Posted , 5 users are following.
Interested to know if anyone has had a laser adjustment after a cataract in which monofocal iol lenses were implanted, to correct the strength (sphere) and/or astigmatism (cylinder) ?
1 like, 7 replies
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at201 r28705
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r28705
Posted
The result was +0.75 sphere (strength, and -0.5 cylinder (astigmatism). This small error is apparently typical of a cataract op. My (NHS) surgeon has been rather non-committal. He first said he would not recommend an adjustment as I would probably be back again for another. Then at the next appointment he said I could have one.
I am not clear whether the laser adjustment would be on the NHS or private, nor about the degree of risk (given that I am extremely myopic, so the cornea is thinner than usual. Clarity at distance and middle distance focus should be better if the prescription is adjusted to plano (0) or perhaps slightly below that.
at201 r28705
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Songbill r28705
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I have monofocal iols (distance) and also have had astigmatism for years, so I must wear progressive lens glasses all the time. I had considered laser surgery to correct that but so far have not done so because I too have heard that fairly often this surgery doesn't quite get it exactly correct and the resulting clarity/sharpness is a bit off from perfect.
I can tell you that as an alternative I went and got fitted with monovision contact lens. That allowed me to ditch the glasses but the level of clarity with monovision contact lenses is not as great as progressive lens glasses. So, I'm now back to wearing my glasses all the time. I did have the eye doctor do a second fitting of distance-only contact lenses, which were great for distance, but required constantly putting on and taking off reading glasses for close up and near vision. Too annoying for me.
In any event, even if the laser surgery corrects the astigmatism I would think reading glasses would still be needed with the monofocal (distance) iols, but I'm not certain that is so.
r28705 Songbill
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Thank you. It sounds as though the laser wouldn't necessarily correct the prescription any more precisely than it is at present.
Reading glasses will still be needed even if the iol prescription is adjusted, although after an adjustment I could probably then see distance and outer-middle distance better (eg the instruments and satnav in the car) without wearing spectacles.
At present the over correction and astigmatism means that text on the television screen isn't clear (some double lines). So I suppose the laser adjustment is something of a luxury, and probably not worth it if there is any risk. Perhaps the best plan is to seek a second opinion (eg from an experienced private consultant) as to what to request for the other eye when the cataract op is done, and also about the degree of accuracy and risk with a laser adjustment.
Susie91820 r28705
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I would make sure that the issue you are having with your eye is correctable with laser. I had a symfony multifocal lens implanted. From day one I could not see at a distance. Six weeks later the doctor lasered my eye and it made zero difference. I did not know it at the time but once you laser an eye after IOL implant it is very risky to remove the lens. In my case the doctor put the wrong lens in and I was totally nearsighted. I went to a well known University and the doctor there informed me of the above risk problem. I needed to have my other eye done so he put in a lens that would hopefully work with the first lens. I am an avid tennis player and I have struggled for months to see the ball. The first IOL was my dominant eye and I can only see close up with that eye and maybe 8 feet away...so now I am trying to adjust to this new change. The doctor from the university said down the road we may be able to do a new laser (one that is waiting for FDA approval) and make my vision "something I can live with" and thats not what I wanted to hear
at201 Susie91820
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If one uses Laser (typically YAG Laser) to get rid of the Posterior Capsule film (which causes PCO), one is making a large hole in the back of the capsule, which makes replacing a lens difficult (because it may fall out of the hole in the capsule). This is what you seem to have had.
The LASIK procedure (using Laser) modifies the shape of the cornea and has zero impact on the possibility of replacing a lens.