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A diary of a Finevion IOL implant
Before deciding on this procedure I had performed a vast amount of research and searched this forum for advice and views. As many post here with problems I have decided to write this diary from day one so others may understand how the progress is made, either good or bad. It is not designed to influence anyone's decision for or against this procedure. Please feel free to comment or add to the thread.
Male, 56 years, West Country of UK. Computer repair technician.
Lens exchange was performed on left (non Dom) eye on morning of Thursday 16th at Circle Bath by consultant Mr Jonathan Luck. A +21 diopter Finevision Micro F lens was implanted All went as planned with no complications.
Thursday evening apart from a 'bruised' feeling to the eye, there was, and had been, no pain at all all day. No vision testing was done.
Day 1, Fri 17th
Left lens removed from vari focal spectacles and specs worn all day.
First thoughts comparing eyes, the 'new' eye is noticeably lighter and brighter, with perhaps a little less colour contrast and a very slight increase in purple hues. Slight ache, but less than before and nothing really uncomfortable. Focus at 4 metres plus is clear with no ghosting. Reading a letter or newspaper (12 point) at 30cm was fairly comfortable if the overview a little small, but 30 cm is a little too close for holding a paper. At 80cm, computer distance, objects were clear enough with a very slight edge blur, but reading was not possible smaller than 18 point. Text on screen has a soft blurr edge. Night driving home in the dark presented no problems at all with halos from oncoming cars. Traffic lights have a circular pattern around the light but nothing distracting. Television at 3metres (42" screen) comfortable, with all intros menus and credits readable, if not sharp.
Thoughts for the day
Pleased with initial ability to see objects with this amount of clarity, text will have to improve at all distances to be considered a success.
Phil
Male, 56 years, West Country of UK. Computer repair technician.
Lens exchange was performed on left (non Dom) eye on morning of Thursday 16th at Circle Bath by consultant Mr Jonathan Luck. A +21 diopter Finevision Micro F lens was implanted All went as planned with no complications.
Thursday evening apart from a 'bruised' feeling to the eye, there was, and had been, no pain at all all day. No vision testing was done.
Day 1, Fri 17th
Left lens removed from vari focal spectacles and specs worn all day.
First thoughts comparing eyes, the 'new' eye is noticeably lighter and brighter, with perhaps a little less colour contrast and a very slight increase in purple hues. Slight ache, but less than before and nothing really uncomfortable. Focus at 4 metres plus is clear with no ghosting. Reading a letter or newspaper (12 point) at 30cm was fairly comfortable if the overview a little small, but 30 cm is a little too close for holding a paper. At 80cm, computer distance, objects were clear enough with a very slight edge blur, but reading was not possible smaller than 18 point. Text on screen has a soft blurr edge. Night driving home in the dark presented no problems at all with halos from oncoming cars. Traffic lights have a circular pattern around the light but nothing distracting. Television at 3metres (42" screen) comfortable, with all intros menus and credits readable, if not sharp.
Thoughts for the day
Pleased with initial ability to see objects with this amount of clarity, text will have to improve at all distances to be considered a success.
Phil
Dear Phil... I'm so glad to be able to say "I told you so" without being mean :-)
I remember the enormous stress I had the first two month after my surgery when I could not see and I was really worried that something went wrong because I was told that I should be able to see well in few weeks time, while I could not. Unless the Doctor himself had the same lenses he cannot know that these require much longer.
After that period, when I started to see better I thought that no one should go through that despair and that's why I tried to encourage you as much as possible to be positive and patient and now I can see that all is going well as predicted and as it was for me as well.
What is amazing is that now after 10 months since my surgery with these lenses I still see small improvements. For instance there was a large road sign at about 200 meters from where I have to take a turn and I could not read it (it was too far at 200 meters and the letters were not sharp enough), even after 5 months from my surgery, despite I had a good vision I could not read the sign. The sign is still there but now I can read it and every week is sharper and sharper.
After 5 months I still had problem to see sharp in distance in the evening, while now I see perfectly.
Right now after 10 moths I don't see anymore the "Christmas tree balls" effects when I drive at night, but I see sharp normal lights (Hurra!!!) Just the lights over 200 meters are still showing some circles but they will go as well, I'm sure.
What about you? How do you feel playing pool now without the need of adjusting your progressive glasses? Isn't that great?
Keep up the diary for future use so that people who will get these lenses implanted may have reasonable exceptions about the time needed to heal and see properly. I think that more and more people will get these lenses once there will be long term use results available.
