IOl exchange-How long after cataract surgery can an IOL exchange occur?
Posted , 6 users are following.
Can an IOL exchange occur successfully longer than 1 year after it is implanted ?
0 likes, 26 replies
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Notes on IOl exchange-How long after cataract surgery can an IOL exchange occur?
Sue.An2 mady301
Posted
Ideally 6 months, but as long as you haven't had a YAG a good surgeon with lots of experience can likely do the exchange a year or 2 out from surgeries. Check with Julielyn as I think her exchanges were done beyond 6 months.
elizabeth87225 Sue.An2
Posted
I was wondering, do I have to give the doctor that will check my eyes for the IOL exchange whatever the first surgeon records I get?
elizabeth87225 Sue.An2
Posted
Forgive my ignorance, how do I contact Julielyn? We have similar cases..Please explain, I do not know how to contact her.
Sue.An2 elizabeth87225
Posted
Go to cataract forum home page and scroll to her thread entitled IoL Exchange.
Sue.An2 elizabeth87225
Posted
Sometimes a surgeon will do a full refraction test - mine got me to read a chart off the wall at 24 hours but asked me to see my own optometrist at 6 weeks. They should give you a slip of paper with your exact prescription on it if full test was done. If you have doubts about your results or your surgeon you should go see an optometrist. Often prescription glasses still needed after cataract surgery and even if you don't need glasses you should have a baseline of where your eyesight is after surgery.
elizabeth87225 Sue.An2
Posted
Thanks a lot.
rpk0925 mady301
Posted
I've talked to 2 surgeons who are willing to do lens exchanges for my situation. Both of them said that the sooner it's done, the better. But they also both didn't seem overly worried about it and said that there isn't really a time limit. One of them said that he successfully did a lens exchange 10 years after the initial surgery. (That last one also said that he did a total of 18 lens exchanges in his 5+ years of being in practice ... and that he hasn't done an unsuccessful lens exchange yet. But that doesn't mean it can't/won't happen at some point). So for whatever that's worth, it can be done.
elizabeth87225 mady301
Posted
I am wondering too. Also I am wondering if anyone doing the exchange gave the name of the surgeon that may have made a mistake and insists nothing is wrong. How can these records be helpful to the new doctor?And why can I not get an independent evaluation if my first surgeon says everything is perfect my my vision is not?
Sue.An2 elizabeth87225
Posted
mady i am curious too why you haven't gone to see someone for full refraction test to see where your vision actually is. I would get that before deciding on next steps.
Hudsongrl mady301
Posted
elizabeth, until you have a refraction from an optomotrist i wouldn't even consider an IOL exchange. what is the delay in getting that done?
elizabeth87225 Hudsongrl
Posted
I am just going for consult and since the doctor is not that far, I will return for the procedure. I thought I can do the test the end of the week and forward it to the doctor and then set the date.
elizabeth87225 mady301
Posted
Because my retina doctor insisted I had to wait two weeks after I got my Eylea shot and now I have an appointment I cannot move with the second opinion doctor a day before the refraction test. i do however have a refraction test from December 2019 as well as the lens prescription of that doctor and the lenses placed at the time or surgery. I am so overwhelmed. Both the surgeon and retina doctors work in the same same small building and use each other for referral so its complicated.
Sue.An2 elizabeth87225
Posted
Elizabeth you can go yo any optometrist for a refraction test: Costco and WALMART do them. You do not need a referral or wait -unless tour surgery was less than 6 weeks ago then I'd suggest you wait 6 weeks for complete healing.
elizabeth87225 Sue.An2
Posted
My surgery was 6 months ago and I m happy that my retina doctor provide my latest refraction done in April. Thanks
Sue.An2 elizabeth87225
Posted
so what were the results of that refraction test. Would you post those results? With that we can tell how near or far sighted you are and if there is much astigmatism. often surgeons have you read the chart on the wall and hand you something to read which doesn't tell the full story.
elizabeth87225 Sue.An2
Posted
my astigmatism remains on that eye. Turns out we have a plan that until I have more tests is not final. I want an IOL exchange but the fact remains that they have to run more tests and then I will know and of course tell you.
