Cataract operation - what sort of lens

[Yellow Fang]

I have a cataract in my right eye. It's like walking through a London pea-souper. I want to get an operation, and I have talked to an opthalamist. I am wondering what sort of lens to get. In the operation they break up your natural lens, suck it out, then replace it with an artificial lens. Thing is, the artificial lens has one focal length, normally distance. You can get multifocal lens, but the opthalamist says he won't do them. He would put me in touch with someone who does. I fancied getting a multifocal lens, because I would not need reading glasses any more. I think one drawback is that in future, if I needed an operation on my other eye, I would need a lens of the exact same type. As I can see distance with my good eye, I wondered whether I could have a lens for seeing close up on my bad eye.

 

[midlife]

I already know who I will ask to do my eyes when needed. He recommends multifocal if you can afford them as they do cost more…. He will do both eyes at once if needed.

https://www.lakelandvision.co.uk/about-us/

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

I've wondered about the multi focal length lens. I don't actually have data but I suspect from my background in optics that the image won't be as bright with those. That's only going to be an issue when things are a bit dark. I suspect you'll also need to train your brain to use the appropriate bit of your retina (brains are fairly flexible in this regard I think).

 

[All uphill]

I'm at the beginning of the cataract journey, investigating options, so this thread is of interest to me.

I'm told the NHS round here only do single vision lenses and will only operate when both eyes are bad. So, for me, it will be private.

I've had contact lenses in the distant past with one monofocal lens for near vision and the other eye having a monofocal lens for distant vision. This worked well for me, but I understand some people can't get along with this arrangement.

I'm thinking of doing something similar with replacement lenses when the time comes.

Anyone know how long the lenses last?

 

[Yellow Fang]

I'm at the beginning of the cataract journey, investigating options, so this thread is of interest to me.

I'm told the NHS round here only do single vision lenses and will only operate when both eyes are bad. So, for me, it will be private.

I've had contact lenses in the distant past with one monofocal lens for near vision and the other eye having a monofocal lens for distant vision. This worked well for me, but I understand some people can't get along with this arrangement.

I'm thinking of doing something similar with replacement lenses when the time comes.

Anyone know how long the lenses last?

Seems strange the NHS will only operate when both eyes are bad. Are they happy for people to drive around with one good eye?

 

[midlife]

Seems strange the NHS will only operate when both eyes are bad. Are they happy for people to drive around with one good eye?

Depends on NHS trust but pretty common. Reduces waiting lists, kicks the can down the road and people die before both eyes are bad…..

 

[All uphill]

Seems strange the NHS will only operate when both eyes are bad. Are they happy for people to drive around with one good eye?

Limited resources...

If people choose to drive with poor eyesight that's on them, not the NHS.

 

[Drago]

Seems strange the NHS will only operate when both eyes are bad. Are they happy for people to drive around with one good eye?

My wife drives around with only one working eye (DVLA declared and all certified by their approved optician.)

You can hold a pilots licence with only one working eye.

 

[Psamathe]

I have no idea about cataracts but maybe relevant experience with contact lenses. I have good distance but need glasses for reading but for years have been frustrated with glasses.

A year ago I decided to try contacts and was aware of different solutions eg bi/vari-focal or one eye adjusted for reading other for distance. I went to 1st consultation with contact lenses specialist 100% convinced I wanted bi/vari so both eyes do both. One eye reading other distance sounded terrible. But specialist recommend one eye reading, one distance - and I had an unusual reaction deciding specialist probably knows better than me. So tried them and brilliant. Brain really does switch eyes without my noticing. Very rarely when I'm tired focus goes a bit but briefly put hand over the eye that should be deselected and immediately resets things and working again.

Distance judgement does not seem affected.

But contact lenses have the benefit of no long term commitment but certainly for me one eye reading other distance works very well.

Edit: Adapting was very quick. They say can take up to a week but for me, 1st time they went in I left the optician wearing them and they stayed in no issues. Maybe occasional need to hand over the eye brain should deselect during 1st few days. I was very shocked at how the brain adapted amazingly quickly and how well it works.

Ian

 

[Yellow Fang]

I am considering asking for a lens optimised for reading. I don't know how I would get on with it. If I get a standard lend then I will need reading glasses. However, if I get a short focus lens then I might want prescription glasses with strange prescriptions, since presumably, it is better to drive with good vision in both eyes.

 

[vickster]

As going privately, see a couple more ophthalmic surgeons who specialise in cataracts and get their opinions on your own situation, they are the experts after all! In London, Moorfields are quite good at this stuff
If NHS, you may not get to choose as said

 

[Psamathe]

I am considering asking for a lens optimised for reading. I don't know how I would get on with it. If I get a standard lend then I will need reading glasses. However, if I get a short focus lens then I might want prescription glasses with strange prescriptions, since presumably, it is better to drive with good vision in both eyes.

Again, I know nothing about cataract operations but they sound fairly "final" in that the option you chose isn't easy/possible to change after the operation (eg "no don't like this can I try ..."). But, maybe ask if you have the option to also use contact lenses in the same eye as the cataract operation (after all healed, etc.). Contact lenses would cost on an ongoing basis but eg if you don't get on with the cateract lens then would you have the option to eg use varifocal/bi-focal/mono-vision contact lenses?

Of course there is a cost and how much that is depends on the sort of contact lenses you seek.

nb contact lenses can be applied even for minor corrections. In my own case I described above my dominant eye is "the wrong one" in terms of correction so my non-dominant eye has the reading correction contact but only "issue" with my dominant eye (distance) is a small astigmatism so that eye has a lens with trivial power but an astigmatism correction (and that adds a fair bit to the cost on my lenses).

Ian

 

[fossyant]

SIL got seen and had both eyes done (a few weeks apart) after the optician found cataracts - literally in within a week of finding them. She's having a few complications - first eye is still a bit double visioned so may need some additional laser surgery.

 

[Beebo]

My dad had both his done in October and November 2024 via NHS.
He had his last check up last week and has been discharged.
He does now need glasses all the time, to correct the replacement lenses, but his overall vision is miles better than before. Everything is bright, sharp and colourful.
I don’t think he was given any choice of replacement lense.

 

[Yellow Fang]

My stepfather, who's an ex GP, recommends going for the bog standard lens. Suppose I'll go for that. I was sort of looking forward to getting a bionic eye. Perhaps there's a lens that enables you to see in the infra-red and ultraviolet range.