My experience of the Symfony Toric lens

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I have been short-sighted and astigmatic for most of my life. Finally cataracts meant an operation. Before the operation my myopia was -12.50 (right) and -11.00 (left), astigmatism -6 (right) and -4 (left). I agreed to have a Symphony Toric lens - ZXT375 - and this was inserted into my right eye four days ago.

My vision began to recover from the anaesthesia after a few hours. Other than a dull ache - which lasted no more than 24 hours, there has been little pain. I have been prescribed antibiotic and anti-inflammatory drops four times a day for the next month. 

I did not expect that this lens would allow me to read without glasses and (at the moment) it looks like my expectations will be proved right. I have previously experienced halos around car headlights and this is unchanged. In addition I can now see starbursts around some street lights.

I removed the right hand lens from my glasses after the surgery but, having worn them for a short time, found the distortion to be too great. Other than for reading, the vision in my right eye is so much better than it was when I was wearing glasses. For the first time in over 60 years I can walk around without them - though I have to be very careful about judging distances on my left.

The clarity, the light and the colours I experience with my enhanced right eye are nothing short of remarkable.

Will update this in about 10 days

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  • Posted

    Siempre, thanks for posting this info on your Symphony Torics experience. I have an issue that I would like to share for consideration and comments.  I truly am relieved and hopeful that I might find some understanding.

    In August I had my right eye done with Symfony Toric zxt 300. After the left one was done 5 days later (with a ZXT150), I noticed a fuzzy area in the right field of the eye...enough to cause a head ache and imbalance . It has now been 3 months and the fuzzy hasn't gone away. I went to the surgeon who said my brain would adjust. Not in thee 3 months... I went to the ophthalmologist yesterday for the 4th time, he told me my eye was a 450 and the doc put in the ZXT300 because that was the highest the lens came in. I called and found the surgery center is stocked with the ZXT375...apparently that is the highest available in US. So what possible explanation is there that he wouldn't use the ZXT375 with an astigmatism of 450? Also, in talking to the ophthalmologist, who referred me to that surgeon, and clearly was determined to sell me glasses, he said he would not recommend a another surgery to reposition the zxt300 but at the time, I had no idea there was a zxt375. And then, as though grabbing for stars to blame it on something else, though I may be reporting this clinically inaccurate, the ophthalmologist also said he saw some kind of fibers behind the eye that looked like a cobweb that would account for the fuzziness ( as it does look like I am seeing "through" something...like a dirty window. And recommended a return visit to the surgeon to get a treatment with a Zag laser.

    Do you or anyone, have anything to offer on this story? I am so frustrated and disappointed with this vision problem after the time, recuperation, expense and expectation of clear vision. the left is very good but the right also has some discomfort on some days as well. 

    • Posted

      Hi Emma

      I'm so sorry your surgery has not gone as well as it should have. Before you think about laser treatment I would wait at least six months (from August) to allow your eyes and brain time to adjust.

      If the fuzzy area is fixed in the same position then it is probably not floaters (which are very common and move around the eye). Did your ophthalmologist explain what the fibres might be?

  • Posted

    Thank you for your posts.  

    I just had the Symfony Toric lense implanted in my right eye on January 10, 2018.   My distance and intermediate vision is good.  My reading is not and I’m sure I will need glasses to read.  

    The BIG issue is that I have huge glare and starbursts around lights, especially headlights.   It makes  it dangerous for me to drive at night.    When I initially met with the eye doctor I told him that I wanted single focus distance lenses and that I did not mind wearing glasses since I’ve worn them since I was a small child. I wanted to avoid the glare I heard about with multifocal lenses. He told me the Symfony lense would give me   distance, intermediate and close up vision with no more halos  than single focus lenses.  I am very disappointed and wish I had proceeded with what I wanted - single distance focus.  

    Now I have to decide what lense to implant into my left eye.   

    • Posted

      Hi

      i had mine done first week of Oct and second first week of Nov, so I’m just about 3 months.

      i too was disappointed that I had halos and starbursts. I would not attempt to drive after dark until  

      recently. The halos are no longer bothersome and except for the LED car lights which omg starburst out really bad, my vision at night is prefect and I’ve adjusted the way I see the road to avoid the starbursts. My distance vision and middle vision were prefect the day after surgery. Reading got better in a few weeks and I can read without readers at arms length but prefer to read close up so I’ve adjusted to readers. I did set my iPhone and pad to large letters. I’m still pretty light sensitive. 

      Ill be going in a few weeks for laser as I have scar tissue. My dr told me that will help soften the starbursts and glare and make reading better, although I’m happy with the reading. 

      I was pretty miserable until recently so hang in there. I still sometimes feel like there is a stuck contact lens in there! And the alternative was going blind! 

    • Posted

      Thank you for your comments and encouragement!   I am going in for my  one week follow up on Tuesday and  will discuss the starburst issues with the doctor.    Yes, the  LED lights are the worst.   Unfortunately, from our vision standpoint, it won’t be long before all cars have LED lights. Honestly, at this point, I’m thinking of having him take the Symfony toric  out and replace it with a single distance vision.  sad

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