Sue.An2 elizabeth87225
Posted
I think whoever is advising more tests first is being prudent. Although sometimes needed and necessary it should only be last resort.
So if you received a refraction test that determined there is still astigmatism would you post those results? Many here will be able to weigh in on suggestions. Perhaps if not a big amount a laser tweaking would be better? But would like to know what your current prescription is first.
Hudsongrl elizabeth87225
Posted
elizabeth, Sue An is right....maybe ladik. or, astigmatism correction can be fixed with glasses or a contact lens. i am still not understanding why you are insistent on a riskier IOL exchange. what are your refraction numbers? Some one here will be able to weigh in on options.
elizabeth87225 Hudsongrl
Posted
What are the risks? I cannot use contact lenses and glasses give me headaches so I used to wear contacts but I have become allergic to them. Julielyn had two iol replacements and she is fine, do you know the risks?
Sue.An2 elizabeth87225
Posted
Elizabeth - do you only have one IOL - other eye has natural lens? Is the difference is significant between two eyes it is sometimes necessary to have 2nd surgery to balance out vision. In many cases a contact lens or glasses works but not in every case.
Before going for IOL exchange - and I guess a few of us are trying to understand why that seems to be your sole focus - please read up and understand risks. It involves a lot more trauma to the eye as larger incision is needed and old IOL is then broken up to remove it piece by piece. Depending on length of time the surgeon leaves haptics as they are too adhered to tissue but those can break off in time causing issues down the road.. Retina detachment is a risk as is damage to cornea.
Not to frighten you with all this but it shouldn't be taken lightly or as a first resort rather than last step. in julielyn's case her IOL was incorrectly implanted so there really wasn't other options and i am sure the surgeon she had to replace it was excellent.
just be very aware of your reasons for seeking out IOL exchange.
elizabeth87225 Sue.An2
Posted
Yes I know, but I had two IOl exhange and one seems to have the wrong prescription and its so far from the correct prescription according to the person who did the refraction that causes me to be unable to focus. Removing the incorrect IOL my research tells me has to be done by an experienced doctor. There are new methods for removing lenses that unfortunately are not used by many doctors and that is the problem. Lasik in most cases require fine tuning with yag which in many cases can cause edema, retinal detachment and macular holes...And the problem is that once yag is done no lens replacement can be done even if I need it. Now about glasses I have problems using glasses which cause me headaches and in cases like mine I was told by the person that did the refraction may not work well anyway. Believe me, I have been reading and reading and trying to find a solution. So we will see, what happens. What did you do to improve your vision? You are in Canada, right? What do they do there?
Sue.An2 elizabeth87225
Posted
Didn't realize you have gone through IOL exchange and know the risks and how crucial it is to find the right surgeon.
My own surgeon who did initial cataract surgery told me from beginning he didn't do exchanges. I am fortunate surgeries turned out ok as I do not live in a large city so would imagine I would have to go to a city like Montreal or Toronto to
find someone who could do an exchange. our medicare system is different too so not sure exchange would be covered like cataract surgery is so if I did have to pay for that I may consider outside of canada as there might be more expertise than here.
Hoping Julielyn's surgeon can provide you with answers you are searching for.
If a matter of power being off it is too bad you cannot at least experiment with contact lenses as they work better than glasses for balancing vision.
Best wishes Elizabeth - do hope you find answers.
elizabeth87225 Sue.An2
Posted
Thank you so much, we do not have socialized medicine like you guys do, my girl friend lives in Toronto so I have heard. But I have good insurance, unfortunately it is difficult to find a good doctor and because I have wet macular degeneration, he wanted to see if lasik would work but I am not a good candidate. So now to have more exams and see what happens. Thanks for your care and so nice note. I will let you know what happens.