Although I did not notice any problem with my vision before my eye examination, I was told that I had cataracts and would have to have eye surgery at some point when my vision got worse. It was July and being a teacher, I did not want to have to have surgery during the school year, so I hastily agreed to have surgery. It was then proposed to me that I have a multifocal lens implant, that I was told would not only resolve the cataracts problem (which I never really perceived as a problem), but that it would resolve all of my vision problems and make it likely I would not have to have glasses again. Well, I was told that 9% of the cases required glasses for up-close vision, but of course, I expected to be one of the 91% who didn't.
Well, it's been over 3 months now, and my close-up vision is GONE! I had GREAT close-up vision before, and I could see everything all the time with my glasses, and since the surgery, I have not had good vision EVER AGAIN. While it is true that I pass all the distance vision tests and get rave reviews from all the staff, everything is cloudy, like I have cataracts, which, ironically, I never experienced before the cataracts surgery! I am told that a simple little zap of the laser will take care of it, and that is in the works, but I have since read that other people have had this problem and that is the fault of the lens.
However, the worst part of this mess is that I have apparently paid $4000 (the part not covered by insurance) only to have WORSE vision than before. I cannot read a computer screen without glasses, and reading a paperback book is difficult even with reading glasses. I used to be able to do all of these things without any hassles; now there are some things I cannot read even WITH glasses, such as read the caller ID on my phone. I used to read several books a week; now I get too frustrated to read more than 1-2. I have to carry reading glasses around with me all of the time, and the cloudy distance vision is just as annoying. The sad part is. . . I never minded wearing glasses. I wore them all the time for more than 40 years. However, everyone I know encouraged me to have this surgery and told me things like, "Your eyesight is important," and I fell for it.
I write this because I hope some people will read it and think twice before having this surgery unnecessarily. The pamphlets from the doctor's office make it seem like this is a miracle cure, but for me, it has been a horrible nightmare.