Post - Surgery: Testing 20/20 at Doctor's, But Can't See - PanOptix
Posted , 5 users are following.
I'm starting a new thread with a weird problem. Today I had surgery done on my 2nd eye. Like my first eye, my vision, of course, hasn't completely returned yet. My surgeon does follow ups the day of surgery, so he checked me out today. The tech gave me a reading test and I scored 20/20 in the first eye- with a minus something (can't recall) meaning I am seeing better than 20/20 (?) and good distance-wise with today's surgical eye.
What I don't understand is: if I am getting great numbers at the doctor's, why is it that I cannot read yet due to severe blurriness? Even mid-distance is blurry (computer), and I have to use reading glasses for both. I realize it can take time for things to come together, but this doesn't make sense that my vision is great during testing but not in "real life." The tech said I need more light and to stop relying on Readers so my eyes can adjust, but without Readers, I cannot function. Before today, I wore a contact in my non-surgical eye for distance/mid range but couldn't read at night once I took out the contact, so just read my Kindle with the book up to my face using my non-surgical, weak eye.
Too early to tell what my close/mid range vision is in the new surgical eye.
Did anyone else have this problem? I'm two weeks out today with the first eye.
Thanks-
0 likes, 18 replies
vasily48550 terrym
Posted
PanOptix is tri-focal, which means you see three images at the same time, one overlapped with another. When you look close, one of the images is sharp, two others are not. When you look far, another image is sharp, others are again not. As a result, you can see fine details, such as letters, at all distances, but the image is expected to be somewhat messed up. For example, you are expected to see white halos around white letters, and black letters are expected to look grey. Colors are expected to be washed out. Doctors say that your brain should get used to that, but I don't know how it works out in practice. It seems that many are happy with this quality of vision, at least if they had cataracts for a long time.
terrym vasily48550
Posted
Thanks for your response. I'm not quite sure I understand. Why is it I can see distance so well but nothing close up, ie text? I was told I had 20/20 minus 2 (I think) and could easily read the letters on the wall with both eyes and could read very small text with my 2 week old lens, yet at home, all I can see well is distance. I don't get it---
vasily48550 terrym
Posted
You can think of PanOptix as three different lenses combined into one. The light is split into three parts: 50% is focused to distance, 25% to intermediate and 25% to near. So, distance vision is supposed to be better, it's not surprising.
.
However, other patients with PanOptix who posted here said they do see near too. If I remember correctly, one said that intermediate distance is not so good, but near is fine. Some can read from computer screen, and yet prefer using glasses when reading for long time.
terrym vasily48550
Posted
Thanks for the add'l info- I appreciate it! I'm happy to report that today, my vision has improved remarkably well. Today I have very crisp distance vision, and unlike yesterday, I can clearly see the monitor screen on my computer and...I can read!
I guess it's true that you need both eyes done and working together to get a better idea of your vision.
I had no idea that distance vision 50% is focused to distance. That makes sense as that is what is the best for me. But now, it's all good. I do think that low light may affect near vision- we shall see. But what a HUGE improvement from years of wearing contacts and glasses that, even before my cataracts got bad, caused so may problems in that I never got full range good vision.
Thanks again!
nancy03915 terrym
Posted
I did lots of research before deciding against Panoptic lenses. The contrast is much less than a regular lens. One reason we see so much better at the eye doc is because we are looking at very black letters on a very white background. The real world is not like that.
When my doc and I discussed Panoptic, he said in low light instances I would probably have to wear reading glasses because of the lower contrast. I thought "no thanks."
There is a trade off for every lens we pick. We just have to decide what we are willing to give up for something else we want.
terrym nancy03915
Posted
I'm glad you said that- even with contact lens appointments, I could never understand why I could see the letters in the office but not be able to see well with contacts. They aren't using the same experience as in real life.
I'm going to write up an update on my experience with PanOptics in a new thread- soon. It turns out, these are working really well for me. I just need to see how things go with low light situations. But so far, I'm impressed. Huge improvement in just one day post-surgery.
valerio01538 terrym
Posted
Hello! I read your posts and was very interested in your experience with Panoptix! Next Monday, I'll be talking to my doctor, to define which lens to implant in my right phakic eye (I have a Synfony on the left and I'm in doubt between a Synergy or Panoptx on the right). Now that your vision has improved in your second eye, could you tell me how far away you can comfortably use your cell phone? Is this distance the same for your two eyes? They say the best close distance of Panoptix is 40cm, can you confirm that? I would be very grateful to know your experience so far, be it good or bad....
terrym valerio01538
Posted
Hi Valerio0,
Let me start off by saying that I'm only 48 hours post 2nd surgery, so things could still change and I haven't had the chance yet to drive at night or explore low light reading, etc (though I can read on my Kindle perfectly at night in a dark room).
I have the text on my cell phone enlarged a bit from pre-lens times - but not huge- and I can read an email message clearly at 24" (approx. arm length) using both eyes. This is far better vision I had with my contact lenses. In fact, I had to have Readers with me at all times, as I couldn't see much of any text without them, ie newspapers, instructions, my watch, etc. even before my cataracts got so bad.
