Post Cataract Surgery: Seeing the sights!

[Phlier]

Hey Gents,

I was (un)lucky enough to get cataracts at a fairly young age (49). I had surgery on both eyes in May.

For those that don't know, having cataract surgery leaves your eyes at a fixed focal length. Most people select distance vision for their fixed focal length, which is what I went with, too. Now there's the potential for a huge OT subject about different lens implants that have multiple focal lengths, but that's not really relevant here; I can see at distance, but have limited mid distance vision, and up close is truly horrific without correction.

I'm not having any issues with my dot optic sights, as the dots are at distance focus. Iron sights, OTOH, are simply non existent for me.

I'm looking for help from other shooters that are post cataract surgery. How are you guys able to see your sights?

I've been experimenting with progressive eyeglasses, attempting to find a way to see the front sight at the same time I can see the target, but am having much difficulty with it.

Has anyone found an eyeglass company that specializes in progressive correcting eyeglasses for shooters, by chance? I just can't seem to find a progressive lens pattern available from my optometrist that is good for shooting.

I tried multi-focal soft contact lenses, but having all three corrections visible all the time, and trying to concentrate on the one that was correct for the distance I wanted was fatiguing (and sometimes nauseating).

I never thought I'd find myself reminiscing about iron sights, but dang... I miss them!

My CCW guns are all iron sights, and I really don't want to try and mess around with an optic on any of them, as my preferred way to carry isn't friendly for optic sights.

Ideally, I'd like to find an eyeglass lens making company that sells a progressive lens pattern specifically made for shooters.

Failing that, I guess it's time to start trying out some different iron sight enhancements.

Failing that, I guess I'll look into arm extensions.

 

[cfullgraf]

I had cataract surgery last year so I understand your "pain" but may not have lots of help.

First, for self defense shooting, I really have not come up with a suitable solution. But, if ranges don't get too long, I'm ok.

For target shooting, I've done a couple of things.

I use an EyePal (http://www.eyepalusa.com) at times. It is a vinyl disc with an orifice cut in it. It works on the same principal as a pin hole camera where the depth of field is nearly infinite so the sights and target are in focus. The disc sticks to your glasses.

Merit (https://www.meritcorporation.com) makes something similar but a larger device that can be moved out of the way if needed.

I have found some safety glasses that the entire lens is a corrective reader. Called a full magnifying lens. (http://www.safetyglassesusa.com/bf85.html) The sights are in focus but the target is fuzzy. Works pretty good for plinking in the back yard.

I recently got back from a prairie dog hunt. I used safety glasses with a bifocal in the bottom of the lens. I could see fine through the optics or looking out over the P-dog town but had the bifocal lenses for doing close work around the shooting table. I don't really like single lens bifocals but prefer progressives but for shooting and driving, I'm warming up to them. (I have sunglasses with stick on reader lenses positioned so that I do not have to move my head to see the instruments. Really great in the race car).

I have not shot any skeet since I got my implants but many moons ago I wore contacts and my close vision started to go south requiring reading glasses. I could still shoot skeet fine without any optical aid then so I'm hopeful when I finally get back on a skeet field.

I'm past the time that I care to compete any more so I have not attempted to solve that issue. I just shoot for pleasure these days.

Hope this gives you some ideas.

 

[GeoEmeritus]

Post cataract surgery

Hi Phlier:

I had cataract surgery in 1991 and I chose near vision implants because I've worn glasses all my life and I'm used to them. I wear trifocal glasses (sharp cut, not blended) with the center panel cut to mid-range (front sight sharp) with distance at the top and near at the bottom. With the rifle I use the middle range and use a pinhole clip-on (home made) to sharpen both target and front sight. Close range I have a Shield 9mm with big-dot sights. at 7 yards or less I use the distance part of my glasses for a sharp target and put the big-dot on the center of mass with my peripheral vision. Works very well once you get used to it. Further out, I tilt my head back to sharpen the big-dot front sight and let the target go a little fuzzy. With practice you can get a sharp target picture with the distance then tilt your head back and have a sharp front sight right where the desired point of impact was half a second before. My next pair of glasses will have the mid range cut on top and the distance in the middle. That way I won't have to tilt my head way back to shoot the rifle (I think these are called electricians glasses).

Good luck. Adapt and it can all be done.

Geo

 

[ThomasT]

I was supposed to have cataract surgery last March but it fell in for me when my doctors hospital was not in network for my insurance. So next friday I go in to see a new doctor and start over so I am interested in the responses you get.

