Cataracts and photochromic lenses

[sk8pics]

So I learned this week I have teeny tiny cataracts. My eye doctor said they should grow very slowly and I may not need surgery until I'm in my 70's. In the meantime, she told me to wear sunglasses when I am outside all the time, whether it is sunny or cloudy. Of course, I want to do my best with this for the sake of my eyes, but this is a real pain. Plus, I have recently been doing some birdwatching and photography, and it's hard to take pictures when you're wearing sunglasses.

So I started thinking about photochromic lenses, because at least they'd be more convenient. And I thought they might be easier to take pictures with. My understanding is that they go completely colorless inside, which is important as we are not allowed to wear tinted glasses inside at work.

So has anyone tried these? Or do you have other tips or advice about preventing cataracts from growing too fast?

 

[TheGirlCanSkate]

I have had transition lenses, you might like them, but I found they never got dark enough for me and they took too long to return to clear. I'd walk in a building and freeze because I couldn't see. Same with parking garages. The coating yellowed after about a year and then started peeling. This is fine if you are the type to get new glasses annually. I'm more likely to wear glasses for years and years.

I do birdwatching and take hobby photos, I have not noticed any problems. My sunglasses are polarized and color is more vibrant so I can see details more easily. I don't see real colors though, it's sort of like high definition and everything is more vivid.

Give it a shot though! If you don't like sunglasses, you won't wear them consistently. I started wearing sunglasses about 9 years ago and love them so much. Switching back and forth can be a pain, but the pay off is that I feel I'm protecting my eyes.

I wish I could wear contacts and non prescription sunglasses but the proteins in my tears make them cloudy super quickly.

 

[MacMadame]

When I first started getting transition lenses, I had the same experience as TheGirlCanSkate but the technology has improved a lot and now that's not an issue at all.

However, for photography, I don't like wearing glasses at all. When I know I'm going to be taking a lot of pictures, I try to wear contacts and then I'll wear sunglasses on top, if necessary. I take the sunglasses off to take the pictures.

 

[Garden Kitty]

i've been wearing them since I started having trouble with my contact lenses. One tip, they don't work inside a car, so you'll still need some sort of sunglasses to fit over your other glasses when you're driving in sunny weather. They may not be strong enough for really sunny weather, but I like them for most general uses. They take a few minutes to adjust when you walk inside, but it isn't too long.

 

[MacMadame]

My boss says it's the UV filters in our windshield/windows that keep them from working in a car. However, I find the tinted windows and visor are enough most of the time. So the same technology that keeps them from working keeps my eyes from hurting.

Macular degeneration runs in my family so I've also been advised to wear sunglasses when outside. Apparently it helps.

 

[sk8pics]

Thanks for the replies, all. I knew that about windshields blocking uv radiation, and so that's why these lenses don't darken inside a car. The Transitions brand says they darken as well as polarize, and that's why they block virtually all the UV radiation. Not sure if other brands do the same, but I see LensCrafters has the Transitions brand.

I am good about wearing sunglasses when I am outside for any length of time, or when I'm driving. What's driving me a little crazy is having to keep switching glasses every time I go outside or get out of the car outside. We work in two different buildings, and I do walk between them pretty often, in the sun, and I suppose I really should have sunglasses on. Sometimes I do, and sometimes I shield my eyes. But I think the photochromic lenses would make things a little easier for ordinary things. And maybe they would be better for outdoor photography through a viewfinder. (I can't take pictures without wearing glasses because my eyes are pretty bad.)

@MacMadame I almost always wear sunglasses in my car, not because of direct sunlight but because of the reflections off the cars in front of me. I find that really blinding at times.

 

[MacMadame]

Well I have transition lenses so maybe mine work and my boss is wrong.

I wear sunglasses when I'm driving when I have contacts on. Even when it's not that bright out, I find everything kind of glare-y in the car. I had assumed it was something about the contacts but maybe it's something about my eyes.

 

[Moto Guzzi]

I've had transition lenses and didn't like them, but it's been a long time since I had them.

I went to the eye doctor today and was told I need cataract surgery. They started developing two years ago but weren't bad enough for surgery. It will be at least two months before I can have the surgery; it takes that long to get on the schedule with the doctor who will do the surgery. Meanwhile, I'm getting stronger glasses. My doctor said he couldn't do much for the vision in my left eye because the cataract in that one is much worse than the right eye, but he said he could improve my vision in my right eye substantially.

