near vision poor after getting Symfony...seeking others' experience

I would be disappointed too with those results.  Feel very sorry for you.  I too had Symfony lenses implanted July 10 and Aug 21 respectively and very pleased with the result.  I do see the concentric circles and my surgeon had let me know ahead of surgery I would see these - it is a design of the lens and will not go away with time.  You may adjust though and brain will tune them out much like floaters.

However the vision you have during the day is definitely not the fault of the lens.  I see very well from 10 inches out.  Read J1 and for distance right eye is 20/20 and other 20/30 (ended up with mini monovision which accounts for my see fine print).  Surgeon aimed for 0D in both eyes but as you may be aware targets not always achieved.

Have you had the YAG done?  If not I would hold off.  You may want to consider a lens exchange as that often prevents one from exchanging lenses.

Did you surgeon say why your results are poor?  Did you have other eye issues, astigmatism etc?

Hi Webdev

I had both eyes done almost 2 yrs ago and everything was fine but my distant caused me to way glasses.After many meeting an time I got to see a specialist in Toronto and he said he could tweek the sense and get what I get with my now glasses.

The cost to do so is $2,600/lense and that would come to$5,200.

The procedure was not as good a it should have been so I feel they are responsible for the cost.

I have already paid $3,000 for new glasses and $1,200 for one of the lenses.

Abbot credited memoir one of them as they were $1,200 each

I don't even know if it is necessary to do both eyes as I am getting very mixed messages

I feel they are very unprofessional especially when they make a lot of money to do this.

I did have bulging of the retina called CME but it was cleared up.

What is YAG?

Have you heard of patients who had their lenses replace or some credit for lease problems?

One of the most common cataract surgery complications is a posterior capsule opacity (also called posterior capsule opacification or PCO). A YAG laser treatment clears that up but once performed harder to get a lens exchange.

Yes there are people who aren’t happy with premium lenses that opt for a lens exchange.

I got the YAG laser treatment in both eyes.   It did nothing.   I still have halos and spokes from night light sources.   

The YAG procedure isn’t generally done to correct those issues.  It is for posterior capsule opacity (also called posterior capsule opacification or PCO).  Some call it 2nd cataract.

Those visual issues are normally associated with premium lenses like multifocal or Symfony lenses which give you great vision during daytime for most distances but come with the compromise if halos a d concentric circles.

That being said there is a small percentage of people who experience those with monofocals lenses too.

Is your daytime vision good?

Yes...daytime is good.   The eye doc was told by Symfony that halos and such were also much improved over monofocal.   He tried YAG as a fix but it didn't work.   Symfony was supposed to give near and far vision, correct for astigmatism, reduce nightime artifacts, halos, etc. but at a steep price.   The steep price came true.   As did the far vision and astigmatism correction.  

The doctor should read the warning on the Abbott web site that the Symfony lens has much worse glare and the halos compared with the monofocal lenses.

Apparently Tom already had YAG since he said "My optometrist said they may have to use laser again to remove film."

Hi Sue,

I just had my symfony multifocals implanted on Oct 12 for left eye and Oct 17 for right.  The distance vision on left is very good, however near vision is poor.  I can only read at most Line No 10 on the J card.  Surgeon said near vision would take more time to come but does not specify.

In your own experience, how soon would the near vision come?

 

I had to wait 6 weeks in between my surgeries.   My reading was only tested after 2nd surgery.  After 1st surgery took a few days for eyes to heal but to read had to hold out book or iPhone about 18 inches to read.   24 hours after 2nd surgery could read things a little closer at about 16 inches.  Now I see at 11 inches out to read.

Given you had both surgeries so close together you are likely still adjusting and healing.

Your right eye for distance does it see well too - although just 2 days since surgery.   Were both eyes targeted for distance?   