I started a thread about this over on RFC but it seems my thread has disappeared. I was going to post a link to it but I guess not now. But the overwhelming responses were very positive about the final results and that made me feel much better about the surgery.

I hope others chime in with reports. At this point I am only going to have my right eye done. My left eye still works fine. In addition to shooting guns I also like to fly RC model airplanes so my vision is important to me same as for everyone else. I have heard it is the most common surgery in america so I would think the doctors have it figured out.

 

[entropy]

Hey Gents,

I was (un)lucky enough to get cataracts at a fairly young age (49). I had surgery on both eyes in May.

For those that don't know, having cataract surgery leaves your eyes at a fixed focal length. Most people select distance vision for their fixed focal length, which is what I went with, too. Now there's the potential for a huge OT subject about different lens implants that have multiple focal lengths, but that's not really relevant here; I can see at distance, but have limited mid distance vision, and up close is truly horrific without correction.

I'm not having any issues with my dot optic sights, as the dots are at distance focus. Iron sights, OTOH, are simply non existent for me.

I'm looking for help from other shooters that are post cataract surgery. How are you guys able to see your sights?

I've been experimenting with progressive eyeglasses, attempting to find a way to see the front sight at the same time I can see the target, but am having much difficulty with it.

Has anyone found an eyeglass company that specializes in progressive correcting eyeglasses for shooters, by chance? I just can't seem to find a progressive lens pattern available from my optometrist that is good for shooting.

I tried multi-focal soft contact lenses, but having all three corrections visible all the time, and trying to concentrate on the one that was correct for the distance I wanted was fatiguing (and sometimes nauseating).

I never thought I'd find myself reminiscing about iron sights, but dang... I miss them!

My CCW guns are all iron sights, and I really don't want to try and mess around with an optic on any of them, as my preferred way to carry isn't friendly for optic sights.

Ideally, I'd like to find an eyeglass lens making company that sells a progressive lens pattern specifically made for shooters.

Failing that, I guess it's time to start trying out some different iron sight enhancements.

Failing that, I guess I'll look into arm extensions.

It isn't the lens, it's the fitting. A good optician should be able to fit you with some usable shooting glasses. That said I can highly recommend Nikon's Affinty progressive lens; I have been wearing it for @ four months now, and I love them. Less distortion, wide reading and intermediate corridors. I still have a little acommodation left, so I can still see the front sight in the distance portion of the lens. Pick a frame that has a large 'B' measurement.
You could get single vision lenses set to the distance from your eye to the front sight (front sight, front sight, front sight, right?) you'd see the front sight sight clearly, but they'd only be for shooting then.

You could fit a D-seg upside down, or get Double D-seg (occupational bifocals) or fit an Executive lens upside down also. More practical would be a RD22 (22mm round segment) placed in the upper nasal corner.

 

[exbrit49]

Depends pn your implant lens

I too had cataract surgery over 15 years ago and had the lens implants put in my eyes. The right is set for seeing at distance and the left is set for close work .Not sure what implants they gave you but normally they set you up like mine were.
I ran into the same problem as you are experiencing and now wear the varifocal lenses as well. (At some point in the lens you can focus at any specific distance). Shooting was much tougher and I finally realized I would never get a good sight picture. But, I noticed that I could see the sights much better through the left eye and with my handguns I had to learn to shoot right handed but left eyed. It may look a little strange to some but it works for me. Took some time but now I ma shooting as well as I ever did.
Even good eyes can't focus on the sights and the distant target, I have always focused more on the sights and let the target blur out a little.
Wish you good luck and keep trying, I am sure you will find a way.

 

[gbran]

I'm 64 and for many years, had a tough time seeing far and close. I turned to optics for almost everything save for short distance SD guns.

After cataract surgery, I'm good out to about 3 feet and it goes downhill past that, but my glasses do a great job. Overall, my shooting has become far more satisfying.

 

[Sav .250]

Question. Both eyes a the same time ? You didn`t clarify.

I`ve had that operation as well. But not both eyes at the same time.

Post op.......... good as knew.

 

[cfullgraf]

The right is set for seeing at distance and the left is set for close work .Not sure what implants they gave you but normally they set you up like mine were.

That would be disturbing to me. Both my implants are set for distance.

For anyone reading this thread that will have cataract surgery in the future, do some research outside your doctor's office to get an idea what options are available and how folks like them and use them.

Some of my friends have the multi-focal implants and love them. But they have their issues that I'm not sure would fit with the activities I like to do.

