IOL exchange VS. Pfizer

Posted , 8 users are following.

Hi,

I'm thinking of an IOL exchange in mid-May, but also got an offer of vaccination within a few days (Pfizer).

The second dose will be in June, like 2-3 weeks after the operation..

As this is not a standard cataract op, is there anyone who knows something about risks assosiated with getting it relatively soon after the procedure? I mean risks in terms of biomolecular inpact as well as mechanical (driving to the hospital a few hundred km, walking, etc.)

Kind regards

0 likes, 15 replies

15 Replies

  • Posted

    That is one probably best answered by your general practitioner. I had root canal work done about 2 days before my Pfizer shot. The only change I made was to not take the oral pain meds that the dentist normally gives after the work (ibuprofen and acetaminophen). With the cataract surgery I guess you would have to consider if there are any oral meds and what is in the eye drops. In general it is recommended to not take an anti-inflammatory before or right after the vaccination. It may interfere with the immune response to the vaccine. That is about all I know about it.

    • Posted

      In case of an exchange I'll definitely require anti-inflammatory drops for a long time. It doesn't sound promising..

    • Posted

      Think the issue may be that the amount of anti-inflammatory drug in the drops may be pretty minuscule and likely only present in the eye. Best to get a doctor's advice. There is risk of course to not being vaccinated too.

  • Posted

    Hey there,

    Sorry I don't have much to offer in regards to your question.

    Glad to hear that you are finally moving forward with an exchange. I wish you a speedy recovery and hope that it solves the issues you are dealing with. Who are you doing the exchange surgery with and what IOL are you switching to?

    Cheers

  • Edited

    you are part of the clinical trials with these vaccines I'd say it's an unknown at this point

  • Edited

    How is your explantation planned: Both eyes one after the other during same day surgery or with delay between them? Will you be under general anaesthetic? Or only local anaesthetic using eye drops similiar to cataract surgery? How much time has passed since your cataract surgery?

    • Posted

      I have an IOL in one eye only. There won't be any exchange, it was finally refused by a suregon. Can't find anyone who is competenet and ready to do it. Europe.

    • Posted

      Too risky, IOL well-fibrosed, success not guaranteed as I'm young and there's no IOL bigger than 7 mm which still could be not enough for me. At least that's what I was told. I don't agree with that but you cannot force a suregon to proceed. In Europe IOL exchange is the last resort, not like in the US - a remedy. Perhaps there's someone out there in Europe who would handle my case, but I haven't found anyone and lost hope that I will.

    • Posted

      Where are you living in Europe? And how long is the IOL implanted in your eye? Maybe I can help: Tobias Neuhann in Munich shows in a video on YouTube how he explants an IOL with C-loop haptic four years after the implantation! No sutures, no bleeding, not even cutting the IOL and leaving the haptics in place. Whom did you ask?

      One thing I don't understand: Why do you need an IOL bigger than 7 mm? Your capsular bag has shrinked anyway. And if the capsular bag is not intact there is the sulcus and iris or scleral fixation.

      Spain, Italy, England - there are other places in Europe with refractive specialists.

    • Posted

      Tobias Neuhann is no longer operating. I've messaged him.

      3 years. Why? Because I'm suffering from Positive Dysphotopsia caused by edge-glare. I'm 28 and my pupil gets bigger than the IOL. Capsular bag has nothing to do with that, still the outer part of the IOL is being seen.

      "Spain, Italy, etc., refractive specialists" - don't get me wrong, but it's not helpful. I've talked to dozens of opthalmologists and only few of them are able to consider IOL exchange, but the majority prefer to stick to their simple cases.

    • Posted

      Hello, I am 31 years old and also had an IOL transplant 6 months ago and suffering from positive dysphotopsia post surgery.

      I was told by my doctor that this can be solved by using eye drops that make the pupil smaller, which causes you to stop seeing the edge of the lens and the light streaks. These eye drops can be used around 3 times a day or upon need, and are also used to treat Glaucoma which I am also diagnosed with. The name of the drops is pilocarpine nitrate/PF (PILOCARPINE NITRATE MINIMS) - please get it verified by your doctor.

      I have not tried the eye drops yet but please do consider it before getting into another surgery to replace the lens.

      When it comes to the vaccine, I am scheduled for my first doze of Pfizer in two weeks.

  • Edited

    I would like to follow your journey if you ever get an exchange. I am currently looking for the best surgeon who does this routinely. I am 26 years old, had both eyes done in the end of 2019, and had a Panoptix in one eye and tecnis monofocal in the other. Frankly, I wish I never got the PanOptix, and now I'm a bit too scared to get it switched out.

    • Posted

      Hello, I have had an IOL 6 months back in Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi. The medical expertise is amazing and highly recommended.

  • Posted

    Hi ad12345,

    I was wondering if you went through with the exchange? And if so, how are you doing?

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.