Anyone shooting after cataract surgery?

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mugsie

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I just had cataract surgery on my right eye whereby they removed the existing lens and replaced it with a plastic one. The new lens is focused from about 8 feet to infinity. Near vision has not been corrected yet because the surgery was less than a week ago. Right now I see distance in the right eye and close up in the left. The left eye is scheduled for August.

Now the question, I tried a pistol the other night and was all over the target. Has anyone gone through cataract surgery and is now shooting? Did they correct the near vision with glasses? I am kind of anxious since I don't want to have to give up a life long hobby, but right now not being able to focus on the front sight causes all kinds of strange patterns on the target.

Shooting 22 pistol indoors at 50 feet, I used to be able to keep most of the shots well within the 8 ring. Now I'm lucky to keep them on the paper! I even tried it benched but because the sight is so out of focus I never know if I've got the same point of aim.

Somebody tell me you've had it done and it'll all be alright.

Thanks people.....
 
I would limit shooting to pistols only, no larger caliber rifles yet as you are only one week out.

Once your refraction has stabilized, talk to your eye doctor about your needs, they may be able to fit you with a contact lens or glasses dedicated for your shooting hobbies.

I know it's a bit late now, but when you get the other eye done, you can opt for a newer implant ReZoom or the ReSTOR

Most insuances do not cover this newer lens technology (i.e. Medicare), and you would likely have to pay the difference between the costs of the implants.

Anyhow, just take it easy, with time you can ABSOLUTELY enjoy your shooting activities again. Open the lines of communication with your eye doctor.
 
I see so much, much better since my surgery. It may take a few weeks to adjust to the change in vision but you should do better eventually. Ask your MD about shooting rifles and shotguns. I can't recall how long my doc suggested I lay off to avoid tearing something loose but it wasn't very long at all.
 
Mugsie,
I hope that your problem is resolved quickly to your full satisfaction. Please keep us posted on progress. I have a vested interest since I have a cataract on my shooting eye which will require correction soon. Currently I shoot pistols using two hand hold and tilt my head to use the left eye for aiming. Works fine for me. Perhaps you can try it until a better solution is found for your situation. GOOD LUCK!!!

Good shooting and be safe.
LB
 
In my case the far vision needed correction with glasses.
To be honest, I don't know exactly what you mean by "I tried a pistol the other night and was all over the target." If it's because your vision was fuzzy (uncorrected) then I strongly suspect that when it is corrected, this problem will go away. There is nothing inherently different about vision with the plastic lens that would normally effect shooting. The only thing about the lenses is they do not flex (focus) like the normal human eye's lens, and thus the focus is permanently set. At infinity, which is what most shooting distances are at, once corrected, the image should be stable.
The only single problem I had, was a year or so after the lenses were replaced, I developed a kind of secondary cataract wherein the clear "sacks" that the human lens is in develop a cataract-like condition. This is cleared with the use of a laser, which treatment I just received a couple of weeks ago in my left eye, which is now 100% again. I suspect my right eye will need it in a year to eighteen months.
You may not have that condition develop so I wouldn't worry about it (I had a very unusual type of cataract that develop at a young age and develop pretty quickly).
Keep your chin up as others have said, once your eye is stabilized and the vision is corrected, I'm sure you'll be able to shoot the whiskers off a gnat across the Grand Canyon!!!:D
 
I am not a cataract patient, so here is my two cents' worth.

A permanent implant figured for 8 feet out is not going to suddenly start correcting near vision. You will need shooting glasses ground to focus on the front sight. I have been using them for years, even without cataract surgery.

Theoretically you could aim with your left eye, and get an intermediate range (or multifocal, per Hyaloid) implant for the purpose in August.

Me?
While my shooting glasses are monovision - right on the sights, left at distance, I would not want it all the time, though I know contact wearers and Lasik patients who do.

I recommend you let your eye heal and stabilize, then get some shooting glasses for the range.
 
Jim Watson is right--let your eyes heal and stabilize, then get some glasses for shooting.
I'm 2+ years after cataract surgery on both eyes--vision has stabilized at 20/40 (best I've had in a long time). My optometrist and the opthalmologist who did the surgeries were just first-rate. At my yearly check-up, my optometrist always asks about my hobbies and has always had good advice on types of lenses best suited for my vision and intended activities.
 
Somebody tell me you've had it done and it'll all be alright.
Click to expand...

I've had the exact same thing done about three years ago, so you are not alone.

Good advice so far. I can only add:

You do have to be careful for the first couple of weeks, even though you may not be experiencing any discomfort at all. (I didn't.) It may take a while longer before you're able to adjust to the focusing, maybe a couple of months at the longest. Do keep up your visits with the eye doctor so that he can check your progress.

Good luck in your recovery!
 
I had cataract surgery about 5 years ago. First, I tried progressive bifocal lenses. If I lean my head WAAAY back I can focus on the front sight.

Option 2 is a set of shooting glasses, set to focus at between 3 and 4 feet so I can see the front sights on my pistols. This has worked very well. I bought a set online with polycarbonate lenses and keep thim in my range bag. I don't need special glasses with shotgun or scoped rifle.

Goog
 
Geat thread, thanks.
I'm scheduled for a consult in two weeks to start the cataract surgery on my left eye. It's my dominant eye. My right one will follow and I have worried about being able to shoot following the surgeries. Until this is resoved, I've got a great excuse for my crappy shooting. :eek:
 
I'm going to be seeing my opthamologist in a few weeks to see if I will be having my cataracts operated on this summer. This thread is a great help. I have problems lining up the sights on my Kimber right now, but I can still shoot 8-10s at best... at worst the shots are still on the paper. confuse.png
 
Oh! Make sure that you do wear that eye covering at night while you're healing, because of the possibility of rubbing your eye in your sleep. (After you heal you won't need it, of course.) You're probably given the normal precautions of not bending over or lifting anything heavy, so let the others around the house take out the trash for a while. ;)
 
I had cataract surgery in July 2006 and after a month
was shooting quite well. Do communicate all your concerns
with your doctor.

I did have to rezero the peep sight on my Marlin 336:
after surgery I was shooting a bit high.

(DO follow all the doctor's instructions: Rx drops in the
eyes as required and the shields at night so you
don't rub your eyes in your sleep,
 
I can almost relate. But my catarac surgery happened while they were fixing my detached retina. I currently have no lens and have a silicon oil in my left eye right now (been operating with no depth perception for almost a year). I can do anything right now, but once they remove the oil and put my lens back in the doc says to not shoot for at least a month to let it heal.

I hope it works out for me since October is going to be my boot camp. Good luck with yours.
 
Cool !!! I'll get an eye patch! Arrrrgh.
Now, will the VA give me a parrot also?
Click to expand...

Aye, mate.
But I understand they only do that for ex-Navy. A bottle of rum too if you're at least an ensign.
 
Wow !!!

Well I had the surgery in my left eye two days ago and WOW! I can really, really see well, and the vision hasn't, as yet, stabilized. I can see so clearly I wonder if there wasn't a mistake, like I'm seeing "too well."
Have to wait aat least a month before they do the other eye. Then no more excuses for crappy shooting (other than the ones we all use, anyway). And, I get to wear really cool shades. SWEET.
The bad news was no black eye patch and no parrot. The VA said it was budget cuts. ARRRRRRRRGH.:neener:
 
I had both eyes done. Left eye done in April, Right eye in May. Both eyes still have the 'star' effect when driving at night, from oncoming traffic headlights. But my farsighted vision is much better than previously.
If you make your own targets, try different colors, use off-white or grey as a background. It may help
 
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