Starburst around all lights at night after cataract surgery

Some types of starbursts have nothing to do with the optics of the lens, unfortunately the cause varies for things that have the same vague description of being a starburst. One potential cause is   (search for this):

"The type of visual symptoms that you are describing are very possibly due to a crease or wrinkle in the posterior lens capsule that is left in place in order to support the lens implant."

 If that is the cause, the suggested treatment for that is a YAG, though unfortunately complicates the process of a lens exchange since it usually requires the new lens to be placed outside the bag (which still tends to lead to great results, it just does increase the risks a bit). So unfortunately if you might want a lens exchange due to other symptoms, it may be best not to try a YAG.

The   concentric ring halos are due to the optics of this lens and would go away with a monofocal. It isn't clear if the ghosting is definitely a symptom of this lens, or some other factor. 

The brain can do amazing things in terms of adapting to major visual changes that people wouldn't expect to be able to adapt to. There is a famous experiment where people wore glasses that turned the world upside down.. and eventually their brains figured it out and flipped the world right side up. (search for: neuroadaptation upside down).

Some  people do have effects initially after cataract surgery that they would have described as "massive" as you do, and yet they do adapt to them, their brain tunes it out, though usually that happens during the first few months.  Some do see issues take longer than a year to resolve, but if they are too much of a problem then obviously at some point it makes sense to give up hoping for that and just get an exchange.

Obviously its frustrating to have gone through that, but there is no way to predict in advance who will have problems. Only a minuscule % of people ever require an IOL exchange, but obviously unfortunately *someone* winds up being the "statistic". It makes sense for someone with cataracts at a comparatively young age to consider a premium IOL since if the bet pays off they benefit for decades with the results, but its also true as you note that if the results are bad it makes sense to take care of them since you'll live with the results longer. On average younger people  are more likely to be active than someone elderly and view it as even more important to get rid of problematic visual artifacts.

 

We have identical results from the Symphony lens. I also didn't get any of the benefits. The myopia is not 20/20, I still have astigmatism, I can't see intermediate or close. I also have the huge starbursts, halos/circles, and glares. Starbursts from headlights make it impossible for me to drive in the dark now which affects my ability to do my job fully. I am working with a second surgeon to determine if I should exchange this lens or live with what I now have.  I'm afraid to exchange, because I'm afraid I will end up with the same results.  I'm also sick to my stomach I am out $3,500 out of pocket for this lens. I had to take out a loan to pay for it and will now be making payments on a lens that didn't work for me.

Reasonable comments. I asked the surgeon if there was any way to have predicted that I would have these problems. He said no, and that it would make no sense for them to do the procedure if there was a  risk of needing to reverse it. He warned me that there is a risk that the bag could rupture while trying to remove the lens in which case I would be left with no lens until further surgery using a different technique to fix it. I hope this time I am in the lucky 90%.

Again the odds are you'd have good results even if the bag ruptures. I'm surprised he is talking about a 2nd surgery for it, rather than having a backup IOL ready to insert then if that happens, which I had read of surgeons doing. The issue is that they usually place 1 piece IOLs inside the capsular bag, but outside the bag for various reasons they use 3 piece IOLs so they'd be using a different model if the capsule ruptures.

Although I have a general understanding of the issues (since I chose to bet on the Symfony, knowing there was a tiny chance I'd need a lens exchange and accepting that risk),  I don't know enough about the details of the surgery  to know if there is some reason it makes sense to wait rather than doing it then, or if its merely reticence to have a backup 3 piece IOL   onhand since they likely won't  need it.  I don't know if perhaps they need to let the eye settle to figure out exactly where to place it and if that would influence the power choice.

You can't expect the lens to work right  if there is significant residual astigmatism (though the studies show the Symfony is more tolerant of residual astigmatism than many  IOLs in terms of providing better distance vision even with some astigmatism). If you can't even see intermediate, the odds are there is either refractive error they need to correct, or some other eye problem unrelated to the IOL that is interfering with visual quality. 

Do contacts or glasses correcting the astigmatism (and any other refractive error) for distance provide intermediate, or  alleviate the other symptoms? Unfortunately I'm wondering if you have other eye issues that are at play. Even things like dry eye (which may not feel dry since the nerves were cut during surgery) can cause some of those issues.

Most studies don't report on halo&glare issues until the 3 or 6 month mark since most people who have problems initially see them resolve in the first few months. 

If you have residual astigmatism, then that should be correctible via rotating a toric lens, or incision or laser. They wouldn't do an incision or laser  until you were sure you were keeping the lens and would correct it via contact lens until then, since if you do a lens exchange the astigmatism would change so its best not to correct it until then.

Thank you so much for your comments. Contact lenses that correct the astigmatism actually make the intermediate worse (I can tell if it make the close worse because it is now so bad to begin with). I have obtained a second opinion and they are a bit appalled at my situation. They also told me I now have scar tissue behind the lens as a result of the laser used to break up the cataract. I do not have any other eye issues or dry eyes. The have provided me with a perscription for eye glasses (trifocals) with anti glare to see if this will fix any of my issues. I have not received these glasses yet, so I don't know. 

I'm a bit confused as to why fixing the astimatism made the intermediate worse. It did make distance very clear but at the expense of intermediate and close. 

I'm am petrified to have them go back in and rotate, replace or do any laser. I'm worried I will end up with even a worse mess than I already have. 

My left eye is on hold until I get all this worked out. I'm wondering if I can wear lenses to correct the distance in the right eye and then have the left eye adjusted for intermediate and close?

Although I haven't seen an improvement in the starbursts, halos, glares, etc. since 2 weeks post op (I'm at 8 weeks post op now), I'm hoping that within the next couple of months they will improve.

Thanks so much for your time,

The scar tissue sounds like the sort of thing that might cause trouble like starbursts or halos, as I noted above an article notes:

"The type of visual symptoms that you are describing are very possibly due to a crease or wrinkle in the posterior lens capsule that is left in place in order to support the lens implant."

If a crease or wrinkle can cause issues, that suggests scar tissue might as well, you might search for that issue. Dry eye can be a temporary side effect of surgery and also cause halos&glare, often due to nerves being cut that tell the brain the eye is dry, which leads people to not realize that is the issue. 

