Eye corrective surgery for the over 60s

I'm looking into laser eye but am being told by companies that lens replacement is a better option at my age (57). I don't disagree with this but the cost is obviously higher - anyone else being steered towards this without being considered for laser?

See my comment on 4th Feb

Whether you have implants or laser, you need to discuss with your surgeon what 'default' vision correction you'd like. E.g., do you wish to be without glasses for domestic, reading and 'social' vision' and just pop on glasses for driving and cinema? Or do you want perfect distance vision and use glasses only for reading and close up tasks? You can also try 'mixed' or 'blended' vision with one eye fixed for distance and the other for reading which is what I've had for over twenty years now and find wonderful. If things start to go downhill with whichever option you choose, you can always wear a weak corrective contact lens over one or both eyes as time passes. A good eye surgeon will let you experiment before the op for a week or so with contact lenses replicating the hoped-for outcome. This way you can juggle the options until you are entirely happy.

I thought it depended on the correction needed. I was always told that my eyesight was too bad. I'm -16 for contact lenses and worse for glasses with astigmatism in both eyes and have had the added complication of a blind spot in one eye due to a lazered raised blood vessel about 15 years ago. I was quite surprised when the optician asked whether I'd considered surgery a couple of years ago. I guess things have moved on a long way over the last 40 years. I know someone who had lens replacements in both eyes - one eye was ok but the other failed. I've decided to stick with the contacts for as long as I can continue to put them in. Complete pain but after 40 odd years wearing them I'll carry on but if you're eligible and want to do it go for it!

...reading glasses for reading, sunglasses for driving, I should have said.

I'd like to add a 'hurrah' for corrective lens replacement as treatment for cataracts. We both had this done about 10 years ago. Brilliant. The unintended side-effect is, of course, no longer needing glasses, at least for most of the time. Being able to open my eyes first thing in the morning and see the birds outside my window. Surgery was very quick, painless, and I was warned to take a pair of sunglasses with me because the light is so bright. I do still use reading glasses and sunglasses for driving, but for most of the time, it's a joy. We'd both worn glasses for about 60 years and it really is marvellous.

Cataract surgery is amazing, i had it done about 10 years ago,it doesnt take lonh for the sctually surgery, but quite a long time for hhaving drops etc put in,
It is completely painless, and you notice the difference immediately
I couldnt see the clock at the other end of the ward when i went in to surgery, but when i came out could see it very clearly ,
One eye has deteriorated though and i have to see the specialist again at the end of February,

Once eye corrective surgery meant laser treatment. Now the corrective treatment for cataracts, replacing the lens, can also be used to correct eyesight.

If lens replacement therapy is used for corrective eye surgery, the result is permanent and unchanging.

Was that eye corrective surgery or lens replacement that your friend had silver? I know several people (including both my brother and sister) who had eye corrective surgery several years ago and all now need to wear reading glasses at least sometimes, so I'm a bit wary of that. Of course, the techniques could have improved over the years. Bluebelle - you should definitely go for the surgery if you are offered it!

My friend mid 60s had this done some years ago, she was told it would be permanent and she woukd never need glasses and so far her eyes are super sharp. She would recommend this to anyone and everyone. Me, i dont like my eyes being messed about and though i dislike the inconvenience of having to put glasses on to read i am too much of a coward to have it done.

I am/was very shortsighted and developed cataracts in my early 60s. Best thing that ever happened to me!

The surgeon said that he would replace my lens with a prescription lens and I could choose whether I wanted to end up with glasses for reading or glasses for distance. I chose glasses for distance work as I do a lot of reading and screen based work.

It is such a joy; not scrabbling for my glasses in the morning, almost before I have opened my eyes, not having ordinary and reading glasses (couldn't get on with varifocals). Now one set of glasses - those for distance, put on when driving and in the evenings to watch tv. Photographs and passport showing a specless face.

I have recommended cataracts to my son, whose sight is bad he gets free eye tests.

I too am tempted with lens replacement but am nervous about operating on healthy eyes.

I have incredibly bad eyes very very shortsighted about -10, astigmatism, had torn retinas and now cataracts (I wear contact lens so no one ever knows) optician has now told me that I may need the cataract op before much longer and if so I could have the op that means no more glasses or just (lightweight) specs if they do offer it me I ll go for it so just waiting to see what they say next time I have my check up

Clear lens replacement ( effectively replacing the cloudy lens with an inbuilt prescription contact lens ) is often done in cataract removal op's.
This procedure is also available privately and is not the same as laser surgery with which there will eventually be deterioration in the sight.
Check the website Optometry Times.
I had this done in cataract surgery and it has proved completely successful.

I asked the Optician about it at my last eye test. She said that I would still require reading glasses, so I decided not to bother thinking about it again. I was 62 at the time.

I believe lens replacement is a more permanent solution than the corrective surgery. I have a friend who had it done 4 years ago when she was just over 60 and she is thrilled. I've just asked her to refer me!

I have family members who've had this in late 50s which was fine for a few years but now the eyes have deteriorated again. So it doesn't seem a permanent fix. I'm sure others will be along who've had the procedure.

As far as I know, it works but will deteriorate faster than a younger persons eyes would. Shorter sell by date, you could say. I stand to be corrected though.