NVG - eye surgery for ageing eyes...

[AAKEE]

Originally Posted by Devil 49

Immediately after retiring, I had presbyopic lens exchange and I kick myself for waiting. From bifocals to 20/30 vision. I also had some cataract development, now I see colors better.

Yes, my wife did the lens exchange one year ago(multifocal lenses, trifocal version). Full vision in all distances.
As soon as I retire(or as soon as these get accepted for flying) I'll get them too.
Actually the biggest win would be before retirement but I guess I have to wait...

[Paul Cantrell]

Originally Posted by MOSTAFA

The biggest NVG/glasses problem I had (several times) was sitting on the buggers (glasses) as I got ready. For some inexplicable reason I would put my glasses on my seat as I stood outside and put my helmet/goggles on - yes I know we should learn a lesson from our mistakes but in a 1000hr + NVG career I never did and usually never thought about my glasses until I was strapped in on top of them!

You could do what I do... Carry like six pairs to make up for all the glasses that I lose/drop/crush !! obviously these aren't prescription.. Just cheap cheaters from the pharmacy.

I did finally start using the little cords ( whatever they are called ) so I can just flip the glasses off and have them just dangle from my neck. I was going broke replacing all the reading glasses I was dropping during preflight!

[Paul Cantrell]

Originally Posted by aa777888

I think you are confusing refractive surgery or lens replacement surgery terminology with eyeglass terminology. If I'm reading things correctly, I think Shy is saying he had lens replacement surgery.

Where refractive or lens replacement surgery is concerned, you can get a single correction or a multifocal correction (example). The multifocal approach requires the brain to do a lot of "image processing" for lack of a better term. This is, obviously, quite a bit different than a bifocal or varifocal (what us Yanks call "progressive") eyeglass lens.

My wife is the head opthalmic technition for a fairly large practice here in Boston. She says they recommend pilots NOT use multifocal lens replacement for cataract surgery:

1) it can take longer to heal - up to three months
2) you can get halos, sometimes permanent
3) you can have glare problems

I've had cataract surgery in both eyes and it's wonderful... Back to 20/15 vision I always had. One point people should know... Don't put off the surgery if you have a cataract... The longer you wait the harder the lens becomes, and the more difficult/risky the surgery becomes. Plus why would you want to fly with degraded vision? Obviously use an ophthalmologist who does a ton of them... Anyone in New England, I can highly recommend a particular guy.