It is odd that fixing astigmatism would make intermediate noticeably worse. Astigmatism means your eye isn't shaped like a sphere, it has some power X in one direction and a slightly different power Y in the other. That causes blur at all distances, however it can increase the depth of focus a bit. e.g. if someone is 0D for sphere (focused at distance), but the cylinder is -1D, that means that in one direction their eye is -1D myopic, and their average lens power is -0.5D, slightly myopic. So depending on the direction of the astigmatism (if its myopic or hyperopic), correcting it via glasses/contacts could reduce near vision a bit. However with the Symfony, vision corrected for good distance vision has such a large range of good vision that intermediate should still be good. I don't know if you are one of the rare people that can't adapt to its optics (I know there are some with a multifocal, I hadn't heard of whether any had that issue with the Symfony). I'd almost wonder if they put in the wrong lens and you got a monofocal rather than the Symfony, but the doctors should have been able to see the difference when they looked since it has diffractive rings the Tecnis monofoca doesn't have.

  

I had cataract surgery on my right eye last May and had the multifocal lens put in.  I struggled with severe halos at night. Although I was able to read small print after many years using readers, my mid range vision was not as sharp and I always felt like there was a bit of a fog in my vision.  After six months, I went in for a check up and was told that my vision was 20/30, (previously 20/20) but 20/80 with glare, which is not legal for driving.  I had the YAG procedure in December to hopefully reduce the glare.  Not only was there no improvement, I now have starbursts along with the halos which are noticeable during the day as well.  I saw another specialist for a second opinion and he said everthing looks fine as far as my eye health and the placement of the lens.  This just appears to be my side effect.  I guess I also have a bit of astigmatism now as well.  He gave me samples of a drop to use at night to reduce the size of my pupil.  It doesn't help much.  I will need to have my left eye done as well and am terrified that I will have the same result.  I was told that the lens can be replaced, but it's riskier now that I've had the YAG procedure.  I was also told that multifocal lenses work best if they are in both eyes.  Do I risk surgery on my left eye with a multifocal or do I risk surgery to replace my new lens with a monofocal lens and do the same with my left eye?  This is so frustrating!  I'm hoping to hear from someone with a solution.

I have the same questions. Let's keep inquiring (doctors and online) and keep each other informed as we learn new information/solutions. 

Dear Maren,

I had AT Lisa trif focals in January this year and since day one I see huge halos around all lights, even in daylight if the car's headlights are on. They are obviously worse in dim and dark situations. There is also ghosting and glare. I now see full circle rainbows inside the huge "spiders web" halos. The halos around street lights and headlights are so big, they take up half the road.

I had mine done in Prague, you can google it and it will come up with the place I had it done! They don't care, they don't want to know. They told me I need to give it 6 months minumum to neuroadapt. Back in UK I have seen two UK eye surgeons privately who told me to have them explanted and monfocals put in. I am scared to do it and the cost is very high in UK. 

Meanwhile, I have been unable to drive at night or dim light and unable to work, as I work at a computer screen all day.

Under fluorescent lighting, such as shops, offices and restaurants, my vision is very cloudy/misty and I walk around looking at my feet, because I cannot bear the fuzziness around the lights and the unclear images. 

In good daylight I can see very well indeed at all distances, but UK is not always a sunny place and I don't spend my life outside!

Anyone considering multi or trifocals DON'T do it. I haven't read any good reviews since actually delving into all of this AFTER my surgery.

If you don't have cataracts (I did not) and just want to see reasonable at all distances (better at near or far), then go for monofocal. My husband has mono's and he can see at all distances. He only wears reading glasses (+1) in dim lights like reading a  menu or at home using his computer tablet (small screen). His eyesight prior to this was so poor he could not drive.I wish I had listened to him. Ho hum.

Another thing to add - don't have YAG unless you are 100% it is the capsular bag which is cloudy, otherwise it is a far trickier process to have the lens explanted. Two eye surgeons in Uk have told me this.

I am giving my eyes another 3 or months to neuroadapt and if I still have halos and misty vision, I will have them explanted and mon's put in. If I eed to wear glasses for reading afterwards, so be it. I would rather live in a clear world without alien vision. 

They moderate links on this site, but if you google you can find this article about a study of the AT Lisa trifocal which mentions the reality that halos decrease over time, although most don't consider them a problem from the start:

"Regarding the perception of photic phenomena, 90% of patients reported to perceive halos at 1 month after surgery, although 80% of these patients described these halos as not disturbing. At 3 months after surgery, the perception of halos decreased to 50%. ...

This perception of halos decreased in all patients at 3 months after surgery. Law et al. [5] also found a reduction in the perception of halos over time, decreasing from 80% at 1 month to 40% at 6 months after the implantation of the same trifocal IOL."

Obviously if your life is too impaired by these issues then a lens exchange is something to consider. Hopefully the surgeons who were suggesting a lens exchange right now did acknowledge that you might adapt and see the problems go away, and were merely acknowledging that if the issues are too bad that it isn't worth it for you to wait then to go ahead and do a lens exchange. (I'm just concerned some surgeons might be discounting neuroadaptation and fanning the flames of fear this won't resolve in order to get to do a lens exchange).

re: "haven't read any good reviews"

Then you haven't bothered looking very far. Unfortunately it is true that most people who have good results never post, and even a tiny minority with problems can lead to a lot of posts so people can too easily develop a skewed view of the results. One site notes:

"97% of the patient treated with these lenses would recommend them to their families and friends; as shown in a recent Mexican study."

It is important for people to realize that unfortunately  with a procedure that isn't perfect, *someone* winds up being the "statistic" with poor results. Those considering a premium lens merely need to go into it realizing there is a minuscule change they'll need a lens exchange if they are the rare "statistic", and they need to be prepared there may be some adaptation time. In my case since I was atypically young for cataracts, I decided that the potential benefit of a few decades of more convenient vision was worth the slight risk of a lens exchange. (though in my case I decided at the last minute to go with the Symfony rather than a trifocal lens due to its lower risk of side effects, and better bet for good intermediate).

It is unfortunate that your results are atypical, but unfortunately even with monofocals there are a certain % of people with severe halo&glare issues. 

 Its also important for people to realize that the results with a monofocal will vary depending on the person and their natural depth of focus so they can't assume they'll get as great a result as someone they know. Some tiny minority of  people can do some reading even with a monofocal set for perfect distance vision, while I've seen doctors indicate that more typically they should expect vision to start to get blurry from 6 feet in, while others I've seen post indicate that for them its more like 10-12 feet (though perhaps they were left a bit hyperopic). 