Did surgeon say anything at 24 hr post op? Mine said reading is better when both eyes have Symfony and that it should improve with a few weeks which it did.  At 6 weeks I could read J1 off chart at 14 inches away

Hi Sue

I just went to a laser clinic and saw a specialist to correct the Symfony lens. They can correct the lens with a procedure called PKR but it is $5,200 for the both eyes.

They truly believe that Symphony is misrepresenting and cannot produce what they advertise.

Wow that is pricey!  Are you having to correct your visual acuity?  Is the power off?  I assume this is what you are referring to when you say “They truly believe that Symphony is misrepresenting and cannot produce what they advertise.”

I did not need any tweaking to my vision with Symfony lenses.  Have to wonder if it is to do with biometry or skill level of surgeon.  Then again at those prices plus paying for Symfony Lens maybe that doc is profiting extra.

Do you mean PRK? Thats an alternative technique to LASIK that uses a laser to reshape the cornea to correct for power and/or astigmatism.

Sounds like the wrong power lens was implanted or perhaps too much residual astigmatism?

I would think that isn't the fault of the lens itself if it can be corrected by reshaping the cornea.

Night-Hawk

If I understand what your saying is the doctor made a poor judgement call.

Is that correct

Night-Hawk

If the doctor made a poor call should she be responsible for the cost of PRK or Laser repair

They should be, but I am sure that they had you sign a paper, which listed all the bad things which could happen after cataract surgery and that you understand that.

Fortunately, the no-cost LASIK enhancement, if needed, was part of the package which my surgeon offered as part of the Symfony Toric lens for a very good price of $2300 for one eye. (and I ended up needing that LASIK enhancement because of lens rotation and a slight error in power). If one can get LASIK (or PRK) enhancement as part of the cataract surgery package, one should definitely consider that seriously.

I actually read it's very common to have some glare at night even with monofocals. I actually have some myself with my monofocals, but it's only indoors in very low light (not in my car).

What's not so funny is I had mild nighttime glare from my cataract.  The Symfony lens was supposed to make it all better.   It is far worse.   Wish I would have never gone forward.   

Night -Hawk

If we agree that the doctor is responsible because she made a poor judgment call do you think I should try to prose this.

These Opthimoligist make a tremendous amount of money so I would think when they make a poor judgement call they should cover cost of repair What's your thought

Inside in low light don’t have glare but find reading more difficult.

If you are thinking of PRK or lasik enhancement you may want to get a few opinions / quotes.

I am in the same boat as you! The glare, the halos and starburst are so bad that I will never do my other eye with Symfony.

Am so sorry to hear about your outcome, but would be remiss if I didn't chime in here so as not to paint Symfony lens in generally negative light (pardon the pun) and otherwise discourage folks from pursuing that option.  I'm two weeks and two days post op from implant of Symfony lens in my left eye and could not possibly be more pleased with the result. Although (for me) overall distance vision - my world as I see it - is not quite as robust (by that I mean vibrancy and depth of color palette) out of the Symfony lens .. it does not quite equal the Crystalens in my right eye, the near vision (ability to read) results I have with the Symfony more than make up for that difference ... and that specific criteria is precisely what my doctor described to me when explaining my choices.  He would have been happy to implant another Crystalens into my left eye if that's what I wanted, but he was careful in describing the advantages of both.  I opted for the Symfony and am very glad I did.  Good luck though to you!

I would agree the color and vibrancy is not quite there. I see a slight grayish tint compared to my untouched eye. Perhaps that contributes to the glare and starburst I see at night. I am glad it is working out for you.

How long has it been?  At 9 weeks from 2nd surgery barely have glare but see concentric circles.  Is your daytime vision good?  Sometimes glare and starbursts are a symptom that power is off or you have astigmatism 

I too Amy pleased with my Symfony Lens results and my surgeon’s explanation of what it would be like matches up to my experience.  

I highly doubt that it is the fault of the lens otherwise everyone would have poor results.  If surgeon is blaming the lens then he or she is either covering for their lack of skill or not doing biometry accurately or there are other eye issues going on.

