Has anyone had cataract surgery affect their photography in a negative way? I will be going through it in October so was wondering about the experiences of others. Thanks.
As EBH mentioned, my perception of color changed, as before the surgery it was like looking through a pale amber or yellow filter. After the surgery I was stunned to realize that the house across the street was painted pure white, and not pale yellow as I had assumed.
Joking aside, had no negative effects regarding photography after having my cataracts taken care of.
In mid August I had cataract surgery which included optimizing for close distance and a toric lens to adjust for astigmatism. My left eye surgery is scheduled for this week and will include a lens for close focus. My vision has always been poor and with the advice of a low vision specialist, I opted to retain my ability to read without using glasses.
However; the new right eye lens rendered my current prescription unusable and my world has been restricted to about three feet in front of me. I can tell that once both eyes are done, my vision will be much better. Currently, without my glasses, using just my right eye and finding just the right focal point, I can read down to the 20/15 line on a close distance vision chart. Once both eyes are adjusted for close distance, hopefully reading will be easier. Currently the focal point is about eighteen inches with just the right eye.
To get me through until I can get a new prescription, my ophthalmologist recommended getting a cheap pair of distance glasses. I can actually see pretty well and am hoping once the left eye is done, they will be good enough to allow me to drive and get out to take a few pictures.
I'm a film user and most of my gears is from the 1950's through the mid 1970's. Rangefinder focus helps tremendously but I am stepping into medium format with a TLR. The camera is currently being serviced and is getting an Oleson bright screen. Once my new prescription is available, I should be able to view the finder at waist level which is something that was difficult to do before the cataract surgery.
With more light coming in through the new lens, it's amazing to see how dim and yellow the light coming through the uncorrected one looks. It's like someone dialed up the ISO for my vision. Hope this helps.
Thanks for the responses. At my age, I don't wish time away anymore, but October can come and go quickly.
I understand that things will appear much brighter, but I will wait and see on the color differences. It should be interesting. My left eye view was cloudy much of the time to the point of requesting it be done. I look up in the trees a lot, and it has gotten difficult to see much these days.
I had measurements taken a couple of days ago, and my doc mentioned the Toric, but said my stigmatism was so minor as to be almost undetectable, so he didn't want to do that. I have worn glasses for over 40 years, and he said I would likely still have to, even with what he called the "Cadillac lens," so he didn't recommend them. Money saved. I asked about the far/close mix, and he only recommends it for someone who has worn that combination with contact lenses.
I had both done a few years ago and after the 1st (which was major, pretty much blind) my Dr gave me a temp contact lens to simulate far/close to see if I could tolerate it. No problems so that is what we did.
I concur with the comments about colour change you'll see, especially as you are having them both done one after the other as the 1st will be back to "normal" while you'll still be seeing warm balance with the 2nd until it's done.
My Dr failed to mention that when I took the bandage off it would be before the anesthetic wore off (that freezed the eye movement). So I was seeing double for another couple of hours as the eye operated on could not move like my other eye. I really thought they had screwed something up badly until. just before bed, my eye recovered and began tracking normally.
BillinTexas wrote:
Thanks for the responses. At my age, I don't wish time away anymore, but October can come and go quickly.
I understand that things will appear much brighter, but I will wait and see on the color differences. It should be interesting. My left eye view was cloudy much of the time to the point of requesting it be done. I look up in the trees a lot, and it has gotten difficult to see much these days.
I had measurements taken a couple of days ago, and my doc mentioned the Toric, but said my stigmatism was so minor as to be almost undetectable, so he didn't want to do that. I have worn glasses for over 40 years, and he said I would likely still have to, even with what he called the "Cadillac lens," so he didn't recommend them. Money saved. I asked about the far/close mix, and he only recommends it for someone who has worn that combination with contact lenses.
If you are near sighted and need glasses for distance, a cheap pair that approximates your prescription will get you through until you can get new glasses. A similar pair of sunglasses are highly recommended. Everything is much brighter.
I am just over a week postop and couldn't be more happy with the result. My eye is at 20/25 and the doc says I may yet see a little more improvement. I have worn glasses near 40 years but will only be required to use readers if the other eye is as good. I can only imagine how much joy it will be to put a camera against my face without eyeglasses in between. I drove Friday night and was able to see the roadway well even with oncoming traffic. I sat with the surgery coordinator on Friday and told her I wish we could do the other next Friday and she responded that everyone that has had the first done says that.
Happy to read about your results, Bill, and they mirror mine. Yes, the eye drops are a pain, but eventually you can stop using them. I did find that after having my eyes done and going through the continued eye drop routine, was able to stop them as scheduled by the doctor. Periodically still have to use them once and awhile when one or the other eye felt dry or irritated, but that doesn't happen to everyone.
In any event, was as thrilled as you to finally get this done.
Fred Amico wrote:
Happy to read about your results, Bill, and they mirror mine. Yes, the eye drops are a pain, but eventually you can stop using them. I did find that after having my eyes done and going through the continued eye drop routine, was able to stop them as scheduled by the doctor. Periodically still have to use them once and awhile when one or the other eye felt dry or irritated, but that doesn't happen to everyone.
In any event, was as thrilled as you to finally get this done.
Thanks, Fred. We kept Refresh drops around for dry eye and will continue to do so. He told me to continue the reduction protocol on the left eye until done. I have the other done on Oct. 24.
I had IOLs installed during cataract surgery a few years ago. What a tremendous improvement. I see real colors now and no sore eye issues. I had to re-process all my images from the previous year to account for my new color perception, as my cataracts were greenish and applied a cast to everything. Shoulda done it sooner....
Jeffrey wrote:
I had IOLs installed during cataract surgery a few years ago. What a tremendous improvement. I see real colors now and no sore eye issues. I had to re-process all my images from the previous year to account for my new color perception, as my cataracts were greenish and applied a cast to everything. Shoulda done it sooner....
Probably glad you had it done like me. Mine was a yellowish reminding me of incandescent light bulb. I was coming to give the final post op visit results and didn't expect to find the thread this far up.
Great results today. I have a minor stigmatism or I would be 20/20. As is, 20/25 left eye and 20/30 in the right. I do have to wear no. 2 readers up close. I am very happy with the results. It will be great not wearing glasses behind the camera.
I got the Cataract a couple years past, absolutely recommend it to everyone that even slightly needs it.
Left eye is my reader lens right is the all else, just amazing. Do it!!
