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my Symfony IOL results after cataract surgery
I'd posted before asking for information about lens options before surgery, but thought I'd start a new thread now that I've gotten the lens where perhaps others can add their results as well with the Symfony lens. It is a new type of "extended depth of focus" lens that uses a different design than multifocal and accommodating lenses.
I had Symfony lenses implanted in both eyes the first week of December. By 1 week postop my uncorrected vision at distance was between 20/15 and 20/20. At near my vision was already about 20/25 (but fluctuating a bit it had seemed better earlier that day). Given its improvement since then I'd guess its likely 20/20 or so, I can read the small print on my eye drop bottles for instance. Not everyone achieves this level of near vision with the lens so people shouldn't expect to necessarily get quite as good a result, and should be prepared for the possibility for needing reading glasses at near. I suspect the fact that I'm comparatively young for cataract surgery, 52, might have something to do with the results.
I had originally only planned on having 1 eye done (since the other was 20/20 correctible still), but when the patch came off the next day I discovered it might be hard to adapt to the difference in vision between the two eyes even with a contact lens in the other eye. I might have quickly adapted if I'd taken the time, but I decided I didn't want to risk it, so I had the 2nd eye operated on a few hours later.
My intermediate vision hasn't been tested explicitly but I suspect is at least 20/20. That is based on my subjective sense of it being better than near and because of the design of this lens where visual acuity drops off in a continuous curve from far to near, so intermediate should be around the same as far, definitely better then near. That is one of the differences between this lens and for instance a bifocal IOL where vision may be worse at intermediate than it is at near or far. I spend a large number of hours at a computer and was willing to risk needing reading glasses occasionally for near in order to get better intermediate vision. Most household tasks and social interactions occur at intermediate distance as well.
Unfortunately the lens isn't yet available in the US yet, they are starting a clinical trial here which is randomized with a monofocal lens (there is a 50% chance you would get a monofocal) so I went to Europe for my surgery. I figured that at my age I hopefully may be using these lenses for a few decades so it was worth a bit of effort to get a better lens. This industry publication suggests it might be generally available in the US in a couple of years, and that some US surgeons find it interesting:
http://ophthalmologytimes.modernmedicine.com/ophthalmologytimes/news/us-surgeons-anticipate-new-iols?page=0,1
"the Symfony IOL might be available in the US by late 2016 or early 2017...
Of the IOLs discussed at the ESCRS Congress, Dr. Olson and Dr. Packer concurred that the brand new Tecnis Symfony Extended Range of Vision IOL was the most interesting as it represents a new concept for addressing presbyopia that seems to overcome the limitations of multifocal IOLs....
from what I’ve heard so far from respected and trusted surgeons, patients implanted with this IOL are seeing 20/20 at distance and intermediate with very usable, J2 or J3 near vision and are not experiencing any loss of contrast or perceptible problems with glare, halos or other dysphotopsias. So, it looks like they are having their cake and eating it too.”
I had considered the option of getting a trifocal lens which targets far, intermediate, and near (also unfortunately not yet available in the US), or even a bifocal with a small add so its focused more at intermediate than near. However the studies so far seem to indicate that the Symfony provides better quality intermediate vision. In addition multifocal lenses reduce contrast sensitivity which is useful for night vision, while reports indicate the Symfony is at least as good as a monofocal lens. The other thing the Symfony does is to correct for "chromatic aberration", an issue which is discussed in this industry publication which quotes one prominent surgeon noting:
http://eyeworld.org/supplements/EW-December-supplement-2014.pdf
" Cataract surgery with an IOL with an Abbe number greater than that of the natural lens (47) can improve CA, so that our cataract patients could actually experience better vision quality than they did as young adults. "
Although the Symfony uses a high Abbe material (I'm assuming its the same Tecnis material that article lists as having a 55 Abbe), it also has other features to to correct for CA to improve image quality. It seemed like a good bet the image quality for distance would be comparable, and perhaps even better, than a monofocal lens, or an accommodating lens.