Obviously monovision can improve near vision with monofocals, at the expense of reducing depth perception, though most people don't notice it. Back before cataracts, I  didn't notice a loss of depth perception when wearing contact lenses in monovision, but then when I switched to multifocal contacts I noticed the world being subtly more 3D near me and I preferred multifocals. There are studies suggesting some slight increased risk of falls in the elderly who have monovision correction due to the depth perception issue.

Ideally people getting  surgery should  before that try a test with multifocal contacts to at least get some idea of what they might be getting into, although unfortunately the optics isn't quite the same and overall  likely not as good, but it may give people at least some idea.   Some who dislike multifocal contacts would have liked a multifocal IOL, no test is perfect. Ideally they'd try contact lenses in monovision as well to see which they prefer (although that also isn't a perfect test since they may not have as large a range of vision with an IOL as with their natural lens, especially if they are young enough to to have some accomodation left).

Unfortunately most people with cataract issues have degraded vision by the time they start worrying about surgery so its too late to do a good test, so they should encourage people they know to do a contact lens trial before they get cataracts (even if they don't like wearing contacts normally, they can likely stand it for a while to decide what might work for them when they get surgery).

 

Hi

First of all I had googled for months about  multifocals as those were the ones I had "chosen". I had read good reviews, these were on the websites of people advertising their products (lenses), but since having mine done, I have discovered that the so called good  reviews are those from people who had cataracts, so their benchmark was not the same as mine. In addition to this, there were no negative reviews, because they would have been filtered. For surgeons doing 50 operations a day, you would expect to see hundreds of reviews on their website - I found just a few.

I was told by the Company in Prague that I needed trifocals, when ahead of visiting I told them I would prefer mono or multi, not trifocal. Of course, trifocals are more money....and I should have stood up to them and gone with my own feelings on this. I expect that I may have still experienced halos, but I do not think they would have been as bad as I experience now. I will never know. Not enough questions were asked about expectations. I did tell them I drive home from work at night. I told them I suffer from anxity and depression at times. 

Before I decided on lens exchange, I had tried multifocal contact lenses. Once I had them in, I noticed that everything was blurred from 6 feet and beyond. I though the optimetrist had gotten my prescription wrong, so went elsewhere to have my eyes checked and asked them to try me with multi focals. The same thing happened, blurred vision beyond 6 feet.  I explained all this to the go-between in Prague, ahead of my surgery and expected her to pass on this information to the surgeon as requested by me.

All I ever read about regarding multifocals and trifocals are halos, blurred vision, loss of clarity. Even the surgeons state this on the websites I have googled. Life is not just about being able to read text.

As a female, age 50 odd and an outdoors person, but with a full time job in front of a computer, I need my eyes and I cannot continue like this, being unable to drive and unable to work. I would advise NO ONE to have other than monofocals if you want a varied lifestyle. 

NB The four English speaking people who had the same trifocal lens exchange the same time as me were all disappointed with their outcomes, too. All were of a similar similar age. None had cataracts. all of us complained at the time.

I will do as they stated and wait until 6 months have passed and then I shall revisit and ask what they intend to do now, being as they were the ones who were desperate for me to pay more for the trifocal AT Lisa's, because these would have allegedly "given me great outcome for near, middle and distance". 

re: "First of all I had googled for months about  multifocals as those were the ones I had "chosen". I had read good reviews, these were on the websites of people advertising their products (lenses),"

There are people posting on their personal blogs and on discussion forums. The better sources to look at are actual studies of the lenses reported on in journals, trade publications, government approval data, conference proceedings, etc, though I know many folks don't have the background to evaluate studies or wade through the technical jargon as I did for years before my surgery, and afterwards out of curiosity (partly since the Symfony was new so I did take a bit of a risk, to see later data confirming my decision, and to answer questoins of others and to watch for  any future new lens worth considering a lens exchange).

re: "multifocal contact lenses"

It can take time to find the right model of multifocal contact lens, millions of people are happy with them, but not everyone of course.  They have some drawbacks, but they are usually things like lower quality vision in dim light (the Symfony IOLs do  much better) rather than things like blurred vision from 6 feet out, which suggests you didn't have the right lens or didn't give it time to adapt, or you have trouble with neuroadaptation (a minority of people do).

It is true that some who dislike multifocal contacts do well with a multifocal IOL, since the optics are different, but it should have been a warning sign.

re: "told them I would prefer mono or multi, not trifocal. "

A trifocal is a multifocal. Studies suggest they tend to have fewer side effects than the multifocals that are bifocals, and greater patient satisfaction. 

Those who engage in medical tourism shouldn't expect premium levels of handholding when they are trying to get a lower price, they should do their own research beforehand. I had my surgery in the Czech Republic because the Symfony and trifocals weren't yet approved here in the US, and if I needed to travel to Europe I figured I may as well go to a lower cost country (though to one of the top surgeons in Europe despite being low cost).

re: " I would advise NO ONE to have other than monofocals if you want a varied lifestyle"

That is rather questionable. Each person's preferences are different, and many find the better range of vision without loss of depth perception more appealing than a monofocal (which is why i wore multifocal contacts before I had surgery rather than monovision contacts).  I've posted before that when trail running I'm grateful the Symfony provides crisp vision for both eyes  in 3D up to where my feet are  and my watch, and smartphone when I need that, which monovision might not have done. I look forward to getting back to scuba diving at some point and being able to deal with displays and equipment close up in addition to the surroundings.

I have at least 20/15 vision at distance (they didn't have a line below that to test, and that line was easy), 20/20 plus a bit at 80cm, and 20/25 at best near (and possibly at 40cm, they didn't have a 20/25 line there, but I was at least 20/30 plus some off the 20/20 line). I know someone here  about the same age with the Crystalens, which is a single focus lens (though it can accommodate a bit) and he sees more of a reduction in dim light than I do.

I decided on a premium IOL precisely because I was active at age 49 when the cataract showed, and when I gave up on waiting for the US to approve a better lens and got surgery at 52 that is why I went to the trouble of going outside the US, since I hope to be active a few more decades. I was highly myopic before cataract surgery, and the quality of my vision (aside from very near) seems better than I can ever remember it being with contacts or glasses even before surgery (sometimes high myopes are that way  after getting an IOL since the correction no longer minimizes the image).   Bright   headlights are much less distracting now, disability  glare is far less of a problem for me now (I do see translucent halos I see through/past, but they are so mild they aren't an issue since my overall night vision is much better). For very near I'd describe it as being like early presbyopia, where you just notice that some fine print needs to be held out further and for really close up things like threading a needle glasses are needed, and for other tasks they aren't needed (though they can take vision from good to excellent).

re: "All I ever read about regarding multifocals and trifocals are halos, blurred vision, loss of clarity. "

Although halos are a concern with multifocals, the claimed "blurred vision" and "loss of clarity" usually indicate residual refractive error or other eye health issues that don't have anything to do with the particular IOL chosen. There is usually more blurred vision with monofocals due to a lower range of vision. Older multifocals may have reduced distance vision more noticeably, but there shouldn't be much reduction with the newest multifocals like the trifocals (and with the Symfony there is at least one study where distance vision was better than the monofocal control, due to its chromatic aberration correction).