I had the Symfony multifocal lens implanted back in July. It's the night vision that seems to have gotten worse with the Halos and Starburst.

And is daytime vision good?   I had strong glare in the beginning but it decreased after about 6 weeks.  I have some but my husband and friends see same glare I do - especially with newer LED headlights.  But they too find the glare from those blinding.

Do you have glare inside too ?   

Dayvision is okay although I can tell that there is a grayish tint compared to my normal untouched eye . The glare is only at night with all headlights and red lights among other lights.

I couldn’t compare even though 6 week wait between surgeries.  Cataracts gave everything a yellowish tiny.  When first Symfony was implanted everything was so clear and bright.

If daytime vision is good could have to do with pupil dilation.  

Are you thinking of implanting a monofocal in other eye to minimize starbursts and glare?

Other than reading, my other eye is okay and nothing is necessary this time. I will continue to monitor forum sites like this as they are a wealth of information and do more research before I decide what I will place in my other eye when it's needed.

I completely agree. Both the measurement of the eye and calculation of the lens and its orientation are highly complex and need to be crosschecked. The online lens calculators used by the surgeon are a) only as good as the information entered in them and b) depend on the judgement and skill of the surgeon. My surgery was 9 months ago and my Symfony Toric lenses are outstanding, despite the characteristics around bright lights after dark.

So agree with you.  The surgeon one chooses is key.  More so if opting for premium lenses.

Where did u have your surgery? I used Optimax in london in February..... and have complications with unresolved astigmatism

I have sent you a private message

Your response compels me to clarify my experience .. only because you need to be as well informed as possible if your issues do not resolve. From the moment after implant of Symfony in my left eye, until now, the only issues I had were the normal blurriness and sensation from the long duration of dilated pupil, which resolved in 24 hours (it took 48 hours for that to resolve in my right eye after Crystalens implant) .. and tearing, which is also becoming much less frequent. ... NO grayish or any tiny. 

Sorry ... that’s no greyish or any tint. 

Yes that mimics my own experience.  There was blurring only after the surgery - that last a bit longer after 2nd surgery but by 24 hour post op everything was clear.  Tearing due to everything being bright so wore sunglasses wven inside for a couple of weeks but now that is fine too.

At 24 hour post op my reading was also tested and that was good too.  I can read tiny print at 14 inches away - J1 in snellen chart.

I'm sorry to hear that, Tom. I had a Symfony lens put in my left eye on 08/30/17. My vision prior was 20/20. Now I am 20/25 in that eye which I think is a generous measurement. I have very little depth perception, have taken a couple of spills around stairs, and absolutely do not feel comfortable driving in the day and definitely not at all at night. 

It's interesting you say you had laser surgery. You mean Lasik? My doctor told me he couldn't do that with this type of lens.

I was given 3 options. Re-implant another Symfony lens at a different correctness, implant a monofocular lens or corrective glasses all out of pocket of course. I am debating the first option but my doc said any further surgery holds more risks because of the scar tissue that has started to develop.

Like you, I wish I had left my eye alone since my cataract wasn't that bad yet.

I am experiencing the same thing. Night vision is far worse now. I won't even drive. Can't trust my vision. God forbid someone on a bike or walking on the road be in the way! I'm holding out as long as possible to fix the cataract in my right eye!! Maybe technology will be better later.

Hi Marlene - sorry to hear of your experience with the Symfony Lens.  If I were in your shoes I would consult with another opthamologist for another opinion before deciding on anything.

I have Symfony lenses implanted this summer in both eyes and I can tell you what you are experiencing isn’t what one should expect.  I have excellent daytime vision and gave t worn glasses since my 2nd surgery.  There are some glare and concentric circles around light sources outside at night however glare has subsided a lot in last few weeks.  The concentric circles are part of the lens design so I don’t expect those to go away.

