dominant eye's cataract surgery results -1.50

[loveeyes]

Had my left dominant eye cataract surgery one week ago.  Vision now about -1.50 plus slight astigmatism. This operated eye gives me very nice intermediate range vision. Would like a bit better distance vision as in mini-monovision.  But left dominant eye is already done and not close to plano.

Question: I will have right non-dominant eye surgery in 8 weeks.  Can I have the right non-dominant eye aim for plano distance vision (even though it is non-dominant eye)?  Will it be very uncomfortable?  

Before surgery, very myopic : -11.00 and therefore, discrepancies with IOL master machine and surgeon had to guess the power to put in.  Is there still much hope of improved distance vision with this left operated eye? (1 day post-op was blurry 20/40).

Thank you so much.  Really appreciate as much help and opinion I can get as possible.

[loveeyes]

Dr. Oyakawa,

Would you give me some direction about my second eye which will be operated in a few weeks time.  

My dominant eye is already done with -1.50 myopia remaining.  Should I go for Plano still with my right non-dominant eye?  Will it make it very uncomfortable?  If not plano, should I aim at about the same myopia -1.50?  Or slight more myopic even?

If anyone has any suggestions, please also give me some direction. Much appreciated!

[loveeyes]

Thanks for your reply.  The more I think about it, the more I regret not having my non-dominant eye done first.  However, what's done is done! the only one I could "play" with now is the non-dominant eye.

I have been trying to put a contact in there but if it sees clearer than the dominant operated eye, it feels clearer but uncomfortable, like the left eye has a film on it.  I now understand why the dominant eye has to see better ideally.

My doctor told me before surgery than the results from the machines (I imagine including IOL master) has great descrepancies, so he can to arbitrarily picked a number.  I was very myopic -11.00.  That`s why it is harder for him to target what he aimed at, I guess.

At this point, I am thinking having my non-dominant eye aim at the same (about -1.50) or even more myopic than better distance vision which will make the non-dominant seeing better.

I, too, would like to hear more opinion on this .  Thanks.

[loveeyes]

Thank you Dr, Oyakawa, for replying.  I am grateful that I can see so crisp in the intermediate range with -1.50. It is just not what I had in mind before.  

I was hoping to have plano in left dominant eye so that I could have about -1.00 for the right non-dominant eye.  But now, the left is done first and not quite plano.  

Just wondering what I should do with the right non-dominant eye? Aim at plano (but it will see better than dominant eye) or same as left -1.50 or less?

Thank you Dr. Oyakawa.

[loveeyes]

Thank you Luvtoski for your response. Sorry I wasn't clear.

I have cataract in both eyes.  Original thought was to have close to plano in left dominant eye.  Then, have about -1.00 to -1.50 in right non-dominant eye.  

But now, dominant eye is done and left with -1.50.  I am grateful!!  Just wondering what to do with the other eye now that the left is -1.50.  Should I still aim at plano for right (but then non-dominant eye will see better distance) or aim at about the same -1.50? Or even less than -1.50 for mini-monovision effect to minimize needs for reading glasses?

Thank you.

[Luvtoski]

I'm confused, are you saying that you are that unhappy with the -1.5 result that you would risk a IOL replacement surgery ?  And if he didn't replace the Left eye IOL that ended up -1.5, what should he do on the next Cataract surgery IOL target in the non-dominant eye...Plano as he asked ?

[Ray T Oyakawa, MD]

I would do an IOL exchange or PRK. An IOL exchanged is covered by insurance.  PRK is not.  Switching dominant eye can be risky.  You may have more problems adapting.

Dr. O.