Just Implanted with Pan Optix IOL - Very Happy!
Posted , 14 users are following.
I was scheduled to get Restor 2.5 implant, but the Pan Optix Trifocal got approved in the US two weeks prior to my scheduled cataract surgery. My ophthalmologist, although an excellent surgeon, refused to make a recommendation either way. I spent countless hours researching IOL's.
I have been a very nearsighted person for at least 50 years of my life.I rarely wore my glasses in school, even though my eyesight was very poor. My mother told me that glasses were probably making my eyes weaker, and I would get dependent on them, so I should try to wear them as little as possible. So, I basically walked around in a blur, until I finally decided I deserved to see better.
I got contact lenses at age 18. Over wore the contacts and became contact lenses intolerant with dry eyes. Had to put up with thick glasses for years, which I hated. I still wore contacts sometimes and they were multifocal with monovision (undercorrected left eye). I adjusted to this very easily. I also wore progressive eyeglasses, which were only correcting my vision to 20/50. I drove pretty well with huge halos everywhere. Only 62 with stage 3 cataracts.
Decision criteria:
I hated wearing eyeglasses
I could neuroadapt to any vision
I didn't want to completely lose my near vision
I work on a computer with dual monitors 10 hours a day all week long
I like reading, knitting
I drive at night, but very used to huge halos - Happy as long as I can see the road and not hit a tree!
I knew I would not be happy with monofocal lenses, since I would suddenly be thrown into the world of "far".
So, I chose the Pan Optix trifocal, and I was thrilled Day One when they rolled me out, I could read the clock. Everything was so bright and beautiful. Driving back from surgery that I could read road signs. Next day, far vision was 20/25. Near was a blur. A week later, near was clear too!!
Second surgery on the other eye, 2 weeks later; first lens had a scratch and had to be withdrawn. Dr. had a replacement lens on hand, however, the eye required stitches. This time vision was not clear right away. The eye had more trauma and suffered from corneal edema. Thankfully, after 3 days of eyedrops and resting, the vision started coming back, and the left eye is now as clear as the right.
In conclusion, I am thrilled to have such great vision at all distances. There are some halos around lights while driving. Headlights look like little sparklers to me, but I find driving 100% better than pre-surgery, and things are very bright and clear, so all is good there. I would highly recommend the Pan Optix.
1 like, 22 replies
crista83503 melanie06783
Edited
thank you for sharing. I am 46 and have chickened out of surgery twice. once in May and the second the beginning of September, about the time panoptix was approved in the US so i guess it is good i waited! I am glad to hear your positive outcome! ive been debating going monofocal bc i was worried about some of the cons of the lens... and that for some reason the lens glistens more. but im like you with terrible vision since i was a teen ( glasses now -9.5) and my eyes don't tolerate contacts anymore either, though i wear them and then my eyes feel irritated. my primary eye dr is concerned and wants me to get dry eye symptoms under control prior to surgery. she also doesnt seem thrilled she is not doing the surgery as i choose a surgeon who is a top surgeon about 45 minutes away. she also told me using the femtosecond laser is expensive and not needed, but I choose laser anyway bc told quicker recovery.
so im wondering if you have any dry eye issues since surgery? or are your eyes better bc you are no longer wearing contacts???
melanie06783 crista83503
Edited
Hi, I apologize for delay in response. I forgot my password. I'm back,though, and better than ever. My dry eye condition was very bad going into it, and I would say it actually has stabilized or gotten better. I am on Xiidra. I was on Restatis, but insurance decided to not cover it anymore. Anyway, I think also not wearing contact lenses, even though I didn't wear them everyday, has actually lessened the dry eye. So, in conclusion, I would say that the surgery did not make the dry eye worse and even might have eased it a bit.
I do see concentric halos around car lights, but the trade-off is a crystal clear dashboard. If the I see headlights differently then someone else, then that is just the way I see them. It doesn't really affect my ability to drive. They just look different. Also, be aware that sometimes my eyes have a glow. Again, they just look different, but it beats wearing thick glasses all the time!
The whole experience is a matter of just getting used to a new way of seeing and something new in your eye. In the beginning I was obsessed with all of it, but there are times when I don't even think about my eyes. I am absolutely positively amazed how well I can see without glasses.
