I am moving this from the driving issue thread. Charlotte and Deb do the glasses help with driving at night? That is one of the things that appeals to me. We don't go anywhere at night because I am not comfortable with night driving. If the glasses help with that I would go that route. I had cataract surgery on both eyes last year and then the surgery for my bottom lids rolling in. I would prefer not to have more surgery if I can avoid it.
I have no problem driving at night. But if the glare of lights are a problem there are glasses (clip-on and regular) that are for nighttime driving. They are an amber/yellow color and a lot of people say they help alot.
Astigmatism has nothing to do with night driving and if the surgeon told you that, sounds like he is just looking for more business. I am surprised when you had the cataract surgery they did not correct it then. My sister had the lense on the eye with astigmatism made so it adjusted for that. I don't usually wear glasses all the time although mine do have a distance Rx. I can still see well enough without needing them - even just passed the eye exam for my driver's license. The biggest problem I have due to astigmatism is that my good eye will 'fog' up due to being overworked. I have to cover my better eye a couple minutes to make the astigmatism eye to do its share of the work.
Night blindness (nyctalopia) is the inability to see well at night or in poor light. It is not a disorder in itself, but rather a symptom of an underlying disorder or problem, especially untreated myopia (nearsightedness). Night blindness is due to a disorder of the cells in the retina that are responsible for vision in dim light. It has many causes, including:* Myopia * Glaucoma medications that work by constricting the pupil * Cataracts * Retinitis pigmentosa * Vitamin A deficiency To determine what is causing night blindness, an eye doctor will perform a thorough eye exam and may order any of a number of specialized exams.
If you are having trouble with night it could be you do need glasses to correct the astigmatism or due to other causes. I do find at times wearing my glasses helps, especially when it is dark and raining.
I have worn glasses since I was a teenager. At first just for reading and sewing now all the time. We have been going to an optometrist for 20 years and he never mentioned astigmatism. The doctor who did the cataract surgery never mentioned it either. The doctor I am seeing now is an opthamologist and has all sorts of degrees and accolades! He said they sometimes take care of astigmatism when they do cataract surgery but not always so I don't know if they were aware of it. I don't have night blindness I am just not comfortable driving at night. I will do more checking before I make a decision.
Jean, I also am not comfortable driving at night so I just seldom do so. I also had cataract surgery last fall and it helped with distance and glare but like I said I am not comfortable driving at night. Nothing was mentioned to me about Laser surgery so I am ok with the way my eyes are now.
Jean, it could be the astigmatism was not that apparent earlier. I was never told I had one until around 50 (that 50 change). I was surprised but told it probably was not apparent enough earlier to warrant mentioning it. But I would settle for glasses right now if you don't mind wearing them. As I said, I don't wear them all the time even though they have distance on them. It is usually just computer work and reading.
Charlotte, I wish I was 50 again.lol. I have the graduated lens, I've worn glasses for so long I think I would feel naked without them! Right now I am leaning toward glasses. I don't go back to the doctor until October so by then I should have made my mind up.
Jean, I had my surgery last fall and since then have been only using reading glasses. I have 6 pair, here and there - mostly there. I have decided to get a new pair of the no-line lens glasses again to help preserve the sanity I have left. I will use the reading glasses at times but I am just plain tired of keeping track of them.
I've just learned that I have a cataract. I've worn glasses for years..but night driving and glare have become problems. The opthomologist said I could decide about having it removed..but he felt sure it would cure the night glare problem. He said when I was botherd by the cataract enough ??) he'd remove it. What I've noticed about my mother's implants and those of DH..(they've each had the surgery but mom had hers over 30 years ago..is that both of them are sensitive to GLARE from oncoming headlights at night. I mentioned this to the optho.dr. and he told me that was highly unusual. I don't know what to think..This dr. did the cataract surg.for my DH..although it was about 10 years ago. If they make non glare type of night driving lens I think I'd rather try that first. I didn't have sense enough to ask the dr. about it at the time. Didn't have any idea I had a cataract. good griefff.
lmohr, I had my cataract surgery in December 08 and January 09. The main difference I saw was with the TV. Before if it was a dark scene I couldn't really see the characters. The glare from night driving still bothers me so I don't go anywhere at night unless I really have to.
If you buy a pair of the yellow lense glasses that you can wear separate or those that fit over your glasses, they really help with the glare at night. They also help driving in rain, day or night, and driving in fog.