I was told I have cataracts in both eyes and should have them removed. My dilemma is which lens to have put in so it won’t affect my shooting ,hunting and be the best for every day life. They give me the choice of toric for distance(will still need readers) and the new multi focal lens( which I have heard good and bad on). Anyone have experiences with these?

Topic , I don’t mind wearing glasses but I have been nearsighted since 12 years old. I “qualified “ for cataract surgery but don’t have trouble with lights at night driving or blurry day vision. At almost 73 years old I am waiting. FYI

My mom and dad had the toric. Dad is now blind in 1 eye. Mom had no issues. Eyes, along with back....i advise folks to live with the problem as long as they possibly can before modification. Messed up eyes and back are life changers.

M -

The multi-focal IOLs work as advertised, but can (read will) increase glare, especially at night. With single focus lenses, the worst case scenario would be you might need reading glasses.

But the pros and cons can be very subjective and have to be discussed with the guy doing the work, and since it is elective surgery, I would get at least one second (ophthalmologist's) opinion. Talking about it with you optometrist would also be a good idea.

Viper out.

I have heard good reports on the multi focal lens. You might also check on the new LAL (light adjustable Lens). This is not a multi focal lens, but it provides the ability to adjust the magnification or level of correction after there lens is in place. Once the final adjustment is made the correction is locked in and cannot be changed. But, at least you have the option to fine tune the correction. Without a multi focal lens you will most likely need readers. Do the research, get a second opinion and find the Dr that has the reputation of fixing what other Dr.'s mess up. In Houston, TX that would be Dr. Goosey. Just like archers, there is a difference in the skill and experience of eye surgeons. Stay away from the Cataract clinics. Good luck!

Best thing I ever did,toric.After wearing glasses or contacts since 4th grade I am now 20/10 vision.Its weird now I can also shoot behind my back.

Ditto what 4nolz posted. Best thing I ever did for my vision. Had it done in both eyes in 2018 and still amazed how well I can see. Don't mind readers at all.

I just had it done with the standard lens; one eye came out better than perfect, 20-15 vision, three days after the surgery I couldn't even tell I had it done.

The other eye didn't come out so well, two months out I still see flickering lights, feels like the lens is has pressure on it and my eye is watering like crazy. I only got about 20-30 out of that eye.

I have my last check-up in a week, then I will find out what they can do about the problems in this eye.

I had it done in 2020 and don’t even need glasses

I’ve worked in the eye industry for the last 30 years (still do) and am quite familiar with the various implant options following cataract surgery. I’d be happy to give you an objective and unbiased explanation of these options if you would like. If you pm me, I’ll send you my cell phone number. There’s too much info to type.

I had a standard lens put in my right eye. The left eye has demacular degeneration so nothing can be done. But with that standard lens my long distance vision is fine. I had bifocal glasses and hated them, so I put up with readers.

I've had both eyes done 12+ years ago. I have 20/20 in my left eye but the astigmatism in my right eye prevented that. I was near sighted and that helped with my tinkering with electronics and very small print but the cataract lenses did away with that and I miss it. I wear glasses and otherwise don't have a problem. It sure beats looking through a fog all the time.

I had both eyes done and now have 20-10 vision just like when I was a kid its great to be able to see again .

had eight eye surgeries on my left eye in about a year and a few months. started off with a cornea transplant that failed at 8 months (takes a year to heal). a couple attempts to fix it and then a second cornea transplant. I already had cataracts but they were going to wait. problem, the surgeries ramped up the cataract super bad to where I couldn't even see out of the eye. So it was really huge, normal cataract surgery takes about 12-15 minutes, this one, over 45 minutes. So, I am at a year's healing time now and everything is a bad blur. So I wear an eye patch a lot.

Just took a friend in for his second cataract surgery. It was easy and he's seeing better every week. The first eye was instantly better after the surgery. Most do the worst first and if they ate the same?...do the dominant eye first.

