I'm 57 with retina problems from birth that gives me 20/200 corrected vision in both eyes. My glasses are -17D in both eyes (2D of astigmatism). I remove my glasses to read. It’s like using +17D reading glasses. My focus distance is 2 inches, but I need to get this close to see the type (because of my retina), so that works very well. I'm very used to lifting up my glasses to my forehead to see close.
I now have cataracts in both eyes that are getting bad and I need to have surgery.
I need to choose what correction to get implanted (if any). If I had no retina problems, and had normal corrected vision, the answer would obviously be to fully correct my vision so I wouldn't need glasses for distance, and I could use regular reading glasses of, say, 2D. But in my case, if I chose the full correction, I'd need to have 17D reading glasses for reading.
Fully correcting my distance vision would involve a big lifestyle/habit adjustment. I'd no longer have instant +17D reading ability by removing my glasses. Instead, I'd have to carry the +17D reading glasses around my neck and pop them on as needed. On the other hand, my distance vision wouldn't need glasses and might be slightly better because I won't be using thick glasses. It's hard for me to guess how this change will affect me. It's scary to feel like I won't be able to read or see close without glasses. I feel pretty attached to being able to do that.
Correcting my vision to match what my eyes do now would be comfortable, but I'd still have to wear these thick glasses for distance.
I’d like to know of anyone's experiences adjusting from very high myopia to a complete distance correction after cataract surgery - if their corrected vision is as bad as mine (20/200). How long did it take to adjust? Do they/you feel better off, worse off, or the same, as before the change and adjustment period. Any other thoughts?
Also, if I can get by without an IOL after surgery, is there any advantage to that?