Short sighted

Am I the only one that surgery went fine but they put long distance lens in and was long sighted before now after surgery I am short sighted yes I have high they was worried eye pressure could spike. But now I feel let down and un sure what to do with other eye as my eye sight in the eye were cataract has been replaced is worse and struggling to cope with it. Has anybody also had this

[Astilbe]

I was short sighted and they put a long distance lens in without telling me.Now I need cataract op in other eye and they are refusing to put in short distance lens. Even though I have got on fine with one long and one short for a year.

Their policy is to put in long distance lens for everybody, they are not giving me a choice. Except to go private.

[Hidden in reply to Astilbe]

Have u always been been short and long I was always long in both and they should have put long in eye done all went pear shapped and now struggling to cope with two different eyes if that makes sense. Are u having other eye done I am thinking twice about it as I do nor think I can cope with it

[Hidden in reply to Astilbe]

They normally put long distance in on the nhs but it's what u get used to. To me long distance is far better but I hate what I have ended up with and cannot do anything about it it need other eye done but cannot loose the eyesight In the eye i i have not had done. Big discussion with both of us but I am not convinced having another op is the answer

[Tokeh in reply to Astilbe]

I was short sighted too and had a distance lens put in after cataract op and after discussion and the same later with the other eye to be more balanced and better for driving. I have got used to not having the benefits of very good vision for close work but I wear glasses with a different prescription now. and it's ok

[Hidden in reply to Tokeh]

No i was long sighted and they put wrong lens in so I am now short sighted I can hardly see except fir reading only

[Astilbe]

I was always short sighted in both eyes. After they put long in one eye I had one long and one short. After I got over the shock I have liked it that way. I think it depends on the original difference between eyes that determines if that will work. I like being able to see distance and also read without glasses.I do need to have the cataract done in my other eye as it is very cloudy now, I have put it off for over a year. They still insist that it will be long sighted lens, my consultant was pretty short tempered about it. Apparently the used to do one long and one short but not any more. People having cataract ops who haven't got glaucoma still have the choice.

After they do it (I have not agreed as yet so no date) I will need reading glasses to be able to read. Since I am an avid reader of books being able to read without glasses means a lot to me. But I need to get the cataract done before my next DVLA test so that is a consideration too.

I think I have resigned myself to having both eyes long.

Do you have to have glasses for reading yourself? I really hope that things work out for you.

[Hidden in reply to Astilbe]

No now I have become short sighted in one eye which I find so difficult. I do not need glasses for reading but having being long distance in both eyes for as long as I can remember short distance is a problem. I only had glasses for reading which was fine as I did little reading and only needed them to read a menue or newspaper. This I find hard as I now can not see long distance and need them for driving also eyes cannot focus together as they are both different . I find lonflg distance a better option but I was never short sighted till now especially only in one eye. Same as u but other way round.

[Hidden in reply to Astilbe]

My consultant says unless I have glucomma there is no need to advise dvlc ?

[Astilbe in reply to Hidden]

Yes you are right. I just assumed that you had glaucoma. I had to inform DVLA when I was told that my higher eye pressures were now glaucoma. I have to have a D VLA sight test every 3 years at present, so far I hav have had 2 of them.

[Hidden in reply to Astilbe]

My eye pressure is 20 but did go up to 28 hence why they through it may spike and result in glucomma so did op as more of preventive. But it does not help the way I cannot see correctly due to incorrect measurements or incorrect lens. It was good idea but completely gone pear shapped.

[Astilbe in reply to Hidden]

Sorry to hear that Janebirch. That happened to my sister, she doesn't have glaucoma or high eye pressures, just needed cataract doing. Nearly everybody I speak to who doesn't have glaucoma have been very pleased with the outcome. My husband had both eyes done with no problem. Doesn't make it easier for those of us who get problems though. All the best to you.

[Hidden in reply to Astilbe]

Thankyou wish I know what to do

[Hidden in reply to Astilbe]

Did your sister go short sighted after being long after surgery

[Hidden]

Cataracts was fine no problem but now all gone wrong

[711debbie]

I had cataract surgery on both eyes at the same time (ops done in Slovakia; I've lived here for 30 years). I also have glaucoma. My doctor just told me that I'd need glasses for distance (I don't drive) but not for reading (getting my new prescription this week). I actually can walk around the neighborhood without glasses but will need them this fall when I restart teaching and will need to see my students' faces!

When I was getting ready for my ops, I met a woman at the surgery who had come from England for the operation as it was taking too long to schedule there. We stayed in touch, and she was very happy with the operation and quality of the English (staff and doctors). Of course, it wasn't cheap, but she really needed to get the op done.