I wear sunglasses when I go outside because I see better with them. The thought of any type of eye surgery scares me, but my aunt recently had it done and told me they give you a sedative so you aren't freaking out the whole time and my vision will be so much better I'll be glad I had it done.

 

[sk8pics]

@Moto Guzzi Hugs to you. Sorry your cataracts grew so quickly. I am sure your surgery will go well; it seems so common these days, the docs have had plenty of practice. If I get to that point, they will need to give me Valium or something similar or I will be a basket case. Are you going to have them fix your vision at the same time?

 

[Moto Guzzi]

@sk8pics Thanks! The thought of surgery worries me so much but my aunt made me feel better when she told me about hers. I am afraid of any surgery involving eyes because I thought I would be wide awake seeing a scalpel coming at my eyes but my aunt said it isn't like that at all. I do plan to have my vision corrected. I am extremely near sighted and need my glasses for walking across the room so I don't fall over something.

 

[sk8pics]

@sk8pics Thanks! The thought of surgery worries me so much but my aunt made me feel better when she told me about hers. I am afraid of any surgery involving eyes because I thought I would be wide awake seeing a scalpel coming at my eyes but my aunt said it isn't like that at all. I do plan to have my vision corrected. I am extremely near sighted and need my glasses for walking across the room so I don't fall over something.

Be sure to let us know how it goes!

 

[Moto Guzzi]

It will be several months before I have the surgery. I have to go in next week for a visual field test because my eye pressure has increased. If I have to start taking glaucoma drops, I won't be able to schedule the first appointment for measurements until the pressure has lowered.

 

[beepbeep]

My grandmother had her cataract surgery in her 70s. She may have had her vision corrected as well during the procedure, since she stopped wearing her glasses altogether!

My mom had hers in her early 50s (as cataracts are one of the many PITAs of her muscular dystrophy) and it cleared her eyesight right away.

 

[Colleen]

Cataract surgery is so simple now - my dad has had it on both eyes - I dropped him off and he was ready for pickup 90 minutes later .. and he felt fine. Your cloudy lens is replaced with a prescription lens, so you won't need glasses, other than possibly readers. My sister has had cataract surgery as well and says her vision is better than ever with the prescription lenses. She too said that the surgery wasn't a problem - she was quite nervous with the first eye but said she was fine the second time because she knew what to expect.

I have the start of cataracts but they aren't really growing so likely I won't need surgery for years. But my eye specialist said that I will probably be very happy when I do because it will be the end of a lifetime of glasses/contact lenses.

I don't know where you live, but in British Columbia the medical system provides a basic replacement lens - patients can pay to upgrade. Everyone I've talked to says that the upgrade is well worth the money. There is apparently a multi focal lens now that will eliminate the need for reading glasses ... the technology is constantly changing and improving. I remember my grandfather having cataract surgery in the late 70's and it was a huge surgery with a long recovery - now it's not much longer than a dental appointment and you can see clearly soon after.

 

[Colleen]

I have transition lenses as well - and I love them. I had them years ago and they did go yellow but that technology has improved dramatically as well. The lenses are totally clear indoors and darken/lighten quickly. The only time I have noticed the darkening is when I go from sunny outdoors into a really dark building but even then after a few seconds your eyes adjust and it's fine.

I've had the same glasses for about five years and the coating is like it was on day one - no yellowing/peeling/chipping.

 

[sk8pics]

Thanks everyone for the encouraging stories! I think I will get a pair of transition lenses and we'll see what happens with the cataracts.

 

[sk8pics]

I picked up my new glasses today. They are a little slow, I think, to go back to colorless when
I go inside, but I can see fine, so it should be okay. These glasses are much more comfortable on my nose than my last pair, but I still need the earpieces adjusted, I think. That's the most annoying part of getting new glasses.

 

[Moto Guzzi]

Update: My cataract surgery is scheduled for January 12 and 26. I'm getting the multi-focus lens. I know several people who have them and they are very satisfied with their choice. I'm not looking forward to the surgery but people tell me it's not bad and my vision will be so much better. It is steadily deteriorating, and I will be glad to be able to see again.

 

[Vash01]

Update: My cataract surgery is scheduled for January 12 and 26. I'm getting the multi-focus lens. I know several people who have them and they are very satisfied with their choice. I'm not looking forward to the surgery but people tell me it's not bad and my vision will be so much better. It is steadily deteriorating, and I will be glad to be able to see again.