My fixed, distance vision, implants are not perfect either. I cannot see close any more without some optical aid. I used to be near sighted and I could do some detailed close work just by removing my glasses. Hence, I have all sorts or readers scattered about so that they are never far from hand. Fortunately, you can get readers that only cost a few bucks so it does not cost much to have multiple pairs in strategic locations.

Bottom line, I like being able to see again so the minor living adjustments are worth the gains.

 

[Jim Watson]

I've been experimenting with progressive eyeglasses, attempting to find a way to see the front sight at the same time I can see the target, but am having much difficulty with it.

Not optically possible. You can see the sight sharply or you can see the target clearly but not both at once.

I have not had to have cataract surgery, but I have been wearing monovision shooting glasses for some time. Right eye focused on the front (pistol) sight, left eye focused on the target. That works for me at IDPA speed and accuracy requirements.

I know one good IDPA shooter who uses the inverted bifocal.

My FLG wears progressives and bobs his head to find the sweet spot. That is ok for sighting in a gun he has installed sights on, but it does not work for sustained fire, it is too slow for IDPA, and too strained a position to hold for NRA.

 

[Phlier]

Wow... so much great information! Thank you all very much.

@Jim Watson.... actually, it is... looking through a pin hole will give you infinite field of focus. From near to far, you can see it all. And, as you mentioned, correcting one eye for distance and the other for close will do it, too.

Honestly, I didn't have much hope for getting much in the way of responses to this thread. Thank you all *very* much for the help!

 

[Phlier]

I had cataract surgery last year so I understand your "pain" but may not have lots of help.

First, for self defense shooting, I really have not come up with a suitable solution. But, if ranges don't get too long, I'm ok.

For target shooting, I've done a couple of things.

I use an EyePal (http://www.eyepalusa.com) at times. It is a vinyl disc with an orifice cut in it. It works on the same principal as a pin hole camera where the depth of field is nearly infinite so the sights and target are in focus. The disc sticks to your glasses.

Merit (https://www.meritcorporation.com) makes something similar but a larger device that can be moved out of the way if needed.

I have found some safety glasses that the entire lens is a corrective reader. Called a full magnifying lens. (http://www.safetyglassesusa.com/bf85.html) The sights are in focus but the target is fuzzy. Works pretty good for plinking in the back yard.

I recently got back from a prairie dog hunt. I used safety glasses with a bifocal in the bottom of the lens. I could see fine through the optics or looking out over the P-dog town but had the bifocal lenses for doing close work around the shooting table. I don't really like single lens bifocals but prefer progressives but for shooting and driving, I'm warming up to them. (I have sunglasses with stick on reader lenses positioned so that I do not have to move my head to see the instruments. Really great in the race car).

I have not shot any skeet since I got my implants but many moons ago I wore contacts and my close vision started to go south requiring reading glasses. I could still shoot skeet fine without any optical aid then so I'm hopeful when I finally get back on a skeet field.

I'm past the time that I care to compete any more so I have not attempted to solve that issue. I just shoot for pleasure these days.

Hope this gives you some ideas.

It certainly does, thank you!

 

[Phlier]

Hi Phlier:

I had cataract surgery in 1991 and I chose near vision implants because I've worn glasses all my life and I'm used to them. I wear trifocal glasses (sharp cut, not blended) with the center panel cut to mid-range (front sight sharp) with distance at the top and near at the bottom. With the rifle I use the middle range and use a pinhole clip-on (home made) to sharpen both target and front sight. Close range I have a Shield 9mm with big-dot sights. at 7 yards or less I use the distance part of my glasses for a sharp target and put the big-dot on the center of mass with my peripheral vision. Works very well once you get used to it. Further out, I tilt my head back to sharpen the big-dot front sight and let the target go a little fuzzy. With practice you can get a sharp target picture with the distance then tilt your head back and have a sharp front sight right where the desired point of impact was half a second before. My next pair of glasses will have the mid range cut on top and the distance in the middle. That way I won't have to tilt my head way back to shoot the rifle (I think these are called electricians glasses).

Good luck. Adapt and it can all be done.

Geo

Yup, I'm currently doing the rapid head tilt technique to switch between front sight and target.

It's definitely time to get some new progressive lenses with the zones setup better for shooting.

 

[Phlier]

I was supposed to have cataract surgery last March but it fell in for me when my doctors hospital was not in network for my insurance. So next friday I go in to see a new doctor and start over so I am interested in the responses you get.