Although some results for the Crystalens look like it will similarly do well for intermediate while providing some chance at decent near vision, some showed a lower chance of good near, e.g. some of the studies listed for the March 2014 update in this government review:
http://www.fda.gov/downloads/AdvisoryCommittees/CommitteesMeetingMaterials/MedicalDevices/MedicalDevicesAdvisoryCommittee/OphthalmicDevicesPanel/UCM346413.pdf
Part of the concern I had with the Crystalens was that in some patients the lens does well, but in some it doesn't accommodate, which leaves it effectively being a monofocal lens ( but without things like the correction for chromatic abberation). There is also concern I'd read among some over whether over decades of aging anything would interfere with the physical movement of the lens, something non-accommodating lenses don't require. There is no perfect lens, so its partly a matter of placing a bet on which might work out well, and I figured that it was better to bet on something that didn't require the accommodation to work (in addition to other concerns regarding problems people have with the Crystalens, though those may be fewer in the newest versions). I hadn't searched to find the study behind the figure in this presentation, but it notes:
http://www.slideshare.net/alanglazier/accommodating-intra-ocular-lenses
that about half of Crystalens patients require reading correction. That may be in part because as it notes: ' "Pushing” does not equal “Sustaining” '. This issue is that someone with their natural lens still who is presbyopic for instance may be able to theoretically read a particular print size without glasses, but that the muscle effort to focus may be a strain to do for an extended period of time, and the Crystalens at least partly seems to require the same sort of accommodative effort. (though there is speculation it may be benefit from some extended depth of focus, which is what the Symfony is designed to use to begin with). I'll continue this in another post in a few minutes.
I had Symfony lenses implanted in both eyes the first week of December. By 1 week postop my uncorrected vision at distance was between 20/15 and 20/20. At near my vision was already about 20/25 (but fluctuating a bit it had seemed better earlier that day). Given its improvement since then I'd guess its likely 20/20 or so, I can read the small print on my eye drop bottles for instance. Not everyone achieves this level of near vision with the lens so people shouldn't expect to necessarily get quite as good a result, and should be prepared for the possibility for needing reading glasses at near. I suspect the fact that I'm comparatively young for cataract surgery, 52, might have something to do with the results.
I had originally only planned on having 1 eye done (since the other was 20/20 correctible still), but when the patch came off the next day I discovered it might be hard to adapt to the difference in vision between the two eyes even with a contact lens in the other eye. I might have quickly adapted if I'd taken the time, but I decided I didn't want to risk it, so I had the 2nd eye operated on a few hours later.
My intermediate vision hasn't been tested explicitly but I suspect is at least 20/20. That is based on my subjective sense of it being better than near and because of the design of this lens where visual acuity drops off in a continuous curve from far to near, so intermediate should be around the same as far, definitely better then near. That is one of the differences between this lens and for instance a bifocal IOL where vision may be worse at intermediate than it is at near or far. I spend a large number of hours at a computer and was willing to risk needing reading glasses occasionally for near in order to get better intermediate vision. Most household tasks and social interactions occur at intermediate distance as well.
Unfortunately the lens isn't yet available in the US yet, they are starting a clinical trial here which is randomized with a monofocal lens (there is a 50% chance you would get a monofocal) so I went to Europe for my surgery. I figured that at my age I hopefully may be using these lenses for a few decades so it was worth a bit of effort to get a better lens. This industry publication suggests it might be generally available in the US in a couple of years, and that some US surgeons find it interesting:
http://ophthalmologytimes.modernmedicine.com/ophthalmologytimes/news/us-surgeons-anticipate-new-iols?page=0,1
"the Symfony IOL might be available in the US by late 2016 or early 2017...
Of the IOLs discussed at the ESCRS Congress, Dr. Olson and Dr. Packer concurred that the brand new Tecnis Symfony Extended Range of Vision IOL was the most interesting as it represents a new concept for addressing presbyopia that seems to overcome the limitations of multifocal IOLs....
from what I’ve heard so far from respected and trusted surgeons, patients implanted with this IOL are seeing 20/20 at distance and intermediate with very usable, J2 or J3 near vision and are not experiencing any loss of contrast or perceptible problems with glare, halos or other dysphotopsias. So, it looks like they are having their cake and eating it too.”
