Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

How is your vision after Cataract Surgery?

How is your vision after Cataract Surgery?
Please specify whether you got a monofocal or multifocal/accommodative IOL.

I would like to know what distances you are able to see clearly. What distances are slightly blurry, but acceptable, and what distances are just unbearably blurry.

I am particularly interested in those who have received Monofocal IOL set to Distance but I would also really appreciate hearing those experiences with different IOLs. I have heard from several people that with a IOL Set to Distance, they are still able to use the Computer at about 18 inches. This has confused me since I had thought IOL set to distance makes intermediate distance blurry.

Thanks!
180 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
Avatar universal
Thanks for this thread. It's been very helpful.

I'm 47 and have congenital cataract in both eyes and high myopia as well. Up until the last year and a half, my corrected vision was enough to be 20/40 in at least the right eye but in this past year and a half, I've noticed I'm not seeing nearly as well. Seems the usual cataracts that form at age is progressing and after yesterday's visit, cataract surgery has been scheduled for the left eye (worse eye) in late July with the right 3 weeks later. My initial decision was to go for near distance IOL since I sit in front of computer 12+ hours a day but I'm having 2nd thoughts. I don't care if I'd need to use reading or progressive glasses if they'd allow me to still see what I'm doing at the keys (programming, IT work, 2D/3D CGI, etc) and have clear distance vision without glasses. I'm concerned near focus might make it so I don't see things beyond arm's distance well enough (faces, tv, etc which I don't make out too well now anyway). I also don't know how well distance vision would be with a post-op prescription vs had I gone distance in the first place.

So much to research. So much bouncing in my head. I'm concerned I might make the wrong choice. My pre-op is at the end of June so I have time. Just a bit stressful. :)

My thanks to all that have contributed to this thread. I welcome any advice and information.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
They are the Alcon AcrySof lenses.  I am in Madison, Wisconsin.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi

Which toric and multifocal lens did you use? Tecnis or another brand?

Where did you have surgery?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thought I'd post my experience here.  53 years old.  Hard contact lens wearer for over 30 years.  Cataracts diagnosed at the end of January.  I was getting deterioration of my vision in the right eye, and increased presbyopia (about normal for my age, probably).  Optometrist recommended cataract surgery and made a referral to the ophthalmologist.  Said I might not need contacts or glasses anymore after the surgery.  I had no idea they could do this.

Ophthalmologist confirmed I was an appropriate candidate for cataract surgery.  Scheduled the surgery, along with several pre-op appointments for measurements.  Everything went fine.  Selection of lenses was an issue.  They offered the Alcon standard, multifocal or toric.  I have strabismus (eyes don't focus together) and decided I wanted at least one multifocal.  Right eye had low astigmatism (about 1.00) which doctor thought would be fine untreated.  So they did the right first with a multifocal.  For about the first 24 hours I was worried but both the near and far vision cleared up within a couple days to the point I was pretty amazed.

Selection of lens for the 2nd eye was difficult.  Astigmatism of 1.76 needed to be dealt with.  So the choice was the toric lens, or I could do another multifocal with the surgeon doing LRI (limbal relaxing incisions).  She was confident she could adequately deal with the astigmatism either way.  I decided to go with the toric because my priority was to get the best distance vision and I already had the ability to read a computer monitor, a cell phone, and labels with the multifocal on the right.

I am pretty amazed by the result.  Both eyes tested at 20/20 after the surgery.  Before the surgery my better eye was 20/150.  I can read a smartphone and a computer monitor easily with the right eye multifocal lens.  Absolutely no need for reading glasses.  The right is very good for distance also, but the left is even better.  The contrast is a bit better and there is a bit less glare from lights.  I was worried that the toric without the multifocal would have such bad up-close vision that it would be distracting, but that has not been the case.  I can read the time on my digital watch with that eye.  I can read my computer monitor also, although if I had to depend on that eye for reading I would use reading glasses.