I started a thread about this over on RFC but it seems my thread has disappeared. I was going to post a link to it but I guess not now. But the overwhelming responses were very positive about the final results and that made me feel much better about the surgery.

I hope others chime in with reports. At this point I am only going to have my right eye done. My left eye still works fine. In addition to shooting guns I also like to fly RC model airplanes so my vision is important to me same as for everyone else. I have heard it is the most common surgery in america so I would think the doctors have it figured out.

I completely understand about the insurance problems. I went to three docs before I was able to find one where the surgery center they used was covered by my insurance. So very aggravating!

Yup, the docs have it figured out, but even the best doc can't change the laws of physics; unless you choose a multi-focal lens (and make sure you do a ton of research first if you *do* choose a multi-focal lens), your vision will be fixed to one focal length, so you will need correcting lenses.

Since you're not having the other eye done, you may very well get along fine without wearing a corrective lens over the eye you have the surgery on, since your other eye will still have accomodation.

 

[Jim Watson]

looking through a pin hole will give you infinite field of focus. From near to far, you can see it all.

My only experience with pinhole optics is shooting a rifle with peep and globe target sights.
I have found adjusting the apertures to be a compromise between clarity and brightness. By the time I get down to a true pinhole, the sight picture is too dim, even on a sunny day.

 

[Phlier]

It isn't the lens, it's the fitting. A good optician should be able to fit you with some usable shooting glasses. That said I can highly recommend Nikon's Affinty progressive lens; I have been wearing it for @ four months now, and I love them. Less distortion, wide reading and intermediate corridors. I still have a little acommodation left, so I can still see the front sight in the distance portion of the lens. Pick a frame that has a large 'B' measurement.
You could get single vision lenses set to the distance from your eye to the front sight (front sight, front sight, front sight, right?) you'd see the front sight sight clearly, but they'd only be for shooting then.

You could fit a D-seg upside down, or get Double D-seg (occupational bifocals) or fit an Executive lens upside down also. More practical would be a RD22 (22mm round segment) placed in the upper nasal corner.

I shouldn't have stated that it is the lens... it's a combination of getting the correct lens, lens pattern, and having a fitter that will set it up in a non standard way, specifically for shooting.

Right now, I'm leaning toward the option of setting up my right lens so that it has a higher segment height, bringing the near vision correction higher in the right lens than it is in the left, allowing the front sight to fall within the near vision (in my case, +2.5 diopters) correction area. Unfortunately, with a progressive lens, that means raising the entire progressive area up. This results in having "unbalanced" progressive correction columns; the right lens progressive column will be higher than the left. Not sure how that would work in regular use, but for shooting it should be ok. Ideally, the near vision correction would end just after the front sight, so that the far vision area of the lens starts just above it. This would allow the target to fall outside of the near area correction. Hmmm.. possibly a bifocal lens in the right might allow for this.

Unfortunately, my current frames have a rather small B measurement. Your suggestion of getting taller frames is a good one! This might allow for a higher segment height (allowing the front sight to naturally fall within the near vision corrective segment) without having to resort to unbalanced progressive columns.

Pin holes, unbalanced columns, taller frames, etc..... so many options to chose from!

I'm going to look into (no pun intended) the Nikkon Affinity progressive pattern you suggested, and it's much appreciated!

 

[Phlier]

I too had cataract surgery over 15 years ago and had the lens implants put in my eyes. The right is set for seeing at distance and the left is set for close work .Not sure what implants they gave you but normally they set you up like mine were.
I ran into the same problem as you are experiencing and now wear the varifocal lenses as well. (At some point in the lens you can focus at any specific distance). Shooting was much tougher and I finally realized I would never get a good sight picture. But, I noticed that I could see the sights much better through the left eye and with my handguns I had to learn to shoot right handed but left eyed. It may look a little strange to some but it works for me. Took some time but now I ma shooting as well as I ever did.
Even good eyes can't focus on the sights and the distant target, I have always focused more on the sights and let the target blur out a little.
Wish you good luck and keep trying, I am sure you will find a way.

Having one implant set for distant vision and the other implant set for close vision is referred to as "Monovision". Some patients opt to have both eyes set for one particular distance, others opt for the monovision option. I went with both eyes set for one distance, as monovision (and multifocal lenses) can be done with contact lenses.

That is the one nice thing about going with lens implants that set both eyes at a fixed distance: any other vision options (monovision, multifocals, etc) can then be done with contact lenses or glasses. But when you have the implants themselves set for something other than both eyes at a fixed distance, you limit yourself on the options available to you post-op.

