Cataract surgery...

[John Schmidt]

Had a long overdue eye exam last week, found the overall health is good but I'm developing cataracts...apparently moreso in the right eye. I've been watching various videos on Youtube regarding the different lenses available and to say it's confusing is an understatement. I'm leaning toward the rather new Synergy(July, 2021) multifocal lens but it seems any of those type lenses have a halo around lights at night. I'm curious if anybody has experienced that and is it tolerable. I had Lasik on both eyes about 25 yrs. ago and it was great for someone that was nearsighted all my life. Now, not only has the lens lost some of its focusing ability, but add to that the advent of cataracts and things aren't as clear as I'd like. I'll most likely do one eye at a time, I still have good distant vision in the left eye, the right eye distant vision is still decent but the blur is becoming more pronounced due to the cataract. So, what's been your experience, I want to be as informed as possible before making an appt. with the surgeon.

FWIW...I've been using dime store reading glasses for the last few years. I can use the computer without them but it gives me a headache after about 30 minutes. Reading...different story, especially if the print lacks contrast...out come the cheaters!

[old2soon]

     I'll check and see which lens I had put in But he gave me a choice-did I want to see near or far. Corrective lens for driving or corrective lens for reading. I now have corrective lens fer both!  But the lens for driving-distance-are a lighter prescription than what I had Before the surgery. And NO/NONE/NADA halos day or night. I'll either call ya or P M ya John!  RIDE SAFE.

[cookiedough]

best of luck on the cataract surgery should go well.  Do not be afraid to ask TONS of questions to the DR. on the procedure and what you want done to see the best possible.

My dad some 20 years ago in his mid 60's needed cataract surgery and one thing you have to be is NOT sick/no coughing/sneezing and very steady NOT moving while the procedure is going on taking not long at all.  We had to cancel his 1st surgery appt. after showing up for it he was sick coughing, etc. not able to hold steady.   Surgery went well and cataracts lasted the next 20 years of his life.

[Daniel Meyer]

I just did my left eye. I went with a single focal lens...the basic...you can choose distance or close with that, and will likely need glasses for the other stuff.

I elected for distance, the results are fantastic. 20/20 distance vision. Can see gauge clusters/etc without correction as well. Need readers for my close screen reading/books and such.

No halos...very very pleased. The surgery itself was a non-event. Check in paperwork at 6:30am, wife and I having breakfast at our favorite place by 8:30am. No pain (except the initial numbing eye drops sting a bit, go figure). Eyedrops for a month, type and dosages (number of drops) taper off each week.

The basic lens was 100% covered by my insurance, the multi-focal ones were significantly extra...like a couple thousand $$ extra. That was part of my decision, as well as the possible side effect of halos with the multi-focal lenses.

Need to do the other eye as well...but have a significant corneal scar that complicates things...can't even see that specialist till middle of January to see what my options are.

Hope this helps!

[John Schmidt]

Daniel, thanks for the input. I'm really undecided about which lens but your experience sure helps. If I choose the distance lens and have to use reading glasses, it won't be much different than my current situation since I have to use them anyway. It's become a way of life I guess, I suppose it comes with the years. One dr. told me that cataracts for the most part are like gray hair and wrinkles...you can't avoid them as you age. I told him the only way I beat some of the wrinkles is to stay fat, it keeps the wrinkles filled in. 

When you say you can read gauge clusters, are you talking about something like the gauges on our Valks? That certainly is encouraging, my appt. with the surgeon is Dec. 7th so will be a couple weeks before I have any answers as to when/if the surgery will be done. Thanks again and "hey" to that gentleman that beat me out of the oldest rider the last few years. 

[G-Man]

I had "premature" cataracts in both eyes.  Been wearing correction since age 3.  By the time I was a young teenager they were coke bottles.  Was one of the first contact lens wearers.  Wore them for over 30 years until the cataracts developed.  Due to a large astigmatism in both eyes, I was not a candidate for multifocal lenses.  He used a static focal lens for distance and I need to wear something for reading and driving at night (low light conditions).  I can wake up and function throughout my whole day without glasses.  I can even read most things during the day and drive comfortably with no correction during the day.  Also due to the astigmatism and high degree of myopia, he had to use the laser to make all incisions and then did lasik while I was there.  He wanted to do both eyes at the same time but I was too nervous for that so I had them dome a month apart.

