Posted , 24 users are following.
Has anyone who experienced a negative result from the Symfony lens brought a product liability lawsuit against Johnson and Johnson or a malpractice lawsuit against their eye surgeon?
0 likes, 62 replies
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ed72320 bill1952
Posted
My surgeon and Symfony toric lenses have improved my life immensely.
I am deeply grateful for both his expertise and Johnson & Johnson's superb Symfony toric lenses.
Both exceeded my expectations and I am an extremely critical person.
Sue.An bill1952
Posted
what is it you feel the surgeon did wrong or about the Symfony lens? For me they've worked out really well. My quality of life has improved since my surgery (have 2 tegular Symfony lenses).
phyllis31515 bill1952
Posted
i totally agree with Sue and Ed. i have a Symfony lens in my right eye and a Symfony Toric lens in my left eye. My surgeries were on August 13, and September 13 of this year. i am so happy with my results. i have wonderful vision without glasses at all distances. i am so grateful to my eye doctor for his expertise in selecting the correct lens strength and to Johnson and Johnson for the Symfony lens. For me, it has been a life changing experience. I consider it a miracle that I now can see everything clearly.
Joanicole phyllis31515
Posted
do you have any problems with nighttime vision while driving?
phyllis31515 Joanicole
Posted
I do see starbursts around car headlights if I look directly at them, however it has not been a problem for me driving at night. Prior to my surgeries, I would see large blurred circles. Everything is perfectly clear and I have so much more confidence when driving at night. A few starbursts is a small price to pay for the wonderful vision I have at all distances.
britkennels bill1952
Posted
Bill, I didn't have Symfony lenses, but posts like yours really sadden me. Unfortunately, medicine isn't a perfect science and not everyone is going to get great results. A lot of times, it's down to the surgeon, but there are so many other factors. Do you have proof that your lenses were defective? What happened to make you feel that you've got a case? I'm not judging you either way, but please get a second, or even third, opinion before jumping to conclusions. I don't think too many folks here can say much without more information. Regardless, I wish you only the best and hope that things can be adjusted/repaired/replaced/whatever is necessary for you to have great vision.
bill1952 britkennels
Posted
Two physicians have said that the lens cannot be removed/replaced. Other sources agree. No jumping to conclusions here.
Sue.An bill1952
Posted
If you haven't had a YAG for PCO the lenses can be exchanged. Several people have reported good outcomes here on forums as a result of lens exchanges. so don't give up hope.
Something to bear in mind this takes considerable more skill than most surgeons who perform cataract surgeries. My own surgeon told me before I chose my lenses that if I would want an exchange he doesn't do them and I would have to actually go out of province to Halifax for that kind of expertise. You would need to make an appointment with a surgeon that specializes in those kinds of surgeries. Hoping you find someone that can perform an exchange.
soks bill1952
Posted
Hi Bill
I understand where you are coming from. It is natural to question the choice of doctor and lens when you have to deal with some of the frustration that are associated with this process.
Good luck and wish you the very best. If you can share your experience that will be helpful for others.
krzysztof19653 bill1952
Posted
Hi Bill,
I agree with you if you talking about a night vision I see multiple rings around any light source including a stop lights so driving at night becomes a challenge on the road with two way traffic. During the day I see fine I don't need glasses anymore
I have Symphony multifocal lens in both eyes done in August and September this year, I was told that my brain will adjust to it and those Halos and ring will not be noticeable well it didn't happen for me yet.
What I would really would like to know is why some of us experience these problems at night vision and some of us don't.
Is it a faulty Lance that nobody is telling us about because it's expensive ?
Is mistake done where eyes are being measured?
I thought I had done my homework I called a person that has done that kind of surgery , with the same type of lens, he's saying he has none of the night vision issues or symptoms that lot of of us do.
So going back to the original question why only some of u?
Sue.An krzysztof19653
Posted
I too see the multiple concentric rings but I was informed they wouldn't go away - compromise of seeing at all distances. I struggled with that decision but went ahead with Symfony IOLs. Was hard in the first few months as I had strong glare as well as the concentric rings at night. Glare diminished significantly but the circles still visible but these are light and not as bothersome as glare was. As I approach traffic lights at a certain distance rings disappear. I don't believe the rings will ever go away. I do think the night time artifacts ate worse for those whose pupils dilate beyond the 6mm IOL and if there is astigmatism or power calculation is off. AS britkennels said there are so many variables involved it really is not easy to predict outcomes. And I suspect that some of those issues would be the same if person chose monofocals over premium lenses.
britkennels bill1952
Posted
Bill, sorry that I used the term "jumping to conclusions." Obviously, this has been troubling you for a while. As others have mentioned, if you can provide a bit more information/background, it might help.