There are > 480,000 premium IOLs implanted each year worlwide (last I checked) so it only takes a minuscule % with problems to lead to lots of posted concerns. Scientists long ago learned to rely on studies rather than anecdotal data to be sure they weren't getting skewed views of what they were studying.

Again, few people post about their good results with surgery, but the posts are out there, and more importantly the actual studies that don't merely rely on anecdotes.  The vast majority of patients are satisfied.

 

re: "Even the surgeons state this on the websites I have googled. Life is not just about being able to read text."

Surgeons are often conservative and wish to caution people beforehand to be prepared since there is no guarantee, even if the vast majority of patients are satisfied. 

re: "For surgeons doing 50 operations a day, you would expect to see hundreds of reviews on their website - I found just a few."

That is an unwarranted assumption. Unfortunately most people don't post reviews, only a trivial fraction of those who get some product or use some service.  There are many sites around the net for reviewing various things and nothing based on the quantity of reviews for other things would make me expect there to necessarily be hundreds of reviews. (I research most things I buy or use, and I've been on the net since 1980, before it was the internet,  so I'm aware of how few reviews there still are compared to what we'd hope for with the current net population).

This was my original post. The reason I posted it was as a means to share my experience and hopeful help me to see that there are others like me. In hopes to offer helpful suggestions and prayer to those with similar struggles. I have monofocal lens that were implanted in June/ July 2015. I am 36 years old and cannot drive at night. Nothing has changed since the last post. The doctors have no answers that make any sense. I think I am in a better place of processing now than I was before however not driving at night is hard because I am single. So it has greatly limited my church and social life. I wish that someone knew how to improve the halos at night but it could be a lot worse. So I will continue to pray the right doctor or peace. I will also continue to pray for all who struggle with similar vision problems.

Hi maren96785,

I have monofocal lenses in both eyes and I never had halos but was developing opacity of the posterior capsule of the eyes so a couple of months ago I had YAG laser in the right eye and had the same side effect you did...  starbursts mostly at night but also noticeable and annoying during the day. I also tried the drops to reduce pupil size to no much improvement. I will let you know if I make any progress. 

I had my operation a week ago and I had my first check up today. The operation went well but I currently have quite a bit of astigmatism. I'll go back in 6 weeks to for another checkupand then we will decide on the next step. I was worried before the operation but I am feeling optimistic now that things are improving for me.

At my follow up appointment my surgeon performed the YAG laser capsulectomy and now I have massive starburst s again!!!!! Different to before in that the lines are much longer, but there are fewer of them. I will have to see what. happens next.

Hi OmegaMale

I posted before, but could not sign in, despite me getting follow up emails...

I had lens replacement in January this year and if you look at my previous posts under andaloosa, you can establish how bad I felt aboutt he outcome. I had AT Lisa tri focals. 

Before the operation, I did not have astigmatism and I only needed +1.0 for reading and + 1.25 for reading streets signs, seeing labels on products etc. AFTER lens exchange I now requite + 2.0 for reading and + 1.50 computer work! However, I do not require them to view my phone, read small print, so long as it is just for a few seconds, as it is not actually clear.

With regard to the starbursts, haloes, ghosting, this is still very apparent and I would be unable to drive at night, or in dimly lit conditions. It has not improved. What I have noticed is that I now have full size rainbows inside the centric rings or haloes I see around car headlight and wondered if you had this, too?

I have seen two independent eye surgeons and 6 optimetrists since my lens replacement, all of whom have said I have healthy eyes and that there is no opacification. They have all said that replacing with monofocal lenses is the only option, if I want to get rid of those horrible side effects. 

Did your surgeon actually tell you that you had opacification and were you offered monofocals as an option?

 

HI andaloosa1

.Just to clarify, I had my left eye's synfony lens replaced this year after struggling with it for a year and lost all of the effects such as halos, ghosting, and starbursts, but I still need to have the remaining astigmatism corrected. My range of vision is no worse than with the Synfony lens I had before so I would have been better off having it all along.However my surgeon told me there was evidence of opacification ( having had two operations on the same eye) and that is why he performed the capsulectomy. This has now given me new starbursts as described above. I see the surgeon again in a few weeks time. Eventually the question of what to do with my right eye will have to be addresse, but first I want my left eye as good as possible. Meanwhile this week my right eye developed a PVD, just as my left did a year ago. Perfectly normal apparently.

Hi OmegaMale

Thanks for writing back.

Did you have the sympony removed and a monofocal put in? What brand was it? My husband had monofocals in 3 years ago and he doesn't have any problems with halos or starbursts, just minimal ghosting on very bright objects. He had them done on NHS. He had the brand Abbott. He now only requires +1.0 for reading. I find it incredible how my eyesight is worse now than before I had lens replacement....I only gained middle distance vision, i.e. being able to see street signs and read labels on products in the supermarket.

re: "Before the operation, I did not have astigmatism "

That implies you have some now (which can happen, the astigmatism on the cornea may have been balanced pre-op by the astigmatism in the natural lens). Astigmatism can reduce visual quality at all distances and can contribute to night vision artifacts if it isn't corrected.  You don't mention how much astigmatism you have, but that may be what is causing you to need correction since that is very atypical with a trifocal.

You are still within the initial few month period where many people are still adapting to the IOL unfortunately. 

re: "He now only requires +1.0 for reading. "

Unfortunately everyone's results will vary, with monofocals you might need a much larger power, especially based on your results with a trifocal. That is why people need to plan on typical average results based on studies, but then be prepared the results might be worse. 

 

re: "still need to have the remaining astigmatism corrected. My range of vision is no worse than with the Synfony lens I had before "

You never mentioned what your refraction was with the Symfony, I'm guessing you were left hyperopic which would have cut down on its visual range. Residual astigmatism would also have cut down on its visual range, and led to increased night vision artifacts, so that may have been the issue.

