I've worn glasses since I was 6 (astigmatism), but in the last year or so I've had to use a magnifying glass to read almost anything. Doctor told me several years back that I had cataracts forming, but that they might not cause problems for years. At my last visit, the Doctor told me that I had to have surgery, that new glasses weren't gonna fix the problem. I'm not a fan of surgery, especially EYE surgery, but I'm a big fan of the sense of sight, so we scheduled surgery. Then the Great Winter Storm of 2026 hit and the surgery was postponed. Last Monday, they operated on the right eye and the next day on the left, and almost immediately my sight improved. I mean really IMPROVED! As I sit here typing away at the computer all I'm wearing are 3.00 reading glasses from Wal-Mart! My long-range vision is great, before I could only see the forest, now I can see the trees, and branches, and the critters in the branches. I have yet to find any small print that I can't read, and I've tried! My out-of-pocket expense was about $1000, but it was worth it. I'll still wear glasses; otherwise, folks won't recognize me. Hell, I might not recognize me without glasses! This is just one more thing that I won't have to worry about post-SHTF! PS The HR lady at work is happy, she finally got me to use all of my paid-time off.
It was similar for me. During my last year at work, in 2014, my right eye was legally blind and my left was getting fuzzy at distance. I wore glasses but still couldn't read my livingroom wall clock from across the room. Road signs were a blur until really close. My doctor told me if I didn't get cataract surgery I'd soon be blind. I hate anyone messing with my eyes, but finally did it. Got the right eye done first, then two weeks later the left. Such a difference! Halleluja, I could SEE! No more squinting to make out road signs. No more needing a powerful rifle scope, I rediscovered the pleasure of open and aperture sights! The surgery was uncomfortable, but I bore through it. The nurses wrapped me up in a sheet so tight I couldn't move. I told one I felt like a human burrito! She chuckled. The little things they used to hold my eyelids open were the worst, but not really painful, just irritating. When the Doc removed the first lens and my sight was GONE, I nearly freaked! But in less than a minute the new one was in, and sight returned. Driving improved and was safer. I could shoot accurately instead of having to aim "center of fuzzy mass"! I can read much easier. I still need reading glasses for reading or close up hobbies like model building, and regular glasses for driving, but it's a vast improvement. If anybody is needing cataract surgery, I say "DO IT!". You'll be stunned at the improvement! It's totally worth the short bit of discomfort. Many people come away not needing glasses at all, but I had waited too long.
Congrats to both of you gents!!! I had LASIK over 15 years ago, and it made a great difference. I was ok for most things but I couldn’t shoot worth a flip, and that is what spurred me to do the deed. Made a world of difference. A good friend from Canada told me it was the mark of a serious redneck to get the surgery for my shooting {:>)
yeah my eye Dr had been noting "normal age related cataracts" on my records but the reason for the visits and ultimately for the surgery was glaucoma (and it helped, but didn't fix that problem). For some unexplained reason I had severe sensitivity to light for a couple months after in both eyes, but that's cleared up. I opted for the distance vision, for a change since I've been strongly near-sighted my whole life, thought it would be better. I truly can see distance perfectly but just about everything I do now, I need reading glasses. I was on the fringe of needing the toric in one eye, I pushed to do that, and I regret it, it didn't make enough difference to justify the price.
Good on you too. Be advised though, if you ever need to get cataract surgery, that will remove whatever LASIK did, as it involves replacing the actual lens with a synthetic unit. This happened to my sister.
I too opted for the distance lens in my cataract procedure. They do have a combined close-up and distance option, but my employer supplied health insurance wouldn't cover that option. Would have been $1,200 out of pocket, which I couldn't afford at the time.
Yeah, I was having problems reading highway signs until I was on top of them and it was too late. Also, traffic lights, especially in daylight, were difficult and I watched the brake lights of the cars instead. However, I never had much trouble driving at night. I still reach for my glasses first thing in the morning and probably always will, because I'm gonna get plain glass lens with bifocals for reading for several reasons; 1) I'm just use to wearing glasses, 2) I don't want to be forever hunting for my reading glasses, 3) Folks won't recognize me without glasses, 4) I don't like the reading glasses that I have seen (cheap and small lenses), and 5) Basically, I've worn safety glasses my entire life and I'm used to that.
Had mine done 6 years ago OMG what a difference I never realized howyelloe things looked prior to surgery. after surgery everything was crystal clear--wife needs it done --afriad told her it was apiece of cake