Did you specifically ask to be targeted for near vision?  Typically with Symfony (especially first eye being operated on) surgeon targets for 0D.  I recall after my first surgery within 24 hours have initial blurring from surgery I could read distance 20/20.  Very clear vision.  I am not sure (unless at your request) why any surgeon would target a multifocal or extended depth of focus lens for near when whole reason is to give patient a range of focuses.

Your outcome isn’t the expected outcome with Symfony Lens and that is why I am suggesting you consult with another specialist.

Hello Marlene:   sorry to hear yet another disappointing experience with Symfony lens ... I had one implanted in my left eye of October 5th, attending cataract surgery done with laser. I am experiencing excellent vision out of that eye .. daytime, nighttime, distance, intermediate and near.  I notice some very minor halo effects around bright lights at night (more so than from the cystalens in my right eye), but not nearly to the point of being distracting, annoying or diminishing clarity of sight.  Am replying, again, mainly so as not to discourage folks from pursuing this option and to avoid the Symfony lens getting a "general" bad rap.  Hope you find resolution to your issue!  harry

 

Hi Marlene. I'm in the UK and also having poor vision after symfony lens implant in jan and feb 17. Yesterday at my consultant appt where i was hoping they would progress my treatment to lasik to correct residual astigmatism after waiting for stabilisation for 6months.... i was told there was a significant risk of kerataconus due to a thin cornea and this should have been explained to me before initial surgery!. ..... not sure where this goes now as my contract apparently is with the surgeon who performed the initial surgery who has left the company i was using. Any advice on what next would be appreciated.

Just wondering why you had cataract surgery if your eye was 20/20 Marlene? Personally, I waited until my right eye was 20/200 and left eye was 20/60 and I could barely drive anymore during the day before I had surgery.

If you can't have lasik you are going to have to use contact lenses or glasses unless you have the lens explanted and replaced with another lens. Scleral contact lenses can help with astigmatism if you can't use regular contact lenses.

And my vision was not correctable with glasses or contact lenses for either eye. People think cataract surgery (and refractive lens exchange) is no big deal so they go ahead and do it even when it's not needed (often after a doctor pushing it on them) and then unfortunately have to live with the complications that can occur after.

I had never heard of clear lens options change before coming on these forums. I was blindsided by my optometrist at regular 2 year checkup that she could no longer correct my vision with glasses.  I had been experiencing blurry vision for about 6 months and though I just needed stronger glasses.  Right eye was 70/20 and left 60/20 at the time.  It was either cataract surgery at 53 or lose my driving license.

I am happy with the result I got but if I didn’t need cataract surgery not something I would have done.  I toyed with lasik too a number of years ago but never wanted even the smallest chance of something going wrong.

The whole idea of a medical doctor pushing clear lens exchange is inconceivable.   

Drug Dealer the fact that within the timeframe of your CLE and now that doctor who performed your surgery has left the company should say something to you.

It's really criminal in my opinion and you're right, all refractive surgery is not worth the risk including Lasik, Relex Smile, PRK, etc. (I know because I know a lot of people who had all those done - including people who only had them done after cataract surgery - and have complications now ranging from "minor" things like chronic dry eye to major complications like eye loss and intractable pain syndromes). I was just reading the possible long-term complications of refractive lens exchange or RLE (also known as clear lens exchange) in myopic eyes and there's a definite risk of retinal detachment down the road, among other possible complications like PCO that needs YAG laser treatment that can also lead to retinal detachment. Not worth the risk just to stop wearing glasses or contact lenses.

I forgot to mention another risk of LASIK, PRK, etc. (but more so after LASIK) - post op ectasia where you have vision loss that can't be corrected with glasses or regular contact lenses, but only with specialty contact lenses called scleral lenses that are very expensive.

Oh and not only are scleral lenses relatively expensive (around $1,000 a pair and up), but very few optometrists know how to fit them properly, so there's the added expense of possibly having to travel to have them made by someone who knows how to fit them.

