Ah, yes, they will act as protection!

With how it turned out.

But the sun already has magnifying properties

You will probably also need eye drops, tear replacement for a while.

Just had both eyes done this spring. I'm now far sighted so need glasses to read. 180° from before. I got a cheap par of reading glasses until my eyes stabilized for a good prescription pair. I don't see any difference in correction but the prescription ones fit and feel better.

Good luck.

Needed glasses for close work

It’s nice to be able to look at a clock on the wall when and be able to see the time.

Looked like. They were just blobs before. It was like listening to radio. And I guess I don't need a new TV after all, it's perfectly clear with deep bright colors, not all dark and fuzzy

And hopefully objects in the mirror are exactly where they appear!

I'm more afraid of infection than I was of the surgery

clean! It's natural to want to rub our faces for a variety of reasons, but the less contact, the better.

It's hard when it feels like something is in my eye

I've been one-eye sighted since 1995, due to MS.
It's not a huge impediment. In fact, I barely notice it anymore.
I see light on the dead eye, but the middle 15-20% of the field of vision is just a gray blob.
Eye is still perfectly healthy so I can still be a donor.

Mine was from an accident. I can see light also. It feels like there is something hanging down in my eye

Bright is the right word

I have only one good eye due to a childhood injury so I am very nervous. I also have glaucoma that is controlled by drops for the last 15 years.

My Doctor want to do what is called MIGS surgery at the same time he does the cataract. Supposedly it is a tiny shunt that is easily done at the time of the cataract surgery. I am worried and kind of thinking that I do not want to take the chance of complications from the additional surgery? Something happens and I am blind (no backup eye). He says if he has a problem doing it at the time he will just stop at that point.

I was thinking about being able to see closeup...being able to read books and see computer screen...but he said most people are more satisfied if they can see distance and use reading glasses for closeup, I have been near-sighted most of my life (see good up close - glasses for distance).

Any thoughts, based on your experience?

I would think that having glasses for distance really means always wearing glasses to see TV or anything more than a few feet away. Whereas farsightedness means only putting on glasses when you want to read or sew etc.

Having both surgeries at the same time is lessening chances of something going wrong since in essence you are eliminating one surgery ( the anesthesia and chance of infection) what your doctor wants to do is provide drainage so fluid doesn't build up behind your eye from. The glaucoma. My father on law had it and said he was glad he did it. But his glaucoma was really bad by then.

I know how you feel about having only one good eye, but doc screw up aren't plentiful , the risk comes from the anesthesia and chance of infection. So combining both into one lessens your chances of those.

I had cataract surgery on my good eye last year — and I was petrified!!

Maybe my experience can help.

I too had been near-sighted most of my life (saw good up close - glasses for distance). 


I lost my vision in one eye ten years ago as a competitive artistic dance and figures roller skater. The floor was wet, I went down. A few weeks later, driving behind the ambulance carrying my dying husband on our way to Bay Pines Veterans Hospital, partway there, I had a sudden full retinal detachment. Drove with that eye closed 120 miles. When we arrived, I refused emergency surgery until I knew my husband was stable. By then, the 5 1/2 hour surgery completely destroyed my macula.

So yes, it’s scary as hell, and we definitely need to protect our “good” eye.

Like you, I wanted to keep my close vision and wear glasses only for driving. And like you, my eye doc said most people opt for seeing far and wear glasses for reading and up close work.

As a retired medical professional, I write medical-legal thriller novels (which has been a sanity-saver for me to stay focused and block out the news!). Also, I read a lot, and on the computer and other devices.

Also, I’ve been sewing since I was nine, when my mother taught me to use a foot pedal machine to make a pair of navy blue bloomers (with tiny gold crowns scattered in a pattern — funny the things we remember). Sewed all four of my kids’ clothes, including complicated prom dresses.

But I digress (sort of).

The way I decided on whether to keep my near vision, or go for far vision, was to calculate what percentage of time I spent doing stuff.

For me, it was 85-90% of my time reading and computer work (much of which is reading the tiny print on my phone to keep up with DU), woodworking, sketching and painting, and of course, sewing.

Approximately 10-15% of my time driving. Or admiring the rural landscape details as I take my two pups for their walks. I tossed my TV decades ago, but YMMV.

Even though I saw seven cataract specialists to be absolutely sure I chose the right one, all seven said exactly was your doc said — that most people choose to see distance clearly and wear glasses for near vision.

Not me. There’s so much freedom in doing, and seeing, things up close and in the middle distance. Without any glasses at all.

**Side note, but very relevant: I also opted for the “Basic” Cataract Surgery, which is actually done by the surgeon’s skill — not by an AI laser machine, which can also compromise night vision. (It usually tells you in the fine print marketing info they give you, and turns out to be a big surprise to those who don’t read it and then try to drive at night afterwards.)

Plus, the entire Basic procedure is totally covered by insurance (in my case, Medicare and ChampVA). My only cost was for the eyedrops. While laser surgeries can cost upwards of $4,500.00, depending on where you live.

Kinda makes you wonder about recommendations and profit margins.

I thank my lucky stars every day that I didn’t let any of the the docs talk me into opting for far vision. Or for the expensive-and-(IMO)-not-so-great laser choices. I now can see the tiniest details — including minute directions on pill bottles.

Bottom line: You are unique, walkingman, and once you figure out what you spend most of your time doing, then the decision is easy. No matter what the docs say.

I hope this helps.

Warm wishes to you that all goes well. I’m sure you’ll make the best choice. Please keep us posted on how it goes.

I do enjoy reading, my computer, and really don't have a problem wearing glasses as needed - that is what I do already anyway. Although I do wear contacts, or did when I worked although not so much now.

So how did you choice of "near vision" work for you? Can you see as good as previously close up? I can read even small print now without my glasses and prior to my cataract getting worse in this last year I could even see my computer screen without glasses - can't see the screen well now. My prescription went from -3.50 to -6.50 just this last year and that was the first change in years for me. I can see distance now pretty well, but as I said earlier any light or glare makes it difficult. I had to go to dark mode on the desktop to even read text (that worked well).

I worry about getting my measurements for the IOL in March - how accurate it will be and of course the proposed MIGS surgery to hopefully correct my glaucoma (the drops are keeping my pressure at 11-14 without any issue). But as mentioned earlier if it does get worse additional surgery will be required and the Dr. did say that traditional glaucoma surgery is more serious that the proposed MIGS procedure.

Sorry to be so long-winded but I really do appreciate your insight. ☮

Vision is now perfect! I can see better up close now than ever before, even the very smallest print. Also on the computer. And absolutely no glare issues.
☮

After my cataract surgery, I got 20/20 vision distance after being near-sighted my entire life, and I could distinguish colors much more accurately. I too, still need readers, but I can drive and walk around without specs, so mine was a success.

I hope you have long term improvement as well. Best wishes to you.

And the colors are vivid

but that's only 2-3 weeks if I remember right. Again, best wishes. As I have both eyes still, and had them done one at a time, I can only imagine your trepidation at risking your only organ of sight. Good on you for having the courage, and again I wish you well.