[shortwhite]

Have cataracts in both eyes and it is time for surgery soon. Any opinions on best type of lens for reading music? Thanks in advance.

 

[B Flat]

Have cataracts in both eyes and it is time for surgery soon. Any opinions on best type of lens for reading music? Thanks in advance.

I had both my eyes done about 5 years ago.
Actually am having one of them Yag lasered in a couple of weeks as it has clouded over again.
I really wasn't given an option for lenses when mine were done.
The surgeon simply said that the distance type were the only ones he recommended as it made more sense to have glasses made to improve the short distance/reading vision.
I only wear glasses for reading and not for driving or anything else, which is fine by me.

 

[Reedscraper]

I have had both eyes done since 2016. I chose to get Toric lenses which give great sight for long distance but requires cheap reading glasses up close. I found the mid range, computer or music stand, to be problematic. I read music with the reading glasses but look over them to see the conductor. I'm getting by but would recommend you see an opthomologist to get a pair of mid-range specs for reading music.

 

[liggy]

Have cataracts in both eyes and it is time for surgery soon. Any opinions on best type of lens for reading music? Thanks in advance.

Luckily cataract surgery is well scienced out. Here's to a good outcome.

I think it would be helpful to define the context. Reading music at home on a stand? Probably single vision standard lenses and readers with your Rx.

For performance on stage? If you don't want to wear readers there are multifocal lenses that are a compromise but they might work for you.

I'd sit down with your surgeon and get specific with your priorities.

Bear in mind that multifocal IOLs are the premium upgrade that most clinics favor and a better margin is a big reason for the emphasis on the premium lenses.

 

[Dr G]

If you opt to consider multifocal lenses, can you try out the concept with glasses first? I know several people that tried gradient glasses and could not get used to them.

 

[Jazz Is All]

My sister is not a musician, but when she had her cataracts removed they put in one distance lens and one close lens for some reason. She explained it to me years ago but I don't remember exactly why. The result has been however that she can see both near and far without glasses or contacts anymore.

I had mine done with distance lenses and I can see far off pretty much as well now as before the operation ten years ago. For reading and computer I had a pair of progressive glasses with close midrange and far but when they wore out I chose just to get store readers with diopters. The prescription lenses really weren't needed to see to drive because I can see everything quite well. I just can't read the speedometer well. But I know from where the needle is pointing how fast I'm going anyway. So instead of 150euros or more I bought 5 pairs of readers off Amazon for 15. Now I'm on 3.0 and they work great for close up and my laptop. Reading music still is the problem but since I don't play in combo anymore it's moot as I don't play from charts much now. If I have to I just print them out bigger.

 

[BH9]

My better 3rd elected for multifocal lenses, and she would like very much to reverse that decision. She has had nothing but trouble, and two additional surgeries attempting to correct problems with the lenses. Her experience has been unsatisfactory to say the least, and was expensive. We have found since that her experience is not exactly rare. Too late.

I've put off getting mine done but will have to do it soon. Needless to say, I will correct for distance and use reading glasses.

 

[Jazz Is All]

My better 3rd elected for multifocal lenses, and she would like very much to reverse that decision. She has had nothing but trouble, and two additional surgeries attempting to correct problems with the lenses. Her experience has been unsatisfactory to say the least, and was expensive. We have found since that her experience is not exactly rare. Too late.

I've put off getting mine done but will have to do it soon. Needless to say, I will correct for distance and use reading glasses.

Sorry to hear this. Not sure why my sister had no problems or what exactly they gave her. As for me, after the first year I went in and they used a laser to clean the membrane behind the lens because it can get coated with something. Not sure what but it's a common procedure they told me and they only had to do it once. My eyesight has been great since I had the operation and that was maybe 12 or 13 years ago. It made all the difference in the world.

 

[liggy]

My sister is not a musician, but when she had her cataracts removed they put in one distance lens and one close lens for some reason. She explained it to me years ago but I don't remember exactly why. The result has been however that she can see both near and far without glasses or contacts anymore.
.

That approach is typically called Monovision. They correct your dominant eye for distance and your non-dominant eye for near. IIRC about 80% of folks can adapt to this but a good deal depends upon the individual and their Rx, cylinder (astigmatism) etc.

To further muddy the waters modified Monovision utilized a multifocal lens in the dominant eye and a single vision lens in the dominant eye.

I would probably do that before multifocal IOLs but you'll want to consult with your doc before this obviously import decision.

