Cataracts

[Racalman]

I've seen the comments about this on the BP forum and would appreciate the experience of anyone who's had the op.

I'm short sighted and wear multifocal contact lenses. I'm right handed but left dominant eye, although as I only shoot targets with optics that's not a big deal. Until recently I was doing fine out to 1000 yards but last year my optician noticed the beginnings of cataracts and now my right eye is slightly cloudy and losing contrast. Rather than wait for it (and my scores) to deteriorate further I'm thinking of having the op soonish.

I don't like shooting with glasses so I'm hoping that if I have the fixed focus distances lenses fitted I can still use multifocal contact lenses for close-up (i.e. turret adjustments).

Any experience with this?

[Strangely Brown]

I had a cataract done 15 years ago to my left eye, I'm right handed and a right eyed shooter.
The eye has actually got better and my close focus has improved since the op.

The right eye however has got worse and a recent trip to Stewards (Bristol Branch) has cost me £276 to put things right!

[Alpha1]

I have had both eyes done its well worth it my distance vision is 100% better than before. Its a simple op and you are in and out in the same day.
I can read fairly large print I use glasses for reading close up. I'm no good with iron sights but I can cope with scopes fine. I recommend you get it done as soon as possible. Not sure about the contact lenses but the Surgeon will know and be able to answer your question.. If you get it done privately you can get the lens in your eye replaced with a multifocal one. The down side is its about £3000 a eye.

[Racalman]

Thanks guys. I'm seeing my optician this weekend and will take it from there. I was shooting 1,000 yards this morning and the target was looking rather dim through my scope.

My sister had the multifocal lenses fitted recently and seems to get on OK with them but I can't afford that sort of money which is why I'm hoping to carry on with multifocal contact lenses.

[Nelly2014]

Is this the new treatment to replace laser correction? I'd like to know more.

[Alpha1]

It depends laser surgery is normally to correct small defects. Cataract removal or lens replacement is exactly what it says they remove the lens from your eye and replace it with a new one. If you wear varifocal lens glasses they in effect fit varifocal lenses in your eye. There is a place in Leeds that does it do a google search. But it is not cheap. Normal cataract removal surgery is done on the National health but they only fit a single vision lens normally for distance. The end result is amazing but you normally need glasses for reading small print.
My right eye is my dominant eye or it was it may not be now. Unfortunately the right eye was not a straight forward cataract jobby and that is why I can not cope with iron sights. But any one just having a straight forward cataract removed should be fine. The sight is better after 24 hours. The eye is sensitive to light for a couple of weeks but that's about it.

[Racalman]

Alpha1, how long after surgery can you resume shooting fullbore rifle?

[Alpha1]

I don't remember exactly how long it took but Its not long. I could see clearly out of my left eye the following day. It was very susceptible to bright light though I had to wear dark glasses in bright day light for a little while. But the recovery time is really quick. I would really recommend you get it done if its needed the difference is remarkable. They normally do one eye then wait a few month then do the other. That's assuming they both need doing of course. Mine was a bit different they did both my eyes at the same time but that's not the way they normally do things.

[Racalman]

OK thanks.

[ovenpaa]

Mine was a bit different they did both my eyes at the same time but that's not the way they normally do things.

Alpha, did you go private, I have heard the NHS only do one at a time with a 6 month gap.