I had considered the option of getting a trifocal lens which targets far, intermediate, and near (also unfortunately not yet available in the US), or even a bifocal with a small add so its focused more at intermediate than near. However the studies so far seem to indicate that the Symfony provides better quality intermediate vision. In addition multifocal lenses reduce contrast sensitivity which is useful for night vision, while reports indicate the Symfony is at least as good as a monofocal lens. The other thing the Symfony does is to correct for "chromatic aberration", an issue which is discussed in this industry publication which quotes one prominent surgeon noting:
http://eyeworld.org/supplements/EW-December-supplement-2014.pdf
" Cataract surgery with an IOL with an Abbe number greater than that of the natural lens (47) can improve CA, so that our cataract patients could actually experience better vision quality than they did as young adults. "
Although the Symfony uses a high Abbe material (I'm assuming its the same Tecnis material that article lists as having a 55 Abbe), it also has other features to to correct for CA to improve image quality. It seemed like a good bet the image quality for distance would be comparable, and perhaps even better, than a monofocal lens, or an accommodating lens.
Although some results for the Crystalens look like it will similarly do well for intermediate while providing some chance at decent near vision, some showed a lower chance of good near, e.g. some of the studies listed for the March 2014 update in this government review:
http://www.fda.gov/downloads/AdvisoryCommittees/CommitteesMeetingMaterials/MedicalDevices/MedicalDevicesAdvisoryCommittee/OphthalmicDevicesPanel/UCM346413.pdf
Part of the concern I had with the Crystalens was that in some patients the lens does well, but in some it doesn't accommodate, which leaves it effectively being a monofocal lens ( but without things like the correction for chromatic abberation). There is also concern I'd read among some over whether over decades of aging anything would interfere with the physical movement of the lens, something non-accommodating lenses don't require. There is no perfect lens, so its partly a matter of placing a bet on which might work out well, and I figured that it was better to bet on something that didn't require the accommodation to work (in addition to other concerns regarding problems people have with the Crystalens, though those may be fewer in the newest versions). I hadn't searched to find the study behind the figure in this presentation, but it notes:
http://www.slideshare.net/alanglazier/accommodating-intra-ocular-lenses
that about half of Crystalens patients require reading correction. That may be in part because as it notes: ' "Pushing” does not equal “Sustaining” '. This issue is that someone with their natural lens still who is presbyopic for instance may be able to theoretically read a particular print size without glasses, but that the muscle effort to focus may be a strain to do for an extended period of time, and the Crystalens at least partly seems to require the same sort of accommodative effort. (though there is speculation it may be benefit from some extended depth of focus, which is what the Symfony is designed to use to begin with). I'll continue this in another post in a few minutes.
RE: HenryEyesOnEarth
If you want an implantable lens and don't have cataracts there are lens made specifically for that purpose and they have the advantage of being removable (cataract lens are not considered "removable"). The Visian ICL is for myops, so you might consider researching that instead of cataract-specific lenses. ICL lenses go in behind the iris, not in the capsule bag like IOLs.
Astigmatism and myopia are easily, promptly corrected with lasik. You go in to surgery blind and walk out with vision equivalent to the best contact lenses you've ever worn. It's amazing,fast and almost painless. Not sure why you struggled with glasses if only myopia and astigmatism affected your eyes.
At 64 you are now also affected by presbyopia which lasik does not correct (in the US). I did lasik 15 years ago and I was a -8 with 1.5 astigmatism. Post-lasik my eyes remained stable at 20/20 until the cataracts appeared.
If you are developing "blurry" vision in one eye and are certain you do not have cataracts- ask your dr about presbyopia. That's "old eyes". Sometime after 40 our eyes develop it- it's just part of ageing. It's why you can buy "readers" in drugstores--everyone gets it eventually
Now that Symfany is approved in the US, I am scheduled for cataract surgery in ten days. Since the Symfany lenses are not yet stocked in the large hospitals/surgical centers in Los Angeles, the drug rep has to bring them to my surgeon. My dr has implanted many of Abbott labs other lenses, so I am comfortable being his first Symfony patient. I will update post-surgery.