I'm actually glad that I developed the cataracts because without them, I never would have had the lens replacement surgery and would still be dependent on glasses or contact lenses.  I was even able to prescription riding glasses for riding at night.  Yes, I have and still do spend a lot of money on my eyes, but it's better than the alternative!!!!!   

[Feuerstein]

Hi,
You can certainly imagine that life in Switzerland is very expensive and so were my lenses...
I had the operation in 2020, so almost two years ago, at the age of 61... and the lenses cost me approx. £ 8'000, but I wanted to get rid of my glasses...
I had the choice between monofocal lenses (wearing glasses afterwards), bifocal lenses which got me rid of my glasses for the rest of my life. The third option was tri- or multifocal with the thread of halos...
So I choose the bifocal with corrections of every vision problems, incl. corneal curvature. The operations werde quick and almost painless, only a wee pressure on the eyeball when the lenses were inserted.
The operation is called "femto-fako" and is a wee bit more expensive that the standard surgical.
The first check after a year showed no issues and I am happy with the new lenses with no halos or other issues, besides slight "blurrs" coming from the different volume of the "liquid" inside the eyeballs, due to different size of the artifical lenses.
Good luck with yours...
Cheers form across the Atlantic
Al, a.k.a. Feuerstein, VRCC# 29192

[old2soon]

I just did my left eye. I went with a single focal lens...the basic...you can choose distance or close with that, and will likely need glasses for the other stuff.

I elected for distance, the results are fantastic. 20/20 distance vision. Can see gauge clusters/etc without correction as well. Need readers for my close screen reading/books and such.

No halos...very very pleased. The surgery itself was a non-event. Check in paperwork at 6:30am, wife and I having breakfast at our favorite place by 8:30am. No pain (except the initial numbing eye drops sting a bit, go figure). Eyedrops for a month, type and dosages (number of drops) taper off each week.

The basic lens was 100% covered by my insurance, the multi-focal ones were significantly extra...like a couple thousand $$ extra. That was part of my decision, as well as the possible side effect of halos with the multi-focal lenses.

Need to do the other eye as well...but have a significant corneal scar that complicates things...can't even see that specialist till middle of January to see what my options are.

Hope this helps!

          Thanks Daniel! Thats what I went with both eyes single focal lens and I chose to see long. But I Still NEED glasses to Drive and to Read. And I went with 2 different pair of glases-driving and reading. And I also already have dry socket!  Oh and John the gauges are easy to see just dropping my focus from road to gauges and back and mirrors and so on. And as I'd mentioned right after my surgery-The Clarity and Colors are WONDERFUL! Kinda like when you git a new T V-You did NOT Know how bad the old one sucked!  RIDE SAFE.

[John Schmidt]

Wondering how depth perception is with the distance lenses. I'll probably never get to fly again but if I do, I hope depth perception is still there. There's a young guy in my church that's an instructor and we've talked a bit so you never know! Doubt I'll ever be able to go solo again at my age after being away from it for over 30 yrs.

[old2soon]

Wondering how depth perception is with the distance lenses. I'll probably never get to fly again but if I do, I hope depth perception is still there. There's a young guy in my church that's an instructor and we've talked a bit so you never know! Doubt I'll ever be able to go solo again at my age after being away from it for over 30 yrs.

        John I'm 76 with breathing issues and my depth perception and my periphial vision are Still GOOD. My periphial vision has saved me from catastrophe more than once. And talkin post surgery here! And by now as a guess I'm SURE if I had Any Issues I'd Know bout them by now!  RIDE SAFE.

[Daniel Meyer]

When you say you can read gauge clusters, are you talking about something like the gauges on our Valks?

Yes, I can read the Valks gauges. Also since I don't need correction for distance in that eye, I've gone back to my ANSI wrap around safety glasses for riding...you can get them tinted or clear (for day/night)...AND you can get them with various power readers in the bottom so you can glance down at gauges (or maps/etc). They cost like $6.

My left eye's doing all the heavy lifting...the right eye's a mess and I won't know possibilities till the middle of January, but I still have excellent depth perception and peripheral vision.

[Bigmac2]

Just had my left eye done went with single lens set for distance and having astigmatism dont need glasses for close and dont have halos  right eye is schedualed for end of december dont know why  i waited for so long

[shortleg]

Have had both eyes done.
  Have the lens that I see distance and use readers.
Use sunglasses  that have readers in the bottom of them when riding.
  They work great for seeing speedo and gps.

[Wizzard]

had my lens replaced, one does distance and one up close. Would do the same again.