Should I wait for Zeiss LARA in the US or get Symfony?

sounds very much like Symfony's. I see no concentric circles on streetlights. See them on red traffic lights and car brakes when applied (see no concentric circles if traveling behind a car at night with regular lights on. Definitely size of the circles depends upon distance. Would say it is type of light too. Certain LED porch lights will have the circles around them too. It is too bad we cannot attach pics - would be helpful.

I agree, pictures would be so helpful in cases like these.

I have found that I'm noticing the halos around lights much less now than I did for the first 6 months after surgery. Before, I was always aware of them. Now, they are still there but I think I've just grown accustomed to them as I no longer am even aware that they exist (unless I think about it).

Under no situations do I feel that they impact my ability to drive safely at night and I think that's the most important thing for any outcome. You can easily adapt or learn to ignore artifacts as long as they don't compromise safety.

edge glare compromises safety for me.

Your "shards" do they look like this?

and closer, do they look like this?

Thanks, Komiko. I didn't realize we could insert images on this forum. My Halos with the Restor 2.5D are somewhat similar to the second image you posted except that:

1. The gap between the light source itself and the halo is much smaller (which makes sense for a lower add multifocal) and
2. I can usually discern concentric rings within the halo rather than it just being fuzzy like in the image. If the light source is not round, say a rectangular headlight, then the halo will be somewhat rectangular as well.

Not sure if this will come up in the forum posts (image size) but my halos look pretty close in size to the "Mild" image on this multi-image.

That is my view too when behind card or looking at most lights at night (streetlights stores house lights) except i will see concentric lights around red traffic lights or when people apply brakes. Other annoyance are those bright blue/white headlights coming towards me - they are blinding.

Yes I get what you are saying. These were the closest images I could find on the internet to show my new doc what I see with my Symfony lens. At distance headlights are similar to first image with a halo in the middle and many more starbursts coming off the light than shown in the image. On a divided highway with a median in the middle the starburst reach all the way across the median to the left lane. These have no concentric circles. Up close lights look like the second image, without such a gap between the light and halo, no concentric circles. I don't see concentric circles on all lights, mainly red, amber and halogen street lamps, maybe your wavelength theory is correct.

Recently found this blog someone with symfony lenses wrote and she included pics of what she could see with natural eye vs symfony after 1st surgery. will try snd post link to her blog. here are her before and after pics.

Here her blog - hopefully it uploads

https://harriedefotograaf.nl/blog/what-do-you-see-with-symfony-lenses-after-lens-replacement-surgery

This might be just the corneal swelling lasting too long. If so, will improve with time.

1. I had issues with my left eye for around 3-4 weeks, about a week in while traveling I actually found it got worse.
2. Use the drops, I had both antibiotic / anti swelling as well as hydration drops and wasnt using the latter enough, it was actually dry eye causing the issue (they added some dye to my eye to check)
3. Go back to them, I rang any time I had an issue and got straight back in front of them, you have to
4. I am sure its fine but you do want to find out if there swelling, my wife needed additional time on the drops and thicker hydration drops

Good luck and keep us posted. I am 5 months in and its perfect, it just takes time

Hi gordon92302, You are the only one I have come across who has had done what I am considering & who is in the exact same circumstances.

I originally made a specialist appointment as an optometrist told me I had stage 1 cataracts in one eye. Either I never did or it improved from a year of plant based eating because it now seems I don't. This specialist (I'm in Australia) is apparently one of the few allowed to offer AtLara by Zeiss. I have already seen one specialist who wants to offer me Symfony and possibly a different lens (multi focal ? ) in the non dominant eye to give me perfect reading (ie. perfect at all distances).

I am a 57 year old woman and frustrated particularly by my intermediate distance (if I had to wear glasses for reading it would not be so bad). My eyesight decline is from presbyopia - first reading glasses then gradual inability to see intermediate and distance. I could not tell you what my script is but everything is blurry without multi focal glasses. I can squint and read a number plate of a car ahead.

I have in the past tried mono focal contact lenses as well as multi focal contact lenses and neither of these gave me any satisfaction - some people think they are wonderful!

I am concerned that my perception of good does not match someone else's perception.

I remember reading that you said after the AtLara was put in that you could read at 12" and 18" but not in between? How does that work?

I do a lot of work in my art and framing studio at night. I need good contrast and colour vision.

If the end result is not ideal, can the sharpness be restored with laser or glasses or is it lost forever?

I noticed your wife had this done also and it is taking time for adjustments. Have you both still been able to carry out normal work while recovering?

