I can not tell you from my own experience if you will or not, however, my good friend was told by her eye doctor that she would not need any eye glasses (she has worn them since the age of 3). That did not turn out to be the case. She has the bifocal ones from the doctor and also reading glasses from the Dollar Store. The doctor told her to get those. She still has a problem at times with seeing her monitor at times. I wish the best of luck to you.

Sue

That doesn't make sense unless they are putting in a special lense since it is the eye shape that causes near-sightedness.

That would be nice though if it is the case. Probably cheaper than the Lasix surgery. :-)

I have had cataract surgery on both eyes. The first one was 5 years ago. The second one was in March this year. I still have to wear glasses. However, I can read a lot of things without.
The surgery is so easy. I was terrified with the first one but shouldn't have been. I wasn't for the second one.
ivamae

I had both eyes done late last year...surgery was painless & easy; honestly, the hardest part was the nervous wait to be taken to surgical suite.

My distance vision is super now -big change since I could no longer see well enough to read large overhang street signs. I do need 'readers' for close up, but Dr. said Dollar Store kind would be fine.

Tickled me pink to get 5 pair for $5.00 after having to pay over $500. every other year for prescription glasses...not fancy designer frames either.
Suzi

I don't think your doctor should have said that.
Every site I went to said that you probably will.
This is just one quote that differs.

Will I need Glasses After Cataract Surgery?
When cataract surgery patients ask "will I need glasses after cataract surgery?" the answer is almost always "yes, glasses are needed after cataract surgery." Overwhelming cataract specialists reflexively answer "yes" to the glasses question. They are trained to do this.

Why do most cataract surgeons say that glasses will be needed after cataract surgery?
Cataract surgeons refer to this as "managing patient expectations." Simply put, it is better to under promise and over deliver than over promise and under deliver. This point has more to do with business, than medicine. Many surgeons have dealt with patients who after expecting glasses free living after cataract surgery are shocked to find that they still need glasses. This can become a very large problem and it is too late after the cataract surgery to undo it.

Is there a chance that glasses wonÂt be needed after cataract surgery?
Yes. There are many new types of cataract lenses (Premium IOLÂs) and a few of them can deliver glasses free living, for some patients. (note: this is not medical advice, nor is it a guarantee or warranty of any kind. This site has no affiliation with any lens maker and makes no claim as to the effectiveness of any specific lens. )

Accommodating Lens (IOL)
Accommodating lenses are lenses that move and or change shape like the natural lens does. This offers he potential to be able to view at multiple ranges, like before cataract surgery. It should be noted that even the lens makers will not guarantee that their lens will deliver glasses free living, although they do claim a fairly high success rate.

This leaves the cataract patientÂs original question of "will I need glasses after cataract surgery?" very hard to answer. It is far easier, and safer, from a business stand point to always tell patients that they will need glasses. This also has the extra benefit of a pleasant surprise and a certain number of extremely happy patients. a win-win for the surgeon, although a bit uncertain for the potential cataract patient.

In the end, it is better to assume that you will need glasses after cataract surgery than to expect otherwise. Setting realistic expectations going in can have a very positive affect on the results.

Here is a link that might be useful: source of info

I am just finishing with cataract surgery on both eyes (three months of horror!!) I will have bifocals for the rest of my life the same as I have had for the last 51 years. I don't mind, and with the glasses I can really SEE for the first time in about 3 years! I am sooooo excited! I can DRIVE and read street signs, and maps, and see the "Wheel" show on the TV (I haven't been able to "play", because I couldn't read the letters that were already on the screen), sew and actually thread my own needles, read, and most importantly play music without having to run everything through the copier and enlarge it 20%!!! Yep, I'm excited! The only problem that I am left with (and the doctor says it will eventually be okay) is color matching ie: thread and fabric. My world has a SLIGHT pink tint to it....sort of like rose colored glasses :^)

Alisande, I had cataract surgery about 6 years back and had the Crystalens for replacement lens. I was also suppose to have 20/20 vision. After the operation and that didn't happen, my vision was worse. (except cataracts were gone and vision was brighter) I asked optomologist who did the surgery about this problem. He responded that we were hoping that would be the case, that nothing was a guarantee in life. I thought, "well, now you tell me." At the time Crystalens were so new my insurance was not paying for them and it was $6,000.00 out of our own pocket, quite a chunk of change. Wish we had "thunk" a little more throughly about our decision at the time. I wish you the best...Please investigate all lens as there are quite a few good one and bad ones out there. Maybe get several opinions from several different optomologist, I wish I had.

