I have been diagnosed with moderate cataract cloudiness in both eyes
and I am trying to determine the best options
as far as IOL choices for likely surgery down the road.
I have read many posts on this forum and they are very helpful.
Everyone, of course, has their own situation and priorities.
My situation: I am a 72 year old male, fairly myopic my whole life (latest RX: -9 OS -11.5 OD).
Last year I developed a macular pucker in my right (dominant) eye and had a vitrectomy and epiretinal membrane peel surgery.
So far, this hasn't improved the distorted vision (20/50) in my right eye, but hopefully has stopped the progression.
My left eye has a PVD (floater), along with the moderate lens clouding, but is still 20/20.
As far as future cataract surgery, my cataract MD is suggesting targeting moderate near vision for the IOL's since I am myopic, but not rushing into surgery again, since I am still 20/20 in my LE.
Without glasses, my vision focuses a couple inches from my nose, which is handy for small work, but I can't read or use a computer without glasses, unlike other myopics on this forum.
I do drive and hike, so I'm tempted to look at plano vision for the IOL's instead, and continuing to use glasses for computer and reading. Either way, I'll lose my "microscopic vision", which I'm not happy about, but it seems inevitable with cataract surgery.
My optometrist is working with me to trial different options with contacts. First, I have tried a monovision option with distance in my good, but non-dominant left eye, and -1.75 for reading in my distorted (dominant) right eye.
I found that my brain kind of adjusted, but my pucker made it impossible to read at all from the right eye, so this did not work.
Basically, I find that I have to use my left 20/20 eye for any detail, with the right eye just filling in some binocular vision.
Because of this, I am inclined to get matching far vision IOLs, and continue with glasses for reading.
I'm getting matching far vision contacts to try this out next.
But reading vision, with glasses for distance, seems to be suggested on this forum and by my cataract surgeon.
My right eye distortion in my dominant eye seems to limit my normal options for IOLs.
What have others done in my situation and would it be inadvisable to shoot for plano as a myopic person with basically only one good eye?
And, will cataract surgery improve my vision at all in my right (macular pucker) eye?
Or, will this just help with image brightness and size between the eyes?
Finally, how can I "trial" near vision contacts, using glasses for far vision.
(Drugstore cheaters are only +diopters, aren't they?)
Thanks for any advice and feedback.