Hi,

As i mentioned i had 2 symfony lenses put in a week apart during late August, early September 2017. i am very unhappy and would not do it again with Symfony! I have an appointment with my Dr (surgeon) this afternoon (10/25) and will ask what my options are. i still have terrible glare at not night (both starburst and spider webs, which he said are the lines on the lenses). before the operation, I had 20/20 in both eyes for reading and now i must use drug store glasses to read!! Accoring to my optometrist, distance vision in my right has worsened and may require a "procedure"  to correct. Not sure of the procedure name. Prior to operation, Dr said he would correct slight astigmatism in both eyes.

Should I ask for all my records to see what they have done? If anyone can offer some questions for  the Dr visit this afternoon, it will be greatly appreciated. Tom  

 

it is not the lens Tom, it is the Dr. and how he implanted them, sized them and treated any post op issues.  I have two  Symfony implanted about 1 year apart.  First one was a butcher job by my first Dr.  My second Dr corrected the swelling issue that caused poor vision through steroids and then did my second eye with a better sized lens and better surgical outcome.  The right eye is perfect and the left is not although much better than prior.  I had the spider webs and the glare in my right eye and much less in my left (2nd eye).  both go away with time as your brain gets used to the new vision.  I can read without glasses but fine print still needs magnifiers.

I'm sure it isn't my doctor.   He checked and rechecked the lens.   I have the same thing as everyone else....horrible halos and spokes at night. 

I've had them over a year now - 

 

Your doctor also needs to check his measurements and calculations. These determine his choice of lens for each eye. I had astigmatism for about 60 years, but not since Symfony lenses were inserted.

My astigmatism has been corrected and daytime vision is fine.   But nighttime is to be avoided.  Horrible,    

The procedure he was referring to has to either be LASIK or PRK. Not sure what you should ask, but I'm pretty sure he would want to wait a little longer before discussing replacing the Symfony lenses with different lenses. You also might want to get a second opinion.

Thank you for your info.  It really helps to peace my mind.

Both eyes are multi-focal not mono-focal, guess targeted for distance as well as reading.

No, my surgeon and nurse told me that the vision would improve in a few days, did not tell exactly when.

After the 2nd eye surgery and 24hr post-op checking, my surgeon told me to come back 3 weeks later.

In the meantime, the improvement for reading is so slow that I can hardly realize day by day. But it is only about 2 weeks for the 1st eye, perhaps I have to be more patient.

I have both my eyes implanted with Symfony multifocual lens in Mid Oct, and has been 3 weeks now.

Though there are halos and the like, my distance vision is great if not excellent.  However, my reading vision has got no improvement and can barely read without glassess closer than 22 inches.

I have a bit worry now and do not know when my reading vision ability is coming back.

Since you also implanted Symfony for reading, how long for you to feel the improvement for reading?

 

I have both eyes implanted Symfony multifocal lens 3 weeks ago.  Halos and the like happens and bothers a little when driving at night.  However, most bothering is my reading vision which is much poorer than before op.  At your previous posts, you mentioned you need 2.75 diopter for reading.  Do you still need that to read now? 

As soon as my pupil dilation post surgery calmed down, I was able to read with my left eye ... by read, I mean comfortably read messages, etc. on my iPhone, read decent sized text in books, etc ... and that ability improved since (am 4.5 weeks post implant of Symfony in left eye.  That said, I did go back to my regular eye doctor for vision check and I did get one pair of glasses (using an existing frame) with reading rx of +1.75 in both eyes, which I find useful for reading for any length of time and to see the finest small print.  Again though, I can essentially "read" without correction out of my left eye and have been able to since 24 hours post surgery.

Wow, it is amazing.  

I can only guess if I extend my arm to the farthest probably on the fourth day.  Since then, I do not feel any improvements. 

I only know that I have symfony multifocal, but don't have the prescriptions.  I will ask my surgeon coming Wednesday when having a 3 weeks post op check up.

 

Yes ... I could not possible be more satisfied.  At my age, very few things amaze me anymore ... the cataract surgeries .. how easy and painless they were, and the lens implants .. how incredible they are ... amazed me.