I have had both of my eyes done.. I never wear glasses except to read. I had worn glasses for 30 years, trifocals!

I am going to have to have the surgery done, but the surgeon is putting it off for awhile. I am a higher risk patient because what he removes is attached in the back. I will have it done when it interferes with my driving. I am glad to read that the waiting and worry is worse than the surgery. It's hard to imagine have someone working on my and me being comfortable with it. LOL

My sister had both her eyes done and now does not need glasses at all...she is 48 and has worn them since about 6 yrs old......Stacy

That is how it worked for a friend of mine. She felt "nekkid" without her glasses. :)

Moni

A friends went from needing bifocals for both near and far, to just a pair of readers.

My husband had worn glassses since he was 6. Had two cataract surgeries last year. The doc put in lenses so that he can read with his right eye and see distance with the left. Somehow the brain is able to sort it out. He still wears gl;asses some of the tine but he can definitely read and do close work (like his coin and stamp collections) without his glasses. He is more than happy with the resaults. When we go out, all he needs is his sunglasses.

As usual, I'm glad I asked! Lots of interesting input from everyone. Thanks! Sounds like my doctor was a tad overly optimistic. She did explain that insurance covers some lenses but not necessarily the new ones. I'd be happy to go with something covered by insurance. If that means I'll be stuck wearing glasses, that's okay. Like Moni's friend, I'd probably feel naked without them. Although I wore contacts at various times over the years.

Three months of horror, Jaybird??

My dd is an optician who works for one of the country's top eye surgeons.

That information is correct. It's quite possible to do cataract surgery so that the patient doesn't need glasses. As I understand it, though, the problem is that those lenses are very expensive--and medicare won't generally pay for them, so most patients end up with the cheaper ones, that necessitate wearing glasses after the surgery is done. I'd say, you probably want to ask a lot of questions to determine what lenses the dr. will use, and whether or not your insurance/medicare will pick up the tab for the surgery, so you have no surprises (or unexpectedly large bills) later on. To me, it's well worth the extra $$$ to get the better implants, and I plan to spring for the extra cost when it's time to have my cataracts operated on.

I still wear glasses only because I've worn them all my life....I can see very well without them....a friend no longer wears his glasses at all...

An upside, though, is that I can wear off-the-shelf sunglasses....

I had the surgery, in both eyes, last fall. I only need reading glasses on occasion, now. I buy the dollar store glasses for both reading and for sunglasses. Up until my surgeries, I needed trifocals. I couldn't be happier with the results.

Go online and do a search for your doctor - see if he has had any law suits, etc. - also, ask for references.

Had both eyes done several years ago...I need reading glasses, but the drugstore variety works well. I finally got some computer glasses that are bifocal for reading. I leave them by the computer. I need nothing for distance. Wonderful, after all those years of trifocals. Acually, I wear my reading glasses down on my nose and peer over them. Suits me fine! Good luck with yours. Life is full of wonders.

What a timely post! I went today for the "eye scan" in preparation for cataract surgery June 3rd. My opthamologist has suggested the Tecnis Multifocal lenses because they will offer the best chance for me to give up glasses altogether. Of course, he had to say that he can't guarantee 100% that that will be the case.

I also have Glaucoma & a dry eye syndrome. I've done lots of research online + talked to friends who have had various lenses, and have decided to spend the extra $$$$ for these. And Azelea is right - they are expensive. I will have the other eye done June 17th. I'll let you know my results.