PanOptix experience
Posted , 89 users are following.
(apologies for starting a new thread, but my last one was more a question about PanOptix before I chose that route. Seems like it'd make more sense if someone was searching for info/testimonials that a new thread specific to my experience with the lenses. )
I'm 45, very active/athletic(competitive mountain bike racer, motocross rider, skier/snowboarder), and have been fortunate enough to have had 20/15 vision up until a few years ago. Not wanting to adapt to readers or other prescription glasses that accompany monofocals, I opted for PanOptix over Symfony partially due to the loose recommendation of my doctor, and mostly because once I was aware of their existence, the clinical studies I was able to find online seemed to show that PanOptix tested at least as good as Symfony in all manners, showed some level of reduced night artifact/glare/halos, and promised near-vision, in addition to midrange and distance vision.
I'm 4 days post-op of a PanOptix in my right eye, with the sole motivation of surgery to treat my rather severe cataracts. That eye was the worst of the pair, and now that I have what was considered my "good" eye as a baseline to compare the new lens to an old one, it's definitely a mixed bag.
Like basically anyone who's had IOL's implanted, the newfound vibrance in colors is phenomenal. There was a yellow wall that my old eye perceived as being gray the other day, if that's any indication of the difference. The day after surgery, my vision tested at 20/25 in the new lens, as opposed to 20/60 before surgery. I didn't have any eye issues that required glasses before surgery; it was simply the cataracts that was causing such poor vision. So, compared to my vision a couple of years ago, 20/25 is still technically a degredation for me.
Near vision is another positive with PanOptix, but it's admittedly a bit finicky with exact distance. Roughly 12-inches is the sweet spot where text is clearest. A few inches past or closer than that, and things begin to soften up. Text doesn't get too terribly blurry, and doesn't seem to progress into being completely illegible as distance away from the sweet spot increases, but there's an absolute sweet spot of near focus for sure. Midrange is somewhat disappointing for the claims and studies on PanOptix, as sitting at my desktop computer approximately 24-inches from the screen results in less-than-sharp focus. I have to get right up to within 12-inches of the screen to get the crispest focus, which is where the near vision focus is. Seems like these are almost bifocals and not trifocals.
Nighttime vision overall in the PanOptix eye is good. I don't notice a reduction in contrast like my doctor thought might be the case with the division of light to three points. It definitely didn't improve my night vision by any means, but it didn't seem to reduce it. My cataracts is very central in my original lens, so I actually see best at night when my pupil is dilated big enough to see around it.
Halos around all lights are very apparent, not only at night but during the day as well, and the halos even have that little spiderweb effect. One or two lights at a time, and it seems manageable. But, I just drove on the highway tonight and realized how much I was relying on my natural lens to see. With that eye closed, the PanOptix eye was creating such drastic halo that it seemed like it was keeping that eye from finding focus on anything. Truly blurred vision if there's more than a few lights, which was both scary and perplexing on what to do for my other eye as I can't imagine getting through the rest of my life without the ability to operate a car, walk through the city, etc. at night.
From the first day of surgery, I've also had a flicker in the PanOptix eye. The followup doctor(who I'd never met, and won't see again) said that's normal and should go away, but it hasn't really subsided in 4 days. I notice it gets much worse when there's light shining in from my peripheral.
Distance vision is worse with the PanOptix eye than my natural eye, which is disappointing. This discrepancy is amplified at night, especially if it involves reading street signs or things like neon lights.
I see my optometrist on Friday, and will share what he says about the debilitating night vision, flickering, and lack of midrange focus. Oh, I also noticed today that if the sun is directly in front of my vision and I have sunglasses on, that a reflection of the PanOptix IOL shows up in my sunglass lens. That wasn't expected, not sure if anyone else has had the same or similar experience with any other lens?
3 likes, 162 replies
blind54 303z
Posted
I had right panoptix lens inserted 6/24/21 as well as a conjunctival cyst excised (result of blepharoplasty 3 yrs ago). My conjunctiva looked like a piece of red meat for 2 weeks. Had panoptix inserted in left eye 3 days ago. My Rt eye vision is clearer, although somewhat hazy, Left eye VERY hazy, flickering, yellow tinged vision. I am so sorry I had this done! My doctor said 'give it time'--of course, reading these blogs, I see other people are going through this--but NO ONE I personally know who had the ultra expensive panoptix, or the 'insurance covered' IOL had these issues! I feel like my vision will never be normal. The floaters I now have seem like huge clouds over my vision. This certainly is not what I anticipated, and I'm scared!
I can't even say that colors look vibrant. I am 66, very active & never knew I had cataracts until my optician mentioned it 6 months ago. The Ophthalmologist saw me in May and said they were pretty bad & felt that the panoptix lenses would most likely eliminate the need for glasses. My next appointment is next week, and I am hoping to have a big improvement in these symptoms! Also--my right pupil is constricted, left one normal...has anyone experienced this? Thanks!
diane70001 303z
Posted
I had panoptix lens in my right eye done 9 days ago. The optometrists said today that the surgeon over corrected and I am now nearsighted. He said it could be corrected with replacing my lens with one with the correct power or through lasik surgery.
