Cataract surgery for shooters

[Racalman]

I know that a number of people on here have had cataract surgery and more are probably heading that way so I wanted to share my recent experience from a shooter's perspective.

I have a left dominant eye but shoot right handed. Cataracts were devloping in both eyes, but the right eye was worse, with poor contrast and difficulty seeing anything against a bright background. The NHS won't operate until you're nearly blind so if you want to keep shooting you have to bite the bullet and spend the money you had saved up for a new rifle on private treatment.

I decided to avoid eye clinics as they can be impersonal production lines. Instead I searched online for the CVs of the local opthalmic consultants and got my optician to refer me to one I thought would be prepared to talk about my shooting needs. He was brilliant, although he did say that engineers are his most difficult patients!

The first choice you have to make is the type of implant (IOL) you want - standard, multifocal or accommodating.

Standard lenses give the best quality vision but at a fixed distance. You have to correct with spectacles or contact lenses for the other distances.

Multifocal lenses offer spectacle independence but there are disadvantages - slight loss of contrast and haloes around lights at night. Worst of all, and what the eye clinics don't tell you, is that these lenses prevent about 18% of available light from reaching your retina. That's not a problem early on but when you are very old and your retina is deteriorating you won't be able to see very well at all.

Accommodating lenses are clever hinged devices that mimic the natural lens's ability to focus, but need accurate fitting to avoid visual defects.

I went for a standard lens. The next decision is - what focal point? Most people choose distance (TV and beyond) then correct for near (computer) and reading. Some do it the other way round. My requirement was to be able to drive to a range and shoot without any correction. I'm happy to wear glasses for close up work and night driving.

After much research I settled on -1 dioptre for my right eye. I had the operation three weeks ago and it was alarmingly simple - very quick with no pain during or after and excellent vision within a couple of days (although it takes a few weeks to settle down completely). The consultant advised me not to start shooting again for a month, but in the meantime I have sighted in a few rifles and can confirm that there is sufficient adjustment in the focussing eyepiece of my scopes, and I can see well enough to shoot iron sights to at least 100 yards.

As I am naturally short sighted I wear a contact lens in my left eye (-1D for office work and distance for driving), and will eventually have a distance IOL fitted when that cataract starts annoying me.

Of course, everyone is different and a few people have problems with this procedure but for me it's been brilliant. The only downside is I will have to tear a page out of the book of excuses when I start shooting again ...

[ovenpaa]

Interesting.

I know I will need the op at some point, I am right handed and right eye dominant and my left eye has stayed static at -6.0 with contacts for 15 odd years, the right which is the one I need has gone from -7.0 to -9.0 over the last 2-3 years which means I cannot see close up with when corrected which is a nightmare given my work. At the moment I use a -8.0 for the right eye for every day stuff and move to a -9.0/+2.0 for driving and shooting however it is not great for driving nor shooting at dusk. My optician confirms there is evidence of cataract in both eyes however the right is certainly not as good as the left.

So I will need the op. My worry is just how it will work out for me and being very honest I am not keen on finding out right now...

[Rockhopper]

Not keen because the op scares you or are you scared of the possible outcome not being what you want? If its the first one then don't worry, I had eye surgery a few years ago and it was a huge non event, drops froze the whole thing and they are so close to your eye that you can't see whats going on.

[ovenpaa]

My worry is the outcome, not the operation.

[knewmans]

Most people I know who've had the op have got on really well. A small number have had complications with blurry vision in one eye for some months after.

[Racalman]

Interesting.

I know I will need the op at some point, I am right handed and right eye dominant and my left eye has stayed static at -6.0 with contacts for 15 odd years, the right which is the one I need has gone from -7.0 to -9.0 over the last 2-3 years which means I cannot see close up with when corrected which is a nightmare given my work. At the moment I use a -8.0 for the right eye for every day stuff and move to a -9.0/+2.0 for driving and shooting however it is not great for driving nor shooting at dusk. My optician confirms there is evidence of cataract in both eyes however the right is certainly not as good as the left.

So I will need the op. My worry is just how it will work out for me and being very honest I am not keen on finding out right now...

My operated eye was -4.25D and the other is -5.5D. I think when you get to your level of myopia there is an increased risk of retinal detachment with cataract surgery, but a good surgeon should be able to manage it for you.

Have you had a vitreous detachment yet? My first eye went eight years ago and the other one earlier this year (the day after a fullbore shoot ...). It takes ages for the cloudy film to settle down, and it's all the more annoying when you realise that the vitreous serves no purpose once you've left the womb!

Good luck with your eyes.

[ovenpaa]

Crikey Racalman, I had not even heard of a vitreous detachment until you mentioned it! On a plus side I can still ace a rabbit at approaching a kilometre when the sun is out :)

[Racalman]

Most people I know who've had the op have got on really well. A small number have had complications with blurry vision in one eye for some months after.

I developed blurry vision a week after the op but that was due to increased pressure in the eye which was picked up and treated at the follow-up examination. Once I started on the drops and pills it went away after a couple of days. I'm appreciating the much improved brightness and clarity and now realise that the gloss paint in my house is not as yellow as I thought it was!

[Christel]

Halos, yup got them. At night it is rather frustrating, halos and lights criss crossing. I had standard lenses put in.
I would rather not drive the car if I can avoid it.

I do not think there is a sure fire way ahead with cataract surgery, we all react/heal differently after surgery.

[Racalman]

Crikey Racalman, I had not even heard of a vitreous detachment until you mentioned it! On a plus side I can still ace a rabbit at approaching a kilometre when the sun is out :)

Google Posterior Vitreous Detachment then. If you get massive floaters and flashing lights you need to go straight to eye casualty to make sure it hasn't damaged your retina. Apart from that it's common and harmless.

If your shooting is that good you don't need the op just yet. I couldn't see my car dashboard with my right eye when the sun was on it!