 

[Jazz Is All]

Thanks. That is what she had. I couldn't do it because I had a Strabismus operation at age 4 but never achieved fusion. Hence my weak eye would be useless as the reading eye since it is too weak to deal with that. Plus it has an astigmatism that made all parallel lines get wavy when I had the cataract removed and the new lens put in. I never notice it unless I close my good eye because that eye is what I really see details with.

 

[liggy]

Thanks. That is what she had. I couldn't do it because I had a Strabismus operation at age 4 but never achieved fusion. Hence my weak eye would be useless as the reading eye since it is too weak to deal with that. Plus it has an astigmatism that made all parallel lines get wavy when I had the cataract removed and the new lens put in. I never notice it unless I close my good eye because that eye is what I really see details with.

Ahhh.. I see. No pun intended. Take care of your good eye, my friend. Glad your vision is excellent with the touch up.

 

[lostcircuits]

Thanks. That is what she had. I couldn't do it because I had a Strabismus operation at age 4 but never achieved fusion. Hence my weak eye would be useless as the reading eye since it is too weak to deal with that. Plus it has an astigmatism that made all parallel lines get wavy when I had the cataract removed and the new lens put in. I never notice it unless I close my good eye because that eye is what I really see details with.

That's not fun and there is not much you can do about it other than practicing with the weak eye and re-establishing the connections in the brain but mileage will be age-dependent. That's one of the reasons why they usually tape close the good eye after strabismus surgery, to force the weak eye to exercise (not in the eye but in the visual cortex). It's never too late to have a happy childhood but it gets harder and harder the further down the road we are.

 

[GT]

I'm grateful for this thread as I'm thinking I may be needing some cataract work as well. And, similar to Michael, I have one eye and one prosthesis. So, I'll have to figure out what to do as well. Right now, doing the big band thing, the charts are kind of winning the fight!
All the best to Shortwhite as well as the rest!
George

 

[milandro]

Well, GT, allow me to say that you thinking that you may need a cataract operation is not really the best approach to this, it is the doctors that have to decide on an operation and they have good reasons to speed up or delay operations.

I have had a beginning cataract for several years while retaining a 120% vision, it is only when it more or less suddenly dropped to 80% ( which is still plenty for some but much depends from where you are coming from) that the doctors decided that I needed an operation. When the operation was decided I had been in that awkward phase where one with or without spectacles cannot really see clearly. Driving at night in the rain was the worst!

Anyway.

To date I have had the right eye done while the left eye has had to wait a little longer than I would want to because the doctor got sick and then he had other engagements abroad (he does volunteer work abroad). They will proceed with the left eye in a month.

I was given the option to have a correction for far or close by or to have one eye ( dominant) for far and other for close by.

I had heard of that option many years ago when I tried contact lenses . Since I could see very well from nearby and the two lenses were the same, the optician advised to buy a set of lenses and then use only on one eye ( which saves quite a bit of money in the long run). I thought he was joking until I learned that many people do this, in fact my wife does precisely that (but that came later).

I tried the approach and could’t get used to it.

Now about the cataracts, I elected to have both eyes corrected for far vision which means no longer prescription eyewear for all normal activities and for reading or using the computer I need glasses.

As I type, I am using +1.50 dioptries to type ( which puts me slightly too close to the screen but is perfect for the keyboard, but maybe i can try a weaker correction).

In my opinion choosing for far vision correction is better for most situations ( driving, walking and general life).

The doctor decidedly advised against multifocal correction because they give lots of problems , he said, (he would have made more money because that treatment is only covered in part by insurance while simple far or near correction is completely covered).

Later one I will get the follow up laser treat ment which resolves the "after cataract" ( standard in the NL) .

I don’t enjoy not having good near vision but if I have to choose than it is far vision way more important.

 

[shortwhite]

Thanks for the replies everyone. Maybe I should have given more details.

I have had cataracts for a while and the doctor says now is the time for surgery. I have been wearing trifocals for years now and also have astigmatism which can be corrected by the the new lenses I get during the cataract surgery, Distant vision will be much improved by the surgery but I am very concerned about intermediate vision for reading music.

Thanks again for all the replies

 

[Jazz Is All]

Thanks for the replies everyone. Maybe I should have given more details.