If you want an implantable lens and don't have cataracts there are lens made specifically for that purpose and they have the advantage of being removable (cataract lens are not considered "removable"). The Visian ICL is for myops, so you might consider researching that instead of cataract-specific lenses. ICL lenses go in behind the iris, not in the capsule bag like IOLs.
Astigmatism and myopia are easily, promptly corrected with lasik. You go in to surgery blind and walk out with vision equivalent to the best contact lenses you've ever worn. It's amazing,fast and almost painless. Not sure why you struggled with glasses if only myopia and astigmatism affected your eyes.
At 64 you are now also affected by presbyopia which lasik does not correct (in the US). I did lasik 15 years ago and I was a -8 with 1.5 astigmatism. Post-lasik my eyes remained stable at 20/20 until the cataracts appeared.
If you are developing "blurry" vision in one eye and are certain you do not have cataracts- ask your dr about presbyopia. That's "old eyes". Sometime after 40 our eyes develop it- it's just part of ageing. It's why you can buy "readers" in drugstores--everyone gets it eventually
Now that Symfany is approved in the US, I am scheduled for cataract surgery in ten days. Since the Symfany lenses are not yet stocked in the large hospitals/surgical centers in Los Angeles, the drug rep has to bring them to my surgeon. My dr has implanted many of Abbott labs other lenses, so I am comfortable being his first Symfony patient. I will update post-surgery.
2 Comments
I have the ICLs and have been happy with them. I had much worse myopia (-10/-11) and astigmatism, and those lenses allowed me to live a normal life. However, the risk of cataract is increased with them, especially in older people, so that's something to think about (although many people develop cataracts anyway in their 60s and 70s).
That is why the Symfony is a good choice for me with the onset of a Cataract. SoftwareDev mentioned however a chance of Posterior capsule opacification (PCO) and that can be dealt with easily after surgery with Femtosecond Laser.
RE: HenryEyesOnEarth
If you want an implantable lens and don't have cataracts there are lens made specifically for that purpose and they have the advantage of being removable (cataract lens are not considered "removable"). The Visian ICL is for myops, so you might consider researching that instead of cataract-specific lenses. ICL lenses go in behind the iris, not in the capsule bag like IOLs.
Astigmatism and myopia are easily, promptly corrected with lasik. You go in to surgery blind and walk out with vision equivalent to the best contact lenses you've ever worn. It's amazing,fast and almost painless. Not sure why you struggled with glasses if only myopia and astigmatism affected your eyes.
At 64 you are now also affected by presbyopia which lasik does not correct (in the US). I did lasik 15 years ago and I was a -8 with 1.5 astigmatism. Post-lasik my eyes remained stable at 20/20 until the cataracts appeared.
If you are developing "blurry" vision in one eye and are certain you do not have cataracts- ask your dr about presbyopia. That's "old eyes". Sometime after 40 our eyes develop it- it's just part of ageing. It's why you can buy "readers" in drugstores--everyone gets it eventually
Now that Symfany is approved in the US, I am scheduled for cataract surgery in ten days. Since the Symfany lenses are not yet stocked in the large hospitals/surgical centers in Los Angeles, the drug rep has to bring them to my surgeon. My dr has implanted many of Abbott labs other lenses, so I am comfortable being his first Symfony patient. I will update post-surgery.
If you want an implantable lens and don't have cataracts there are lens made specifically for that purpose and they have the advantage of being removable (cataract lens are not considered "removable"). The Visian ICL is for myops, so you might consider researching that instead of cataract-specific lenses. ICL lenses go in behind the iris, not in the capsule bag like IOLs.
Astigmatism and myopia are easily, promptly corrected with lasik. You go in to surgery blind and walk out with vision equivalent to the best contact lenses you've ever worn. It's amazing,fast and almost painless. Not sure why you struggled with glasses if only myopia and astigmatism affected your eyes.
At 64 you are now also affected by presbyopia which lasik does not correct (in the US). I did lasik 15 years ago and I was a -8 with 1.5 astigmatism. Post-lasik my eyes remained stable at 20/20 until the cataracts appeared.
