Exchange or PRK?
Posted , 8 users are following.
I've used glasses since I was 3 years old and readers since lasik 18 years ago, so I'm used to having readers in my car and all the rooms in my house that I would need them. Three months ago I had a Symfony IOL implanted in my LE, (RE doesn't yet need cataract surgery). It resulted in bad halos and concentric lines around bright lights when outside at night, which was very uncomfortable when driving. Also, after healing I had astigmatism of -1.25 and a bit farsightedness of +.25. I tried prescription glasses that corrected for those and also had anti glare. Still had the same halos/concentric lines. Everything else looked and felt good.
My appointment with the surgeon is in a couple weeks. The choices are PRK or exchange, where I would get a mono-focal toric IOL set to distance. With PRK I would still have the bad halos and concentric lines. I do a lot of sports and like having good distance vision. My doctor thought I would be happier with the exchange but I have many questions to ask at my next appointment. He indicated that he would not charge for either.
Anyone had an exchange... how did it work out? PRK.... how did it work out?
0 likes, 5 replies
lance01698 marc14910
Posted
I have a Symfony and am also left farsighted at +0.5... not a big deal for distance but seems to have completely negated the near benefits of the lens that I paid so much for.
So, I am considering PRK, but I've talked to some of the surgical consultants at various clinics and got varying responses... some said that such a small correction would be fairly easy to target correctly and sharpen up, while other said that such a small correction is difficult because you can't know exactly where to correct on the surface of the eye and also the healing process causes some variation.... very mixed!
I'm not sure what to do either.
derek40125 marc14910
Posted
I have a multifocal IOL (not Symfony). I felt slightly over-corrected in that the my vision was great at distance (down to about 12 ft) and at my near focal point about 30". I waited 2 years to make sure that I did not want to do an IOL exchange and tested the results with contact lenses for awhile.
I ended up having Lasik (not PRK) last November and I'm very happy with the results. Also, it's only been 3 months for you, I would really give it some more time to see you can start adjusting more to the visual issues you have.
chen78740 marc14910
Posted
PRK may introduce more visual effects. Better to consult with more surgeons before the decision
diane48177 marc14910
Posted
I had Lasik 20 plus years ago and cataract surgery in 2018. Standard monofocal lens and I also have glare and starbursts around oncoming headlights at night. I don't think there's any way around it.
RonAKA marc14910
Posted
That is a difficult choice. I have had neither eye done, but have a cataract in one eye, and I have decided against a multifocal type lens because of the issues you have experienced. However, even a monofocal lens can have those issues, so we all kind of take our chances with this stuff. I wonder if your past Lasix surgery might have had some contribution to the issues.
Which eye is your dominant eye? The one that is still good? Another option to consider if you decide on the exchange would be to to go mini monovision with a -1-1.25 or so undercorrection with a toric monofocal lens. Then when and if the other eye goes, it could be a pure distance monofocal.
That is basically way I am headed if I go monovision with the second eye. However in my case it will end up being crossed monovision as my non dominant eye will be corrected for distance only. My surgeon says it is done and it works... From what I read the preferred way is to have the distance eye the dominant eye.