Cataract in one eye

I was recently diagnosed with a cataract in my right eye.  They have no idea what caused, only that it's there.  I'm only 33 years old, not that it can't happen in younger people, just my understanding its not as common.  To give a full history I used to wear glasses, then contacts, then in 2001 I had Lasik done to both eyes with great results.  I've had 20/20 visions till about a couple of months ago when my right eye started to get blurry.  

My vision in my right eye isn't "horrible" yet.  However, I work on computers day and night and its starting to interfere with my work.  My eye doctor had told me about two options the 'mono' lenses and the multi-focal lenses.   To be honest, I don't recall the brand he mentioned, I believe it was Alcon thou.  He mentioned that people with one "normal" eye have issues with the multi focal lenses sometimes.  He also said because I had lasik, getting the right "strength" implant isn't an exact science and theres no guarantee I would have good vision after.  That I may need to have lasik again or wear a contact.

With me now doing research on the internet myself I realize just how many lens options there are.  I'm wondering if anyone else had similiar experiences or just suggestions in general.  Thank you all in advance.

[Ray T Oyakawa, MD]

I have seen patients about your age for cataracts due to diabetes.  I have implanted Crystalens with good results.  HOWEVER,  you must find an experienced Crystalens surgeon.

Both eyes will work better together since you still have accommodation in the good eye.  A multifocal IOL does not stimulate accommodation.

There are a number of programs to calculate IOL power for post LASIK patients.  However, the targets results are not as good as a virgin cornea.  This can touched up with a PRK on your flat if needed.


Dr. O.

Dr. O.

[ledbrv]

I had an experience similar to yours recently. First I must say that you should discuss with your doctor the best lens option. Once he discards the options you just can not choose, there is no right or wrong answer.
In my case, my choice was a monofocal lens just on the right eye and I am very happy with the choice, of course I need reading glasses, but its ok, I would need it anyway.
I learned that there are many people that can not adapt to multifocal, so I was afraid to try.
I had a small annoying problem Due to the big power difference  (3.75 on LE and now "0" on RE), I can`t use glasses to correct LE, but a contact lens on LE solved this problem very well.

[walkietalkie]

Is your blurry vision correctable by glasses? If cataract is still early perhaps you want to wait. I had lasik about 12 yrs ago and now have early cataract. I read that doing cataract surgery for post lasik patients is a bit tricky. I am waiting till science is more exact or when the surgeons can gurantee the results to 0.5% error ( similar to insurance NAV)

[Mikeb78]

Thank you all for the comments.

@walkietalkie - We tried glasses/contact in the bad eye.  It did not clear the blurriness enough to be worth the cost and trouble of them.

@Ray T Oyakawa, MD - Do you know any experienced doctors in the North NJ area.  The person I'm seeing was recommended by my Primary care doctor, while I trust his judgement I'm not tied to him in anyway.  I don't have diabetes, as that was one of the first things I asked my doctor about, since I read it can cause them.

Now that I've read abit more about the technologies and such, I think I'm going to try to hold off as long as I can.  Hopefully in the next year a new lens or technology will come out that makes it even better.  Of course I say this now, a week from now it could be driving me nuts..