Cataract surgery

[smithers599]

So the doc says I should get cataract surgery, i.e., lens replacement.
I don't know much about it, but I have heard that you can get one eye set for long distance and one eye set for close distance. If that is true, which eye should I get for which? I can shoot pistol with either eye, but I shoot rifle with my right eye. So left eye close, right eye far? Or do I need close distance to see rifle crosshair or irons, so plan on using right eye for both rifle and pistol?

Especially interested in hearing from those who have had it done.

 

[YNOTAZ]

I use "readers" all the time but my distance vision is fine.

I had a telling experience at the range recently that goes directly to your question. I was admiring a guys hugely rare Browning 2LR predecessor to the gallery gun. He asked if I want to shoot it at a 50yd target. I did and shot like crap. I made all my excuses, I always shoot better, iron sights, sights are fuzzy because of reader needs, much closer than my arm with a pistol and irons.

He said here try my shooting glasses with a prescription. I did, the sights were crystal clear but the black dot on the target got fuzzy. I shot great. Lesson learned...

I had a pair of shooting glasses made up with a diopter + value for my right, dominant eye, for iron sights and clear for my left non-dominant eye, shooting with iron sights, both eyes open, improved.

My test, simple because I had the time. I bought several sets of readers, at different powers, from China and punched the left eye Lense, non-dominant) out. Settled on what I needed and had optometrist do it.

BTW, these are insert into my shooting glasses, so shooting with optics, I pop the inserts out.

 

[aroyobob]

I had a pair of shooting glasses made up with a diopter + value for my right, dominant eye, for iron sights and clear for my left non-dominant eye, shooting with iron sights, both eyes open, improved.

My test, simple because I had the time. I bought several sets of readers, at different powers, from China and punched the left eye Lens, non-dominant) out. Settled on what I needed and had optometrist do it.

BTW, these are insert into my shooting glasses, so shooting with optics, I pop the inserts out.

Question. When I get regular prescription glasses(for distance,) the Costco, always marks the center point in the lens (or where the center of the pupil is,) as where the center of the correction should be. For shooting a rifle I look out the upper corner of the lens (left handed so I look out the upper right corner of the left lens). With normal prescription lenses that's a blurry area. I can twist my head around a bit but it's not natural.

Did you have whoever made the lens shift the point of clarity to line it up with wherever your pupil is when shooting or is what I described above not a problem for you?

Thanks.

 

[thom]

I had both eyes done. The left for distance. Then a couple months later the right for reading. Then I went to costco and had glasses made strictly for distance. I told the eye doctor that I wanted the glasses for driving and shooting. The left lense is basically just a piece of plastic and the right is correctly matched to the left for distance. I wear the glasses for shooting with a holosun RMR. I can still read the MPH on my truck odometer and street signs farther away. I have to raise the glasses of my nose to see the small stuff on the dash. I sit about 8 feet away from the TV and don't wear the glasses, while typing this on my phone. It didn't take long for my brain to adapt to the changes.

 

[blasternaz]

When I had mine done, it was required that they only do one eye at a time. Total hasell, as I then had to use a contact in the "old" eye for distance. 20/400, uncorrected, you see. Since I've had the other done, now I use readers. Cheap set of 3/4+ glasses gets me in focus for pistol, +1 for rifle. Using both eyes for shooting with a red dot or scope, I want both eyes able to see the target. Right eye sees the dot, left sees the target, brain puts them together, finger knocks 'em down! HTH's

 

[Bottom Gun]

I was mildly near sighted before cataract surgery. Now I’m extremely far sighted. I opted for the multi-focal lenses in both eyes that cost me an additional $7,000. I thought I wouldn’t have to wear glasses again. WRONG.
Now I can see a coyote on the far mesa but have trouble seeing what’s on my dinner plate without readers.
If I was doing it again, I would select the toric distance lenses instead. These multi-focal lenses are a disappointment.

 

[smithers599]

I was mildly near sighted before cataract surgery. Now I’m extremely far sighted. I opted for the multi-focal lenses in both eyes that cost me an additional $7,000. I thought I wouldn’t have to wear glasses again. WRONG.
Now I can see a coyote on the far mesa but have trouble seeing what’s on my dinner plate without readers.
If I was doing it again, I would select the toric distance lenses instead. These multi-focal lenses are a disappointment.

Thanks. Good to know. Ixnay on the ulti-focalmay.

