Replacement lenses for cataract surgery

I hope you get some responses, as I’m also interested it, My prescription glasses never meet my expectations. It’s happened several times. Fortunately, I din’t require them.

I was told I may have to wear glasses after but no mention of upgraded lenses. I would hope if the lenses were upgraded you would NOT need glasses after.

Recent cataract surgery. Goal was no glasses for near or far. Upgraded to Light Adjustable Lens. Do not need glasses for anything. Done at Mayo Phoenix. Very happy with outcome.

Thank you for your reply. My surgeon (not at Mayo; I go there only for kidneys, endocrine, and neuroendocrine) offers 4 different pigs. The most basic is covered by Medicare, and basically just removes the cataracts w a new lens. I have astigmatism so am looking at the next pkg up, which will correct astigmatism, and a monoclonal lense will be used for distance OR far. I also have a secondary (non-Medicare-related) insurance, but it doesn't cover "enhancements". Im probably going to go with Pkg 2 @ $2,500/eye. Then will have astigmatism corrected and only need reading glasses.

There are a lot of considerations for changing out currently functioning IOLs for better vision, and I recommend involving a trusted ophthalmologist in the process. Due to family and personal history of retinal issues I must have clear lenses to be able to shoot lasers through. Also, the surgery to replace IOLs can be destabilizing for the retina. While there is certainly the potential for improving vision with new lenses, you may still need glasses, just not as strong. To gain this, you subject yourself to risks associated with any surgery and cataract surgery specifically. I had one IOL put in to allow me to read normal or large print without glasses and another to help my distance vision, but I still need them for fine print and (for distance) to drive. While on the surface this seems like a fairly straightforward decision, I feel it is one that needs to be taken seriously and evaluated thoroughly. Good luck.

I was offered a pair of lenses that permit both distance and close-up vision. I declined because of the cost. As it turned out, they accidentally gave me a close-up vision lens in one eye, much to the annoyance of the clinic director because of the cost (almost as if it was my fault!). It didn't help anyway, and I developed a macular pucker in that eye, the cause of which is sometimes from having cataract surgery. I did pay extra for upgraded lenses, but who knows what I actually received, as they made a mistake with the one lens. Five years ago, it was an extra $1800 CAD for each eye. I could have just had the regular lenses that the health service pays for and saved the money.

Im sorry you had the damage to your eye. I've held off on cataracts removal til Im darned near blind, because when my husband had 1 of his cataracts removed, the lenses became blurry again after a couple years...they had not disclosed that this happens about 40% of the time! So I've held off. But, its time. My surgeon also has an option of each eye being different lense, 1 near vision, the other eye distant
vision... that would not be for me; i can't even handle gradual bifocal with my vertigo!
I so appreciate all the responses Im getting; is really helping me w my decision.

I don’t doubt you, but I wonder where you found the statistic that 40% of patients have cloudy vision after several years of an IOL. I am just like you: very anxious about vision after IOL I am extremely nearsighted and have astigmatism.

Years ago I wore different contact lenses to help with that: one for distance, one for close up. I had no problem with vertigo at all, but I felt it certainly compromised by distance vision. At age 69 I am hoping that they keep perfecting these IOL offerings. My cataracts are at Stage 1 now.

Celia, Refraction is a talent. You would think any optometrist could refract you successfully. I would change doctors to someone with better skills.

@barbaradh
We were told about the 40% possibility by the surgeon, 2 yrs after the replacement lenses installation at a regular annual eye appointment. Surprised us... at least it was fixable with a 5-min laser treatment. I still believe they should have divulged ibfo about the possible 40% prior to surgery.