Has anyone faced this problem? I have an appointment with the surgeon next week to determine how to move forward.
RonAKA diane70001
Posted
How near sighted are you? It is normal to leave you slightly near sighted in the range of -0.25 D. The IOLs come in power increments of 0.5 D, so they can never be right on, or even as close as with eyeglasses or contacts. It is better to be slightly near sighted than for them to go over and into the + far sighted range. That impacts your close vision.
Versemaster 303z
Posted
Just a note to thank everyone for your comments and insight. This week my eye doctor discussed surgery with PanOptix but having read all of your feedback, I'm leaning toward mono instead and just continue to use readers. does anyone have any thoughts and/or experience with the mono lens?
catch24 303z
Edited
hello all!
i hope this reply finds you well. Coming to you all from Louisville KY almost 4 weeks out from my left eye and 1 week out from my right.
The last 4 weeks have been a doozy, :surgery was fine. Pretty uneventful but healing has been very complicated. Medical wise im fine, no issues with the actual lens or surgery.
My issues are stemming from the healing of my eyes. i have little to no up close vision, i cant see what is on my fork when i eat or myself in the mirror up close. To be honest im really trying not to freak out about that but i am. then when i mention to my eye dr he says thats notmal.
i have gained some reading vision about 12 inches from mg face, but only if the lighting allows. the flickering is driving me insane!!! i have the hardest time when at work.
i also feel like my dr(who was fantastic before) brushes everything i say off about my issues.
Any suggestions or words of encouragement from anyone? im desperate for some hope, suggestions, or guidance... thanks!!
RonAKA catch24
Posted
Which lens did you get? PanOptix?
ethan68077 303z
Posted
This is actually really an encouraging thread to read. I just got panoptix lenses after a surprise diagnosis of aggressive PSC cataracts at age 32. My right eye was just "fixed" a week and 2 days ago. I was terrified at first at how poor my vision seemed to be at different distances, despite vision testing at 20/25 the day after each eye at 20 feet. The adjustments are already happening though, and it's really helpful to know I'm not alone in how this process works.
john20510 303z
Posted
Those of you that went with panoptix trifocal are you happy with it or do you wish you went with monofocal distance and use glasses for close up
MS2900 303z
Edited
i am four months post surgery
my vision is great but the side effects are very unbearable. My I constantly feels wet all the time so my vision is in fact a little bit blurry because I’m always looking through water.
My eye throbs and vibrates a lot my surgeon keeps telling me it’s dry eyes so I’m using artificial tears but I have not noticed any improvement in the last two weeks
I do need to get the second cataract removed and I’m unsure whether or not to put in that pan optics would love to hear others who have put in no vision correction on the second eye to see how that goes I had excellent vision never needed glasses before Cataracts
i am 51 if that makes a differnce?
helenmarier 303z
Edited
I totally regret get the Panoptix multi focals. It's been 3 months. The "halos" are actually huge starbursts. Both lenses are fuzzy around the edges in dim light. Worse, the flickers occur from any side lighting. Getting worse not better. My vision is good but my eyes always have that tiredness that comes if you wear your contact lenses too long. I have put complaints in to Alcon and the FDA. I do not believe Alcon's claim that 98% of users would do Panoptix again. Their supposed surveys are suspect and their claims as to satisfaction are really misleading. The design of the toric lens is poor and if you end up with astigmatism, another surgical "adjustment" must be made. That is NOT a robust design. Don't go with Panoptix.
1Ellen 303z
Posted
I am sorry you have had such a poor result. Did you notice an issue immediately after your first surgery? My surgeon is suggesting Clareon Pan Optix in the non-dominant eye and Vivity in the dominant eye to minimize side effects.
RonAKA 1Ellen
Posted
My thoughts would be to get a Clareon monofocal in the dominant eye first, and then after it heals a Clareon PanOptix in the non dominant eye. And, that would be after you have decided that you are willing to risk the PanOptix optical effects. My expectation would be that the Clareon PanOptix would be no better than the standard PanOptix when it comes to halos and glare from lights at night. But it is the better materials so that would be the choice if you decide to risk a PanOptix.
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The other option would be a Vivity in the non dominant eye, but to get good reading I would suggest a target of -1.0 D should be used instead of the standard -0.25 D target. Your surgeon may or may not be willing to do that.
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The reason I suggest a monofocal in the dominant eye is that both the Vivity and PanOptix will have reduced contrast sensitivity especially in dimmer light. The monofocal will make up for some of that lost contrast sensitivity.