 

Hi

According to the two eye surgeons and 6 optometrists, I don't have any astigmatism...

Since the lens exchange, I have out of focus vision in fluorescent ighting and dimly lit areas. I have the giant halo's, which now have full circle rainbows in them, ghosing around bright objects and I need a higher strength of reading glasses prior to the exchange. It doesn't make any sense to me and I am getting know where with the surgeon in Prague who did it. All they say is I need to wait at least 6 months and that if I have mono's implanted as replacements, I will need reading glasses!!! OMG do they never read my emails...

My eyes are healthy, I didn't have cataracts, as mentioned before, I wanted to be free from wearing two pairs of glasses and having to carry them around all the time. Tri focals were actually not my choice - I was told by the surgeon (a surgeon who did NOT actually do the exchange), that these were my best option, but now feel it was just a  money making racket....

Oh to have a crystal ball... those side effects were not worth changing from carry 2 pairs of spec's everywhere. My life is ruined now,as I am sure a lot of people on here feel the same way.

Hi there.  Am a very stressed out 63 year old woman who had the multifocal laser cataract procedure done (Abbot).  I've been reading and reading and all of you seem to be very knowledgeable on the subject.  My right eye - according to my eye doctor - needed immediate attention so I surgery on Feb 7th.  3 days later (I had not been outdoors within this period) I went out and noticed these massive starbursts and halos.  I really was terrified because I had none of it pre surgery.  Anyways, my left eye was scheduled to be done on the 21st and when I went to for the pre-op visit I told my doctor about this, he said that there might be some adjustments but the left eye has to be done first and trusting him as he had been my eye specialist for 14 years, I went ahead with the left one.

Same proble.  now I had two eyes with the same problem and the saddest thing is that he refused to acknowledge that I had a problem.  The implants had taken well and really my vision is fantastic during the day - outside.  Indoors not so good.  I have to use reading glasses but that's fine.  That is stated in black and white,  That there is a % of patients who might need glasses.  BUT nowhere and nobody told me that this might happen,.

I was travelling to Australia in April and the doctor knew about it.  I asked him whether I should cancel my trip and asked whether they would issue a letter but he said everything would be fine.

I kept pushing and eventually he asked me to see another doctor in the group.  Apparently he wanted a fresh pair of eyes.  So the second doctor said the same - the lens looked fine, but he was honest enough to admit that some people have these issues which can be corrected with YAG, and to return in 6 weeks to see them

I went to Australia on my annual trip to visit my daughter but it was the worst trip ever.  She had to hold on to me even in the simple act of crossing the road.  I wore my sunglasses once dusk fell but hardly ever went out at night.

Anyways, I went to see the doctor after 6 weeks and he performed YAG on my right eye.  Now it's worse because I have floaters and something else funny which I don't know the term of - it's like I suddenly see movements like someone or something rushing by.

He wanted me to return in 2 weeks for YAG on the left eye but I did not do it. 

Instead I went to a different specialist who is supposed to be very good.  I would very much like to have it re-done if it is safe.  Even if I have to wear glasses again but  she said she could not help me  but thought I might have macular degeneration in my left eye and so I now have to go see a retina specialist.

She also said that if I really wanted to get the lens re-done I should go to a cornea specialist which I will do. 

So I come to the simple question I have.  Has anyone on this forum had their lens re-done with success. 

andaloosa1 seems to be about the only person but not successful right?  As he said - oh to have a crystal ball.  I have had several members in my family who have gone through basic cataract surgery, some have had no problems, a couplle of them did.

My 81 year sister had hers done with distance correction because she was "not eligible" to have the advance technology done since she did not have astigmatism.  She had blurring after - no starbursts or halos.  YAG was performed after about 4 months and now she has no problems whatsover.

I just want to have a normal life.  Be able to go to my grandchildrens recitals, go out to dinner without looking like an alien(or a secret service person)  having to wear sunglasses indoors!!!

You seem to be very knowledgeable and have been on this forum a long time.  Any advice without asking me technical terms which just go over my head?  Thanks

Dear Veepee

I am so sorry to hear about your problems and I can tell you that the starbursts and giant halo's with full curcle rainbows inside them, are still prevalent. I dread Autmn and winter time, because I cannot tolerate the headlights, street lights, dimly lit rooms and fluorescent lights in shopping centres....

I am not sure why you had YAG done, because that would only be done if there is a problem with the capsular bag. I know that my lenses are fixed OK and YAG is not a option and is certainly NOT what either of the 3 eye surgeons I have spoken with recommended. All have said not to do it, as it complicates things if you wish to have the lenses removed and monfocals replaced instead.

The surgeon in Prague who did mine has finally accepted that the side effects I am suffering are severe enough that I cannot continue like this. He has offered to replace them with monofocals, as these don;t cause halos and starbursts (allegedly). I would then need reading glasses, but I would rather have those than continue as I am.  I am not having them replaced for a few months yet, due to work commitments.

My husband has Abbot monofocals which he had done around 5 years ago and he does not see halos, just very mild starbursts. He sees clearly and doesn't require glasses, except +1.0 for reading in more dim light, such as restaurants.

I had 3 months off work, have to have a larger computer monitor in 4k HD and I wear +2.0 glasses for computer work and reading. I hate shopping  now, as the fluorsecent lights make things appear blurred. I cannot drive at night due to the halos.

I don't anticipate my eyes improving - I know they won't, so don't let them fob you off with YAG or them saying your brain needs to adjust.

I am not a Doctor, I can only suggest talking to a few surgeons for advice and enquire about having them replaced with monofocal lenses and what sort of outcome you can expect.  The centric rings around multi and tri focals cause the halos. Monofocals don't have those centric rings so you won't get halos.  x

Hello and thanks so much for replying. After reading through all the comments that's what I thouhht I would do actually. Check whether the multifocal can be replaced with mono. The opthamologist I was seeing, told us that getting the YAG done would clear the problem😞. We were not allowed to ask questions. When I asked him what my options were, he asked me what was my suggestion. As I said earlier, we - my husband and I - have been going to this doctor for 14 years! But it has always been for our routine annual check, so there was no sign of total arrogance until then. There is no way I would ever go back to him. I don't want to wait years, just having to go through this if I can have relief sooner. I will keep on searching

Hi Veepee

Was the YAG actually needed? Sounds a bit odd that he only did this to rid you of halos. An eye surgeon would normally only perform YAG if there is something wrong - opacity in the capsular bag.

