Post cataracts -- vision questions -

Prior to cataract surgery ('distance' only iol's used   (both eyes) i always had an astigmatism ...post-surgery there is none showing ...
distance in one eye is 20/20 - the other is 20/30 with a very 'mild' distance correction/close vision is corrected for reading.
         Question 1.  is it possible not to have astigmatism after surgery even tho it was present prior;
         question 2.   is it unusual to have different corrections for each eye's close-refraction-(reading)?  each eye (for close vision) has an individual refraction #.
          question 3.   prior to cataract surgery my close vision without correction was incredibly 'good' - i could 'see' better for very close things i.e. some reading (books) - even putting on makeup then i can now with my 'new' close refraction!
           I opted for a repeat of tri-focals also...always wore them - use computer a great deal and find the middle area more comfortable than just getting 'near/far' distance corrections  ... as i said - one eye distance uses only 'plano' the other eye uses a very mild distance correction - thanks again for your reply...

[JodieJ]

1) If you had lenticular astigmatism, it would be eliminated with cataract surgery.

2) Monovision or modified monovision (aka "blended vision") is not at all unusual after cataract surgery.  Many people choose it in order to expand their range of focus.

3) It sounds like you had moderate myopia prior to cataract surgery.  In order to make it more comfortable for you to use both your eyes together (while expanding your range of focus), your surgeon has left one of your eyes only mildly myopic.

Congratulations on your excellent outcome.  Hope you enjoy your new vision for many years.

[mickdg1]

Hello - thanks for explaining -- i dn't know what type of astigmatism i had - but i guess if i still had it, the doctor would have found it LOL..
        regarding #2- the 'corrected' distance eye was 20/20 first post-op day as was the remaining 20/20 eye  - following week the corrected eye  dropped (or rose) requiring the mild correction;
           No.3 - i was wondering 'why' i couldn't get back my 'incredible' close-range i had prior to the surgery with a stronger 'close' rx  - LOL - i was very spoiled ... now i need a magnifying mirror for close make up, etc.   before, all i had to do was remove my glasses !!   but i know i was very very 'nearsighted' .. now it's amazing to 'see' across the room and recognize people !
           but i'm not complaining !!!  all went well and i'm very lucky ....  thanks again

[2ndsight]

your case points out that trying to obtain near vision with a slightly nearsighted monofocal lens does not always work for everyone. There are a lot of other posts on this board from patients who need glasses for close-up activities. As far as having different reading vision in each eye this might have to do with your degree of presbyopia before surgery. You can get reading glasses with a different power in each eye if necessary.

[JodieJ]

It sounds like mickdg1 was corrected with "blended vision," which is a great choice for many people.  One eye is corrected for distance vision and the other for intermediate.  Readers are still needed for small print.  (Unfortunately, you can't have it all.  Some formerly myopic people miss their sharp uncorrected near vision--but don't miss the blur at distance. )

An alternative--full monovision--can provide crisp near vision.  But some people cannot adjust to it.  And it does involve some loss of depth perception and distance vision acuity.  When I used monovision contacts, my near and intermediate vision were excellent, but I sometimes wore glasses over my contacts for night driving or watching movies.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

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[mickdg1]

Hello -- as far as i know 'blended' vision wasn't mentioned by the doctor .... i was 20/20 in both eyes post op  and that was what the doctor was aiming for - only after a week post-op the last eye to be done  eye dropped from 20/20 to 20/30 thus requiring the mild distance correction ...there was a 'slight' blurring - now that is fixed with -0.75 sphere  in that eye (o.s).  the other for distance is 'plano' since it retained the 20/20 reading
       the two 'close' visions are +2.00 and +2.25 & 'intermediate vision is 1/2 of those readings. However even with those 'close' corrections i'm not 'seeing' as close as i did prior to the surgery with either eye -- maybe i'll have to get 'readers' with a high power for 'very close' work - LOL...  but i guess i'd have to have an rx filled even for those since each eye power is different... in fact come to think of it, the optician who filled the rx told me that OTC 'cheaters' won't work for me since each eye is different...  thanks so much tho
      
        

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

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[JodieJ]

It sounds like you ended up with a little (unintended) "blended vision."  This will expand your range of focus slightly, perhaps allowing you to function without correction in more situations than would have been possible with both eyes plano.  The results you reported above sound pretty normal to me.  I'm plano in both eyes with IOLs, +2.25 for near and about 1/2 that for intermediate--just like you are (in one eye).  Before cataract surgery I was highly myopic (about -6.75), and I was also able to focus closer than I can currently.  I was too nearsighted to read comfortably without correction, but I could easily thread the tiniest needle (one of the few advantages of high myopia.)

I'm inclined to disagree with the optician who said that OTC cheaters won't work for you.  If you got a pair that were +2.25, you'd have excellent near vision in one eye and pretty good computer vision (+1.50) in the other eye--an asset for multi-tasking.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

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