Clear-lens exchange for farsightedness?

Posted , 5 users are following.

This past December I had clear-lens exchange performed on both eyes. I am happy with the distance vision in my dominant eye (left eye), but I had requested that the non-dominant eye be fitted with a lense to see up close. Apparently this didn't get communicated clearly to the surgeon, and I am disappointed with the results. He corrected my right eye for near-sightedness, not far-sightedness. The only thing he did differently was reduce the strength slightly, making up-close reading a little easier, but I still need reading glasses much of the time. He now says that when my eye is completely healed in April he can touch it up to make my vision a little closer to what I want l, but it won't be exactly what I was hoping for, and he seems reluctant even to do this. But reducing or eliminating the need for reading glasses was the main reason for having the surgery, since my job involves hours of reading tiny print and chicken scratch handwriting, and reading glasses irritate my face. In theory, could this lense be taken out, and a different lense put in designed specifically to correct far-sightedness?

0 likes, 8 replies

8 Replies

  • Edited

    If I follow your post it sounds like you want to make the right eye more myopic so you can read better? If so there are not many options. You can check with the Lasik clinics but when I tried to do that I found out that Lasik is good for reducing myopia but not good for increasing it. Another option is to have a piggyback lens put in. There is a special lens called the Rayner Sulcoflex that is designed for this purpose. It avoids the complications that may occur if you do a lens exchange for the correct power. And of course a lens exchange is an option, but is more difficult than doing it the first time.

    • Posted

      All right, thanks. So I take it then that they do make lenses that could be implanted which would reduce or eliminate the need for reading glasses, though as you said that may be risky. I guess for me it would depend on how big the risk is, but knowing about this piggyback lens is helpful too.

    • Posted

      Keep in mind that no matter which way you do it, you will gain reading at the loss of distance in that eye.

    • Posted

      Do you happen to know how big the risk of complications is if a lens exchange is done, and if these complications can be corrected if they do arise?

    • Edited

      I am not all that familiar with the complications, but here is an article that you could look at.

      .

      CRSToday FEB 2015 IOL Exchange: Advantages, Disadvantages, and Alternatives

  • Posted

    Hi. I had the PanOptix lens put in my non-dominant eye last June and the reading is fantastic. I can see the smallest print without glasses. (Prior to this, I had to wear either high-prescription glasses or contact lens to be able to read). ... But, the PanOptix lens doesn't allow me to see middle or long distance very well in that eye -- even though it was promoted as a lens that lets you see all three distances. My doctor offered to do adjustments using PRK lasik and YAG to improve the middle/long distance -- but if he did that, I would likely lose some of the incredible reading ability I have - so I didn't agree to any adjustments. (I got two other doctors' opinions on that too). .... So, if you're looking for reading, I would recommend the PanOptix lens..... For me, I haven't had the dominant eye done yet, so I'm still wearing contact lens in that eye to see distance. I'm looking now into getting that eye done -- and will likely choose a lens that gives me more medium and long distance.

    • Posted

      It sounds like your surgeon missed on the target and left you more myopic. Normally the PanOptix should give good reading and also good distance. Sounds like you got excellent reading and poor distance. If you like the PanOptix you probably want to discuss a target for the second eye to get full distance and not so much near. Another probably safer option would be to get a monofocal like the Clareon set for distance.

    • Posted

      I'll ask him about PanOptix when I see him next month. But for my job I'll need both up close and intermediate vision. Perhaps you got the wrong strength lens?

      My other concern is the risk involved in replacing the current lens with a new one rather than just getting touch up work, plus he might try to charge me more. I've already paid an arm and a leg though, and I did ask for a lens that would help with up close vision. That's not what he gave me.

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