Muzzleloading after Cataract Surgery

[Crew Chief]

I recently had cataract surgery on both eyes. So far the vision is improving as my eyes heal. The doctor tells me it may be several weeks before the vision settles in. I opted for the multifocal lenses hoping not to have to wear glasses at all except for very fine print. My question for those of you that have gone through similar surgery is, when can you start shooting again? Most of my rifles are .50 and .54 caliber that I shoot hunting loads in. Your thoughts will be greatly appreciated if you have had this surgery. So far there has been an improvement in viewing the open sights. There is still some ghosting but it is way better than whan I was wearing glasses.

I am due for my release March 15th.

 

[user 34300]

Discuss medical issues related to recoil with your doctor.

Progressive lenses, if that is what you mean, are useless for shooting. Get bifocals with the top corrected to the front sight distance.

 

[Grenadier1758]

@Crew Chief, I agree with @Scota@4570. This is a question that is best answered by your doctor. I waited several months after my lenses were replaced and then started out with light recoiling rifles. Always wear safety glasses.

 

[Dale Allen Raby]

I have a cataract in my shooting eye, but I can sorta manage to shoot yet using reading glasses. I was anticipating cataract surgery some day, but then I got cancer... which will likely kill me before my eyesight is bad enough to need surgery. Hey.... silver lining to every cloud

I agree though; ask your doctor questions like this.

 

[Dave Marsh]

I had both eyes done in December 2022. Released from all restrictions February first. I just had the standard lens put in. Still need glasses for close up however my sights and the target are all clear now. Plan to start shooting when the snow is gone, and the temperatures are warmer. I primarily shoot 54 and 58 calibers. Ask your eye doctor as everyone is different.

 

[Crew Chief]

I had both eyes done in December 2022. Released from all restrictions February first. I just had the standard lens put in. Still need glasses for close up however my sights and the target are all clear now. Plan to start shooting when the snow is gone, and the temperatures are warmer. I primarily shoot 54 and 58 calibers. Ask your eye doctor as everyone is different.

That is good to know. I plan to ask my doctor on the 15th. Right now he won't even let me play golf. I am hoping that the sights and targets will clear up in the next few weeks. I am not a patient person as my wife keeps telling me.

 

[GregK]

I've had my rifle shooting eye done and vision has been corrected for distance. I can pass the drivers test without glasses. I do wear glasses with a slight correction when I do bp shoots. I don't recall how long I waited after surgery I just followed my doctor's orders.

 

[2 shots]

the first eye i had done i had made for distance. the second

a year later ,i told the dr. i wanted to see front sights. it was a little weird at first but they [ or my brain] adjusted and now i can see the sights like a yute again. i was able to read without glasses before that but now i find its better with some magnifiers . small sacrifice as i would rather be able to see sights than most of the manure out there to read.... not on here though​

 

[pwbsmokey]

Discuss medical issues related to recoil with your doctor.

Progressive lenses, if that is what you mean, are useless for shooting. Get bifocals with the top corrected to the front sight distance.

He is talking about his implanted lens. He probably won't need glasses

 

[Larry (Omaha)]

I recently had cataract surgery on both eyes. So far the vision is improving as my eyes heal. The doctor tells me it may be several weeks before the vision settles in. I opted for the multifocal lenses hoping not to have to wear glasses at all except for very fine print. My question for those of you that have gone through similar surgery is, when can you start shooting again? Most of my rifles are .50 and .54 caliber that I shoot hunting loads in. Your thoughts will be greatly appreciated if you have had this surgery. So far there has been an improvement in viewing the open sights. There is still some ghosting but it is way better than whan I was wearing glasses.

I am due for my release March 15th.

WTG! I had surgery for cataracts in "14". My eyes were needing trifocals for normal vision prior to surgery. My shooting was zilch as I could not see sights and the target too. Within healing after surgery my shooting sight was restored. Can't remember how long, but my vision the day after the first eye operation was amazing. Remember everyone is not the same, but if you have the right prescription, a good surgeon, you have a good chance to be hitting the bull again. That was hitting the bull, not shooting the bull.
Larry

 

[R Ellis]

As already said ask your DR. but mine were cleared after 2 months yours may be different .Also my vision was clear after 2 or 3 days now have 20/20/both eyes and can see sights perfectly But started out with 32 cal. for a while. PS I do need reading classes for print

 

[Caddo54]

I’d say it up to your doctor. I had the exact same surgery and I was shooting 30 days after surgery, with Dr. Approval.

 

[RMH]

I had both eyes done, 3 weeks apart. I asked my Dr and he said I was good to go after the eye drop regimen was finished. Oh, and wear eye protection too.

 

[45man]

Best thing I ever did. Only need my old glasses for fine print. Eyes heal very fast but follow the doc like all say. I always wore good sunglasses all my life but still got the fogs. I had to use lineless bifocals to shoot. When young I could focus on both sights and the target. Age is ruthless.

 

[sheriff john]

Had both eye cataract surgery. However, about 10 months later, vision started to deteriorate to the point it was like looking through fish scales. Guys that have butchered a lot of deer will come across objects the animal has "encapsulated" - arrow heads, bullets, fragments of bullets, etc. Same thing happened to both my implanted lenses. MY body decided to encapsulate them.

The "fix" took only minutes. Done with a lazer while keeping the eye open. my doctor was able to burn away the tissue and restore my sight. Absolutely painless. Floaters for a few weeks, but that was about it. Had "Lasik" surgery 20+ years ago (life changer) with no problems, at all.

Do what your doctor says. Period.

 

[Don Steele]

That's a great post Sheriff John, Thank you. I'm 73 yrs old, and my uncorrected vision is at the point where seeing the big "E" at the top of the chart is about all I can manage and my "corrected" vision through my glasses is 20/50 (L) and 20/80 (R). I have an appointment coming up with my Ophthalmologist next month to discuss surgical options. It's good to know that there are further steps that can resolve issues arising from the initial procedure.

 

[earlwb]

I had both of my eyes done back in Dec 20 and Jan 21. I got the single focus lenses as from what I read the multi focal lenses may or may not work for guns. I can simply use store bought reading glasses as needed now. I think it took like six months for my eyes to settle down. Things aren’t in focus until I get a little farther past what holding a modern pistol at arms length is. Thus a rifle front sight is no problem. But the rear sight is fuzzy but still useable albeit it might affect accuracy some. Now that might help explain why some people had their rear sight mounted farther forward too. But red dot sights and scopes are no problem though. I had a annual checkup last Dec 22 and I was doing 20-20. The checkup in April 21 after the surgery had me test out at 20-15.

 

[Eric Krewson]

I have posted this before; these pictures are about what my before and after cataract surgery sight picture looks like.

Before

after

 

[Kansas Jake]

I had both eyes done about 15 years ago. I couldn’t be happier with it. I wore glasses since 1st grade and now only use readers for close work, extended reading or in dim light. I did have driving/shooting glasses made a few years ago to help with some astigmatism and slight deterioration in my vision. Most of the time I don’t use glasses.

 

[Will]

I had the right eye done with the lens that covers both near and far but it cost me about $2500 out of pocket over what insurance paid. I don't remember the doc giving me any restrictions but it wasn't long after,I shot my guns. I was just so happy that I could see the sights and the target once again.