Cataract Surgery Just Completed - Sharing My Experience - PanOptix Tri-focal
Posted , 30 users are following.
I was a lurker for awhile before I registered and started posting.Just had my cataract surgery done (Right eye one week ago, and Left eye yesterday).
Thought I'd share my experience. To avoid wall of text, I’ll break it up into separate posts (which won’t all come today). Areas I'll cover include:
- Background
- Choice of IOL
- Laser vs Traditional Surgery
- Surgery Experience
- Post Surgery Experience
- Follow-up with occasion longer term updates
10 likes, 103 replies
trainer987 janus381
Edited
Hi -- thank you so much for this post, as it's been so informative for me. I've come to seek your advice.
I just had my left eye done on Thursday morning, and I got a Panoptix toric lens. My goal is to be free from glasses.
My distance vision was almost instantly clear, but I am still really struggling with intermediate and near.
My doctor, who does many many many successful Panoptix implants, says I shouldn't expect to see my real results until the middle of the week, and he doesn't think I should worry too much.
I understand all of this, and I've read about what a wide range of time it can take to adjust. And I realize it hasn't even been 4 days yet as I'm writing this. But I feel such pressure, because my right eye is on the 17th and I'll need to make a decision about whether I should do another Panoptix or instead do a Vivity (a combination he says he often uses with a high rate of satisfaction).
I looked up some of the references you posted. I've already downloaded an app with Gabor patches, and I've been using it about 9 minutes a day the last two days, at arm's length, with my right eye covered. (Three 3-minute sessions a day).
Is it too soon for me to be doing that? Am I supposed to be resting the eye instead? Am I rushing things in an unhealthy way?
Also, I have quite a lot of computer work that I'm technically supposed to be doing. It's frustrating. It's easier if I wear my glasses (I removed the left lens from my glasses), and it's easier if I zoom in and enlarge the fonts. But would it be more beneficial if I cover the right eye, and if I don't zoom in?
I'm just not sure if I should take a more balanced approach and allowed more time to heal, or if there's no harm in pushing it. I'm not feeling any pain — i have some foreign-body sensation at times, but it's not too bad. Just feels a bit tired at times. It was still dilated at my Friday post-op, but to me it looks like it's no longer dilated.
I know each person is different so it might be hard for you to comment. But i'd appreciate any thoughts or resources if you had any to share. It's hard to have to make this decision so fast, but my schedule is a bit of a house of cards.
Thank you again for sharing all of that information!
janus381 trainer987
Edited
Hi, it's understandable to be worried, but what you are experiencing is completely normal.Everyone is different, but it is completely normal for it to take awhile for your brain to neuro-adapt. Distance being good right away if reassuring, and is consistent with what I experienced. Your vision will get better. It took about one week for my intermediate vision to get better, and longer for near.It was strange at first, as being near-sighted before, I could always see near and if not could always bring the object closer. But everyone does neuro-adapt. I did the Gabor patches to try to neuro-adapt faster, but don't know for sure if I adapted faster or not do the eye exercises.
I can't offer any advice on whether to go PanOptix for both eyes or mix and match. The Vivity was not an option when I had my surgery done.There are pros and cons with having both eyes using the same lens or mixing and matching.
I don't log on as much here, as the new "memorable word" security feature is a pain!
RonAKA trainer987
Edited
If it were me I would delay the second eye until the first eye is fully recovered and you know what you have for vision. That can take up to 6 weeks. If your left eye is your non dominant eye and better suited for closer vision, and you actually achieve it when the eye heals, the other option besides Vivity is just a monofocal lens for distance in your right eye. Some call this hybrid monovision. But, that would depend on your PanOptix eye providing the intermediate and reading distance vision. A monofocal lens will give the best distance vision clarity with the least issues with halos, starbursts, and the like.
Sue.An2 trainer987
Edited
I really would take more time to allow healing to take place (generally 6 weeks if no complications arise). Do not be rushed by your surgeon. You will live with this decision rest of your life. Once you know where the first eye winds up you can make a more informed decision for 2nd eye.
Wishing you well.
janus381
Posted
Just a short update. It's been 2 years now since my cataract surgery. Just had another check-up with my ophthalmologist, and everything is stable. They still detect a bit of dry eye as I'm not always regular with my eye drops now, and the dry eye can cause some haziness that clears up. But other than stable everything is fine.
I took the opportunity to ask what they are using from premium lens now. The clinic is widely recognized as the top private clinic in Canada.As mentioned in one my early posts, they simplify for the patient who wants a premium lens (and is eligible for premium lens). The clinic selects what they think is the best available premium lens based on the expert opinion, Back in 2016-2017, they were using J&J Symfony (EDOF) as the premium lens, and around 2017 they switched to PanOptix (tri-focal) with back-up FineVision for certain eye measurements.
So what are they using now for premium lens? They still think the PanOptix is the best option. I asked about Synergy, and the ophthalmologist said they still prefer PanOptix, as they don't like certain things about the Synergy (I didn't have time to get into a detailed discussion).
helenmarier janus381
Posted
Panoptix are a disaster. Smudgy, flickering, uncomfortable. Best of luck. I think 98% satisfaction that Alcon touts is a total lie. I have complained to Alcon and the FDA. I will mention that Alcon dislikes feedback....
MichnowRetired janus381
Posted
04-28-2023
Greetings Janus381,
Thank you for this in-depth reporting of your experiences on your IOL journey. I will be getting my first implant on Monday morning. I have chosen to go with the Panoptix for my first surgery. I anticipate using the same for the 2nd eye, but have not committed to that yet. If I do not use the Panoptix, I will end up with the Vivity. The reason being that I worry about the dysphotopias while driving at night. It is likely that whatever halos the Panoptix produces will be easier to deal with that the glare that I currently experience with my cataract-eyes right now. I have not enjoyed driving at night in quite some time, and go out of my way to avoid it. This from someone who drove on a midnight shift for 11 years...
I also read with interest your documentation of the time involved in your intermediate & near vision stabilizing. I now know that it will take time, and I won't fly into "panic mode" while the brain adjusts to the new vision process. I will be thrilled if I get 20/20 for distance on the day after surgery. I am actually looking forward to the surgery, and better vision.
Thank you for your many posts Janus381. They have helped put my mind at ease.