Anyone have this problem ? I do, and it isn't fun. My eyes are healthy, except for left eye, cataract has developed in the last 18 months, that is to say, it has now become noticeable when flying. It is causing glare, resulting in a shadow of the plane, at certain attitudes. Concentration can take it away a little, or just close that eye a little. Not good especially in bright sun.
I get regular health check-ups, every 6 months, minor and major, semi-annual basis, numbers, etc. Eyes, once a year. Last time there, opthamologist said, not yet, but possible in six months.

I have been using transition lense's since they were available. Today, I spoke with a good friend, who has the same problem. He had been using this type of lense also. He decided to try his plain polaroid sun glasses, no transition. He said it cured the shadow situation, about 60% less then using the transition's. There is a prism situation when dealing with cataract's, I am not an expert on the subject. I understand, that when the surgery is done, it is a different world. My father-in-law had it done in both eyes, and he is 83 years old, came out perfect.

Another six months, should be good to go. Anyone else experiencing this ?
Crank

Hi Crank,
I had cataracts in both eyes. Over the last 18 months, I've had intraocular lens (IOL) is an implanted lens in both eyes. This has resulted in a very significant improvement in my eyesight. I'm now very close to 20-20 in my right eye and something less in my left. I have both grey and amber polarized sunglasses. With most sky conditions, I see a little better with the amber. I still have a vision problem which apparently can't be corrected. I have a lot of "Floaters" swimming around in my eyes (the aquaeous humor I'm told). Sometimes a large floater will park right over my airplane as I'm flying. It looks as if I'm seeing my plane through cloudy water. Anyway...the cataract surgery has definitely helped me.

Crank,

Sorry to hear about the cataracts. My eye doctor (senior teaching surgeon at Duke University) told me that the lens replacement procedure is the most common surgery on Earth. He said that it becomes an issue for every person who lives long enough.... I've had the procedure in both eyes, about 18 months apart. Distant vision is now very sharp. Near vision is pretty much non-existant without reading glasses. I prefer the amber lens sunglasses when flying. The procedure doesn't take long. Probably no more than 5-10 minutes once started. Your visual acuity is instantly great, as soon as you get the patch off (next day). As of now... I have no issues with visual acuity as it pertains to flying RC. Nothing to worry about.

Regarding the "floaters" mentioned previously, I had those as well, but that issue is very much improved now (few, very minor, and far between). Certainly nothing that would interfere with flying. These are another issue entirely, not directly related to cataracts. I'm told they basically fade away with time as the particles settle.

I'm sure that your physician is waiting for your acuity to get to a certain level per insurance requirements.

Trust me, there is flying after cataract surgery.

ChiefK
aka: Greg

Vince, I had cataract surgery pretty early, in my late 50's, and there is no comparison in the before and after vision. You don't realize how bad it is until after the implants. Not only the visual acuity but the brightness of colors again. Get it done ASAP. You can figure out how to make the vision test come out as needed. My Dr. wanted to do the surgery when it interfeared with activity & lifestyle so that was a big help. I have some distortion from surgery for detached retinas in both eyes so I don't see as well as I test (20-20 and 20-30) but that has also gotten better with time. In some ways I see better than ever as I can read the alarm clock at night without reaching for my glasses first.
Dave

A few days after my cataract surgery, the doctor had me come in for a follow-up exam and to check my vision. The doctor dimmed down the lights and told me: "cover your left eye and read the lowest line you can see clearly on the Eye Chart." So I covered my left eye and read SLOWLY aloud: "M...A...D...E...I...N.....U....S.....A"
The Doc got a good laugh on that one.

Thanks all, and the good news. The left eye is first, and a little one developing in the right eye, plus the floaters, not bad, very tiny. When they put out the lights, cover each eye, and do the read test, I am still doing fine. Just the left eye is the bummer. I have been going to the same doc for eight years, and the population here is probably 70% senior citizens, lot of snow birds, so they have many customers, and eyes to fix. J C, I am going to check out the amber lense's. I had a pair of wrap around prescription made, the Dale Earnhardt type, the curvature of the lense did not do any good. Going to get the aviators I have, try latest prescription, non transition. Thanks for the replys, I go back, October 2.

I am going to try out a larger plane, purchased my first gasser, Pilot 26% Yak, with DLE 30CC engine. All sitting in the closet right now, start on it next month, get thru some other projects first. I am sure I should be able to see this better.

