Elective eye surgery? Premium Lens replacement. Scope use?

[Tdruck]

I apologize if this has been a subject in the past -

For those that have had lens replacement surgery. (Elective or cataracts.) How do you feel about it now? Would you recommend it? Do you have clear vision with rifle scopes and binoculars? Can you see iron sights?

While I wouldn't say my vision is horrible, I do wear glasses for all distances but mostly for close up. I can not see iron sights at all. Even a bead on a shotgun for turkey hunting is hard to see. I have a lens in my peep sight on my compound bow. My favorite form or archery hunting is a traditional bow. But I can't shoot my recurve at all with glasses on. I have tried a hundred times. I hate looking through scopes and binoculars with glasses on.

So I take them on and off, loose them, break them, cuss them! I think I have spent $2,000 on glasses in 2026. There is brand new pair somewhere on State Game Lands in Lycoming County. I'm waiting for a pair from the eye doc to use in Africa next month. The spare pair I have on are junk!

I am pretty convinced that I want to get the premium lens replacement. This winter, in the off season. I just turned 60, and I am probably the right candidate for it. Both parents actually had cataracts so that is probably in my future anyhow. (They see great but don't like the idea of elective surgery for their son's eyes, just because)

What has been your experience with lens replacement? Is there a doctor that is worth traveling to? I'm in PA, but wouldn't be against traveling if there is know great doctor for this.

Thanks.,
TD

 

[K-man]

Following. My eye doctor just told me this last month I would be a great candidate for lens replacement. (Astigmatism) he suggested waiting until the government would pay for it in a couple years. I was thinking of doing my left (non-shooting) eye first and if I liked it do the right.

 

[Schüler Jumbo]

1) If needed, Yes I would recommend.
2) I have clear vision with rifle scopes and binos.
3) Yes, I can see iron sights. In fact, I can see like a hawk!
4) I still need reading glasses.
5) Only the best quality, finest premium lens.

 

[Schüler Jumbo]

A surgeon worth traveling for the potential procedure:
Dr Stephen Slade
Slade and Baker Vision
Houston, Texas
713-626-5544

 

[Flipper Dude]

Best 11 grand I ever spent.

 

[Spartan5]

I am planning to do lasik in the next 12 months for this reason. I have a close friend who did it a few years back and said it’s the best money he has spent also.

 

[R eight]

I’m in Australia. Had mine done around 10 years back. Got Zeiss multi focal lens in both. Best money I’ve ever spent. I can now claim to be part German but I still have an Aussie accent

 

[Graham Hunter]

1) If needed, Yes I would recommend.
2) I have clear vision with rifle scopes and binos.
3) Yes, I can see iron sights. In fact, I can see like a hawk!
4) I still need reading glasses.
5) Only the best quality, finest premium lens.

So you have the lenses for distance?

 

[Schüler Jumbo]

No, I have the standard lens of the highest premium quality materials. As you age however you reach a point that like myself requires reading glasses.

 

[BlueFlyer]

Got Zeiss multi focal lens in both

Any problems with driving at night with oncoming headlights?
My father had multis put in and he cannot drive at night now.

 

[R eight]

Any problems with driving at night with oncoming headlights?
My father had multis put in and he cannot drive at night now.

No issues at all…. I know that some people who go “multi” have a hallow effect with bright lights. But I don’t

 

[BlueFlyer]

I know that some people who go “multi” have a hallow effect with bright lights

yes exactly

 

[R eight]

yes exactly

I know at least 6 others who have had multi focal lens fitted. Only one has complained of the hallow effect. She still drives at night.

I was warned of the possibility by the surgeon.

 

[CBH Australia]

Any problems with driving at night with oncoming headlights?
My father had multis put in and he cannot drive at night now.

No issues at all…. I know that some people who go “multi” have a hallow effect with bright lights. But I don’t

I have had lens replacement to improve or correct my vision . It’s been great for me but I have the mono vision where my right eye is my dominant and the left is for close up. I was using contacts in the same way.

Maybe try contacts for a few weeks, months.

The Halo effect affects some people with multis and I think that’s luck of the draw.

There is plenty of of info on YouTube from specialists who talk through some things.

I was ~52 and the specialist done 2 at once. I was comfortable with his advice and the process.

I was probably using conchs for several years and using them as Monos in the end where one is set close and the other is far and the brain is tricked to blend the image.