I agree, take your time when making the next move. Don't just take the first surgeons word. I paid privately to see two and my Doctor referred me to the 3rd, an NHS surgeon. They all seemed to agree that monofocals would be the only solution to get rid of the side effects.

In UK, NHS only perform monofocals. I wasn't a candidate for lense replacement, so I paid privately to have this done and have regretted it every day since.

 

Hi again, starburst and halos. If it was just a bother I can live with it, but as is with everyone on this forum, it is debilitating.

I live in the US and we have to pay for the lens. Insurance only covers basic cataract surgery and/or surgeons fees. So, $3,500 per eye. The cost would not have mattered for any of us if it had worked right? What I can't understand is why the doctors can't give us straightforward answers.

Hi Veepee

I agree, no straightforward answers are given and no discussion before surgery about the side effects which last forever.

In Uk it is a £4000 per eye, so a lot more expensive. I chose to go to Prague and paid £1200 per eye ($1000 ish). The procedure went well, the lenses are perfectly placed, no opacity etc. I have had my eyes checked so many times since I had it it done in January this year.

It is the multi and tri focals which cause the starbursts, blurriness and halos. The centric rings cause it. I was not given any detail about side effects prior or I would not have had this done. I am 52. I am not prepared to tolerate this. My eyesight is much much worse since before I had the lens replacement. I did not have cataracts - I had it done to eliminate the use of two pairs of specatacle prescriptions.

I will go to Prague again to have the lenses exchanged to mono's. It is much less expensive. I just wish I had seen this forum before I had it done in the first place. These opthomologists need to realise what effect it has on one's life, when they don't give you the true picture of what these multi and tri focals cause. I wish they would ban them.

If you google Prague lens surgery, you will see where I went. It is the main one.

Hi - just thought I would weigh in. I am 53 and do need cataract surgery (scheduled next month). I am seriously considering a premium lens just because I would like better intermediate and distance vision. I have talked to 3 people who have had chosen premium IOLs (they've never posted online) so I was most interested in what they had to say. As someone here has said a lot of people are on this forum to seek info prior to surfy as I have or vision isn't what they expected.

The 3 people I have spoken too are quite happy with their premium lenses. 2 of the 3 have no night vision issues at all and one who had the surgery last Dec said she had halos in the beginning and was uncomfortable driving at night but these settled down and circles are now translucent and she can see past them. She doesn't do a lot of night driving however due to where we live 4 months of the year we drive home from work after dark.

That being said I am wondering why you didn't do lasik surgery to rid yourself of glasses. Lens replacement as it stands today is not perfect (maybe someday it will be). But most of us who have cataracts have experienced diminished eyesight and have to have lens replacement. And the outcomes of that generally are better than what we had prior to cataract surgery. I am no expert but I really cannot understand why an opthamologist would ever do lens replacement on a patient that didn't have cataracts. At the very least they should warn people their vision would not be as good as what they have with glasses or recommend lasik.

I do hope you can find a more discerning surgeon who will go over every option that could improve upon what you have now.

Hi Sue

I was unable to have lasik surgery. I think they prefer to to this on younger eyes and I am 52.

I paid for my own surgery, it is not free unless you have cataracts and it is only free then if you have monofocals.I was able to see very well long distance, the intermediate was not good and the close up was getting worse, due to age, nothing else. I have healthy eyes. I work at a computer all day and had to keep changing my glasses for different tasks, not that I need to explain myself to you or anyone else. 

I tried wearing multi focal contact lenses, but could not see clearly past 6 metres. This should have set alarm bells ringing when choosing multi focal lens replacement. I did inform my surgeon of this prior to the operation, He obviously didn't think it was linked. I have, however, since spoken to an opthomologist who told me her friends Father was unable to get on with multi focal contact lenses and, like me, he had lens exchange with multifocals. Like me, he has regretted it since and is unable to drive. He had his done 18 months ago.

I can only say that my husband, who is a lot older than me, he is 69 now, had extremely poor eyesight, so much so he was unable to drive. He had MONO focals (Abbott) 5 years ago and does not have any complications at all. He only needs +1.0 off the shelf readers for dimly lit reading, such as in restaurants.

Do as much research as you can. The halos I see are so big they take up half the road. Shopping mall fluorescent lights are horrendous. It is like walking in fog. Just be aware.

The surgeon who did mine did a good job implanting them. I chose multi focal, assuming, like you, I would see at all distances, but I need stronger prescription glasses now for reading, than I did before. I have only gained one advantage - intermediate distance is now good and my long distance unchanged (very good).

Please get as many unbiased opinions as you can from eye surgeons. 

 

Thanks very much for your feedback - appreciate all the info I can get. My apologies if I questioned why with healthy eyes you opted for lens replacement- I asked out of curiosity nothing else. This whole process is like playing a game of would you rather as no matter what decision you make not only are there compromises but no eyes or surgeon is skilled the same so there is too much that can go sideways.

I live in a small town so I don't have too many options for surgeons and from asking around the one I have is good (not sure how comparable that is if I was in a larger city). In Canada we have Medicare whic is bit like NHS in England however our opthamologists aren't separate between private and public. Same does both so surgery is covered no matter what lens you choose. I pay difference in price between monofocal and multifocal.

I have spoken to people with have had regular monofocal who still experience halos and glare so no guarantee with those either - just less of a chance than multifocals. Spoke to someone who had Symfony lenses implanted in December from my surgeon whose eyes adapted in 5 weeks to where halos aren't debilitating. She sees through them. What multifocal lens do you have? I have read the chances of bothersome halos/glare are less with low add multifocals. Given my age and working another 10 years (mostly at computer) I would find like before lens replacement very bothersome to get glasses for near and intermediate. If I do opt for monofocals I am seriously thinking about getting them set for intermediate distance and wearing glasses for distance. I have worn glasses since 11 for distance and not been off put. I think losing my good near and intermediate distance that I have now would affect me worse.

I do hope you're lens replacement goes well and you're able to obtain better vision than you are experiencing now.

Hi Sue

I had AT Lisa tri focals. I initially explained that I wanted mono's or multi focals. When I got to Prague and had my eyes tested, the surgeon recommended tri focals so I could see at all distances, which at the time, sounded perfect. This was the surgeon who did NOT do my op, it was one who did all the locals there.

