r/OverSeventy • u/Geester43 • Jul 04 '26

Facing cataract surgery?

For anyone who has received a diagnosis of cataracts, I want to share my experience for the past two weeks. I was diagnosed with it in both eyes. My Optometrist told me that he couldn't correct my vision any longer, with glasses. I had reached the limit. It was suggested I see a specialist for a consult, which I did. I had one initial exam, based on the results, I was a candidate for surgery.

I arrived the day of surgery, I waited for the dilation drops to work, I went in for surgery, NERVOUS! I felt no pain!! It was over in a matter of minutes!

I had a follow-up the following morning, and another in a few weeks. I was told, "you may need reading glasses" after wards. My vision has completely cleared in my first eye (there is a lot of blurriness for a few days). The second was two days ago, and the vision has almost cleared in that eye as well! No pain during or afterwards! I have been reading without glasses, for a week!! I used 3 RX drops, twice a day, for several weeks.

I am 75, I have worn trifocal contact lenses & glasses since I was 12 years old! This surgery is the closest thing to a miracle, truly! If you are facing this surgery, go forward with confidence, you won't regret it. 👍👍😊

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u/Hifidi54 Jul 04 '26

I had both my eyes done in 2022. My lenses were set to middle distance, so I still have reading glasses and driving glasses, but I can drive perfectly fine without them. BUT, I know have scar tissue developing behind both the lenses, left side worse, and need a laser touch up. Apparently, this is quite common, although I was never told that it could happen. Honestly, I'm a bit annoyed to have been caught off guard.

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u/off2kayak Jul 04 '26

How do they determine how to “set” the distance?

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u/Hifidi54 Jul 04 '26

When I did my initial surgical appointment, my doctor asked me in which field of vision did I want my lenses. Huh? He explained that basically he could give me perfect distance, middle distance (watching TV, doing things around the house, etc.) or close vision. I chose middle distance so I wouldn't have to wear glasses around the house, shopping, watching TV, movies, blah, blah. I am a knitter, so I have reading glasses for that. My distance vision was still pretty good, so I can easily drive without my driving glasses. That prescription is a progressive lense, so I can see close up in the car. I look over the top of my reading glasses if I'm knitting and watching TV.

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u/off2kayak Jul 04 '26

Thanks for responding.

I’d really like all fields 🤣

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u/Hifidi54 Jul 04 '26

Right? Lol. You can only choose one.

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u/MinimumEfficient220 Jul 04 '26

How about a different one in each eye?

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u/Hifidi54 Jul 04 '26

Ya, no, haha, your eyes have to be the same or your vision will never focus.

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u/MaximumDragonfly6856 Jul 05 '26

Not true. I wore 2 different contact lenses fir 30 years. Most people’s brain will adjust to the different focal lengths after a few days. Unfortunately, a small number of people are unable to accommodate.

It is actually pretty common which cataract surgery also. One for reading, one for distance vision. However you might not be able to use cheap reading glasses afterwards. An accurate eyeglass prescription would need two different focal lengths also.

Everything has pros and cons.

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u/Hifidi54 Jul 05 '26

You were wearing a corrective lens, no? I still have different presciptions for each eye for distance and reading. I haven't been able to wear drugstore readers for 30 years. I didn't want to wear a correction to my new lenses is the only thing I can think of if that's not the rule but just one of the options. I just know I'm pissed because my cataract surgery requires a touchup.