Best wishes for the surgery. I heard it is an easy surgery and it doesn't take that long to recover. I heard that the vision really improves.

 

[sk8pics]

I know someone having cataract surgery on Monday. Just one eye. She said she can hardly see out of it. She's only 61 but she doesn't take very good care of herself, so I don't know if she did some crazy things. She also previously had lasik surgery. I just know they are going to need to give me valium. Lots of valium. When it's time for me to have the surgery.

Good luck @Moto Guzzi

 

[Moto Guzzi]

Thanks! One of my high school friends just had one eye done and says he can hardly wait to have the other eye done.

I know at least 4 people who have had the surgery before age 65. One had it at age 50.

 

[Meredith]

I had cataract surgery on one eye two weeks ago and on the other last week. I was extremely anxious going into the procedure, but once I was given the anesthetic, I quite simply did not care what they did to my eyes! I hope you have a similar experience, @Moto Guzzi.

I am 69. My boss had the surgery when he was in his 50s and again ten years later.

 

[vagalume]

for moto guzzi

I'm 48 and had the surgery on september 7 and 21. I was a coward and delayed it for almost a year. Had nightmares for two months straight before. I should kick myself.
I had the same fears you had. You just see lights. and in a few minutes a miracle...
I couldn't wait for the second operation. I had been wearing glasses since I was 12.
Beat wishes

 

[PDilemma]

My mom had hers done around age 62. Piece of cake. And she was high risk as she had had two previous retinal surgeries and had a high risk of retinal detachment. It improved her vision greatly for a time (and the subsequent loss had to do with the retinal issues not cataracts or the procedure).

Seriously, compared to repairing a damaged retina, pointing lasers at blood clots in your eyes, etc...it is nothing, people.

 

[Moto Guzzi]

I had surgery on my left eye this morning. I can see better than I could before but my vision is blurry. Friends who have had this surgery said their vision was clear within an hour or two so it concerns me a bit. I have an appointment with the eye doctor in the morning and hope he will tell me this is normal and will clear up soon.

My aunt had cataract surgery several years ago and didn't have problems with blurriness. She told me it will clear up but promised if it didn't and she wins the Powerball drawing, she'll buy me a seeing eye man.

 

[clairecloutier]

Good luck @Moto Guzzi. Hope you get good news from the doctor!

 

[Moto Guzzi]

Thanks! My vision is better today but still a bit cloudy. My eye doctor said that was normal and it's only been one day since surgery. He said my eye was still quite dilated and that was having an effect. I did well reading the eye chart. My depth perception is off with one good eye and one that can see only close-up; I will be glad when the second surgery is over.

 

[sk8pics]

Good to hear, @Moto Guzzi . Since I was diagnosed with cataracts, I have talked with so many people who have them, too, that I feel a bit better about it all. I also like my new glasses very much, so perhaps that will help. But my glasses have gotten so expensive I almost wish I would need cataract surgery, so that I wouldn't need them any more.

 

[Moto Guzzi]

My glasses prescription was expensive, too. I was diagnosed with cataracts 2 1/2 years ago. My first symptom was that my vision improved and that had never happened before. Within a few months, though, it was as bad as it had been before.

Last September my vision started to get worse quickly. I had difficulty reading street signs and my vision seemed cloudy no matter how many times I cleaned my lenses. I made an eye appointment but couldn't get in until near the end of October when I was told I needed cataract surgery. It takes several months to get everything scheduled and my vision kept getting worse. I had to stop driving at night and it was difficult to drive on days when the sky was overcast. Had I had to wait another week or two, I wouldn't have been able to drive any more because my vision was getting so much worse.

The surgery wasn't painful. I was worried about that, particularly after signing a form that said I recognized that I may feel pain during and after the procedure. They told me they would give me a sedative. I didn't think I felt any less nervous but maybe I did. They also said I would have slight amnesia and my first thought was "Those bastards! That means it WILL hurt but I won't remember it so I'll think it didn't."

I wasn't even drowsy during the surgery. I could see bright lights flashing and odd shapes and felt a slight discomfort at times--not pain, but pressure. The eye drops I have to put in are probably the most painful thing about the surgery as they sometimes sting a bit but not always. I feel much better now that I have the first surgery completed and know what to expect for the second.