Unfortunately, once you have lost accommodation (and cataract surgery does this), there are pros and cons to all the available options. There is just no perfect substitute for the natural accommodation of original equipment lenses.

 

[Phlier]

I'm 64 and for many years, had a tough time seeing far and close. I turned to optics for almost everything save for short distance SD guns.

After cataract surgery, I'm good out to about 3 feet and it goes downhill past that, but my glasses do a great job. Overall, my shooting has become far more satisfying.

It sounds like your implants are set for near vision. Good to hear you're not having any problems... it gives me hope that I'll find an acceptable solution.

 

[Phlier]

Question. Both eyes a the same time ? You didn`t clarify.

I`ve had that operation as well. But not both eyes at the same time.

Post op.......... good as knew.

I had surgery on both eyes in May.

If you've only had cataract surgery performed on one eye, then the other eye still has it's natural ability to focus at different distances. Fortunately, your brain is able to compensate.

 

[Phlier]

For anyone reading this thread that will have cataract surgery in the future, do some research outside your doctor's office to get an idea what options are available and how folks like them and use them.

Some of my friends have the multi-focal implants and love them. But they have their issues that I'm not sure would fit with the activities I like to do.

My fixed, distance vision, implants are not perfect either. I cannot see close any more without some optical aid. I used to be near sighted and I could do some detailed close work just by removing my glasses. Hence, I have all sorts or readers scattered about so that they are never far from hand. Fortunately, you can get readers that only cost a few bucks so it does not cost much to have multiple pairs in strategic locations.

Bottom line, I like being able to see again so the minor living adjustments are worth the gains.

It is *so* important that anyone about to have cataract surgery *thoroughly* read up on the available implants! Every option has it's pros and cons, and it is EXTREMELY important that you educate yourself about them!!

There is no panacea when it comes to cataract lens implants!

 

[mikemyers]

When one develops cataracts, the "lens" in the eye often gets cloudy, reducing vision. If you're already old, the lens has already started to lose its ability to focus, which is why glasses are needed to see both close-up and far away.

One eye is operated on at a time. The lens in the eye is replaced by a new lens, of the appropriate prescription as desired. After the operation, that eye will presumably see perfectly (as well as the rest of the eye allows) at a single distance. Unlike the human eye, the new lens can't adjust to focus at different distances.

If the new lens had a prescription for "distance", you would see as well as your eye allows, for distant vision. If you want to read, or see the front sights on a gun, you need to wear corrective lenses, often glasses.


I do volunteer work at Aravind Eye Hospital in India. I've helped them improve their video capability, so they can better record these operations. On my next trip to Aravind, I'll be a patient, as I now have cataracts developing in both eyes myself.

Unless there is something else that is wrong in your eyes, after the operation you should see perfectly at whatever distance the new lens was designed with. At that point, you can get reading glasses, or shooting glasses, or whatever you wish.


I've had a lot of help from another member of this forum, who suggested what kind of shooting glasses I might be most satisfied with. I won't know until later this year how that will work out, but I do know, whatever I get, will have polycarbonate lenses, for safety. The more I've looked into this, the more convinced I am that I will buy glasses specifically designed for shooting, which not only have protective lenses, but which wrap around and protect the eyes from above and the sides.

If anyone is interested, I'll post a link to a cataract operation performed at Aravind. Over there, they are done in "assembly line" fashion, sort of like McDonalds, often for free, for patients who could never afford them if they weren't free.

 

[mikemyers]

This is a video I made a few years ago, for a friend of mine, Dr. Venkatesh, documenting the cataract operations performed (at no charge) for people from remote villages in South India. They are bussed in, spend a short time at the hospital, and then are sent home after the operation is finished, and they are checked out. This video was made at the Aravind Eye Hospital in Pondicherry.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcG49Bqexvs

Unless anyone objects, I'll post a video of the actual operation. The microscope that the doctors look through have video cameras, and I converted that signal from Analog to Digital, where it was saved on a computer. They used to use video tapes, long ago.

 

[ThomasT]

I for one would like to see the operation video. I may decide I don't need this afterall. Just kidding. I did watch the first video. That was interesting.

 

[mikemyers]

Here's an excellent video, with a clear explanation of what is being done. I can also post videos from surgery at Aravind, but I think this video (in real time) is very easy to follow.

https://vimeo.com/10103153

 

[Milkmaster]

Try peep sights on your rifles. That is what my eyes like for iron sights on long guns.