My advise is don't put it off longer than necessary. My wife kept putting off the surgery and eventually one eye got in such bad shape the doctor said it will probably take 4 to 6 months to properly heal.

unless you absolutely need to have the cataract removed, i would suggest waiting.

i do not have experience with either of those lenses.

i had a cataract removed from my left eye in December of last year. my vision was bad mainly in low light conditions and the pressure in the eye was very high.

my goal, which i made clear prior to surgery, was to improve my vision in low light conditions and of course, lower the pressure. i was Ok if i had to still wear glasses.

two days after surgery i literally could not see more than a few feet in front of me. to this day, i have halos around lights at night and i do not see any better in low light conditions. i hate driving at night and avoid it when possible. the pressure remains elevated. my eye glass prescription changed.

as someone posted above, i often feel pressure in the eye and it waters a lot. i have been back to the doctor many times and a few months after surgery had a laser procedure done to remove scar tissue.

i have just given up and canceled my last appointment which was scheduled back in august. it is what it is i suppose.

do your due diligence with doctors, the procedure, and lens options and to repeat, i do not recommend it unless it is absolutely necessary. i wish you the best.

My wife had both eyes done with the multi-focal lenses and still needs readers. I just

got new contacts but can only get 20/25 due to a cataract.

I had both eyes done in 2013. My right eye was worse. I had a toric lens put in it cause I spent so many years with bad eyes and seeing at a distance was always a struggle. It is great. Had left eye done with regular lens. I started wearing glasses in 4th grade and my eyes were terrible as an adult.

The cataract surgery was the best thing I’ve done. I have 20/20 in my bad eye and better than that in the other. I do use 1.25 readers but figure I don’t mind that.

Corneal transplant is completely different that cataract surgery

I had both of mine done and its no big deal I see great now so has my wife we are in our 70's. Bergie

Had it done 2020 and wasn't qualified for Muti-focul and back to wearing glasses, been earring them since 8yrs old and 70 now.

I can see with out glasses 20/35 but for finer details and for reading, I was looking forward not to wear glasses but not in the lab, just grateful for eye sight.

The cataract surgery after all of the other issues left me with an enlarged pupil which makes light changes difficult. I doubt that I would have had any issues with the cataract surgery otherwise

I've had both eyes done with standard lenses, best thing I ever did. I continue to use readers, no problem for me at all.

Had one eye done toric and love it. I wore contacts for years but, when eye tried multi focal they made me dizzy. Couldn't take a chance on having my lenses make me full time dizzy. i love the clarity i now have with just the one. I can't wait for the other eye to need it.

Thanks to everyone for sharing your experiences and insights, after carefull considerations and talking to some of you guys I am going to go ahead and get the toric lens for distance. I think that will serve me the best, wearing readers won’t be a problem

I had cataract surgery at the beginning of the covid. I had been wearing contacts for over 30 years and had them for monovision...one eye corrected for distance, the other for close. For most people, the brain is able to take the information from both eyes and one has both distance and near vision without need for glasses or readers.

Your eye doctor can put you in contacts or glasses to see if monovison works for you before you have cataract surgery. The best thing about having monovison with cataracts is that one does not have to pay for the premium lenses with medicare as the normal lenses are covered.

One thing not really mentioned is that many people have corneal regrowth over the new lens which detracts from vision. Luckily, there is an easy remedy with YAG laser treatment which burns the cells and restores clarity. The YAG treatment provides a permanent cure for the growth of the cells.

Well I decided to go with the toric lens for distance and couldn’t be any happier with the outcome. I had my left eye done 2 weeks ago and my right eye yesterday. 20/20 vision in left and already near that in my right after one day. I will need readers for close work and reading but arms length and out is great, I can even see the front and rear sights on my flintlocks

Great news. I'm glad it turned out well for you. I know I couldn't be happier to see without glasses.

I think the prevailing result with the "standard" lens is that you will end up close to where your vision is before the cataract began to impact your vision providing every thing goes as expected. I never needed glasses and had excellent vision until the cataracts really started dimming the light. I had the standard lens put in the non dominant eye 5 days ago and my vision in that eye improved from 20/50 to 20/20. Even with my dominant eye occluded and scheduled for surgery next week I am now able to read without glasses.

No one has mentioned monovision. That is where one eye is corrected for distance, the other for close. The brain is amazing as it adjusts for the difference in eye focus.

I wore contact lenses for over 50 years and by accident discovered monovision with contacts. I had mixed reactions with the torics and found I needed readers for close work. When I developed cataracts, I asked about the difference between toric and monovision. The best thing was that going the monovision route, medicare would pay for the standard lenses and not torics.