I wish you great success with whatever choice you make. Again, I'm sure you will be thrilled going from -9 to great vision!!!
crista83503 melanie06783
Posted
Thanks Melanie. I'm getting opinion from surgeon at Wills Eye Philly (a friend of a friend works there and suggested the original surgeon I saw or this second one who is co-director of cataract surgery for wills eye). Since it's been well over a year since I had my measurements, I'm having them done again fresh with this second surgeon. Feeling optimistic about that. This second surgeon uses the Catlys laser, which reading up on it sounds better than the original surgeons use of Lensx but not sure. I'm wondering if laser assisted cataract surgery leads to better outcomes...even though my primary says there is no proof of that.
Day 9 of my old glasses which broke and I superglued back together because i refuse to spend the money on new. By about day three I had no issues with dry eye or discomfort. I really feel like this is a contact lens intolerance bc last surgeon said he didn't see dry eye at all but a perfect tear film.
I'd like to ask more about about the "glow". Do you notice it or others? Is it just like a light reflection in your pupil or more? Yes there is a certain vanity aspect here, but I want to be aware of what I'm getting into.
Also, do you notice any significant light sensitivity now that you are a few months in? I have light blue eyes and am light sensitive. I wear sunglasses even on a clear but not sunny day. I have my blinds drawn at work at my desk as we speak bc if not i will squint here. Just curious if you've noticed any difference.
Thank you for sharing and responding:)
Chris53317 crista83503
Edited
Crista, my procedure was done with the Catalys laser as recommended my optician. His view was that the regular procedure of phacoemulsification (the gold standard) is the equivalent to using a jack hammer on your eye. This vibration could lead to retinal attachment or other issues. Likely only happens in a very small percentage of patients, but if you can afford it then it is a reasonable option. The Catalys laser is also supposed to do a better job of the capusalorhexis which is beneficial for the placement and positioning of premium lenses. It also should result in faster healing of the incisions in the eye.
melanie06783 crista83503
Edited
Hi Crista,
I lived so long with very bad dry eyes, so I understand completely. I completely blame contact lenses over wear, but even after I stopped wearing them daily, the dry eyes remained. Really, really uncomfortable with the dry eye. I had developed corneal abrasions from dryness while wearing contacts once, and then after I wore them much less, and even then they were never like when I first starting wearing them. I think my eyes just had it with them!
As far as the glow, you need to be aware of it, since I would hate to recommend something and have someone be surprised. I didn't notice it at first, because I think my eyes were swollen from the surgery. After my eyes healed, I was putting on eye makeup and noticed a difference in the way my eyes reflected light. It wasn't really a bad thing, because I have dark eyes, so it kind of brightened them up, but at certain angles, when a bright light catches the lens a certain way, I can see a bright sparkle in the eye. My husband notices it when I sit near a very bright light at home. Other people have not commented on it, so it's not all the time, and my eyes are dark and on the small almond shaped side, so it might not be as noticeable on me. I think it is because the Alcon lenses are very thin and they refract powerfully. Again, I would ask your doctor. There is a reason why this lens material is very popular, so I would imagine that there are certain pros to using this particular lens material.
Yes, I was sensitive to light right after the surgery. That has gotten better, but I work under flourescent lighting, and that is a little bothersome. I think it bothers a lot of people, though, anyway. I have tons and tons of floaters in my eyes (which I have had all along), but without the cataracts they are very noticeable, so that adds to difficulty in bright lights.
Again, find a great doctor and get all of your information, so you can make the best decision for you. I wish you all the best of success in your eye journey!!
Melanie
coppp melanie06783
Posted
Thank you for sharing your story and glad your results turned out well! Could you please share your experience with the corneal edema? I had it too, the white haze finally went away day 4 post op, but since then I still have blurriness at all distances and I am now on day 10 post op. Wondering if you experienced something similar?
melanie06783 coppp
Posted
Hi, I apologize for delay in response, but I forgot my password. The edema after the second surgery was actually kind of scary and made me really appreciate how fragile the eye is and to really appreciate a good outcome. I think the fact that the surgeon had to change out the lenses might have caused the cornea to swell. I could NOT read the eye chart at all out of that eye the next day, and I was not happy. It really makes you realize how just a little swelling could cause such bad blurring. The doctor was very positive and said it would go away, but it took at least 4 days before I saw improvement, and I was having my doubts. I am glad yours cleared up, and hopefully by now every thing is great for you!!!