Crank

Hi Crank,
You said: "try out a larger plane, purchased my first gasser, Pilot 26% Yak, with DLE 30CC engine." This is exactly what I have done....made the switch to larger planes and gas engines. I got a QQ Yak54 with a DLE 30. I also fly the Balsa Nova 120 with the 80 inch wingspan and a DLE 20. The larger planes are easier to see and I really like the way they fly.

My first was at age 50. The doc told me I may have an "issue" with focus. turns out the eye with the surgery would focus in a different plane from the other eye. It drove me crazy[&:] I've worn glasses since the forth grade. So four weeks later, I had my "perfectly" good eye done. I'm 20-25 and 20-30 now. Best thing I ever did. All I need are readers. I have a prescription to correct both eyes to 20-20, but I feel I still see "better" without the glasses. Kind of hard to explain. Oh, my insurance paid on the second surgery 'cause it was a "medical necessity" as deemed by my doc.

Good luck!!!!

Ken

Ken you say, "perfectly good eye done", was this operation to match the other ? Early last year, the doc had one of his minions pitch me on digital lense operation, both eyes. Now we have many super rich folks around here, and the golfers get this operation done, $7K range, both eyes. I say, I just want to see my model plane in singular. OK, you have to wait until I say it is time for your fix. I am sure I could go to another doc, and get it done, but my guy has an excellent reputation, and it take weeks for first appointment.
One of my neighbors had this digital lense deal done, both eyes, his left eye has never been right, very disappointed.
Vince

As some of you may remember, I posted about having both eyes' cataracts removed and replaced with synthetic lenses that specialized in dealing with astigmatism. Both of my eyes healed and were tested to a score of 20/20 vision. Never in my life have I ever had 20/20 vision. To say that I am happy with results of surgeries is an understatement.

Had I the surgeries to do again, I would opt for the most expensive lenses in hope that I would need no corrective lenses at all. As it is, I must use corrective lenses for reading. My wife had some cheap generic reading glasses lying about, so I tried them. Perfect!


Ed, NM2K

That is correct. At the time the "focusing" lenses had just come out. My doc wouldn't use them because they hadn't yet been "proven" at least to him to be a useful thing. I don't know anything about the digital lenses.

In any case, i would think you will be happy with any choice you make.

Ken

I don't have the cataracts, but I DO have a "floater" problem, and similar to you, I have a large one that is attached and doesn't settle. It moves around..blinking a lot helps some, but it's frustrating....especially when I'm trying to fly SPA pattern with the plane moving over 100mph. At times it looks like I'm looking through a plastic sheet, and I'm told any kind of surgery is too risky to do...so there you go. Maybe it will do better if it detatches.

Some people describe before/after cataract surgery as just short of "miraculous"..agree you should have it done ASAP.

Duane

Hi Vince,
Had a buddy that flew Control Line stunt until he couldn't fly no'mor with cataract's (the model is only 70 feet away, but he was seeing two of them!). He had a hard time seeing at night, driving was iffy, and he said the best thing he ever did was get the lenses. He got them at 63 years, about.

Dad got his lenses in 2008, I think. He was 76 then. He flies every day, stays in a little close, but then we often are not sure what maneuver he is doing, and he says he often doesn't either!
Whatever the newest thing (lens) is, with the best doctor you can find, seems the best. A buddy got his done at 36, he is a professional pilot and they are very reliable according to him.
All of the plus-70 guys in Punta Gorda have them, it seems.

Chris...

Thanks for all the info and replys. I go back in October. I did do one thing, took off the transitions, and put on my aviator polaroid lense glasses, no transition, and has made all the difference, like night and day. The shadows have gone away, see what happens at the field later this week. Duane, I started to get floaters about 2 years ago. They come and go, may be around for a couple days, then gone, return weeks later.

Vince

Looking back at my posts about cataracts. Thanks for all the good info. I finally got it all done. Both eyes, 10 days apart. The left eye had more cataract then the right. New lense' in both eyes, and you guys are right. It is life changing, for me. It was immediate 20/20 vision, for distance. Now I need readers for close up, everything exactly the opposite as before this surgery and new lense'. Colors have changed, and I still marvel at the clarity and vision for distance. The floaters have disappeared, whether they return, will ask the doc at my next checkup.
I have not had to time yet to fly anything, too busy at the ranch. Will get to that soon, and I did acquire two 26% Yaks, a 54 and a 55M, first gassers. The 54 is finished and the M still in box. Going to move back to NC first quarter of 2015, this time near Asheville. This move should put me closer to SPA and BPA activity. Thanks for all the replys.
Crank