 

[YNOTAZ]

Question. When I get regular prescription glasses(for distance,) the Costco, always marks the center point in the lens (or where the center of the pupil is,) as where the center of the correction should be. For shooting a rifle I look out the upper corner of the lens (left handed so I look out the upper right corner of the left lens). With normal prescription lenses that's a blurry area. I can twist my head around a bit but it's not natural.

Did you have whoever made the lens shift the point of clarity to line it up with wherever your pupil is when shooting or is what I described above not a problem for you?

Thanks.

I went to Jeff @ Ohana Eye Care. I met Jeff through the old AZ shooting board, you may remember he offered a free box of 9MM with an eye exam. His wife Alice is the optometrist. She understood what I needed and had the lenses made for the insert. Here is the system I got, inserts out for optics and in for iron sights. The lens size for the insert is a standard size so any Opto. can have them made.

 

[aroyobob]

[mention]YNOTAZ[/mention] Great, thanks!

 

[QuangTri]

I had a pair of shooting glasses made up with a diopter + value for my right, dominant eye, for iron sights and clear for my left non-dominant eye, shooting with iron sights, both eyes open, improved.

happen to remember what diopter value you got?

I wear readers (lasic distance correction) and wonder about trying them with iron sights.

 

[Bottom Gun]

Night glare is another issue with the multi-focal lenses. The whiter the light, the worse the glare.

Some time after my surgery, I watched a video of a surgeon saying she does NOT implant multi-focal lenses in truck drivers or anyone who does a lot of night driving. I wish I'd watched that before my surgery.

 

[YNOTAZ]

happen to remember what diopter value you got?

I wear readers (lasic distance correction) and wonder about trying them with iron sights.

Nope. I bought 3 pairs of cheap Chinese cheaters and punched the left eye out to test. Then threw them out. I use 1.25 - 1.50 at home laying all over the house.

 

[Sixshooter]

I’ve had cataract surgery in both eyes with my right eye being done first in about 2013.
The doctor asked me, where do you want your focus to be?
I extended my right arm and hand and said, “right at the end of my fingers”.
He had a quizzical expression until I told him that I’m a shooter and need to see my front sight post.
That’s exactly where he put and about a year later had my left eye done.
We set that one out as far as it would go.
I have to use readers to read and see detail up close but haven’t worn prescription glasses for years.
Best of luck to you!

 

[smithers599]

I’ve had cataract surgery in both eyes with my right eye being done first in about 2013.
The doctor asked me, where do you want your focus to be?
I extended my right arm and hand and said, “right at the end of my fingers”.
He had a quizzical expression until I told him that I’m a shooter and need to see my front sight post.
That’s exactly where he put and about a year later had my left eye done.
We set that one out as far as it would go.
I have to use readers to read and see detail up close but haven’t worn prescription glasses for years.
Best of luck to you!

Thanks, that's sort of what I was thinking. See the front sight and scope reticle with right eye, and distance with left eye.

 

[iwantoneofthose]

I went to Jeff @ Ohana Eye Care. I met Jeff through the old AZ shooting board, you may remember he offered a free box of 9MM with an eye exam.

Damn that was what, around 10 years ago? I barely remember this, your memory is way better than mine! :bow-blue:

 

[samnev]

I had both eyes done. Right one first then the left. Had both eyes done for distance vision, The optometrist at Costco in Surprise then did the prescription my for my glasses so that my distance and mid range vision is great. The prescription for reading is okay as well but if I'm reading something that has small print I need readers. Costco had Foster Grant readers if memory serves 4 reader for $17. I've Been using them for a year and a very happy with them. Best of luck with your surgery.

 

[smithers599]

I had both eyes done. Right one first then the left. Had both eyes done for distance vision, The optometrist at Costco in Surprise then did the prescription my for my glasses so that my distance and mid range vision is great. The prescription for reading is okay as well but if I'm reading something that has small print I need readers. Costco had Foster Grant readers if memory serves 4 reader for $17. I've Been using them for a year and a very happy with them. Best of luck with your surgery.

Are you OK for seeing the front sight/scope reticle, or do you need glasses for that?

 

[samnev]

With my prescription I have no problem seeing the reticle on any of my scopes or Acog.I don't have any rifle with iron sights buy I have know problem seeing the front sight on any of my handguns.

 

[smithers599]

With my prescription I have no problem seeing the reticle on any of my scopes or Acog.I don't have any rifle with iron sights buy I have know problem seeing the front sight on any of my handguns.

Interesting. Thanks!