I have had cataracts for a while and the doctor says now is the time for surgery. I have been wearing trifocals for years now and also have astigmatism which can be corrected by the the new lenses I get during the cataract surgery, Distant vision will be much improved by the surgery but I am very concerned about intermediate vision for reading music.
hanks again for all the replies

The only solution I know of, if you get your surgery for distance vision, is to get a pair of readers made for you for that distance. The optician I used to go to had them, and in fact could make them for any focal length I might have wanted. Computer distance lenses are common these days, so even those can work for reading charts so you don't have to have your face in the sheet with your horn hitting the post of the music stand.

 

[Nefertiti]

I have to figure this out myself. I'm pretty bad. Without my glasses I have to be within like 10 inches of the music. With my glasses I have to be like 4 feet away and can't see anything because of distance. Everything inbetween is a blurry mess.......It sucks getting old.......

 

[hakukani]

My vision is also deteriorating with age. A bit of astigmatism, and pre-operable cataracts that is worse in my non-dominant eye.

I started having to use readers 20-some years ago when I turned forty. I started with a +1.25 and by age 55 was using a +3.00 to read really fine print. I got tired of having to find my glasses all the time, and so the eye doc recommended progressive lenses. Now my glasses stay on my face all the time. They took 2 weeks of constant wear to get used to having to tilt and turn my head to focus on objects.

I had some 'computer' glasses made that are great for reading music, because I couldn't see the whole page with progressives. I think i've been using a +2.50 for reading music. I cannot, however see the audience or the conductor very well. (Not sure that's a bad thing.

I'm pretty sure that I would get both eyes corrected for distance when cataract surgery is warranted, I don't trust the multi-focus lenses to be quick enough to do music. I wouldn't get far/near vision, because I feel that would compromise my depth perception.

 

[Jazz Is All]

My vision is also deteriorating with age. A bit of astigmatism, and pre-operable cataracts that is worse in my non-dominant eye.

I started having to use readers 20-some years ago when I turned forty. I started with a +1.25 and by age 55 was using a +3.00 to read really fine print. I got tired of having to find my glasses all the time, and so the eye doc recommended progressive lenses. Now my glasses stay on my face all the time. They took 2 weeks of constant wear to get used to having to tilt and turn my head to focus on objects.

I had some 'computer' glasses made that are great for reading music, because I couldn't see the whole page with progressives. I think i've been using a +2.50 for reading music. I cannot, however see the audience or the conductor very well. (Not sure that's a bad thing.

I'm pretty sure that I would get both eyes corrected for distance when cataract surgery is warranted, I don't trust the multi-focus lenses to be quick enough to do music. I wouldn't get far/near vision, because I feel that would compromise my depth perception.

Your visual experiences sound almost like what I experienced: I was 41 and working doing opera production shots during performances and started having trouble focusing. I had no idea what was going on cause who knew about ageing at that age? Ha Ha. So I had to get +1.0 diopter lenses for my viewfinders. It was only normal as 40 is the usual age for the muscles to stop being able to focus well---all you almost 40 folks get ready----and 35 years later I'm using readers of +2.50 and autofocus camera lenses. LOL

Unlike you, I had the cataract operations about 15 years ago because the vitreous humour in both eyes collapsed and my view of the world was suddenly like looking through a dirty fish tank. I didn't just have mosquitoes but all sorts of dead floaters blocking my view. So since they had to operate to change the liquid, they went ahead with the lenses already.....one at a time.....because I was already having a hard time at night with headlights and streetlights. Made driving dicey, as Milandro mentioned above. Plus walking at night was strange when I mistook phone poles for people lurking in the shadows.

The only thing I can say about the progressive lenses with the 3 zones is that while they are less obvious and not as old-mannish as actual trifocals, finding the right zone is a bugger sometimes even after years with them. As it was even with them, in combo I had to use a pair of strong readers to read the sheets and that made seeing the bandleader difficult. Tip of the nose and looking over the frames kind of thing. Now that I don't play in the combo anymore that's a moot point but I ditched the prescription progressives for simply a pair of decent +2.5 readers off of Amazon....5 pairs so I can theoretically always find them......which of course we know never is possible.

BTW, one thing that the ophthalmologists do that I did not like was to add some magnification to my prescriptions all the time so by the end when I took the glasses off, everything at a distance was harder to see. That's not been the case since I stopped using those about 4 years ago. I see everything quite well with just the artificial lenses in my eyes and it doesn't seem weird like it did with all that extra magnification. My advice is not to let them do that to you under the guise of helping your ageing eyes see better. It just makes the muscles weaken and degrade more rapidly is what I have read and you then can't function without lenses even for distance. In other words, it's good for repeat business.

 

[GT]

Good thread, guys.
All replies and input are most appreciated.

George