Cataracts - how to choose lenses?

[YogaLite]

Confused and terrified as not sure how to choose lenses.
Currently about -2 and not needing glasses for reading/writing/crafting/phone but driving (wearing existing glasses) especially at night or generally walking in poor light is becoming fuzzy. Also get a ring around some lights in one eye ☹️

Was told if I go for distance I would need reading glasses which might mean a lifestyle change ☹️

I wish there was a gadget to try how different lens s would feel ☹️. Any advice how to choose?

Anyone went for EDOF lenses? How do they feel in practice?

Is it NHS or private. I had lens replacement at Optical Express and went for the multi focal. I had varifocals prior to that. I don’t need glasses at all now. I can’t actually believe how tiny I can read now. My distance is very slightly blurry but I meet the driving limit with room to spare so not an issue.

@hairypaws haven't yet decided, obviously it depends what lenses I choose. Do you get rings around the lights when driving at night?

I had thought there would be an option to have a "neutral" clear replacement lens on NHS to keep things as they are so I could continue wearing my distance glasses for driving (I love a slight tint) but they say they match them to the prescription.

And then there are the private options..

Are you not getting guidance from your opthamologist? They should be going through all the options with you. 🤔
My mum was given the options covered and info about the ones she could pay for.

@Mumtobabyhavoc not really, the guy said he is NHS only and said I could try elsewhere

@hairypaws with multifocals, do u see under your feet ok?

Do u need to consciously raise and lower your head/eyes depending what u are looking at?

I very recently got multifocals implants. They are not like wearing varifocals, you don’t have to move your head or anything. They are expensive though, around £9k. Also the halos around headlights are huge for me, but I’m hoping that will improve in the next weeks / months, along with my distance vision which is pretty blurry. Reading, computer, watching TV are all really good. I couldn’t do anything without glasses before the op.

@DarkRootsBlue I already see halos in one eye and find it a bit disconcerting, almost like affecting my 3D vision, wouldn't want that after a surgery, I hope it settles for you 🤞🤞

@DarkRootsBlue would u say a middle distance is ok? Like reading labels on supermarket shelves? Or seeing under your feet eg on uneven ground/steps?

Yes middle distance is great. I can see everything clearly from tiny text to about 6 metres away. I can see anything in the house just fine at any distance, it’s more challenging when outdoors when there are more distances and light sources for the brain to deal with. But I’m really early in, just 2 weeks since op so I’m assuming that improves a lot.

I do get halos when driving at night and have bought anti glare glasses with the tiniest prescription to sharpen things up, literally the smallest you can get can't remember if it was .25 or .5, whichever is the weakest. They do help. I got mine a year ago and had to get laser on top as it wasn't quite as good as I expected, in saying that I still hit all the goals. I then had PCO so had to get YAG laser which took seconds. All extra procedures were included in cost. It cost me around £6200 as I am a blue light card holder. It has honestly changed my life, sounds dramatic but I love not having to wear glasses all the time.

No issues with stairs, floors etc as it is your actual eyes and not glasses so you don't have to constantly adjust where you look.

Seeing under feet is no issue at all. I couldn’t wear varifocal glasses as I couldn’t go down steps etc so I know the problem you mean.

Thank you @hairypaws such a big step for me so want to understand from real people and not just the sales blurb.

@hairypawshow long did you give it before deciding to do the laser as well? I’m wondering at what point it’s accepted that distance vision isn’t going to improve through the brain adapting.

I had replacement done second week in Oct and laser in February. I probably could have lived with results but paying out the money I wanted it as good as possible. I wore prescription lenses first to see if that made a difference to vision and as I had a noticeable improvement they agreed to go ahead.

Thanks, interesting. My distance vision hasn’t improved since day 2 and I’m at 2 weeks now. I do see distance better though when it’s dusk so I’m hoping it will improve when I’m less sensitive to glare, maybe when I’m off the steroid drops.

Sorry for the mini-hijack OP. Hopefully you’ll get some advice from those who have had monofocal lenses as well.

I had mine done a couple of years ago. I ended up choosing the private option as I have astigmatism in one eye, so needed a toric lens to get a decent outcome. I have an enhanced monovision lens in the other eye. I use my right eye for distance and my left eye for reading, it works really well for me, have they not offered you that option? There is a 1 diopter difference between my eyes, which I think is the maximum.
To be honest it was life changing for me, my prescription was -15 before cataracts. I went from needing glasses or contact lenses all the time to needing nothing.

I had one eye done in 2017 - the other is still cataract free to this day. Before the op the eye I had done was very much worse than the other one and I had the discussion about the likelihood of needing reading glasses soon, so I just opted to have the op eye matched to the other one. I've worn glasses for nearsightedness from age 11 so it was zero hardship. These days I wear varifocals and they are great, my prescription hasn't shifted at all and I see brilliantly at all distances with my varifocals.

F you don't have all the answers you need about options, maybe take some time to see at least a couple others for consults. Definitely check private as well. Make sure you have a thorough understanding before going ahead.

@TheBitterBoy that's really interesting, do you still see 3D ok? The difference in my vision is less than 1d.

So far I have only followed the NHS referral but no information was provided for other options except to look elsewhere so I am still researching

How did you find the specialist you went with, are they anywhere near London?

Private will do free consults. ie Euro Eyes.
Go to a couple of clinics and learn as much as possible.

Oooh, didn't know that, thank you @Mumtobabyhavoc

Had lens replacement surgery with optical Express 4 weeks ago, same time as my husband ( that was a challenge in itself 🤣 - literally the blind leading the blind for 24 hours after surgery 🤣). I have had very blurry distance vision since, and asked for another appointment which they gave me 2 days later. Turns out I had cysts behind one of the new lenses so have been on eye drops for 2 weeks. Went back & check up scan showed the cysts had gone, however although distance sight has improved since the op I’m still not happy that it’s right. I have another batch of eye drops for 4 weeks then a further appointment where they already suspect they will recommend YAG treatment, and possibly a further laser treatment to tweak the prescription. I’ve made it verty clear that the current outcome is not acceptable, but I feel they are fully on board with this.
I’m somewhat miffed as my husband’s has worked like a dream, as has his friend who recommended the treatment to us !

My vision is great, no problems. I was referred to my local Spamedica clinic for NHS treatment, they had a private clinic attached called Freedom Vision, who I had my treatment with in the end. Cost around £5000 total, but this was a couple of years ago.

@TheBitterBoy this is very helpful, thank you. I think the enhanced mono vision lenses sound or might be the same as EDOF I have read about.

If I find the right place I am thinking I might try contacts different for each eye to see if my brain can cope as that would be ideal as I would hate to lose near vision.

@Ifonlyiweretaller thank you for sharing your experience, it's helpful to know things can be tweaked further down the line 🤞

My DIL is an optometrist and she advised me. I had my op last year. I was extremely short-sighted before that (-11) and she told me to stick with a short-sighted lens, as people like me struggle with suddenly finding themselves long-sighted afterwards. I'm very glad I took her advice. I like being able to use my phone/computer/book without glasses. My prescription is around -2 now with no help, but I wear glasses at home and contacts when out, with reading glasses over them if necessary.
I went NHS and it was brilliant. They don't offer fancy lenses, but I have no regrets. DIL said there are so few complications now after the op that they don't bother checking - they leave that to your next opticians' appt.