Replacement lenses for cataract surgery

@celia16
Also, there's a big difference between an optometrist and an ophthalmologist. I only have 2 eyes; am stickin' w the ophthalmologist.

@gangcarotid1 , right. I actually have only seen ophthalmologist too for many years. I see a cornea specialist for one condition and a retina specialist to monitor that. Just not sure why my prescriptions aren’t that impressive.

@barbaradh , thanks for input! That’s a great idea. I will try that.

@gangcarotid1
I have heard of people who get bifocal lens replacements and are sorry when it slips a little. You can imagine how that would screw up your vision. Basically, you are a guinea pig if you opt for an enhanced lens as the technique has not been perfected yet.
My husband had both eyes done, he has severe astigmatisms and had a laser procedure called PRK after the surgery to correct his vision enough so glasses would work for him. I think the PRK procedure reduced the amplitude of his astigmatisms. His vision was so bad pre-cataract surgery that contact lenses were the only way to correct his vision, that really sucked as his corneas were so conical the contact lenses would fall out if he blinked to hard or was subjected to a gust of wind.
He is a happy camper now, he can see great with glasses for distance and readers for close up. Immediately following surgery he did not need readers and then his close up vision decreased. The main problem now is the floaters in his vision which are large and numerous, eye surgeries can produce them. In addition to the PRK and cataract surgery he has had 7 cornea transplants so his poor eyes have put up with a lot of trauma.
I guess I am saying there is a limit to how much surgery you want to subject your eye to and it may be wise to limit the risk for future complications.
Best of luck with your surgery:)

@beebe
Thank you. I really appreciate your input.

I got Vivity Clareon Extended Depth of Focus (EDOF) lenses in the fall: Toric for the right. as astigmatism was too great to be corrected by laser, and regular for the left, plus laser to correct the mild astigmatism in that eye. After extensive tests, I had the consultation with the surgeon (Wipfli, at St Lukes in Tarpon Springs, FL; in top 30 in US Newsweek 2025, and looked to be first in the 30 in Florida). I did not want to wear glasses or contacts, but would do readers. I had worn contacts for decades. Dr. said I was so sensitive to glare that he did not recommend the multi-focal, as he said I would have glare issues day and night. I did not want the distance in one and the near in the other, as I tried that with contacts and felt it negatively affected my balance and I occasionally got headaches, which are rare for me. Met with him a second time. So I paid for the premium lenses, which included the laser. Had the surgeries a week apart and see an opthamologist at the same practice for followups. Vision is better than I expected. I got +1 reader OTC and the practice gave me +1.25 OTC, but I rarely need them. The EDOF lenses they said would make me sensitive in dim light conditions, which is true, so if I sit in the dark and read on my Kindle, I use the readers, but if I turn a light on, I don't need them. Excellent distance, intermediate, and close vision, day and night. Medicare and my secondary paid for the manual (not laser) removal surgery.

@marieltha
Thank you!

@gangcarotid1

Surgeon said that sometimes the lens moves and if my vision ever blurred, to go in and he'd check it and do a quick laser treatment to center the lens if that caused it. He said it's rare. I haven't had that happen. He gave very, very specific instructions for the recovery period, which included a silicone eye patch with tape to protect while sleeping, and a "how to wash my hair" lesson, and he gave me very dark wrap around with side windows sunglasses to wear whenever I went out during daylight hours (verysunny and bright where I live). I followed all the directions and never bumped or rubbed my eyes or slept on them. Still haven't. And I used all the drops prescribed (they felt good). I also did all the check up visits. My next is the 6-month followup.
There's another new type of lens (adaptive?) that requires follow up visits in which a dr (not the surgeon) uses UV light to melt/change the lens to customize your prescription. I opted not to do that. I wanted to stay with the surgeon doing everything, and I was squeamish about UV exposure. You can read about those online. And watch videos by the makers as well as patients.