[Hidden in reply to 711debbie]

I have no glucomma but was long distance and lens was supposed to be long distance but they put wrong lens in so now short sighted what was you before op

[711debbie]

I was short sighted (US: near sighted) but wore glasses (and previously, contacts) all the time.

[Hidden in reply to 711debbie]

No I was long sighted and now with incorrect lens that they put in short sighted only had classes for reading now have to wear them all the time.

[Islandhome]

a lot of people are short sighted in one eye and long in the other, the brain adjusts and you can read and see long distances. I had a discussion about lenses before (glaucoma, no vision problem) and was given lenses to keep my eyesight the same (NHS) so not sure why so many on here are refused this. For you, if you cannot get used to long/short then the easy option is for other eye to be short and wear glasses for distance, not reading as millions of people (including me) already do.

[Hidden in reply to Islandhome]

I have to have other eye done and don't want to be like this in both eyes it comes as a shock when you could see with out glasses except for reading to having to wear them all the time I find it horrible to not be able to see long distance in the eye they have done and really considering not having other eye done as it may go same way

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Because surgeon said if I don't pressure could spike

[Islandhome in reply to Islandhome]

Struggling to see why it is such a big problem. It didn’t “go wrong”, you just had a short distance lense. You say you can’t manage one long, one short so why would you not have the other eye done to make them the same? Yes it is different but you will get used to it and glasses correct your vision when needed. Why do you not mind wearing them to read but mind wearing them for distance?

[Sorshup]

Hello Jane. It would help to know what your spectacle prescription, before cataract surgery and afterwards. I assume that you had a proper sight test after surgery and were given your prescription, but sometimes this is missed so you are entitled to request it.

[Hidden in reply to Sorshup]

My prescription was reading only as I was long distance in both eyes now I am long in one eye and short in eye done which is were it's gone wrong as they should have put long distance lens in. I have new prescription glasses but have to wear them for driving my concern is if I have other eye done I will be completely short sighted if it goes wrong again and I will have to wear glasses all the time . I don't think I can cope with such a loss if sight so don't know what to do

[Sorshup]

I share Islandhome's feelings, but could be much more helpful if I knew the actual numbers, as I have suggested.

[Hidden in reply to Sorshup]

I was 1.1 l9ngsighted now 1.1 short

[Sorshup in reply to Hidden]

Thank you Jane. I assume that you have abbreviated your previous written prescription from sph +1.00 cyl -1.00, and the new from sph -1.00 cyl -1.00. If I have misunderstood, please ignore the next para and, if you wish, let us have your full prescription, as written ,for both eyes!

Both these prescriptions are very small. Most people would hardly notice an effect on the vision (though I agree that the new will have dropped your distance sharpness a little). But maybe you have the misfortune to be someone who is more sensitive to small differences. The refractive outcome is within tolerance for a desired "distance" outcome - it is unlikely that you have been fitted with the "wrong" lens. Only an optometrist or surgeon who knows you well can properly advise you on your second eye refraction, but it appears that requesting distance would suit you best.

Three general points, in response to things raised in the posts of others; the choice of post-op refraction (for distance, near, or whatever) and the surgeon's choice of matching lens does not influence the cost to the NHS, so there is no reason why one should not have what one wants. I am ignoring multifocal options. Second, having glaucoma does not affect this freedom. Third, whatever reassurance is given such as "We'll correct you for distance, so you won't need distance specs", most people will still need a small spectacle prescription to achieve best sharpness of vision. To cover a lifestyle that involves a lot of screen and book reading, varifocals and single vision specs separately for both screen and reading may work best. The precise focus and the improvement to the sharpness of vision implant surgery can provide makes it more obvious to us when things are not best clear when the wrong specs are being worn!

I hope this has clarified things a little, and helped you move froward, Jane.

[Hidden in reply to Sorshup]

I know I was + before i think it was + 2 now _ minus 1.5 don't understand when they put a long distance lens in I can have a Refractive outcome and become short sighted in that eye when I had long distance vision before. How come u know so much arecyou a optican

[Hidden in reply to Sorshup]

Sorry also I do not have glucomma I have single angle closure. My cataract was fine and they only removed it to give me more room in eye to stop eye pressure spiking hope thus makes sense. I am really worried about having other eye done in case it goes same way as surgeon says it could happen can u advise as you seem to understand what I am talking about

[Hidden in reply to Sorshup]

Just found the e mail from vision express I was +2 before and now -1.00/-1.00 × 110 6/6 It feels a big difference

[Sorshup in reply to Hidden]

That's helpful detail Jane. Two things first: as I have stated on other posts, yes I am a retired optometrist, and have 35 years experience of being treated for glaucoma. second, you keep referring to being fitted with a wrong lens, but I have just expressed the opinion that the slightly short-sighted outcome of your lens replacement surgery would be considered within acceptable tolerance, as a distance correction, though seeing the prescription you have sent more precisely, it is little more short sighted than would usually be expected.

