When a person has cataract surgery these days, it’s common for an artificial lens to be implanted to replace the removed cloudy lens.
How is the power, or strength, of this lens determined? It would seem that a person who is very nearsighted would need a different lens than one who doesn’t need corrective lenses for normal sight. Is the lens power determined in the same fashion as it is for eye glasses? I.E., via a vision chart and swapping lenses around?
Thanks for any information.
Here goes an overview of the set of formulas that are used. Googling intraocular lens, power, etc., got some abstracts and book reviews but nothing simple!
I read your link, but admit that my understanding is next to nil. :smack: But I do understand that measurements of the eye are required.
My Mom’s scheduled for surgery in two weeks and she says she doesn’t remember the surgon making any measurements. Of course she’s almost 83, so that may have bearing on the situation. He’s done one eye already, but that was almost a year ago. When I question her about preparation for the operation on her other eye the answers I get make me think that he’s perhaps using last years measurements.
And maybe that’s OK. perhaps at that age there is not much change from year to year. Mom’s in Florida and I’m in Missouri, so all this is via telephone conversations.
Just trying to ease my mind regarding the new surgury. 
Thanks for your input.
friend garym,
i had a cataract removed a couple of months ago. the amount of tests and such are fast, and pretty confusing. the measurements they took on my good eye to determine the implanted lens perscription took all of fifteen minutes, and it is possible to be confused about which test is being ran for which purpose.
the surgery was painless and the healing process quick. i am sure your mom will be fine
When I had my cataracts done I was given a choice of what lenses I wanted implanting. I chose to go short-sighted and had lenses with a focal length of 30cm put in, which enables me to read without glasses and to breastfeed my babies without squinting at them. Unfortunately I cannot see closer than 30cm with much clarity so my spot picking days are over…
The dr said they recommend that people stay as close to what they were originally as possible, for ease of adjustment, but you can choose.
Thanks. I know that they had to have done measurements, but when it’s your Mom, it’s hard to just let it slide.
My wife had the surgery on both her eyes, about 2 months apart, by a highly recommended Dr. here in St. Louis. I had no doubt that the correct measurements were taken. But separated by distance, it’s a little disturbing to not be sure. Though I guess it’s ridiculous for me to think it hadn’t been done.
Thanks for all the help. 