My vision right now is: close always perfect - I can read J1 (the smallest possible printing used in some small medicine bottles) at 35 cm. distance very sharp, even in the evening... Up to 15 - 20 meters super sharp outside, and super sharp about 5 to 10 meters inside depends on light. Between 20 and 50 meters outside sharp. Between 50 and 80 meters I see but depending on light it could be blurry. At 100 meters I am still able to read car plates with good light, otherwise is blurry and I can't.
To read at the necessary distance phone, tablet, computer, TV between 40cm. up to 5 meters SUPER SHARP - NO PROBLEM with any of them.
At the last visit to the Optician I had 14/10 in DX and 12/10 in SX (Notice: 8/10 is a little weak and 10/10 is considered perfect vision, so 12/10 and 14/10 surpasses that and is considered a vision better than average good).
I asked the optician if he thinks I might need eventually some kind of glasses in the night for the driving and he started to laugh and said: "your days with the glasses are over, except for the sunglasses if you like them. You have a vision so good that if you apply to become a airplane pilot, you will pass the vision test with no problem. Enjoy your new vision".
So Phil, as I understand for a complete healing it takes 12 to 24 months, you (and I) will still see improvement... too bad we are old to become pilots otherwise I would have liked that :-) Nice day to all,
Roberto
I remember the enormous stress I had the first two month after my surgery when I could not see and I was really worried that something went wrong because I was told that I should be able to see well in few weeks time, while I could not. Unless the Doctor himself had the same lenses he cannot know that these require much longer.
After that period, when I started to see better I thought that no one should go through that despair and that's why I tried to encourage you as much as possible to be positive and patient and now I can see that all is going well as predicted and as it was for me as well.
What is amazing is that now after 10 months since my surgery with these lenses I still see small improvements. For instance there was a large road sign at about 200 meters from where I have to take a turn and I could not read it (it was too far at 200 meters and the letters were not sharp enough), even after 5 months from my surgery, despite I had a good vision I could not read the sign. The sign is still there but now I can read it and every week is sharper and sharper.
After 5 months I still had problem to see sharp in distance in the evening, while now I see perfectly.
Right now after 10 moths I don't see anymore the "Christmas tree balls" effects when I drive at night, but I see sharp normal lights (Hurra!!!) Just the lights over 200 meters are still showing some circles but they will go as well, I'm sure.
What about you? How do you feel playing pool now without the need of adjusting your progressive glasses? Isn't that great?
Keep up the diary for future use so that people who will get these lenses implanted may have reasonable exceptions about the time needed to heal and see properly. I think that more and more people will get these lenses once there will be long term use results available.
My vision right now is: close always perfect - I can read J1 (the smallest possible printing used in some small medicine bottles) at 35 cm. distance very sharp, even in the evening... Up to 15 - 20 meters super sharp outside, and super sharp about 5 to 10 meters inside depends on light. Between 20 and 50 meters outside sharp. Between 50 and 80 meters I see but depending on light it could be blurry. At 100 meters I am still able to read car plates with good light, otherwise is blurry and I can't.
To read at the necessary distance phone, tablet, computer, TV between 40cm. up to 5 meters SUPER SHARP - NO PROBLEM with any of them.
At the last visit to the Optician I had 14/10 in DX and 12/10 in SX (Notice: 8/10 is a little weak and 10/10 is considered perfect vision, so 12/10 and 14/10 surpasses that and is considered a vision better than average good).
I asked the optician if he thinks I might need eventually some kind of glasses in the night for the driving and he started to laugh and said: "your days with the glasses are over, except for the sunglasses if you like them. You have a vision so good that if you apply to become a airplane pilot, you will pass the vision test with no problem. Enjoy your new vision".
So Phil, as I understand for a complete healing it takes 12 to 24 months, you (and I) will still see improvement... too bad we are old to become pilots otherwise I would have liked that :-) Nice day to all,
Roberto
Thank you so much for the detailed and thoughtful commentary on your experience with this IOL. It's great to read that you seem to be benefiting from the 'trifocal' design of this lens.
It's also good to hear that the initial vision after the implantation can improve as your brain learns to adapt to the new information profile coming from the operated eye and the IOL.
Thank you again for taking time to provide others with your experience and thoughts; it's very much appreciated.
It's also good to hear that the initial vision after the implantation can improve as your brain learns to adapt to the new information profile coming from the operated eye and the IOL.