I feel I will be prone to dry eye as I am a little that way to begin with.

My appointment is next week (consultation) and I am getting cold feet. I am not so worried about the process as I am the outcome. Not having cataracts makes me feel I have a lot to lose. The thought of having the natural eye lens removed when there is not cataracts present is starting to feel risky. I am at a point where I have the funds set aside for this hopefully life changing (for the better) procedure and may not have it down the track if I were to hesitate.

I would love an honest opinion of your end result. How different is the outcome to simply wearing multi focal specs? Is it better or worse? Is the flaring at night still apparent or has your brain adjusted.

I feel old(er) with glasses and they irritate me and I am forever misplacing them! (but my partner loves me with them). I hate not being able to look around or go out to dinner unaided or around the house. I want to read more and found it a struggle since using multi focal glasses.

I would love your feedback if you have the time.

Moderator comment: I have removed the email address as we do not publish these in the forums. If users wish to exchange contact details please use the Private Message service.

Pictoframe - I am very interested in your comment about plant based diet reversing cataracts or affects of cataracts. Have not come across that at all and as i was diagnosed at 53 with cataracts I searched everywhere including questioning the specialists but everything pointed towards surgery only solution. For some cataracts don't progress too fast but mine progressed very fast. Within I year my eyesight was 30/50 and 20/60 (cod no longer read lic plate of car in front of me).

18 months 6 weeks apart had the Symfony lenses implanted. Being near sighted all my life didn't want to lose my close vision. 80% of my work day is on computer. was expecting to need readers but i see well at all distances - in good lighting. I do see concentric circles around certain light sources at night. It was troublesome to drive (distracting) first few months but it is much better (not that circles disappear - got used to them). That is main trade-off with multifocal and EDOF lenses.

EDOF lenses allow for seamless vision but don't guarantee good near vision. I was not expecting to read at 11 inches with Symfony like I do. I was expecting at to ve more st 18 to 21.

Multificals provide vision at 2 focal points so that is why there is dome blurring between the 2. at LISA is a trifocsl to cover all 3 distances. However light is split between the focal points and one would lose a little more contrast than EDOF lenses like atLARA and Symfony.

The other variable in all this is pupil size. And it will be independent if lens you choose. Given your younger age your pupil could dilate beyond the IOL causing visual disturbances. IOLs all tend to be 6mm.

Wishing you all the best. Be interested in your updates.

Read up up on all this. There is no perfect lens but you will see better after the procedure. Just gad my 18 month check up and right eye is 20/15 zero astigmatism. left eye is 20/25 with .75 astigmatism. I don't wear glasses except sun glasses so i do put the prescription in LE in those.

chs15 for some people the eyes react to the drops and vision is affected by them. Not to say stop the drops as they are very much needed. But if not corneal swelling could be the anti inflammatory drops. Vision will be better after those are done with. Every 2hours seems like a lot. However each clinic prescribes differently or could be the strength varies. I was prescribed them 4 times a day first week then twice a day for 3 weeks.

Dry eye too causes blurriness and cataract surgery can definitely cause it. If you haven't already buy some over the counter lubricating drops. I like Systane Ultra but there ate many kinds on the market.

Hi there. Tough decision of course that you need to make for yourself but I have no regrets. A couple of points, firstly I do not recall the 12 in 18 in comment, I would say I can read FROM about 12 inches and it seems I can read as far out as my arm will go or there abouts. Reading is great and I would not have done this if I was going to have readers. Second, nor I or my wife had cataracts, we both had multifocal glasses for presbyopia. Reading 2.25 and distance I think 1.5-1.75. My wife was slightly better on reading at 1.75 but not quite as good on distance. We simply did not want glasses anymore. Neither of us needed glasses before 45 I am now 56

I was back to work 2 days after the operation and flew to Prague for a week of meetings 5 days later.

Contrast is great, light from using Zeiss is apparently better than mono-focal so vision at night is good. Contrast great colours excellent. The only issue is the starbursts and concentric circles under specific conditions at night. If I am tired its worse. At the start it was very noticeable. It still is a hinderance with bright on coming headlights but I drive many miles per year in my job and it is becoming less noticeable. It does not stop me driving and although I time to time realise they are there it is completely manageable. My brain is over time cancelling it out and I just dont notice. The tradeoff is more than worth the outcome. I asked also about mixing different lens, the Surgeon had done it but didnt recommend he had faith the Zeiss would do everything and outcome would be no glasses. I read print smaller than when I had 20/20 vision. There are no guarantees and its your call but for me best thing I ever did, and my wife would say the same. Good luck in your decision

Thanks Gordon for sharing. Obviously everyone had their perspective on this. Wonder if yours would change any if after clear lens exchange you couldn't read or worse every distance was blurry due to calculations being off.

