Cataract Surgery and Choice of Focal Distance

I'll have a surgery in my only good eye in a month. Before going over the
details w/ my doc, I just want to know if my thinking makes sense.

1. I want the monofocal distance to be around 8-9 inches because that has
been my comfortable reading distance (I need to read manuscripts whose print
is usually small, so I read without my glasses). The near vision is the most
important for me.
2. Then, I can have a pair of glasses to give me a good focus at 16 inches
for my computer work.
3. Finally, I can have a stronger pair of glasses (maybe bifocal) to give me
a good far vision for driving, etc.

Does it make sense, or does anyone have a better idea?

JJ Lee wrote:
> I'll have a surgery in my only good eye in a month. Before going over the
> details w/ my doc, I just want to know if my thinking makes sense.
>
> 1. I want the monofocal distance to be around 8-9 inches because that has
> been my comfortable reading distance (I need to read manuscripts whose print
> is usually small, so I read without my glasses). The near vision is the most
> important for me.
> 2. Then, I can have a pair of glasses to give me a good focus at 16 inches
> for my computer work.
> 3. Finally, I can have a stronger pair of glasses (maybe bifocal) to give me
> a good far vision for driving, etc.
>
> Does it make sense, or does anyone have a better idea?

You might also consider that your needs may conceivably change, and
such an arrangement may prove to be inconvenient in the future. Also,
you might need to consider just how much anisometropia you will wind up
with and how that might affect your binocularity with eyeglasses.

DrG

"Dr. Leukoma" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message news:(E-Mail Removed) oups.com...

> ... you might need to consider just how much anisometropia you will wind up
> with and how that might affect your binocularity with eyeglasses.

Anisometropia? Is it fatal?

Well, the OP could also wind up with some astigmatism.

Dumb luck or surgeon skill could get her to where I am:
~ 1.0 Diopter nearsighted in each eye, including quite minor astigmatism.
Bad luck could get you more astigmatism as well as anisometropia.

I am not an eyecare professional, but I can tell you this: It is very
nice to be able to see most things without eyeglasses, and to be able
to use Walgreens readers for close-up. (Still need glasses for night
driving, though.)

Over a diopter of astigmatism in one eye was mostly resolved -- the
other eye had very little to start with. I was not told in advance if
the astigmatism could be corrected, only that it would be less.
Otherwise I was told practically nothing, and given no opportunity
to make any choice about working distance. The surgeon has
a very good reputation in my locale, but not for communication.
If I had been given an opportunity to choose, I would have chosen
reading distance. I think that would have been the wrong choice.
As it is, I can see my computer screen and everything on my desk
with cheap reading glasses (happen to be Zenni's, but Walgreens+1.25
are almost as good). I can see everything else in the room quite clearly
by looking over the glasses, which are small, and slide down the nose.
For really close work, like watch repair, I have got a lit magnifier on
a stand attached to the desk.

--
Dicky
PKA Dicky Magooeyes

Have you ever considered therapy, Dick?

DrG

Dick Adams wrote:
> "Dr. Leukoma" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message news:(E-Mail Removed) oups.com...
>
> > ... you might need to consider just how much anisometropia you will wind up
> > with and how that might affect your binocularity with eyeglasses.
>
> Anisometropia? Is it fatal?
>
> Well, the OP could also wind up with some astigmatism.
>
> Dumb luck or surgeon skill could get her to where I am:
> ~ 1.0 Diopter nearsighted in each eye, including quite minor astigmatism.
> Bad luck could get you more astigmatism as well as anisometropia.
>
> I am not an eyecare professional, but I can tell you this: It is very
> nice to be able to see most things without eyeglasses, and to be able
> to use Walgreens readers for close-up. (Still need glasses for night
> driving, though.)
>
> Over a diopter of astigmatism in one eye was mostly resolved -- the
> other eye had very little to start with. I was not told in advance if
> the astigmatism could be corrected, only that it would be less.
> Otherwise I was told practically nothing, and given no opportunity
> to make any choice about working distance. The surgeon has
> a very good reputation in my locale, but not for communication.
> If I had been given an opportunity to choose, I would have chosen
> reading distance. I think that would have been the wrong choice.
> As it is, I can see my computer screen and everything on my desk
> with cheap reading glasses (happen to be Zenni's, but Walgreens+1.25
> are almost as good). I can see everything else in the room quite clearly
> by looking over the glasses, which are small, and slide down the nose.
> For really close work, like watch repair, I have got a lit magnifier on
> a stand attached to the desk.
>
> --
> Dicky
> PKA Dicky Magooeyes