Thank you again for taking time to provide others with your experience and thoughts; it's very much appreciated.
"This procedure really is a journey"
That is a valuable insight, and should be noted by anyone planning on cataract surgery, or any other vision repair.
Thanks for the continuing updates.
That is a valuable insight, and should be noted by anyone planning on cataract surgery, or any other vision repair.
Thanks for the continuing updates.
Now fourteen weeks since implantation
Vision at longer distances is still improving gradually.
No sudden surprises this month, at to be truthful I have really stopped trying to learn anything new with the vision. However my test area set up at work is there, so after another month I did the testing.
Results in daylight, good artificial and lowlight conditions:
35cm, little change, everything clear with excellent definition, objects and text are both sharp in all lighting conditions. Tiny bright screws into tiny bright thread holes are the only challenging task at work, but a task light eliminates the problem. 9.5/10
80cm to 3 metres, object vision extremely good with very sharp edge and colour definition. 42" TV at 3 metres is pin sharp. Computer use, a daily task as I run a computer repair business and therefore a vital part of my vision requirements, has again shown increases in sharpness of the text on screen. Computer screen is still the weakest area of my vision, although is in itself focus is very good, it is the slight lack of contrast that is the more challenging aspect, although not a real problem, just the one that has taken longer to adjust to fully. 9.5/10
10 metres up to 15 metres, vision is now overy good, faces are now in focus up to 15 metres, so this is certainly an area that is still improving, without necessarily noticing a change on a daily basis. Birds at 15 metres are easily recognised by breed and colour in the fruit trees in the garden. A real improvement here. 9.5/10
20metres+, very good general vision, road signs, as used at approach to roundabouts are perfectly readable and very sharp at this distance. Car number plates are a good test and I can now read them at 20+ metres. 9/10
The learning curve continues, but now it is very much a sub-conscious one. So much of daily routine is now as good as pre implantation when I used multifocal specs, that I am almost starting to take good unaided vision for granted again, as I am now (and hopefully always will be) totally glasses free for all tasks. I am extremely pleased and very fortunate to have been able to achieve this level of improvement in such a short time. My frustration of the first couple of months has now been replaced with extreme confidence in the procedure. For some reason I had assumed the lenses would just 'work' once they were implanted and the scar had healed. This procedure really is a journey and not merely an operation, and should be approached as such.
Again, I await to see if there is any improvement left to be made.
Next report in a month or so.
Overall now 9/10
Phil
Vision at longer distances is still improving gradually.
No sudden surprises this month, at to be truthful I have really stopped trying to learn anything new with the vision. However my test area set up at work is there, so after another month I did the testing.
Results in daylight, good artificial and lowlight conditions:
35cm, little change, everything clear with excellent definition, objects and text are both sharp in all lighting conditions. Tiny bright screws into tiny bright thread holes are the only challenging task at work, but a task light eliminates the problem. 9.5/10
80cm to 3 metres, object vision extremely good with very sharp edge and colour definition. 42" TV at 3 metres is pin sharp. Computer use, a daily task as I run a computer repair business and therefore a vital part of my vision requirements, has again shown increases in sharpness of the text on screen. Computer screen is still the weakest area of my vision, although is in itself focus is very good, it is the slight lack of contrast that is the more challenging aspect, although not a real problem, just the one that has taken longer to adjust to fully. 9.5/10
10 metres up to 15 metres, vision is now overy good, faces are now in focus up to 15 metres, so this is certainly an area that is still improving, without necessarily noticing a change on a daily basis. Birds at 15 metres are easily recognised by breed and colour in the fruit trees in the garden. A real improvement here. 9.5/10
20metres+, very good general vision, road signs, as used at approach to roundabouts are perfectly readable and very sharp at this distance. Car number plates are a good test and I can now read them at 20+ metres. 9/10
The learning curve continues, but now it is very much a sub-conscious one. So much of daily routine is now as good as pre implantation when I used multifocal specs, that I am almost starting to take good unaided vision for granted again, as I am now (and hopefully always will be) totally glasses free for all tasks. I am extremely pleased and very fortunate to have been able to achieve this level of improvement in such a short time. My frustration of the first couple of months has now been replaced with extreme confidence in the procedure. For some reason I had assumed the lenses would just 'work' once they were implanted and the scar had healed. This procedure really is a journey and not merely an operation, and should be approached as such.
Again, I await to see if there is any improvement left to be made.