If you are developing "blurry" vision in one eye and are certain you do not have cataracts- ask your dr about presbyopia. That's "old eyes". Sometime after 40 our eyes develop it- it's just part of ageing. It's why you can buy "readers" in drugstores--everyone gets it eventually
Now that Symfany is approved in the US, I am scheduled for cataract surgery in ten days. Since the Symfany lenses are not yet stocked in the large hospitals/surgical centers in Los Angeles, the drug rep has to bring them to my surgeon. My dr has implanted many of Abbott labs other lenses, so I am comfortable being his first Symfony patient. I will update post-surgery.
2 Comments
re: "at 64"
At 64 years old, he has to be already familiar with presbyopia given the level of impact it would have had. I'll add that in the US there are now corneal inlays, the Raindrop and the Kamra, which are approved to deal with presbyopia. They are removable lenses inserted just below the surface of the eye. They don't correct for myopia or astigmatism though, which would need to be handled via laser correction. Surgeons differ regarding whether they think surgical correction via those or an IOL is a better option, both are things for someone that age to consider with different levels of risk and benefit.
re: "has implanted many of Abbot labs other lenses, so I am comfortable being his first Symfony patient"
Yup, it seems a safe bet to use a surgeon that has used other Tecnis lenses. The Symfony is implanted the same as the other Tecnis lenses, it is the same overall size&shape and merely has different optics.
At 64 years old, he has to be already familiar with presbyopia given the level of impact it would have had. I'll add that in the US there are now corneal inlays, the Raindrop and the Kamra, which are approved to deal with presbyopia. They are removable lenses inserted just below the surface of the eye. They don't correct for myopia or astigmatism though, which would need to be handled via laser correction. Surgeons differ regarding whether they think surgical correction via those or an IOL is a better option, both are things for someone that age to consider with different levels of risk and benefit.
re: "has implanted many of Abbot labs other lenses, so I am comfortable being his first Symfony patient"
Yup, it seems a safe bet to use a surgeon that has used other Tecnis lenses. The Symfony is implanted the same as the other Tecnis lenses, it is the same overall size&shape and merely has different optics.
Yes Presbyopia set in at around age 40, I was so frustrated chasing around to find the right focal point like a brick in the wall, tilting my head and getting neck pain, eye strain and feeling stuck trying to read music. I would need 3 pairs and thank god my wife is far sighted and drives.
Hi John C Hagan 111 MD and SoftwareDesigner, thank you for your excellent posts on the Tecnis Symfony IOLs. I have an astigmatism of about 1.25D on my left eye and both eyes are about -5.0 so I am quite myopic and have to wear glasses all the time. I am a musician and needed to find a way to read music charts sometimes 5 pages wide and about an arms length and 4 inches away. I found a solution about two years ago with Essilor 360 degree lenses. They worked great however I realized then that I would need 3 pairs of glasses at any given time. Now my left eye with the astigmitism is getting blurry and I was considering getting IOLs. I have no cataracts and have never had any issues with my eyes. I am 64 years of age and would like to correct my astigmatism and myopia for good if possible. I am looking for a practical solution however unsure if I should go this route. The Essilor 360 seems to provide that extended focal depth and 3D effect some have experienced with the Tecnis Symfony IOLs, with my left eye now getting blurry in that 3-8 foot range and my right dominant eye seems to see much farther than expected I just can't find anything out there that suggests it would be a good way to go if you have no cataracts. Thank you for your assistance!
3 Comments
Sorry this post is a bit late. The procedure you are referring to, of replacing your natural lens even though you don't have cataracts is called refractive lens exchange (RLE) or clear lens exchange (CLE), if you wish to search for those. The procedure tends to be more common outside the US where they've had a wider selection of premium IOLs available to make it useful, due to the FDA being slow in its approvals.
