one lens distance age 38,what's it really like?

hello...i have several options re my cataracts. One is having just the right one done (as it is worse) and just using a contact lens in the left till that one worsens then havng a lens for near in that eye. I have high myopia of -10. I know a lot of people have one lens for distance and one for nearr and I'm just wondering, how close you can see with your 'distance' eye? Would you recognise a face of someone standing a metre away with that eye alone?

I know the dominant eye is usually the one set for distance but that also bothers me - i think it would feel very odd and somewhat difficult to get used to reading with my non- dominant eye only - and feel the dominant eye would be more comfortable. very grateful for any info on the realities of living with this type of vision - either one eye for distance and one for near or people who have one mono iol and one contact lens. Kind regards and in hope!!!  

[cwatt1]

I'm myopic also and have the same concerns as you do regarding monovision, which is what you're referring to when you configure one eye for distance and one for near.  An alternative for you might be to wear a contact lens set for intermediate distance (rather than near).  You could then wear reading glasses for close up reading, etc., or even progressive eyeglasses (although it might be an unnecessary expense to get both a contact lens and progressive eyeglasses).

Once you decide to have your other eye done, possibly you could have the IOL set for intermediate and just use progressive eyeglasses for reading, or even to sharpen your distance vision if that's necessary.  At least those are my tentative plans, subject to discussion with my opthalmologist, of course.

A multifocal lens also might be an option for you, although that's something to discuss with your opthalmologist.

[Ray T Oyakawa, MD]

It is most common to set the non-dominant eye for near.  Use the search function.

Dr. O.

[JodieJ]

Hey, you're only 38 and probably don't have any difficulties yet in focusing on near objects (i.e., presbyopia).  (I was told that presbyopia tends to develop later in high myopes--I don't know whether this is true.  I didn't have problems seeing small print until my late 40s.)  With an implant in one eye, you'd need to wear a contact lens in the other, but you'd be able to see well at all distances.  If you were comfortable with this, you might not want to rush into a second cataract surgery.  In your situation, a Crystalens might work well (if you could find an experienced Crystalens surgeon to implant it.)