Cataracts Support Group

I am going to need cataract surgery one of these days, and I'm having a really hard time deciding whether to do it fairly soon or wait until my vision is worse.

The problem is, I am really confused about what vision is supposed to be like afterwards. I have read that the lens they implant is a fixed focal length (unless you get the multifocals, which I can't afford, and I already know my insurance won't pay the extra cost), and I don't understand what seeing would be like. Does that mean that I would only be able to see things clearly that are a specific distance from me, and everything closer or farther will be a blur? Would I be pretty much 100% dependent on glasses to see most things clearly, or do would I be likely to only need glasses for certain things?

I guess I'm kind of spoiled, because although I've worn glasses for decades, I have never had to be 100% dependent on them up till now. I've been mildly nearsighted since I was a teenager, but I could see perfectly up close until about the last 15 years or so. When I was younger, I could actually see BETTER close up without glasses, and for years, I would take my glasses off to read, because it was more comfortable that way. Until I was in my late 40s, I really only needed glasses for things like driving and going to the movies--activities where I have to see things that are a ways off.

As I've gotten older, I started to need glasses for reading, and I've been using progressive lenses for ages now. But as the cataracts get worse, I am finding that I need a stronger and stronger prescription for reading as time goes on. If the print is too small, I need to use additional magnification (and the size that's "too small" keeps changing, too!). Even now, though, the whole world isn't a total blur when I take my glasses off. I can tell things aren't quite as sharp as they used to be, but except for reading and other closeup work, I still seem to be able to see better than my very near-sighted daughter, from what I can tell.

I'm getting sick of having to use a magnifying glass for so many things and needing brighter and brighter light to see up close clearly, but I'm also worried about what life will be like after cataract surgery. My situation isn't great now, but at least I know what I'm dealing with, whereas I have very little idea of what I may be able to expect after surgery.

The one ophthalmogist I have tried to talk to about this issue seemed to mainly be interested in pushing multifocal lenses. He kept talking about how a lot of people don't need glasses at all with those. But he refused to give me any information whatsoever about what my vision would be like with monofocal lenses (the only ones my insurance pays for), except for saying: "Your vision SHOULD be better WITH GLASSES." (direct quote) He refused to say more, and when I tried to press for more information, he accused me (not very nicely!) of demanding a "guarantee" about surgery results, which I NEVER, EVER did. All I wanted was information to help me decide whether to go ahead now or a while a while yet.

Needless to say, when I do have cataract surgery, I will not be using THAT doctor! But the experience left me gun shy about asking these kinds of questions. I'll probably be seeing another ophthalmologist sometime in the next six months, but in the meantime, I hope someone who's had cataract surgery and received monofocal lens implants would be willing to describe exactly what their vision is like, and to what extent they have to depend on glasses. The more details, the better.

I'm aware glasses WILL be needed after cataract surgery, but the possibility that I might have to be completely, TOTALLY dependent on glasses is scary to me. If that's the case, then I will deal--but I would just like to know in advance so that I can be prepared (and so that I can factor that into my decision about how soon to have surgery).

P.S. I am 59 years old and have been told that my eyes are perfectly healthy except for the cataracts. So there wouldn't be any complicating factors. Thanks in advance for any information anyone can provide!
Posted on 05/20/09, 01:05 pm