Dr Judy wrote:
> JJ Lee wrote:
>
>>I'll have a surgery in my only good eye in a month. Before going over the
>>details w/ my doc, I just want to know if my thinking makes sense.
>>
>>1. I want the monofocal distance to be around 8-9 inches because that has
>>been my comfortable reading distance (I need to read manuscripts whose print
>>is usually small, so I read without my glasses). The near vision is the most
>>important for me.
>>2. Then, I can have a pair of glasses to give me a good focus at 16 inches
>>for my computer work.
>>3. Finally, I can have a stronger pair of glasses (maybe bifocal) to give me
>>a good far vision for driving, etc.
>>
>>Does it make sense, or does anyone have a better idea?
>
>
> If you are currently reading at 8-9 inches and using separate computer
> glasses etc and are happy with the set up, then ask for it. The other
> option would be to have the eye set for 16 inches and use glasses to
> read fine manuscripts. You may well find that with the improved
> contrast and best corrected acuity after surgery that you will be able
> to read the manuscripts at 16 inches and will not need reading glasses.
>
> Dr Judy
>
I agree with that idea. JJ is probably reading at 8 or 9 inches out of
necessity due to the cataract. Once that's gone, he/she should be able
to relax out to the more normal 16-18 inches and be comfy.

w.stacy, o.d.

"Dr. Leukoma" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message news:(E-Mail Removed) oups.com...

> Dick Adams wrote:
> > "Dr. Leukoma" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message news:(E-Mail Removed) oups.com...

> > > ... you might need to consider just how much anisometropia you will wind up
> > > with and how that might affect your binocularity with eyeglasses.

> > Anisometropia? Is it fatal?

> Have you ever considered therapy, Dick?

Maybe I should start with a portable medical dictionary. Then if some professional
person threatens me with anisometropia, I could avoid having a panic attack.

--
Dicky

Dick Adams wrote:

>
> Maybe I should start with a portable medical dictionary. Then if some professional
> person threatens me with anisometropia, I could avoid having a panic attack.

you found sci.med.vision, so you must know how to google, but if not,
click on http://www.google.com and carefully enter in the search box the
following:

definition anisometropia

and see what happens

w.stacy, o.d.

William Stacy wrote:
> Dick Adams wrote:
>
> >
> > Maybe I should start with a portable medical dictionary. Then if some professional
> > person threatens me with anisometropia, I could avoid having a panic attack.
>
> you found sci.med.vision, so you must know how to google, but if not,
> click on http://www.google.com and carefully enter in the search box the
> following:
>
> definition anisometropia
>
> and see what happens
>
> w.stacy, o.d.

Anybody looking for answers in a sci.med.vision news group ought to
expect to encounter some medical and visual science jargon. If I
encounter an unfamiliar term, I would prefer to look it up rather than
embarrass myself. The term anisometropia has been used here countless
times.

DrG

DrG

"William Stacy" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:zFgig.42710$(E-Mail Removed) et...
> Dr Judy wrote:
>> JJ Lee wrote:
>>
>>>I'll have a surgery in my only good eye in a month. Before going over the
>>>details w/ my doc, I just want to know if my thinking makes sense.
>>>
>>>1. I want the monofocal distance to be around 8-9 inches because that has
>>>been my comfortable reading distance (I need to read manuscripts whose
>>>print
>>>is usually small, so I read without my glasses). The near vision is the
>>>most
>>>important for me.
>>>2. Then, I can have a pair of glasses to give me a good focus at 16
>>>inches
>>>for my computer work.
>>>3. Finally, I can have a stronger pair of glasses (maybe bifocal) to give
>>>me
>>>a good far vision for driving, etc.
>>>
>>>Does it make sense, or does anyone have a better idea?
>>
>>
>> If you are currently reading at 8-9 inches and using separate computer
>> glasses etc and are happy with the set up, then ask for it. The other
>> option would be to have the eye set for 16 inches and use glasses to
>> read fine manuscripts. You may well find that with the improved
>> contrast and best corrected acuity after surgery that you will be able
>> to read the manuscripts at 16 inches and will not need reading glasses.
>>
>> Dr Judy
>>
> I agree with that idea. JJ is probably reading at 8 or 9 inches out of
> necessity due to the cataract. Once that's gone, he/she should be able to
> relax out to the more normal 16-18 inches and be comfy.
>
> w.stacy, o.d.

Thank both of you for good suggestions. I had always read at 8-9 inches even
before cataract severaly interfered with my vision. Maybe I loved clear and
detailed close-up vision that my myopia gave me :-) Provided that my vision
is clearly focused at 16 inches after the surgery, will reading glasses give
me clear and focused close-up vision? I'm certainly intrigued by your
suggestions because dealing with "small reading glasses" should be much
easier than dealing with "glasses for intermediate vision".

Dr Judy wrote:

> He has already stated he only has one good eye, do anisometropia and
> binocularity is not an issue.
>
> Dr Judy
>
>
You're right. But it still applies to all of you binocular/biocular
people out there.