0871SB 303z
Posted
Hello, and first I want to say that I'm sorry so many are having issues with Panoptix. My main complaint is an annoying constant light show. I am going on almost 5 months post surgery from my second eye and the flickering, mostly when indoors around artificial light has not resolved. I did get a second opinion and he said it is positive Disphotopsia and that if neuroadaption doesn't happen in 3 months then a ROC o IOL exchnage is the solution. My ophthamologist said yesterday that I could try ROC (reverse optic capture) and it that doesn't work do a lens exchange. I am fine outdoors. I need to figure out this flickering first because my doctor also wants to make sure the lens is not moving (Phacodonesis). His exam and another DR. say it is not but the video I have looks like it is or is it just a refection of light bouncing off the square edge of the Panoptix lens? I can't post the video in this thread but happy to send the video in a private message if you contact me.
If It just takes time to resolve than I am willing to do that vs any interventions but also am sensitive to the optimal timing to do any surgery, especially an IOL exchange. My Dr. says that needs to happen sooner than later.
Please respond with if the flickering, pulsating vision in peripheral eventually resolved and how long it took for you? Would also like to know what others have heard about how long I can wait to do a lens exchange? I have read that this flicker vision could take a year to go away. If it doesn't at 12 months is that to late to do a lIOL lens exchange?
BTW I have Panoptix In both eyes, with a toric lens in LE only. I am 63.
MonaMe 303z
Posted
Hi,
American here. 72 YO woman who lives in a metropolitan area, and is a 'Night Runner'.
I was typing this, when, all of a sudden, the whole thing disappeared - not happy!
Had the PanOptix lenses implanted in both eyes - first one in my left eye on July 5, 2022, and the second one implanted on July 14, 2022.
The total cost was totally out of pocket. No, I am not rich, I am retired, and my house needs work,
but these are my eyes!
So, with lenses, and the eye-surgery center costs (both eyes done) the cost was approximately $8,000.
This was the one (and only) chance I will ever have of never having to wear glasses again
for the rest of my life.
It was one of the best decisions I ever made. I love my vision with the PanOptix Lens.
Originally went to the eye center because of a broken blood vessel in my right eye. At my appointment I was told I had a blood-vessel break; and, oh yes, it was time to get my cataracts done. I was also told I had dry eye. My cataracts were the reason my white clothes looked yellow after they were washed. As you probably know if you're reading this, looking through cataracts, everything looks yellow, or dingy. Re-washing the clothes (which I did over and over again) did not help, of course.
My surgeon never pushed the Multi-Focal Lens at all. As a matter of fact, he originally talked about using a mono-vision lens, and gearing the lens toward middle distance. I over reacted, saying, "NO! NO! NO!", and explained that I was a night runner, hated my glasses, never wore them to run, would never, ever wear glasses to run, and hardly ever wore them at all, anyway; plus, half the time, didn't know where they were.
At that point, I was told I was a candidate for the PanOptix Lens. I was also told about pin-point lighting (at night) reflecting off the Multi-Focal Lens, and the pin-point lighting (including headlights) looking like spider webs (he didn't say spider webs, but that's what it looks like).
Look, everything in life is a 'trade off'. But the thought of being able to see at all distances, especially when I ran, was an absolute gift.
The left eye was done July 5, 2022. Everything went well. Had a follow-up appointment July 6, and was told everything looked good. Had another appointment July 11, 2022, and I was told my eye looked good, and we were all set to do my right eye (which was examined in depth again). On July 14, 2022 my right eye was being operated on.
I really hate reporting this, but I had severe pain in my right eye after surgery, and no one knows why. Yes, this was the eye with the blood-vessel break, but it was healed by the time of surgery (almost three weeks from the original blood-vessel break).
The pain felt like hot sand was being poured into the front of my eye, while a hot poker was being jammed from the back of my eye toward the front of my eye. When light hit the eye, there was another sensation of someone taking a nail, and pounding it into my eye. Was told to go home, and take whatever medication I normally take for pain. The pain was excruciating, and the staff kept putting in numbing drops in my eye (the drops did nothing). Everyone was very concerned. I did not believe two Aleve would come close to dulling this pain. However, approximately four hours after the pain started, and after going home and taking two Aleve (O.K., O.K., I also took one Advil with the two Aleve) the pain was gone. I also put ice AROUND my eye (above my eye, and to the side of my eye) - even though no one mentioned ice. I had an appointment the the day after my second surgery - July 15, and everything looked great. The surgeon had made a note that if I still had pain, a contact lens (a contact lens that acts like a bandage) should be placed in my eye. However, the day after my surgery, the pain was gone, and has not come back.
I WILL ALWAYS NEED EYE DROPS FOR MY DRY EYE, THOUGH.
It is now a week and a half after my second surgery; and, as of this date (been back to the eye center for two appointments since my right eye was done), my right eye (the one will all the pain) is slightly better than my left eye. I'm told each eye is different, and people react differently.
The bottom line is that I absolutely love my vision, and love running and being able to see at all distances. I have only needed reading glasses in dim light.
I feel like I've been given new eyes; and, if I had it to do all over, I would definitely choose the PanOptix Lens, again. To me this is a gift. Thank you Clareon for creating the PanOptix Lens, and much thanks to my Surgeon, and the Staff.
RonAKA MonaMe
Posted
Good to hear you are happy with the PanOptix lenses. Were they the new Clareon material lenses?