Now...if I close either eye, I cannot read the text from that distance. It's more like approx. 16" with my right eye (surgery on that was 2 weeks ago), and 12" with my left eye (surgery was 2 days ago). Sorry- I don't know what that is in cm.
Today was my first real outing and I was astonished at how well I can see. Street signs were clear as a bell. No Readers needed to see labels on items, even at the pharmacy looking at eye drops. I can read the newspaper! Hope this helps!
valerio01538 terrym
Posted
terrym, thanks for the reply!
It's really a very short time and, as @Sue.An2 said, things could still change a little in the coming weeks. It was like that for me when Symfony was implanted (+ 8 weeks), now it has stabilized and I can see perfectly between 24" to infinity, which is Symfony's target. Now I'm thinking of implanting a Panoptix or Synergy in the other eye for more close vision. I don't know if I understood correctly, but you said that with each eye, you have to bring the cell phone closer, to 16" (right eye) and 12" (left eye) to read email on the cell phone? while with both eyes at the same time see better at a distance of 24"? That's it? Sorry for my questions, but I'm just curious about the close-up view that's my focus right now.
terrym valerio01538
Posted
Hi Valerio,
Yes, it's the oddest thing but they told me that at the office: that both eyes work together and you can't go by just one eye. Which is why I freaked out the first day, since I could see nothing, for the most part- both eyes together or the new surgical eye.
For some reason, I do see best with both eyes. If I shut one eye, I don't see as well as I do with both eyes. And yes, my new surgical eye seems to see better close up than the one 2 weeks out. Maybe that will change but I'm not sure it matters, since I'm seeing well close up with both eyes together.
Feel free to ask more questions. This is a great forum that helped me out a LOT when I had questions and concerns. 😃
Sue.An2 terrym
Posted
Hi terrym - your eye will take 6 weeks to heal if without additional complications involved. Tour vision will be changing slightly during that time as IOL shifts back and forth before adhering/settling. you end up + or - .25 diopter during that process. Reason most surgeons don't target plano to risk being a bit farsighted. (Not worth tradeoff of near vision).
Did your surgeon just test your far vision or also get you to read? Once you've had 6 weeks of healing it is best to get a refraction test at your reg optometrist. You'll know better where you landed with your vision.
terrym
Edited
Hi Sue,
I really need to start a new thread because the problems I posted above have disappeared. I totally freaked out when I was told my vision was excellent and that I could even drive, when...once home...I couldn't see much of anything at all.
All that has completely changed, thankfully. I just hadn't given it enough time.
The surgeon tested both eyes for distance but only my 2 week old surgical eye for close up. When I asked how in the world I'd be able to see with one eye, the tech said bring in more light. Thankfully, everything has changed for the better (see my other post today); my vision is incredible. I hope it doesn't change for the worse as things settle!
I was due back in to see them in 3 weeks, but my surgeon noted some pressure in the new eye, so I need to return in a week. If everything stays the same, I'm not sure I'll need any readers at all. Which would be phenomenal, as I expected I would need them. I'll know soon enough...
Sue.An2 terrym
Posted
That's very good news! Pleased for you. It really does take time - even when all goes well. Some people are affected by the drips too a d it affects there vision. Often times things can be better in morning. Best of luck to you with healing completely.
terrym Sue.An2
Edited
Thanks, Sue. I appreciate your feedback. Hoping that things continue as they have. Best of luck to you- sounds like you've had your own journey as well.
Sue.An2 terrym
Posted
Yes it's certainly a journey. Was happy with the results after cataract surgery - unfortunate for younger patients that there can be other complications. I developed epiretinal membrane in one eye - most likely cause is the cataract surgery itself. For now nothing further will be done to resolve it. My province has no specialist capable of performing the procedure and given one eye sees very well - risks outweigh benefits.
terrym Sue.An2
Posted
Sue- I had to look that up- it sounds awful! Do you have any sight in that eye? I'm guessing you are in Canada- would it be possible to travel outside of your area for specialized surgery? I am so sorry!
Sue.An2 terrym
Posted
It was a surprise to end up with epiretinal membrane. I eill be followed by the one retina specialist we have in New Brunswick (Canada) every year. If surgery recommended she will send me to another province. She doesn't see the risk outweighs benefits as the surgery is risky. Fortunately with both eyes open I see fine all ranges. If I close my good eye I can see but there is quite a bit of distortion. Since my visit to specialist last July saw my optometrist. She noted a bit of improvement - wrinkle has moved off my central vision a bit. For now not considering the surgery but does make me thankful I have Symfony IOL and did not do monovision with monofocal IOLs. From the beginning I had good vision with these - do not even need readers. I do have the night vision issues but for me I can live with them.
Just something else that patients should consider before opting for cataract surgery. Especially if only to eliminate glasses.
I stay on forums due yo this condition - hoping one day there can be another way yo correct it. Worries me should vision deteriorate in Right eye. Support here is great.