Assuming that you are over 60 years old, and have therefore lost your ability to change focus from distance to near, with a +2 refraction surely you used specs for best TV or driving - unless your other eye needed much less than +2 correction? Now, without specs you can see what's on a table or work surface much better than before, and your new specs restore your distance vision?

I don't feel that I can be any more help. As I have advised, you are best to express all your concerns to the optometrist or surgeon and therefore get the most informed explanation and advice. Good Luck !

[Hidden in reply to Sorshup]

HiThanks for reply and yes it has helped I can see much better close and don't need to wear glasses for reading. I wear glasses now for driving but my worry is if I have other eye done and it goes same way then glasses will be on all day which I don't think I will get used to as I have never worn them for this amount if time. And I prefer to be long distance But again thankyou

[Hidden in reply to Sorshup]

Just found something from hospital 2016 my eye at that point was 6/6 unaided in eye they have done ?

[Hidden in reply to Sorshup]

Sorry me again all I know is that it was a + before and now - after operation 6/6 to start with was + and now is - I don't know how it can go wrong when they have put long distance lens in unless the measurements or the lens was incorrect

[swiftsummer]

I am short-sighted but had a cataract in one eye replacing with long/ medium sight. Once I had my glasses, my optician thought I wouldn't be able to cope with the difference between the eyes but I did - within a day or so. The brain adapts. When I had contact lens and needed varifocals - they do it by having one long sighted lens and the other short-sighted lens. I had that for maybe as much as 10 years. Does anybody know why surgeons are reluctant to provide one long sighted lens and the other short -sighted?

I find it perfect. If my other eye is changed to long sighted too, I won't be able to see, even with glasses to do so many things... pluck eye brows, clean hearing aids, sew, read phone messages, sew, sort gum problems when they occur. A combination of near and far sight is so useful.

Btw I'm not sure if I have glaucoma. I'm described as a glaucoma suspect.

[Hidden in reply to swiftsummer]

I have always been long sighted but now I have had cataract removed in one eye I am shirt sighted and only needed glasses for reading now due to having this done I am short sighted on the eye they have done and long sighted in other I am struggling to cope with two different eyes and now have to wear glasses for long sight which us a pain my brain is not coping at all even after ten weeks after operation . I have been told I need other eye done and really don't know how I will cope if it goes same way so not sure what to do

[Beecalmed in reply to Hidden]

I haven’t had cateracts done so can’t advise on your issue but I hear you and sympathise with your situation! It sounds very distressing. I completely get that your vision seems weird now. Also if you suddenly and unexpectedly have to wear glasses all the time when you didn’t before that is also going to take some adjusting to.

Can you afford to go private to get that eye reversed to long? Maybe then the NHS will be willing to do a long lense in the second eye as you request. I do hope you can get it sorted. 👍🏻

[Hidden in reply to Beecalmed]

Apparently it's to risky to have another operation in the eye they have done so hopefully will just to it

[Beecalmed in reply to swiftsummer]

For balance, and to prove we’re all different, on the variofocal contact lense situation where they do one lense short and other long, well I never got on with it. Don’t know why but my brain never merged the two messages from the eyes and I could always see the long and short at the same time which was very odd.

I’ve now lost vision in centre of one eye and my consultant says I shouldn’t really notice it as my other eye should be compensating and “filling in” but I do see my vision loss all the time. Some of us are just a bit idiosyncratic perhaps! 🙂

[Hidden in reply to Beecalmed]

Did u have both eyes done removed cataracts and have they said why you have lost vision

[Beecalmed in reply to Hidden]

No I haven’t had cateracts. Just sympathising with your situation and that we all respond differently to changes in our vision, as vision has a subjective aspect to it, I feel.

I lost vision as my glaucoma went undetected by my optician for years even though I had annual tests for glaucoma and a family history. I was just very, very unlucky.

[Hidden in reply to Beecalmed]

That's bad. As soon as my eye pressure went up they referred me to the eye hospital although I have not got glucomma but have single angle closure they keep a check on both at the same time which is good just wish they had put the correct lens in when they did the cataract operation. I did not have a problem with cataract but they did operation to stop my pressure spiking that's why they want to do other one

[swiftsummer]

I must admit I'm used to wearing glasses all three time although I can see closer to better without glasses in there eye which hasn't had cataract done.

[Hidden in reply to swiftsummer]

Wish I had not had it done but I surpose it has helped with problem.