I hope this is helpful to someone.  If anyone has questions, please feel free to post.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
re: "This may not be a big deal to the outcome of the cataract surgery"

The rate of postop infection is very low these days so usually blepharitis doesn't impact the outcome so I guess many surgeons will go ahead anyway if the cataract is causing trouble. However apparently since some blepharitis is caused by an infection it can be a risk factor for postop infection. I just grabbed some quick links mentioning it. I don't know if they simply consider it a low risk so they don't worry about it, but it is common:

http://www.healio.com/optometry/cataract-surgery/news/print/primary-care-optometry-news/%7B367caee5-3e70-4bf5-98db-9739c885db58%7D/treat-blepharitis-preoperatively-for-optimal-cataract-surgery-results
"November 2010
A poster presented at the annual American Society for Cataract and Refractive Surgery Symposium on Cataract, IOL and Refractive Surgery earlier this year showed that 60% of patients scheduled for cataract surgery have blepharitis. Considering the prevalence in this patient population, Katherine Mastrota, OD, suggests a careful preoperative evaluation.

'In any surgery, most ocular infection is from the skin’s surface,' Dr. Mastrota said in an interview. 'When you have high bacterial counts on the lids and lashes, the bacteria can invade the small wound. You want to prepare the patient for a successful surgery by having an optimum ocular surface and being sure the area around the eye is clean.'  "

http://crstoday.com/2009/05/CRST0509_14.php/
"THE ENDOPHTHALMITIS LINK
Anterior and posterior blepharitis has often been considered a nuisance rather than a serious medical problem. As our understanding of the condition grows, however, it is becoming apparent that blepharitis is more than an annoyance. In isolated cases, it can lead to permanent scarring of the lid margins and other significant problems. Some of the sequelae include common chalazion or internal hordeolum, dry eyes, punctate keratitis, phlyctenular or pannus formation, corneal ulceration, and most dramatically, endophthalmitis.3 "

http://cdn.intechopen.com/pdfs-wm/42715.pdf
"Case reports have described possibly inadequately treated blepharitis and rosacea associated with cases of endophthalmitis despite the use of good surgical technique."

http://cdn.intechopen.com/pdfs-wm/42723.pdf
"Blepharitis, vitreous loss and wound leak are major potential preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative risk factors for endophthalmitis."


re: "did not carefully examine my eyes and eyelids during my initial visit."

It is important to consider that before surgery, however I don't know what the context of that visit was, it may be the sort of thing they only do immediately preop. Often people wind up at an MD (referred to by an optometrist) regarding a specific issue like diagnosing a visual glitch and discovering it is a cataract and therefore that specific issue is  what the surgeon addresses rather than other issues a non-surgeon usually deals with. Also many people have slowly developing cataracts and wait a long time before surgery, so a surgeon who doesn't know that surgery is imminent may not bother looking at factors that may change before then (figuring some non-surgeon is dealing with them).
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I've discovered that I have blepharitis, and possibly MGD as well. So, surgery is postponed until I have healthy eyes, eyelids, tear glands and tear ducts. .

It makes me shudder to realize that my surgeon did not carefully examine my eyes and eyelids during my initial visit. This may not be a big deal to the outcome of the cataract surgery. But, treating blepharitis and/or MGD is much trickier after a cataract surgery - until it is fully healed.

Ultimately, our eyes do not see well without a steady supply of healthy tears - and dry eyes are a very common after effect of cataract surgery.
Helpful - 0
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Eye Care Community

Top General Health Answerers
177275 tn?1511755244
Kansas City, MO
Avatar universal
Grand Prairie, TX
Avatar universal
San Diego, CA
Learn About Top Answerers
Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
Discharge often isn't normal, and could mean an infection or an STD.
In this unique and fascinating report from Missouri Medicine, world-renowned expert Dr. Raymond Moody examines what really happens when we almost die.
Think a loved one may be experiencing hearing loss? Here are five warning signs to watch for.
When it comes to your health, timing is everything
We’ve got a crash course on metabolism basics.
Learn what you can do to avoid ski injury and other common winter sports injury.