Take notes and ask the specialist heaps of questions to find what your options are and what you are comfortable with.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Everyone's eyes are different. Talk to your eye surgeon, not optometrist.

I've had both lenses replaced. It's day surgery. About the least complicated day surgery I think. The right eye now almost has nil prescription in the glasses (left has been severely damaged by multiple retina detachments and is pretty much a write-off). I have been wearing bifocals for more than twenty years (maybe thirty?) and adapted well. I prefer old-man lined bifocals rather than graduated. I want most of my prescription lens devoted to distance. Also helps to pick glasses style with larger lenses, not the new style itty-bitty lenses. Not enough room for the bifocal. I have detachable rings and I can see irons just fine when looking over the rim of my glasses. Well enough to shoot passable groups at 100 yards. I could probably see well enough to drive without glasses ... if I closed my left eye. Without the prism corrective lens in glasses for left eye, I see double vision.

My brother had cataracts removed last year and now does not wear glasses except to read. However, an optometrist told me they now make bifocal contact lenses that are weighted so they float oriented in the upright position with reading portion always below. I do not know if the same idea can be used for implants.

 

[Ray B]

Talk to your eye surgeon, not optometrist.

Otherwise known as an Ophthalmologist

 

[MontanaPat]

Had cataract surgery last year on both eyes, I went with distance lenses and now do not need glasses for distance vision when hunting or driving. I do wear readers, actually mine are progressive bifocals with essentially no correction for distance only need to read. I can see my iron sights and shotgun shooting just fine without glasses on. I just adjust diopter on scope and binos to fit my eye without glasses

 

[Sabre]

With both premium lens replacement and Lasik, it is important to take the potential side effects seriously. Doctors and others in the medical field blow them off as rare and very minor. However, people who have a couple of the side effects such as halo, poor vision (after surgery), and dry eye are much more serious for some people than a lot of doctors want to admit. If you do a google search you will find people who share their stories and how much it impacted their lives.

There are more positive stories than negative. So, I am not trying to spook you off doing it. Because there are lots of people who love their results. But since it is an elective surgery, I do think these surgeries are ones where the medical field doesn't do a good job with honest informed consent.

 

[Hififile324]

I apologize if this has been a subject in the past -

For those that have had lens replacement surgery. (Elective or cataracts.) How do you feel about it now? Would you recommend it? Do you have clear vision with rifle scopes and binoculars? Can you see iron sights?

While I wouldn't say my vision is horrible, I do wear glasses for all distances but mostly for close up. I can not see iron sights at all. Even a bead on a shotgun for turkey hunting is hard to see. I have a lens in my peep sight on my compound bow. My favorite form or archery hunting is a traditional bow. But I can't shoot my recurve at all with glasses on. I have tried a hundred times. I hate looking through scopes and binoculars with glasses on.

So I take them on and off, loose them, break them, cuss them! I think I have spent $2,000 on glasses in 2026. There is brand new pair somewhere on State Game Lands in Lycoming County. I'm waiting for a pair from the eye doc to use in Africa next month. The spare pair I have on are junk!

I am pretty convinced that I want to get the premium lens replacement. This winter, in the off season. I just turned 60, and I am probably the right candidate for it. Both parents actually had cataracts so that is probably in my future anyhow. (They see great but don't like the idea of elective surgery for their son's eyes, just because)

What has been your experience with lens replacement? Is there a doctor that is worth traveling to? I'm in PA, but wouldn't be against traveling if there is know great doctor for this.

Thanks.,
TD

I got mine done when my eye doc discovered I had cataracts. It was also determined I had a very slight astigmatism in one eye. Medicare fully covered standard lens replacement if I went with standard lenses. I had the option of a lens to correct astigmatism but it was not fully covered by medicare. I paid an extra $1500 for the upgrade. They also tuned my lenses for my shooting, front sight acuity. I don't need readers and I have 20/15 vision both eyes, crystal clear. PM me if you want my Ophthamologist info. He is also a shooter and hunter and understood what I wanted. He has done over 30,000+ lens jobs.

 

[farrokhrt]

Absolutely worth every dollar. No problems so far since got mine 12 years ago in Florida. I wish there was equivalent treatment for hearing beside the aids! Of course after many years and aging now I need weak reading glasses in low light and very small print size. No problem using open sights, scope or binoculars or wing/clay shooting.
Get it done with the best lenses money can buy done by good experienced doctor.