Personally, I felt I was not given the best advice and that it was a money making exercise, like most of these private places. In the UK, on NHS where they only offer mono's, you get unbiased advice as they are not getting paid for upselling.

Unless you have these halo's, blurring ad starbursts, you can never now how much it affects your life. My life is not the same. I am depressed, I cannot do my job effectively, I don't want to go shopping any more because of the blurred lights. I walk around looking at the floor. 

Please try those multi focal contact lenses, to see how you get on, as I am sure that anyone who can see through those, will be Ok with lens replacement. I wasn't.

I cannot compare any other make of lens, I think each person is different. If you are in UK, ask an NHS surgeon his opinion.

Just for your info, when I went to see a UK NHS eye surgeon for advice after my lens replacement, he told me he has had quite a few prople go to him to have the multi focals extracted and replaced with monofocals.

The AT Lisa trifocals are premium lenses, but I have not come across anyone who is happy with them, so far. It has been 6 months since I had them and I am not looking forward to Autumn and Winter (September) when it is dark at 5pm, until April.

 

So sorry - must be so upsetting. It sounds like for you this is more than streetlights and car headlights. You see these inside too with lighting?

Canada is a little different in that the upsell isn't as much. Everything covered - just pay difference in lens (which is about 1000 British pounds. Same surgeon performs surgery regardless so their advice is neutral.

Due to work thinking I need better near and intermediate vision vs distance. I was able to speak to someone (quite by accident - not someone clinic referred me to) so her opinion was completely unsolicited. She got Symfony lenses last Dec. Did have halos and glare first few weeks but currently they are very faint. Not too bothersome. She drives at night - better vision with that than she saw with cataracts.

My other option is monofocals set for near/intermediate and wear glasses for distance.

Not sure I can try contact lenses - cataracts too bad for good viewing (can't see well even with glasses - especially my right eye).

Hi,

I always find it amazing how some experts tell you one thing and others tell you another.

I had cataract surgery on my right eye about 5 weeks ago and my surgeon discussed options for the left eye, since then I've been trialling multifocal contacts without success but took to monofocal right away.

I told my surgeon this on my last appointment a couple of days ago and he said if I can't get used to multifocal contacts it wouldn't be a good idea to get an mf implant, my plan now is monovision.

Why can't we have consistency in this area?

Hope you get some improvement soon.

James - just wondering as I have never tried multi focal contacts (and looking st getting the Symfony lenses) if that is a good plan. My surgeon never asked if I ever tried the me contacts. Are multifocal IOLs different from contact lenses?

Hi James

I wish I had known before I had the IOL's, you appear to have a good ete surgeon. As you have probably read through my posts, I was unable to see through multifocal contacts and I advised the surgeon in Prague, ahead of my IOL procedure. Thats is the reason I advised Sue to try, if she was able.

Thank you for responding. The more people realise, the better for all and less chance of a miserable life.

That was one of the questions I asked the surgeon yesterday- however with cataracts present in both eyes he didn't think the mf contact lens trial would be of any use. Really need to experiment with that before one has cataracts.

Yes, I suppose I'm lucky in that my left eye doesn't have a noticable cataract yet. The biggest reason for me getting the left eye done is because I'm a high myopic and can't wear glasses anymore, I've also got mild blepharitis which means I can't tolerate long term use of contacts.

Do you have an idea yet what you are going for?

Yes I think going ahead with Symfony lenses. I am not a highly myopic - no astigmatism. Despite night vision issues (hoping these are mild for me) I feel losing all my near sightedness would be worse. I work 85% on computer and being female putting on make-up straitening hair cooking - all still important to me. I asked about monofocal set for near but that isn't as common a request and if power a bit off more issues to deal with. Surgeon says I am in that unhappy category if patient who still has near vision so whatever decision I make will

Make me somewhat unhappy. Whereas older patients that have list near vision and wear glasses all the time gain something.

Despite some poor reviews here on Symfony I have spoken to someone here locally who is happy with them. Hopefully I will be too.

Anyone wanting to weigh in would be most welcome. Thanks

Hi James, I can't seem to find more recent posts but I do remember you're having your lens replaced on July 5th right? Just want to wish you the very best of luck

Hi veepee,

Thanks for the moral support, I've been 'off the grid' for a while contemplating whether to wait before getting my 2nd eye done following the problems with my right eye. 

I've decided to go ahead mainly because I can't wear glasses because of the difference in the power between the two eyes and I hate wearing contacts as they seem to irritate my eye to distraction.

My Macular Oedema seems to have stabilised and from what I've read once it stabilises it tends to get better over (a long) time. Also I've to be given a steroid injection to try to prevent a similar outcome in my left eye, I'm hoping things go better this time.

Thanks again for your support it is appreciated.

Good luck James. Wishing all goes better with 2nd eye.

Thanks Sue, it's reassuring to know other people are thinking of you.

Best of luck with your ops. Have you chosen your lens types yet?

Yes my op is next Monday. I have learned a lot about myself and realize I am someone that likes to be certain of decision outcomes (or as near as possible) which for this I cannot get to. I have spoken to 4 people individually and realize now everyone's resources expectations and situations are unique.

I have decided though to proceed with the Symfony lens in my right eye. Hoping the 'the odds are in my favor' to borrow a phrase from the hunger games. I could end up unhappy but I could be equally unhappy with a monofocal. I just figured I have to live with these for a long time and would prefer to correct my eyesight. I know Symfony is t as good for near correction but I won't mind readers for up close. If I can get intermediate and distance (without too much glare and halo) I will be good with that.

If I get good vision but too much glare and halos I may consider a monofocal for 2nd eye. (Suggestion by 201).

I am very nervous and this will not be a good week - already not sleeping well. But I have decided to let go and I do have a faith so prayer is helping me cope.

I wish all the best for you. Update us when you can.

I had no astigmatism with the synfony lens. Sorry I don't have the details to hand right now. I have now bought glasses which correct my astigmatism in the left eye, as an experiment before possibly lasik surgery to fix it. Sadly it does not help with the new starbursts I now experience in that eye. It is really awkward at the moment as I have one set of glasses for close vision, and one for distance. I could do with another pair for intermediate, but this is just meant to be a temporary arrangement.

Hi James, how did it go.  Sorry I made a mistake about your eye.  Hope you're doing great

james how is the eye doing so far?