Next report in a month or so.
Overall now 9/10
Phil
Now nine weeks since implantation
Vision at all distances is improving, but strangely not gradually.
One day computer monitor is in a position it has been used in for eight weeks and the next day it is moved back 6 inches to its original pre op position and made finer. Almost as instantly, 8 metre vision is extended to ten metres. No gradual increase, just a jump to the next focus level. All eye drops have ceased and no specs or any other sight aid is used at all. my conclusions so far.
Results in daylight, good artificial and lowlight conditions:
35cm, everything clear with excellent definition, objects and text are both sharp in all lighting conditions. 9/10
80cm to 3 metres, object vision really good, PC screen has been reverted to pre-op position and screen zoom set back to 100% from 110%, feather edge on text has now gone even at this finer resolution. Black on white keyboard is better though than white letters on black keys. Vision indoors at night, whether in the pub or at home is superb with no loss of vision depth or focus. 8.5/10
10 metres, vision is good, good enough to see everything going on around, faces are now in focus. A rat was shot dead from 13 metres with no scope sights. Before, I couldn't even see a rat at that distance without a scope. 8/10
20metres+, good general vision, road signs, as used at approach to roundabouts are very readable and quite sharp at this distance. Distant fields and hedgerows are easily definable, Star constellation are easily identified to individual stars. 8/10
Not now classed as failings, merely a learning curve, I am still totally glasses free and happy that even now I can manage all tasks easily with no enhancements. The slight reduction in contrast is no great issue. I cant see how things improve, but judging by the last month it appears that advances will just happen as and when.
Next report in a month or so.
Overall 8.5/10
Phil
Vision at all distances is improving, but strangely not gradually.
One day computer monitor is in a position it has been used in for eight weeks and the next day it is moved back 6 inches to its original pre op position and made finer. Almost as instantly, 8 metre vision is extended to ten metres. No gradual increase, just a jump to the next focus level. All eye drops have ceased and no specs or any other sight aid is used at all. my conclusions so far.
Results in daylight, good artificial and lowlight conditions:
35cm, everything clear with excellent definition, objects and text are both sharp in all lighting conditions. 9/10
80cm to 3 metres, object vision really good, PC screen has been reverted to pre-op position and screen zoom set back to 100% from 110%, feather edge on text has now gone even at this finer resolution. Black on white keyboard is better though than white letters on black keys. Vision indoors at night, whether in the pub or at home is superb with no loss of vision depth or focus. 8.5/10
10 metres, vision is good, good enough to see everything going on around, faces are now in focus. A rat was shot dead from 13 metres with no scope sights. Before, I couldn't even see a rat at that distance without a scope. 8/10
20metres+, good general vision, road signs, as used at approach to roundabouts are very readable and quite sharp at this distance. Distant fields and hedgerows are easily definable, Star constellation are easily identified to individual stars. 8/10
Not now classed as failings, merely a learning curve, I am still totally glasses free and happy that even now I can manage all tasks easily with no enhancements. The slight reduction in contrast is no great issue. I cant see how things improve, but judging by the last month it appears that advances will just happen as and when.
Next report in a month or so.
Overall 8.5/10
Phil
Hi Roberto
Indeed it is your experience and comments I refer to when I mentioned 'led to believe things will improve' I am a very positive person and truly believe the end result will be superb. The neural adaption taking months to master is quite an alien concept, but your simple example as used in mini mono is a very good analogy.
Disappointment I think can be read as impatience and unknowing, but your comments, as always, are so reassuring, and many thanks for them. The frustration of wanting/expecting full range focus immediately when things just don't work like that is probably felt by many having multi focal IOL's. because this has not been documented before in such a detailed fashion, so there is nothing to reference progress. This makes your comments at this time so much more relevant and welcome.
With best wishes to you
Phil
Indeed it is your experience and comments I refer to when I mentioned 'led to believe things will improve' I am a very positive person and truly believe the end result will be superb. The neural adaption taking months to master is quite an alien concept, but your simple example as used in mini mono is a very good analogy.
Disappointment I think can be read as impatience and unknowing, but your comments, as always, are so reassuring, and many thanks for them. The frustration of wanting/expecting full range focus immediately when things just don't work like that is probably felt by many having multi focal IOL's. because this has not been documented before in such a detailed fashion, so there is nothing to reference progress. This makes your comments at this time so much more relevant and welcome.
With best wishes to you
Phil
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