No problem, just a question about myopia

[LynneAV]

I just want an idea about how near-sighted my cataract eye *was* before surgery. (The doctor's office seems to think this is none of my business, or else they are so not interested that they will not bother to answer this question.)  But I did receive an IOL ID card, and learned that my IOL is 18.5D. I have searched and searched websites about diopters and IOLs, and I have learned that the power range for IOLs is around 10 to 30D  ..... but have not found any chart or verbiage to relate these numbers to degree of nearsightedness, which direction the numbers go for more or less nearsightedness, etc. Can anybody just tell me approximately how near-sighted I was to need this IOL, or point me to a source?

[LynneAV]

Thank you very much, Jodie. That is about what I expected from the medical personnel comments, but I wanted some verification because I don't understand why my vision is so incredibly much better now, with this IOL, if I was only slightly nearsighted. I mean, even before the cataract, I was very nearsighted and would never have attempted to drive or even walk around outdoors without my glasses. It is hard for me to understand why my vision seemed to be so bad all my life (I've worn glasses since I was 18 mos old) if I was only slightly nearsighted. Scratching my head. Whatever, this is like a miracle to me now, all's well that ends well ...

[JodieJ]

For a very gross estimate, I've seen it stated that plano is around 20-21D.  You are about 1.5 to 2.5D south of that, i.e., not too far south.  (Please remember that this is a VERY gross estimate only.  Your IOL power may have been 17.5 or 19.5 with a different brand of IOL implanted by a different surgeon.)

[Ray T Oyakawa, MD]

You were probably near sighted.  I can not determine how much without knowing the corneal curvature and the length of the eye.

Dr. O.