Although inconvenient to need readers once we hit our 40s it does correct the vision problem.

I know each person has their own tolerance for risk and if advised of all the trade-offs and compromises by the surgeon himself then one accepts the outcome whatever that might be.

I have read and personally know people where this procedure has gone sideways and they regret doing it. There are also greedy clinics and surgeons who do not disclose everything (one person I know thought this was like lasik - never knew her natural lens was removed). Doctor used term Presbyvision to correct near vision.

I have no issue with anyone that has all the facts going ahead with this even though personally at 53 I would never have opted for this over glasses. Unfortunately cataracts forced my hand. But so many clinics don't do due diligence. And at the fees they charge one cannot help but think this is a real money maker for them. So let the buyer beware. I am heart broken for friends that didn't understand what they were doing. And a lot can be done after the fact.

These IOLs even if all goes well - were designed with seniors in mind. Eyes don't dilate as much as a younger individual in their 40s and 50s. If your pupil dilates beyond the IOL this causes disturbing and debilitating vision issues.

I am glad you and your wife are enjoying great vision and all has worked out for the better. But there are no guarantees. If you are on these forums much - you can soon tell for some this has not gone so well.

sorry missing word - meant not a lot can be done after the fact. 4th paragraph.

i agree with your opinion Sue. cataracts forced my hand too. otherwise the pco and rd risks are something i would like to avoid with glasses.

i am sure i would be different but i did the leap and it worked

Only you can decide if you are prepared to take the risk or not in gambling its always the reality and this remains a gamble

I evaluated the odds and played it to a good outcome that doesnt mean you should

good luck whatever you do or dont do my input here has reached a fair conclusion, this is my experience

good bye and good luck all!

Thank you. My script for glasses is the same as you, Gordon, and I didn't need glasses until my 40s either and I dont have cataracts.

My specialist is a microsugeon and high up n his field hence why he has access to AtLara while others don't so I hope I'd be getting best of the best. I'll see what he says but I'm tempted to hold off.

Thank you.

Best wishes Gordon - my comments weren't meant to be negative towards you personally. Just a caution for others reading this thread at some point to really research this well. From my own experience with other situations (mostly travel - prepaying hotels and basic airfares for better rates) knowing full well that these are non refundable and no changes allowed - make me so frustrated when something unforeseen comes up and I am stuck.

So I really think even if someone knows the risks and it doesn't pan out how gut wrenching that would be. In case of travel I am out money. In this case it's someone's eyesight (so central to our family life work life - everything really).

I had no choice - was going blind due to cataracts and I had the type that rapidly progressed. There is no more decisions to do or not do now. I chose a premium lens in Symfony to see well at all distances (need good lighting - cannot read well in dim lighting). I knew about the night vision issues. Everything has a compromise.

All the best yo you Gordon.

Waddleduck - glad you ate doing your homework before getting this done. I would encourage you to read some threads here where it didn't pan put well. Or talk to some people that don't have a vested interest in making money off of your decision.

Know there is no perfect lens currently available. No matter which you choose there is s compromise. with glasses or contacts you can be corrected to 20/20. With IOLs tbe power calculation is based off a formula that may or may not be off. During healing process the IOL shifts back and forth as it is a lit thinner than your natural lens (1mm vs 4mm) so depending where it adheres you can be .25 diopter wither way. There's no guarantee you will be glasses free for all distances. Your natural lens in your 40s is still way better than an IOL. Who knows by the time you need this procedure a much better lens could be on the market.

The surgery itself carries risk (retina detachment for one - more prevalent in younger males).

Please research this well and know all the risks. It is a very expensive procedure but you'll be put more than money if this doesn't turn out well.

I

Thanks Sue. Actually the frequency of 2 hours for just 2 days after which it was reduced to 4 times, again reducing by one time every subsequent week. So I am now having to put the drops just once a day.