Are you able to wear contact lenses, even for a short time? Contacts have improved over the years, so if you hadn't tried them in the last decade or so you might give them another shot. You could try a multifocal contact lens to see if that works out well for you before considering an IOL, or contact lenses in monovision. Both of those would be useful tests also, for instance to see if you can adapt to a tiny bit of monovision. (with the Symfony, a bit of micro-monovision, not enough to have much impact on distance vision or stereopsis, can be useful). A multifocal contact would also allow you to try to pin down where best to focus your eyes, since it sounds like you might wish them to be focused at intermediate distance rather than at far distance, to be able to give you enough range to see things up fairly close. (though 4 inches is going to be a bit of a struggle to get to with any contact or IOL lens).
It sounds like the astigmatism might be complicating issues (and does impact whether to use a toric contact lens or not, which can be harder to fit) You might consider getting the astigmatism corrected via an incision, even without lens replacement surgery, if that might help. Larger amounts of astigmatism tend to be corrected via a toric IOL if you have lens replacement surgery, but small amounts are usually corrected surgically using an incision (either via blade or laser), often a limbal relaxing incision (LRI). The amount you mention is on the borderline where some doctors might suggest a toric, and others an incision. Some surgeons will actually do an LRI at the slit lamp in their office since its a minor procedure since it doesn't involve actually putting anything in the eye, merely a surface incision, or they can do it using laser. So if the astigmatism is an issue you could ask about perhaps getting that corrected. If you are definitely going to have lens replacement, its best to wait on that since they can plan the incisions for the surgery itself to counteract part of the astigmatism, in addition to whatever incision they add to correct the rest.
Although the surgery is extremely safe, no surgery is 100% safe and someone winds up being the "statistic", so its something to consider but to be cautious about. Eventually everyone who lives long enough needs cataract surgery, but the longer you wait, the safer it gets and the better IOLs they will have.Its like the issue of buying a new computer or smartphone or TV, the longer you wait the better options you'll have.. but in the meantime you live with a less optimal solution.
Are you able to wear contact lenses, even for a short time? Contacts have improved over the years, so if you hadn't tried them in the last decade or so you might give them another shot. You could try a multifocal contact lens to see if that works out well for you before considering an IOL, or contact lenses in monovision. Both of those would be useful tests also, for instance to see if you can adapt to a tiny bit of monovision. (with the Symfony, a bit of micro-monovision, not enough to have much impact on distance vision or stereopsis, can be useful). A multifocal contact would also allow you to try to pin down where best to focus your eyes, since it sounds like you might wish them to be focused at intermediate distance rather than at far distance, to be able to give you enough range to see things up fairly close. (though 4 inches is going to be a bit of a struggle to get to with any contact or IOL lens).
It sounds like the astigmatism might be complicating issues (and does impact whether to use a toric contact lens or not, which can be harder to fit) You might consider getting the astigmatism corrected via an incision, even without lens replacement surgery, if that might help. Larger amounts of astigmatism tend to be corrected via a toric IOL if you have lens replacement surgery, but small amounts are usually corrected surgically using an incision (either via blade or laser), often a limbal relaxing incision (LRI). The amount you mention is on the borderline where some doctors might suggest a toric, and others an incision. Some surgeons will actually do an LRI at the slit lamp in their office since its a minor procedure since it doesn't involve actually putting anything in the eye, merely a surface incision, or they can do it using laser. So if the astigmatism is an issue you could ask about perhaps getting that corrected. If you are definitely going to have lens replacement, its best to wait on that since they can plan the incisions for the surgery itself to counteract part of the astigmatism, in addition to whatever incision they add to correct the rest.
Although the surgery is extremely safe, no surgery is 100% safe and someone winds up being the "statistic", so its something to consider but to be cautious about. Eventually everyone who lives long enough needs cataract surgery, but the longer you wait, the safer it gets and the better IOLs they will have.Its like the issue of buying a new computer or smartphone or TV, the longer you wait the better options you'll have.. but in the meantime you live with a less optimal solution.
Also, as I note in a reply below, another option to look into is to get laser correction for the myopia and astigmatism, then use a corneal inlay to deal with presbyopia.
Hi SoftwareDev, KKinCa, and all posters. I have some updates as I have gone in for my preoperative meeting here in Toronto with a very experienced Cataract Surgeon with over 150,000 eyes in the last 20 years and with all the latest technologies including the Catalys, Femtolaser, Lasik, PRK, ICL and IOL.
