Do you lose depth perception after cataract surgery?
NOV 12, 2016
Question:
Do you lose depth perception after bilateral cataract surgery? How can an accurate visual acuity exam be performed when the patient has dementia but needs corrective lenses?
Answer:
If cataract surgery is intended to correct distance vision in both eyes, and if one has normal depth perception, things should be fine following surgery. That said, many patients choose to have multifocal lens implants or to do monovision (having one eye set for near vision and the other for distance), and that could influence depth perception for near work. Regardless, details regarding expected outcomes should be discussed before surgery with the ophthalmologist.
As far as dementia, in some forms patients can still determine what makes them see optimally. If not, the ophthalmologist can objectively determine what would be the optimal optical correction.