Case #32: Woman in her 60s from Chofu, mildly myopic eyes (cortical cataract: monofocal lenses), distance target

Another clinic had pointed out cataracts two years earlier, and for six months she had subjectively found both far and near hard to see, so she first visited us. In both eyes nuclear hardness was not even grade 2, but there was strong cortical opacity, worse in the left eye. Cortical cataracts are not very hard, so they can be removed without much ultrasound, but this type of cataract produces strong symptoms, such as white, hazy blurred vision and light at night feeling dazzling from scattering by the opacity.
She was mildly myopic at about −0.75 to −1.0, but wanted to prioritize driving and wished to see perfectly at distance. Normally, setting such people's focus for distance makes near distances harder to see than before surgery, so even when things turn out as they wished, some regret it afterwards. We therefore made sure she understood this could happen before choosing the lens power.
As a result, leaving slight myopia, she had good uncorrected vision of 1.2 or better in both eyes and was very satisfied.
Being slightly myopic myself, I sometimes think one shouldn't be inconvenienced without seeing far that well..., but to raise satisfaction after surgery, setting the target refraction according to each patient's wishes and lifestyle seems important. Of course, if you cannot decide yourself, please feel free to consult us.