Major issues after Panoptix implant
Posted , 5 users are following.
I am a 47 yr. old male that has always had good vision and never wore glasses. I originally went to the Dr. because I had noticed that due to age my vision had started to decline some. I asked about Lasik and was told that given my age if I chose Lasik I would more than likely have to use reading glasses. I was trying to avoid glasses or contacts. The only Lasik option would be to set one eye for distance and one for near. The Dr. said my best option would be to go with the Panoptix lens and that would give me better vision at all distances. I don't know all my values but I remember being told I was 20/30 in my left (dominant) eye and 20/80 in my right. We did the right eye on June 8th 2022. My result was I gained great distance vision but lost my intermediate and near vision. Anything under 8ft. away sucks. My right eye actually was my better eye before for near vision. I was scheduled to do the left eye a week later but cancelled. No way they are touching it until the right one is fixed. I also have I think every side effect listed, glares, halos, starburst, shadows around writing, etc. Now I don't know what to do. The Dr. says I still have .75 astigmatism and there is some prescription left in my right eye. Basically they missed the target I guess. They have been trying different contacts in my eye now to try and find a prescription that fixes it with no luck. So far they all make the vision worse across the board. They also mentioned the Vivity lens but said that I would not have any near vision. This lens would solve my side effects issues but take away my near vision. I don't know what to do at this point. I am scared to touch the other eye, it's not that bad and I need close up vision for my daily activities. I am a hands on person that I need it and that has been taken away.
0 likes, 7 replies
RonAKA 17strykr
Edited
It sounds like you did not have cataracts? You mentioned having 20/30 and 20/80 vision. Is that uncorrected with eyglasses? If so, then you have had cataract surgery without cataracts which is almost never a good idea. I would not go ahead with the second eye until you need to due to a cataract.
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With the other eye you cannot get your natural lens back, but a lens exchange is possible. Have you had an optometrist do an eye test and get a eyeglass prescription for your right eye? It will tell you by how much they missed on getting the correct power. Because you say you cannot see under 8 feet it sounds like they put the eye into the dreaded far sighted (hyperopic) + zone. You should get a second opinion on the eye that has the PanOptix to determine what your options are. One would be to explant the lens and go with a monofocal instead. They are the most risk free option. Since your right eye is non-dominant it would be the better eye to under correct for nearer vision. But if you want to go some time before dealing with your left eye, it may be better to get a full distance monofocal in the right eye. It may leave you with pretty good vision possibly even without glasses. Later one you could under correct the left eye with a monofocal to get near vision. This is the situation I ended up in, and it basically still works.
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That would be my initial thoughts.
17strykr RonAKA
Posted
No I didn't have a cataract, I just asked my best options to be free of wearing glasses moving forward. I have never worn glasses before. They have done an eye test twice where they gave me a contact to try that should correct the vision. The first one made things so blurry at all distances that it made me feel sick. I took it out the same day. The one they did yesterday has also made things worse but not as bad. I can't understand why it is so hard to figure out my current prescription needed to fine tune it.
RonAKA 17strykr
Posted
It is unfortunate that you got into this IOL dilemma without having to do it due to cataracts. I think it is unethical for ophthalmologists to do a lens exchange just to correct vision. But, there is not much you can do about it now other than avoid doing the same with the other eye.
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The standard way to determine where the lens power has ended up is to do the standard eyeglass test where you look at the eye chart and pick which image is better as they try different power sphere lenses and cylinder lenses for astigmatism. If you can't see closer than 8' it would suggest you now need a + power correction. But, if you get an eye test they will give you that power. It is the best measure of an IOL vision outcome. You could do a rough estimate of the power yourself by going to a store where they have over the counter reading glasses. Try the different powers to see the minimum power that corrects your distance vision, instead of using it to get reading vision.
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The other possibility is that the lens is not centered in the eye or is tilted. That cannot be corrected with contacts or eyeglasses. It would have to be corrected surgically. It is probably best to consult another unrelated ophthalmologist to get a second opinion on what is wrong. There is a Newsweek article on line called America's Best Eye Doctors that you could check out, assuming you are in the US. I have no idea how doctors get on that list however, but it may be a starting point.
Sue.An2 17strykr
Posted
So sorry you are in this situation. My brother in law had clear lens exchange as well and he had no idea this was same procedure as cataract surgery.
I find it very unethical of surgeons (out of greed) to sell this to people who do not have cataracts. People who have cataracts have something to gain but people who do not have much to lose - and even fewer options once it doesn't work.
There are worse things in life than needing reading glasses. I wish surgeons had to give all the facts before operating on eyes that do not have cataracts.
As Ron mentioned you could do a lens exchange but this surgery is riskier and more involved than the first surgery - if you go that route seek out a surgeon that has lots of experience doing this surgery.
Get a few opinions and also see your regular optometrist to get an exact prescription to see where your current vision is. Personally would not do the other eye unless it has a cataract.
Eye-so-sad 17strykr
Posted
I had a Panoptix Toric lens implanted over a year and a half ago. I hated it right away . You can read about it in my other posts if you click on my name. I refused to have the other eye done.
I am having it explanted in a few weeks and a monovision toric put in. I have no idea what to expect. Maybe things will be better, maybe worse. I don't really trust anyone anymore.
My Advice: If the vision in your other eye is acceptable, don't let ANYONE touch it!
soks Eye-so-sad
Posted
which doctor are you getting your lens explanted from?
Eye-so-sad soks
Posted
I don't want to say.