Hi James - 1 day since surgery. Had my post op visit with surgeon and do far so good. Surgeon and I of course very pleased with results. Could read 20/20. Eye was very blurry all day after surgery - was also extremely nauseous (couldn't keep a thing foen). Worried about how that could have rotated or strained my eye but awoke to a clear and wonderful world today. I slept most of the afternoon and right through the night was so exhausted. Am pleased so far with the results. Colours are so bright and have a different hue and tint than before. Ant help compare to unoperated eye which was better prior surgery to the other one. My surgeon is off on vacation now so second eye scheduled on aug 21. I am keeping with the schedule of drops and might take a walk tonight to observe the evening lights.

Hi Sue,

Glad to hear the eye is doing well, my 2nd eye was blurry the first day as well. Hope you continue to improve and the Symfony lens gives you good all round vision.

Another difference between the UK and Canada - I've yet to see my surgeon post op, we don't get the next day appointment that you got so I've to wait till 8th August before I see him

Hi veepee, thanks for asking.

It's so far so good, only minor problem is an annoying flickering at the periphery of my vision, it looks like the side of the lens if that's possible.

That seems likely like a long wait. It is standard here you see surgeon post op. Long waitvat hospital this morning. First sent to one area for eye test then waited another hour to have surgeon look at my eye. He was pleased with results and cautioned me I could still see night time halos and glare that most people adapt to over time. I have a schedule of drops from him and when to call in interim if I develop vision problems or pain. He usually operates on 2nd eye week after but given his vacation I can only get that done Aug 21. I am not disappointed though as I would prefer assurance first eye doing well.

When I sat in waiting room it appeared no one else there aware of lens selection. They were shocked I could see near and far. Nothing about lenses was discussed / one lady didn't realize the surgery involved removing a lens. Not sure what she thought happened. Given multifocal issues.not sure surgeons want to mention them. Although Symfony not in same class. Called an extended depth of focus. I do believe in my first consult that I was one to raise lenses so maybe that is why he engaged in conversation with me about them. He wouldn't recommend one over other hence my struggle to select.

Haven't been outside at night so likely I will experience what everyone else does with the concentric circles and halo. Hope I can hang on to good thoughts today and just accept this was my compromise .

interesting how the proactive seem to get the best medical care.Same with dupixent.I just could not stand the misery, researched and found a clinical trial.Changed everything.Same with the symfony lens.

Curious about your night experience...i find i have to think about halos as i tend not to notice anything much...your dr does so many surgeries I think you become memorable due to your knowledge and interest.So next eye will not need ativan?

Haven't stepped out tonight - here in Atlantic Canada only gets dark 9:45pm.

Will post later about night vision.

I told my surgeon that Ativan made me nauseous and I couldn't keep food down and likely wouldn't take it for 2nd eye. He said he preferred I did as I was pretty nervous not likely cause of Ativan. He was a lot more chatty with me today than consult. I still wonder why he doesn't talk more about premium lenses. He really wasn't encouraging any particular lens - left it totally up to me which prompted my looking on internet. He did seem pleased with how happy I was with this he outcome. Hoping 2nd eye is done just as well. I know it had been suggested that I could save money and risk less with night issues if I go with good monofocal in other eye.

Do you have 2 Symfony lenses?

i only have one eye done so far.Initially due to retina surgery could only have monofocal.However did not want my eye locked into a certain focal point.Ok with both eyes but i wanted it all..multifocal does not work if retina scarred..anyhow found the symfony, studied, and now other retina patients might have it if macular intact.It was sort of a breah thru for others the surgeon and retina guy said.they are at the same hospital.

I doubt any lens  better than symfony these days..even if trifocal accpeted here it has its downside..

odd patients do not look into their cataract surgery..here premium kens costs more and people do not wa t to apend mo ey.I think i would put money aside to get the  best

yes the ativan..gues your dr could sense your stress..I was sort of " is that all there is" when he said he was done..

do not go looking for trouble in the night..i only notice a halo if i close one eye and look for them..

 

I think I couldn't resist having a good look outside last night due to all comments here. So far nothing I saw disturbed me. Awoke this morning still amazed at a bright new world. Still have to sleep with eye guard for 1 week - so can't wait to take it off . Find it hard to sleep in my back but it is only for a week.

Do you have both eyes done with Symfony? Did you have 2nd one set for a little nearer. Seems my best near vision is about a foot away.

Yes doc convinced it wasn't Ativan but I still think it was that made me ill. It's 2mg which seems strong. Of course as soon as I feel dizzy (even driving backwTds in the car) will make me nauseous.

you really put yourself through a lot of torment prior to surgery.Probably took a toll on you which will pass...the lens is not perfect in close vision but you can hold things a bit further out.. light helps so much..I sit by window to read small print.I also use ipad and made print slightly bigger.However if tne ipad is further away than 

 in presurgery days it is very sharp.Big change from bringing things closer for focus to further out...

now you can write soothing posts to others.Your dr is very happy you are a satisfied patient ....it matters even after doing thousands of surgeries

Yes I am sometime too introvert for my own good st times.

I do find it odd after being nearsighted most of my life pulling things closer to now push them out to bring into focus. Of course right now I have one unoperated eye do that eye wants to pull things closer. There is a battle going on for best reading distance between my eyes.

Have to wait to Aug 21 for other eye to be operated on. I will breathe a sigh of relief when it is over.

This will be a much better surgery for everyone once they can adjust lens after it's implanted.

Sorry for the delay. My left eye , the monofocal one is a Bausch & Lomb LI61A0 +12.0D. This is the one that ( after YAG surgery) I have large starbursts from. It is now has astigmatism which I correct with glasses. My surgeon told me the astigmatism is too slight to correct with LASIK, but it is too much for me to want leave it uncorrected. I can manage without my glasses ok if I have to for sport but prefer the extra clarity of wearing my glasses. I have reading glasses and I am considering  going back to varifocals. My right eye has an Abbot ZXT150 +13.5D SE 1.5D CYL. In that eye I see rings and starbursts round iights. I get ghosting for example around white writing on a black background, but not as bad as it was before I had the left multifocal replaced by a monofocal lens when things like the white line on road would be doubled. There seems no point replacing the right one, given the poor result from replacing the left one. Especially as it is clearly impossible to predict the outcome. I read recently that my "positive dysphotopsia" as I have now learnt it is called can be fixed by certain lenses. Trouble is, that is the lens I already have. I've realised I am just going to have to put up with it , there is nothing that can be done. I am driving at night to get home from work and so far I haven't hit anything or anyone after two winters so that's good. It is not pleasant but I am managing. I am cursing the invention of LED headlights though.