye pretty soon after the change. Glasses really do protect your eyes. My "come to Jesus" experience was mere days after Lasik. Duck hunting, I dropped a cartridge and bent down to pick it up. Darned twig poked me in my eye really hard.

Well over 65 years shooting near misses injury-wise have made me a believer in eye protection. Flintlock & percussion especially, but also bad primers and split cases have also peppered my face on occasion. Throw in bad casts fly fishing, various screw ups trying to fix stuff and I consider myself fortunate to have only Macular Degeneration and Diabetic Retinopathy to deal with at age 74. Value eyesight.

 

[Muley Hunter]

I don't want to bore you with my eye horror stories. I'll just the results are 6 failed operations for my right eye and it's completely blind now. Even those it's blind I still need to take drops 10 times a day and wear a patch to protect it. It's like an open wound. I had to learn to shoot left handed.

Meanwhile I get a cataract in my left eye and was worried about operating on my one good eye. Well, sort of good. Finally after years of blurry vision I decided to get the operation. I wish I could say it was a success. My vision is blurry at all distances now. I've given up on doctors. My back is wiped out due to doctor failures.

Not one to give up. I still want to hunt with a caplock and open sights. Not sure I can. I may have to go to a scoped inline. I can't skin or butcher a kill or carry it out. I have someone who said they'd do it for me. Hopefully, they won't let me down. It's a felony here to not take out the meat. This is all providing I can even do the hunt. I want to try next fall.

So, hang in there guys. Stay positive and never give up.

 

[gman57]

I just had cataracts done this month and was worried how it would effect this season Im just finishing off the drops in the last eye which was done 3 wks ago. I opted for the lenes covered by medicare, because the better ones were $ 5,000 per eye.It worked out great for me I only need glasses for reading small print or dimly lit area, driving is all good.

 

[rangerod]

I had cataract surgery in July on both eyes. Recovery was rather difficult and lengthy. Glad I did it though.