Post Cataract surgery and missing balls, 18 months later

ctyhntr

ctyhntr

RIP Kelly
Silver Member
18 months ago I had Cataract surgery in one eye. The doctor corrected to -2.0 (monovision). So, first time in years I can read and type on my laptop without reading glasses. My left eye didn't have cataract, I would have to pay out of pocket. I've been wearing a contact lens for distance (-9.5) and works great. My brain can adapt to monovision. Wearing contact len for distance I have no problems driving.

When it comes to playing pool, shots that I have taken for granted, I now struggle. Went in for two fittings in the last 18 months. -2.0 brings my right eye to same parity as left, but I can't make out my phone unless I hold it past arms length. I do have astimagtism, which my contact lens doesn't correct so the balls look like eggs.

Sight picture
When I was wearing glasses, I was more upright. Now with contacts and IOL, I can go lower and into a full snooker stance . Chin on shaft, I can't focus on the balls, and no longer visualize the contact point. Eye dominance has shifted to left because of contact lens, and monovision in right eye. Right now, I'm making my shots based on memory and stance.

League director had to drop my handicap as I been beaten 0-7 seveal times. LO can't lower me past D. If I wanted be in E class, I have to go the Mercedes dealership. I've been dropped by my former team. Passed around more times than an overpriced SouthWest.

Thank you for hearing my rant.
 
I wear contacts and have an astimagtism in my right eye, but I wear a Toric lens in that eye (-180) that make it all good. Mid 600's Fargo, if that makes any difference.

Also, my dad just had cataract surgery in one eye and paid a slight ($200 or so) premium to get a toric lens in his eye, for the same reason.
 
see if you can find an optometrist who will test you in your pool playing position
i have double vision which is worse when i look up
i have had cataract surgery in both eyes
but even before that i found an optometrist who refracted me both for distance and for pool
i used to only need glasses for pool
but now i need glasses for tennis too
the prescription is different for each
tennis (distance and more straight ahead vision)
pool(closer and looking up vision)
PM me if you have questions
 
I think you can have lasix or PRK done on the eye that had cataract surgery that would fine tune that eye. The advantage there is after being done your vision in that eye would probably remain basically the same for the most part forever. I never did this though.
I did have to go back in about a yr later though to have some cloudness lazered off one eye. It was simple and they said it would never happen again.
Funny timing as I am with my wife now at the drs office for her cataract surgery eval. She is legaly blind without glasses or contacts.
 
I had cataract surgery 7 years ago and I was lucky because I don’t need or wear eyeglasses any longer.
But as others who’ve also had this surgery, I have several pairs of sunglasses (Ray Ban) because sunlight
becomes devastatingly bright that you almost cannot see. But that’s the outcome with cataract surgery.

I realize my experience with cataract surgery doesn’t help you with your situation. However, before having
surgery, I wore prescription billiard glasses my optometrist created. During my eye exam a long time ago,
he took me to a large conference room. He positioned different things at various distances from 3’ to 12’
away on the long conference room table. Optometrists have eyeglasses you can wear that allows them to
try different strength lenses that they can switch and change from a large selection they have available.

So for 15 mins, we experimented with different strength prescriptions. It was easy to figure out since I was
already using reading and distance eyewear for driving. He simply experimented weakening & strengthening
a blended version of the two different strength prescriptions. We gradually progressed to a combination that
allowed me to see clearly for a frozen rail shot or a frozen object ball 9’ away. And the best part is once you
arrive at the right prescription for playing pool, it is easy to tweak it for any subsequent future vision changes.

And I didn’t have to wear goofy looking billiards pool eyewear. Nope, you just select whatever style frame you
like using your new prescription. I had two pairs made…..Oakley and Ray Ban sunglasses frames. The glasses
look like normal eyewear and worked perfectly. You just need an optometrist that will spend the time with you
figuring out your prescription using actual distances instead of just sitting in his chair. My optometrist found it to
be an interesting, challenging vision requirement and he enjoyed helping me figure out a rather puzzling problem.

The best part is no one can do a better job coming up with the right prescription than an optometrist. Do not rely
on seeing just an optician since you have already had surgery. In fact, if your vision is suffering, you should see an
optometrist for evaluation. Anyway, I wore prescription billiard glasses for 6 years up until my cataracts worsened
with light passage to the point surgery was advisable. Since having surgery, the only eyewear I need is sunglasses.
 
Even if your vision is fixed and good, adjusting to a new vantage point for your shots in the lower stance combined with the more accurate info your brain is getting from your eyes can be difficult to adjust to.

I went through a much lesser version of this as I only used contacts for pool and when I took over a decade off from playing. The few times a year I did get out with friends, I just played without any corrective lenses as my low stance had me looking above my glasses. So after many years, when I finally got to playing semi regularly and got contacts again, there was an adjustment period I went through. At first I was missing more with the contacts than without as I had just gotten used to seeing with the distorted view my one good eye and one bad eye provided me.