I had both eyes done a little over 3 years ago and have excellent distance vision and can read the small print on just about everything without the need for readers.

Monovision is not for everyone. My wife could not deal with it. However, your eye physician can let you try it with a pair of glasses (not bifocals) or a set of contacts to help you decide.

JRT51...looks like you are using monovision!

That's correct , I never had astigmatism issues before just presbyopia as the cataracts worsened but they became rapidly more severe. If skate by with vision close to what it was before the cataracts occurred , I'll be more than a happy camper. Readers now actually hinder my vision while reading the computer; was really reticent getting the first eye done , can't wait to do the other!

Can't remember what it's called but I found out a few days before Christmas that due to age (will be 70) on December 30th that the jelly like material behind my eye has hardened and separated from the eye and is causing white waves to be seen. My family has a history of Macular Degeneration. Scared the heck out of me. Didn't know if it was that or detached retina. He showed me the pictures of the eye on the computer and is going to take more pictures on January 4th to recheck it. In the meantime he told me not to bend over, strain, shoot my gun or my bow. He said within a few months my brain will get used to it. This is in my left eye which is the non dominant eye. Do have cataracts forming but not bad enough yet for surgery. I wonder if others have ever experienced this?

“Floaters” are common as we age and you do get used to them. Staying hydrated helps. I had cataracts removed from both eyes in May. Really improved my sight! And the doctor corrected my astigmatism and my distance prescribed went from 700 to 300!! And I can still see very well up close. I have always worn glasses, so Dr just tried to improve my sight for all ranges.

I'm transitioning now from hard contacts to soft contacts since May to let my eye go back to its normal shape. They'll evaluate me in Feb. for the cataract operation. I have a friend that had the multi focus lens put in and he loves it. I don't which direction I'll go though since I have had a bad left eye since birth so really one good eye.

Hey heres my 2 cents worth. I wore contacts since high school,now 74 and last yr. my optometrist said my vision could only be corrected to 40/ not acceptable. After finding a top flite optomologist who carefully explained that my astigmatism would best be corrected by using Toric lens. Had originally wanted to be able to have the multifocal but also wanted best possible distance eyesite. Long story short...the new Toric lenses gave me 20/20 in both and was immediate (within 24 hrs) Still use 1.75 readers but always did before. Just make sure you get a reputable guy as Ive heard very bad reports from some. Cost to me was 1000 over what medicare would pay for standard lens....good luck.

I saw my eye doctor on Thursday, cataracts in both eyes. Surgery required not yet scheduled. I need to decide which way to go, glasses for reading or distance. I’m thinking readers which I currently don’t use.

I had it done in both eyes, I went with the toric lens for distance( to correct astigmatism). I can read normal print without glasses but use a pair of cheap 1.5 readers for small stuff. It is great to be without glasses. They were trying to talk me into the multi focus lens, but after seeking advise here I decided against it and I’m glad I did

I had mine done about 12 years ago, I corrected to 20/15 in both eyes. I'm 83 now and still correct to 20/20, use readers for reading, but no problem. Scott, glad everything worked out. Bob

Had both my eyes done about two years ago. Chose fixed correction lenses at the time so still need a minor correction for reading. My wife just had both her eyes done and chose the multi-focals. Her correction before surgery was greater than mine. Now, she doesn't need glasses. We're both very pleased with the results.

I'm about two months out of the last visit now and the wife goes in Monday for similar work but she's spending the big bucks to be eye glass free afterwards. The standard lenses restored my vision to 20/15 both eyes and I can read just about read everything without readers except for the smallest of print. I think if your vision was like mine and pretty good before the cataracts it will be about the same afterwords. It is a much more difficult decision if you are dealing with an astigmatism , especially when you are considering the cost in relation to the time you have left.

Will be needing it done in at least one eye. I'm in the early stage of cataracts.

I had bilateral multi focal lens replacement in 2016(?) uncertain on date.

There is a thread here somewhere on that experience.

I would do it again. Yes, there are halos on lights at night, I am very sensitive to glare and flourescent lights. All of that pales in comparison to the improvement in vision.

I'll likely be getting cat surgery within ten years according to my doc.

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