I have to update my condition somewhat as I was diagnosed with an onset of Cataract in my Left eye that is causing my blurring. My dominant Left Eye has diminished over the last 2 years to -6.25 from -5.5, no astigmatism. My Right non-dominant eye is steady at -4.5 and +0.50 Cylinder and 145 Axis. They have determined I would be a good candidate for the Tecnis Symfony Extended Range of Vision (non-Toric).
They have been using Symfony IOLs since they came out and nthe new EROV since Health Canada approved in 2015. After my tests the technician and consultant said you are going to love not needing glasses. I hope they are right ;-) I will be going in to surgery next Monday 07-Nov-16 for the right non-dominant eye and returning the next day for the Left and again the following day for post-op.
The slight astigmatism as SoftwareDev explained can be done at original lens removal. The slit as I understand can be placed to offset the astigmatism, remove the lens and then insert the new lens.
I also understand that the opening is so small that they let it heal without sutures.
Just a correction on my statement re reading music and my distance for the Essilor 360 was set at my arms length plus 4 inches or 1 metre, or 40". I will be happy to wear readers if necessary and hope to achieve optimum sight for intermediate sight including computer and reading music, both at 40" or so.
Thank you all for sharing your posts and experiences and I will be back to share mine.
I have to update my condition somewhat as I was diagnosed with an onset of Cataract in my Left eye that is causing my blurring. My dominant Left Eye has diminished over the last 2 years to -6.25 from -5.5, no astigmatism. My Right non-dominant eye is steady at -4.5 and +0.50 Cylinder and 145 Axis. They have determined I would be a good candidate for the Tecnis Symfony Extended Range of Vision (non-Toric).
They have been using Symfony IOLs since they came out and nthe new EROV since Health Canada approved in 2015. After my tests the technician and consultant said you are going to love not needing glasses. I hope they are right ;-) I will be going in to surgery next Monday 07-Nov-16 for the right non-dominant eye and returning the next day for the Left and again the following day for post-op.
The slight astigmatism as SoftwareDev explained can be done at original lens removal. The slit as I understand can be placed to offset the astigmatism, remove the lens and then insert the new lens.
I also understand that the opening is so small that they let it heal without sutures.
Just a correction on my statement re reading music and my distance for the Essilor 360 was set at my arms length plus 4 inches or 1 metre, or 40". I will be happy to wear readers if necessary and hope to achieve optimum sight for intermediate sight including computer and reading music, both at 40" or so.
Thank you all for sharing your posts and experiences and I will be back to share mine.
Update 48 hours after Symfony lens implant. Delighted beyond belief. No haloes, no starbursts so far. Especially impressed with evening and night vision, which is where I had had particular difficulty. I am 69 btw and I hated the elderly hesitancy I had noticed over the past two or three years when walking outside during the evening and also going up and down flights of stairs. All gone - I feel 20 or even 30 years younger - pre-presbyopic and pre-cataract impaired.
During the evening I was able to read the paper, use the iPad and iPhone with ease, all while watching television - everything in focus just like it used to be. In fact, better than it used to be because I'm not wearing contact lenses - just so happy.
PS Thank you SoftwareDeveloper - your postings and experience on here gave me the confidence to go with my surgeon's recommendation for the result I wanted.
During the evening I was able to read the paper, use the iPad and iPhone with ease, all while watching television - everything in focus just like it used to be. In fact, better than it used to be because I'm not wearing contact lenses - just so happy.
PS Thank you SoftwareDeveloper - your postings and experience on here gave me the confidence to go with my surgeon's recommendation for the result I wanted.
1 Comments
Excellent outcome, we're all very happy for you! If you don't mind, could you share what your Rx was before, and what your manifest refraction is now?