My vision was greatly improved almost immediately, but the halos, glare and rings are just as bad as the first day and its been 5 months.  I'm very disappointed about that.  The doc said it will improve, but by the comments in this thread I can't expect that to happen.  I wish I was aware before making my decision.  

 

Its been 5 months since my symfony lense replacement and still huge star bursts and halos.  My vision is great though.  The other issue I'm having is dry eyes.  I had no issues with dry eyes before the surgery though my doctor says they aren't related.  I'm confused as to why after surgery. I now have to deal with dry eye and the prescription for that is $100 a month!   My eyes are also very tired feeling by the end of the day.  I don't think I would have done it if I'd know about these issues.

I should have remembered that any medical procedure is done by a business  (hospital or doctor's office)their goal is to sell, sell, sell.

Bucklywheat - most of not all patients with cataracts have no option but to have this surgery - alternative is to go blind.   Guess I am confused with your statement that you wouldn’t have gone through with this if you had known the issues?

I do know many places are pushing sales for clear lens exchange (which is basically cataract surgery except people do not have cataracts but think this will help them get rid of glasses and contact lenses).

For dry eye you can get over the counter drops that are far less.  I use Systane Ultra thst cost me $13 Canadian a bottle.   I would also recommend taking Onega 3 or Flaxseed oil supplements.  They help with dry eye.  the surgery itself can cause dry eye so it is important to use artificial tears.

Symfony lenses are great for daytime vision however the concentric circles ones sees around certain light sources are due to the design of the lens.  I haven’t read anything to indicate these will go away.  I have learned to adapt and driving at night with cataracts was far worse than with Symfony lenses.  I did have strong glare and starbursts but now 7 months from surgeries these have subsided substantially.

That's true. If I were told those side effects, I would have stayed with my initial decision to do PRK rather than RLE.

6 months from surgery now, halo, glare and starbursts still exist. I can only try hard to adapt when driving at night.  Distance vision is fine, but reading vision is still poor without improvement.  Scheduled to do PRK on left eye to improve it, guess create a kind of mini mono vision.

Contrast is bad; white is not white, black is not black, colours deviated. Not vivid image, really bad for my photography hobby!

I would recommend people to do Lasik or PRK instead of RLE.  For those who have cataracts, better replacing clear lens to avoid halos, glare and starbursts.

 

 

Thank you for your response to but I have no problem with cataract surgery my problem is with the lens that I selected which was touted to be the best the latest and the greatest symfony.   Also my doctor said that over-the-counter dry eye meds are not as effective and probably I shouldn’t even use them. They just don’t last as long. I could have chosen a different lens. 

 I will try the over-the-counter that you recommended. My vision is great so I am very pleased with that. I don’t have to wear glasses except for a very small reading in fact I can read your message without glasses. That is the upside. I didn’t even know I had cataracts but after that surgery I could see that light in the daytime was much brighter now I wear sunglasses More often. Also I’ve been taking omega-3 for years maybe I’ll just upped the dose and see if that helps. I so much appreciate your feedback

So sorry you were ‘sold’ cataract surgery.  I cannot tell you how much it upsets me that any doctor would be onboard with removing a natural lens and replacing it with ANY LENS.  Also once you age your eyesight is not like it was when you were younger so

contrast would not be as good with an artificial lens.  Also a target cannot be guaranteed .  The lenses only come in .50 diopters.  Plus the measurements/mapping of the eye aren’t 100%.  As the lens is 

much thinner than a natural lens (1mm vs 4 mm) the IOL moves slightly back and forth before adhering/settling and margin of error could leave you slightly short or far sighted - so no doctor can guarantee you glasses free.

Be thankful you can see well in the daytime - but unfortunately the night vision is just not likely to improve.

And I have fiends who did PRK and lasik and they too have glare and halos at night so those procedures do not guarantee good night vision either.