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Eye Care Archive (Expert Forum)
Cataract in only eye – help with IOL focal length
Our Ask A Doctor Ophthalmology Forum is where you can post your question and receive a personal answer from physicians affiliated with the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
Cataract in only eye – help with IOL focal length
by winterborn, Mar 04, 2007 12:00AM
Im 35 yrs old & lost my left eye to retina detachment 20 yrs ago. I have high myopia (-14D), and lattice in right eye. It now has a fast-growing cataract. Ive seen several retina & cataract Drs so I know how risky surgery is for me at all. However its time to have it done, or I wont be able to work or drive. Acuity was 20/20 not long ago, now it is 20/60 and going fast.
Im a computer programmer & graphic designer. I was having job problems at 20/30, mainly due to decreased reading speed. I didn’t notice a difference driving until it got to 20/40. Doctors wont use a multifocal lens with me & I obviously cant have “monovision” (one eye for near, one eye for far) So my choice is monofocal distance or near, w/ glasses for all else. I am terrified of losing near (computer distance and closer) vision. My career and all my hobbies depend on it being good, and nearsightedness is all I’ve ever known. It'd be easier for me to live w/out driving, than live with poor near vision. I'm concerned if I get the custmary 20 ft, reading glasses won’t be good enough for my needs.
Would my computer-distance monofocal vision be better with:
- focal length set for distance and use reading/computer glasses… OR
- focal length set for computer-distance to begin with… OR
- will it not make a difference either way?
If I have my only eye set for near or computer-distance, presumably like the non-dominant eye of many people who get monofocal IOLs, would I still be able to drive using glasses for distance?
Im a computer programmer & graphic designer. I was having job problems at 20/30, mainly due to decreased reading speed. I didn’t notice a difference driving until it got to 20/40. Doctors wont use a multifocal lens with me & I obviously cant have “monovision” (one eye for near, one eye for far) So my choice is monofocal distance or near, w/ glasses for all else. I am terrified of losing near (computer distance and closer) vision. My career and all my hobbies depend on it being good, and nearsightedness is all I’ve ever known. It'd be easier for me to live w/out driving, than live with poor near vision. I'm concerned if I get the custmary 20 ft, reading glasses won’t be good enough for my needs.
Would my computer-distance monofocal vision be better with:
- focal length set for distance and use reading/computer glasses… OR
- focal length set for computer-distance to begin with… OR
- will it not make a difference either way?
If I have my only eye set for near or computer-distance, presumably like the non-dominant eye of many people who get monofocal IOLs, would I still be able to drive using glasses for distance?
Doctor's Answer
by Forum-OD-MP, Mar 05, 2007 12:00AM
'I'm concerned if I get the custmary 20 ft, reading glasses won’t be good enough for my needs.'
a legitimate concern. sounds like IMO you might be better off opting for monofocal NV and glasses over for driving/dv.
'Would my computer-distance monofocal vision be better with: - focal length set for distance and use reading/computer glasses… OR - focal length set for computer-distance to begin with… OR - will it not make a difference either way?'
ACUITY-wise it wont make any difference.
'If I have my only eye set for near or computer-distance, presumably like the non-dominant eye of many people who get monofocal IOLs, would I still be able to drive using glasses for distance?'
YES
a legitimate concern. sounds like IMO you might be better off opting for monofocal NV and glasses over for driving/dv.
'Would my computer-distance monofocal vision be better with: - focal length set for distance and use reading/computer glasses… OR - focal length set for computer-distance to begin with… OR - will it not make a difference either way?'
ACUITY-wise it wont make any difference.
'If I have my only eye set for near or computer-distance, presumably like the non-dominant eye of many people who get monofocal IOLs, would I still be able to drive using glasses for distance?'
YES
Member Comments (1)
by aimee37, Mar 04, 2007 12:00AM
To: winterborn
These are questions for your cataract surgeon, who is presumably going to be the very best doctor in your area. (In your situation, I'd definitely get some input from my retina specialist.) I'm not an eye care professional, but I'm guessing that good vision at any focal point (near, intermediate or distant) could be corrected with glasses to yield good vision at other focal points. Best wishes for successful surgery!