I had Symfony lens implanted in my left eye 24 hours ago. As instructed, I kept protective padding over eye until this morning so did not see the result until approx six hours ago. At first vision was misty, like steamed up spectacles, but this has now almost completely cleared. As only one eye has been done so far I have to cover the other eye to assess the Symfony - it's amazing! It's a bright sunny day and I can see clearly to distant trees yet also easily read my iPhone screen. I'm reading a paperback novel set in 10 point with ease. Using both eyes is better still, the right eye needed only a -1 corrective lens so the combination is perfect. I do have a cataract in the right eye but it does not yet impede my vision. Re the brighter colours reported by other posters, pink is suddenly much brighter. My Built laptop bag appears almost day-glo with my new eye, though quite subtle deeper pink with the other eye. I can see I will have to reassess my wardrobe and weed out the scarily bright clothes (smile). I am posting this on here because I had never heard of Symfony lens until my consultant recommended it to me after I expressed an interest in multifocals. Then, of course, I googled and found your posts.
I finally took the decision to take the surgery 26/07/2016 and I am more than glad that I did!!! I am having the toric Symfony for both eyes but the left is set to -0,5D to enhance the near vision(which it did! 50cm and far my vision is pin sharp!)
1st day I saw 2 halos around every source of light but crystal clear vision!
2nd day the 2 halos disappear k everything is pin sharp!the colour is amazingly clear and bright even before catarract when I was child my vision wasn t that good!
3rd day my vision is getting better and better ( I am having dry eye at times but they said its common issue for the 1st week)
I am more than happy for the Sumfony lens though and I recommend those iols for every patient who has catarract at younger age(I am 27 years old) and the vision is more than great even though it is a bit strange to get used to it but its too soon!the doctor said to wait one month to see how near will I be able to see to prescribe glasses for near even though now I can read but with my hand almost stretched!(as I said my eyes focuses at 50cm and far).for example I can t see when I am eating its blurry or to cut my nails!( it s funny I know but its impractical for those tasks..so I am going to need I little help with glasses for very near tasks but I can read even the little letters at the bottle of the drops with my arm almost stretched!)
Also my distant and intermediate vision is greater than ever!!!!
I drove at noon today there were a little issue with the headlights of the opposite cars or the lights of the road(tiny halos around every light) but not an issue at driving as it was with catarract..I expect to get better it s only 3 days from surgery!Again very glad with the toric Symfony! I don t know how s the feeling with other iols but I would do again the same choice!I was very hesitant to go on with the surgery but I am glad I did at last!so whoever has second thoughts I am telling you go for it you won t regret it , if it s ok with your doctor of course(here in Greece every doctor told me to go with monovision and monofocals even though I was appropriate candidate for the Symfony and I am glad for my choice after all!!!)
1st day I saw 2 halos around every source of light but crystal clear vision!
2nd day the 2 halos disappear k everything is pin sharp!the colour is amazingly clear and bright even before catarract when I was child my vision wasn t that good!
3rd day my vision is getting better and better ( I am having dry eye at times but they said its common issue for the 1st week)
I am more than happy for the Sumfony lens though and I recommend those iols for every patient who has catarract at younger age(I am 27 years old) and the vision is more than great even though it is a bit strange to get used to it but its too soon!the doctor said to wait one month to see how near will I be able to see to prescribe glasses for near even though now I can read but with my hand almost stretched!(as I said my eyes focuses at 50cm and far).for example I can t see when I am eating its blurry or to cut my nails!( it s funny I know but its impractical for those tasks..so I am going to need I little help with glasses for very near tasks but I can read even the little letters at the bottle of the drops with my arm almost stretched!)
Also my distant and intermediate vision is greater than ever!!!!
I drove at noon today there were a little issue with the headlights of the opposite cars or the lights of the road(tiny halos around every light) but not an issue at driving as it was with catarract..I expect to get better it s only 3 days from surgery!Again very glad with the toric Symfony! I don t know how s the feeling with other iols but I would do again the same choice!I was very hesitant to go on with the surgery but I am glad I did at last!so whoever has second thoughts I am telling you go for it you won t regret it , if it s ok with your doctor of course(here in Greece every doctor told me to go with monovision and monofocals even though I was appropriate candidate for the Symfony and I am glad for my choice after all!!!)
2 Comments
Very glad you are having such wonderful results. Did you go to another country or use a doctor in Greece who advised monofocals?
Very glad you are so happy with your results. Did you go to a surgeon in another country or use one in Greece who recommended monofocus?
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