I wanted to share my reflection in case it benefits people on this forum given that I am now in my 4th week after the cataract surgery to implant At Lara lens. I am numbering these personal reflections:

1. No lens is as good as God's lens! Period. At grade 1 stage at least (mine was PSC which actually commences at the centre instead of the periphery), I would never advise anyone to go for the surgery. The quality of life is much better even with an imperfect natural lens than a natural lens. I am immigrating to another country, hence I hurried through this although I think at the rate of growth that I was having, I could have done this at least 3 years later and benefited out of better technology.
2. Medical science is still not perfect and is far from it. From forums I realise that a lot of patients are worried about lens but my personal experience is that no matter how much you spend or how advanced lens you finally go for, it ultimately depends on how the lens finally sits in the capsule. They say science has advanced a lot to allow simulating the post surgery status of the lens, cornea, etc., but in my case at least it clearly did not work out.
3. Monofocal lens is much simpler and chances of error in power might be much lesser. However, if you go for eDOF lens like At Lara or Symphony, the power estimation on the IOL master machine is the most curcial process which typically gets the least significance from both the parties. In my case, my distance vision has worsened to -.75 (both spherical and cylindrical) from -.50 (only spherical) before surgery - this is based on on simple test without dilation and therefore less accurate. They will be prescribing me glasses after the 5th week which is the earliest when it will be safe to dilate my eyes again. My left eye underwent the surgery but my dominant right eye is plano so I am not facing too much inconvenience.
4. Halo is pretty bad even on At Lara lens which promises to be better than Symphony in dealing with halos. Perhaps thats because of my distance vision issues.
5. My near vision is almost perfect now since my reading power before the surgery was +1.25. However, when it comes to digital screens which is what life is all about today, the vision is not that great and I am assuming even a grade 2 cataract affected natural lens will offer much better vision. When it comes to reading whats printed on paper, the lens is perfect. Thus, I am not sure why lens manufacturers are still optimising reading experience on paper instead of digital screens (be it super amoled or LCD).
6. Final realization in hindsight, I could have gone ahead with just a normal monofocal lens instead of going for At Lara EDOF!

The above is just my opinion and I do not intend to influence your decision but my only advise is to consider all scientific advances dispassionately.

Sorry under point no. 1, there is a typo - please read: "imperfect natural lens than a natural lens" as "imperfect natural lens than an artificial lens".

those are great candid points @ chs15

on #6 i feel the same but wonder how much my intermediate would worsen if i went with monofocal,

hi chs15 - unfortunately list my original profile under Sue.An and sad to lose all my original threads. I can log on to view but cannot post. Says account deactivated. No idea why so opened Sue.An2 account.

i agree one's natural lens is best and I have not been an advocate of those wanting clear lens exchange nor fir early stage cataracts if vision can be corrected with glasses - although it comes down to individual's choice. Just hope they are aware of all the downsides you outline above.

At 53 my cataracts were advanced - best corrected vision 20/50 and 20/60. Vision test to drive requires 20/40 min. So for me it wasn't a choice.

I am now year and a half out from surgeries and am thankful it all worked out. I have good vision - although can't compare it to hood vision i used to have as i spent 6 months not seeing well at all - not even road signs or car lic plate in front of me. But today don't need glasses to read or for distance. RE from very recent test at optometrist is plano, no astigmatism. LE sees 20/25 and does have .75 astigmatism so I got prescription sunglasses. When lighting is dim i have readers +1.25 which i use on rate occasions. Overall pleased with outcome as without this surgery life was miserable. My only complaint would be the concentric circles I see around certain lights.

How far out from the surgery are you?

Hi Sue - I am nearing 4 weeks out of surgery and 46 yrs young  Good to know that your vision improved after almost 6 months. so that gives me dome hope.

So young for cataract surgery. Did the doctor give any explanation as to why you had cataracts at 46? For me it was steriod cream for eczema and nasal sprays. Wish I had none as those weren't too helpful anyways.

Well Sue, in my case also doc suggested that it might have been for steroid medication but I really dont remember having been on any such thing. My right eye is clear so not really sure abt the cause in just the left eye.

Hi chs15 - not sure the surgeons can definitively say why one gets early cataracts. In my case he didn't actually indicate it was the steriod medication but at time of my consult my eczema was bad and he noted that and just said that it is an indication that points to how my skin and other tissues react. He may be right as I have also had to battle skin cancer. Steriods are included in a lot of medication to treat - eczema, allergies and pain. Even if not in high doses over time and prolonged use might account for early cataracts. No one on my mother or father's side have had early cataracts. both my parents in their 70s and my mom has early signs but not affecting vision yet.

how are you getting along now that time has passed? Has vision improved? You ate younger than I so wondering if pupil dilation is an issue (seeing edge of IOL).

hoping things have gotten better for you.