Ben Hogan went through something similar. There's a story of him puring balls on the range and angrily grunting. Turns out Ben had gotten new glasses in his older years and it changed how he saw the ball. So to his chagrin, the only way he could strike it pure with his glasses on was to feel like he wanted to hit it 2 inches fat. No glasses, he could go at the ball to hit it. With them on, he had a big adjustment to make despite seeing it 'better'....just not as he'd become accustomed to.
 
my cataract surgery i had both eyes done the same 20 20.
i went for good distance vision and use reading glasses for close up.

but need no glasses for pool. as thas arms length basically.

if eyes are different just get glasses that correct both the same. for pool table length. and learn to live with that.

getting older sucks and you aint getting younger again.
 
maha said:
my cataract surgery i had both eyes done the same 20 20.
i went for good distance vision and use reading glasses for close up.

but need no glasses for pool. as thas arms length basically.

if eyes are different just get glasses that correct both the same. for pool table length. and learn to live with that.

getting older sucks and you aint getting younger again.
Click to expand...
Real quickly, having cataract surgery on both eyes in 2007 was the Worst decision I've personally made in my Life!
 
Count me among those who didn't get great results with cataract surgery. Bad enough that I quit playing...went from being able to tun a rack from time to time to can't make 3 balls. Hey, I turn 81 in a few days...yes, father time is a merciless bastid!
 
with most if you dont get it your vision just keeps getting worse until you hardly can see.

i dont know your case bill but many go for progressive lenses or such, or one eye different than the other , and they then dont adjust to them and its too late to change.
 
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Getting Cataract surgery in Left eye in December. Right eye was done in 2013. Pool Game suck right now.
 
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maha said:
with most if you dont get it your vision just keeps getting worse until you hardly can see.

i dont know your case bill but many go for progressive lenses or such, or one eye different than the other , and they then dont adjust to them and its too late to change.
Click to expand...
The 'Lens' had nothing to do with what occurred in my case!

In my 'right' eye I've had 24 procedures since 2007.

Totally lost the eyesight in the Right since 2019.

Bottom line I developed, Glaucoma.

On Tuesday, I'm going in for a PK (total) 'Cornea Transplant'!
 
Texas Carom Club said:
you were probably missing balls before the cataract
and before then too im guessing
Click to expand...

Bavafongoul said:
I had cataract surgery 7 years ago and I was lucky because I don’t need or wear eyeglasses any longer.
But as others who’ve also had this surgery, I have several pairs of sunglasses (Ray Ban) because sunlight
becomes devastatingly bright that you almost cannot see. But that’s the outcome with cataract surgery.

I realize my experience with cataract surgery doesn’t help you with your situation. However, before having
surgery, I wore prescription billiard glasses my optometrist created. During my eye exam a long time ago,
he took me to a large conference room. He positioned different things at various distances from 3’ to 12’
away on the long conference room table. Optometrists have eyeglasses you can wear that allows them to
try different strength lenses that they can switch and change from a large selection they have available.

So for 15 mins, we experimented with different strength prescriptions. It was easy to figure out since I was
already using reading and distance eyewear for driving. He simply experimented weakening & strengthening
a blended version of the two different strength prescriptions. We gradually progressed to a combination that
allowed me to see clearly for a frozen rail shot or a frozen object ball 9’ away. And the best part is once you
arrive at the right prescription for playing pool, it is easy to tweak it for any subsequent future vision changes.

And I didn’t have to wear goofy looking billiards pool eyewear. Nope, you just select whatever style frame you
like using your new prescription. I had two pairs made…..Oakley and Ray Ban sunglasses frames. The glasses
look like normal eyewear and worked perfectly. You just need an optometrist that will spend the time with you
figuring out your prescription using actual distances instead of just sitting in his chair. My optometrist found it to
be an interesting, challenging vision requirement and he enjoyed helping me figure out a rather puzzling problem.

The best part is no one can do a better job coming up with the right prescription than an optometrist. Do not rely
on seeing just an optician since you have already had surgery. In fact, if your vision is suffering, you should see an
optometrist for evaluation. Anyway, I wore prescription billiard glasses for 6 years up until my cataracts worsened
with light passage to the point surgery was advisable. Since having surgery, the only eyewear I need is sunglasses.
Click to expand...
Funny, I now have more sunglasses than before. I usually don't leave the house without sunglasses.

Any thing short rail is makeable for me as everything is in focus. I can bank short rail just as well as before. Anything past that distance, especially missing hangers.
 
ctyhntr said:
Funny, I now have more sunglasses than before. I usually don't leave the house without sunglasses.

Any thing short rail is makeable for me as everything is in focus. I can bank short rail just as well as before. Anything past that distance, especially missing hangers.
Click to expand...
Hey, I forgot to mention that the world reawakened for me after surgery with an explosion of colors I couldn’t enjoy and hadn’t been for years. OMG…..high def TV sports became exciting to watch and streaming movies, well, it became so much more enjoyable, like being at the cinema. I hadn’t any idea idea how much I was missing out seeing just in everyday life.
 
straightline said:
Another good reason for contact geometry. You don't have to take your eyes' word for it.
Click to expand...
For judging contact geometry you very much need eyesight though? It's harder to visualize things or pick a point and stare at it with a weaker eyesight.
 
Oikawa said:
For judging contact geometry you very much need eyesight though? It's harder to visualize things or pick a point and stare at it with a weaker eyesight.
Click to expand...
Reid's equal angle opposites can be done using your stick. You only need to determine the stick/stroking angle. From there, there is no aiming. Watch the cue ball and shoot. The reason I suggest this is, it's the visual confirmation bias that leads your aim astray in the first place. Distortion by unbalanced stereo vision further complicates this.
 
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