is lasik required after cataract surgery?

[hh04]

Hi everyone,
I am right eye dominant (with -4.0 DO) and have a left eye cataract (-2.0 DO) that I am considering having removed.  I also have slight astigmatism in my left eye.  I have spoken to a few eye surgeons and I believe my best option at the moment is getting a monofocal IOL set for -2.0 DO.  My question is, assuming the cataract surgery leaves me at -2.0 in the left eye, will I be able to wear just a contact lens in my right eye, or will it require LASIK surgery to correct?  

[hh04]

Hi Dr. O,
Sorry I didn't address the previous message to you.  I'll repost it below.

Thank you for your insight!  I will definitely bring up this suggestion at my next appointment tomorrow!  I also had another question.  Would my left eye be able to wear a multifocal contact lens, or would you recommend progressive corrective lenses?
Thank you!
Hh

[hh04]

Hi Dr. O,
Thank you for your insight!  I will definitely bring up this suggestion at my next appointment tomorrow!  I also had another question.  Would my left eye be able to wear a multifocal contact lens, or would you recommend progressive corrective lenses?
Thank you!
Hh

[Ray T Oyakawa, MD]

You will be able to wear a contact lens in the right eye.  However,  I would recommend less than -2.00 for your left eye--about -1.25 to -1.50.  A contact lens that corrects you for distance will leave you with 2.0 diopters of anisiometropia. Some patient have difficulty with this much difference.  Also you will be setting yourself up for full reading the left eye and you will have poor intermediate vision.

Dr. O.

[hh04]

Sorry, I forgot to add Thank you in advance for everyone's input!
Best,
HH