Again, I wish you nothing but the very best.
dennis39810 bill1952
Posted
Had a Symfony put in one eye August 17, 2018- no problems at all, no rings, slight tolerable lens flare on lights at night. Real happy intermediate & far vision perfect... 1.25 lens help with small type close up. Good luck with your situation.
logan72565 bill1952
Posted
To the point of this thread:
I paid a lot of money and do harbor some dissatisfaction and have a sense that this whole industry is "a little off" The technology is far from perfect. Some sort of legal action has crossed my mind. I paid for "premium" vision and received something less. But both doctors are of the mind that "striving for better would be the enemy of good" so I should simply take what I have and be content as any further action would risk making things worse. Fine. But do I get a refund/partial refund since results were not delivered? Should I expect to pay full price for a new "premium" sports car when I take it home and find that it does not go above 50km/hr? It just doesn't seem right.
Background:
I've had my lenses for about 9 months. One eye has is nearly inline with the advertised expected outcome, but the second eye has a problem with all but very far distances - other distances suffer from blur for some unknown reason. I've had two opinions and neither has been able to tell me exactly what the issue is other than the lens looks to be positioned properly and undamaged.
My next step may be to get an iTrace as I understand that this will tell whether the problem lies with the lens or my eye.
Sue.An logan72565
Posted
I haven't heard of iTrace - what is that?
If I had to guess it sounds as if the power calculation is off on that eye. Sounds as though you are too farsighted if you can see the far distances and all else is blurry. Particularly if lens is positioned correctly.
Have you asked another specialist for an explanation as to why you cannot see other distances well? If there is no underlying issue with your eye health and you've not had a YAG for PCO a lens exchange is not out of the question. Yes sometimes striving for better is the enemy of the good but that isn't always.
Be aware you'd need to seek out an opinion for a different specialist (not someone whose day is doing cataract surgeries (or clear lens exchanges). Exchanging a lens requires considerable more skill. Some have had it done on the forums (successfully). Maybe reach out and see how they made that decision.
I find it surprising the other opinions you sought out have nothing to offer in way of explanation. Are they in same city as your surgeon (worse in same practice)? Often they don't want to criticize another's work so best if you can go outside your neighborhood.
bill1952 Sue.An
Posted
Very good advice.
phyllis31515 logan72565
Posted
i had 6 or 7 eye traces done between January and August prior to my first eye surgery in August. They use a machine connected to a computer to take pictures of your eyes. Before my first eye trace my doctor told me that we had to have two similar traces before he could do my surgery. I have been on medication for dry eyes for a few years. He prescribed a second dry eye prescription. One thing the eye trace pictures show is the dryness in your eyes. I'm sure it shows other things too. I have had two eye traces since my surgery. My doctor attributed my great results to the slow and careful preparation done prior to my surgery. I know he is very experienced in using the Symfony lenses.
i am extremely grateful to my doctor, especially considering that I had LASIK surgery 11 years ago and many said I should just go with a regular lens.
john56935 logan72565
Posted
You didn't mention the concentric rings problems at night that causes most complaints with Symfony IOLs so if that is not an issue you should feel fortunate. I agree that the whole industry needs improvement, from the manufacturers to the doctors to the FDA. There could be much better screening and counseling including the use of vision simulators so that patients can have a better understanding of what their vision may look like and the trade-offs. Having a trusted eye surgeon can make all the difference but finding one isn't always easy. That said, money drives most things but that can be said for all of healthcare and most everything as well. I looked into legal options as well and can tell you that unless the surgeon was so negligent that they severely impaired your vision (i.e., near loss of vision) that there isn't much you can do. If you were very wealthy and had a lot of time and money that you didn't mind spending you might be able to sue the doctor and question some of the FDA and mfr approval studies and tech/marketing materials as well. However, their lawyers could say they point out the risks and that you have unrealistic expectations and that there are no guarantees for this unlike buying a sports car. Even if you want to do a lens exchange insurance may not cover the cost since the lens most likely is not defective and is "working as designed". If the doctor put in the wrong power in error, they should eat the cost at least. However, if there were ever any class action lawsuits against this manufacturer for this product, I would definitely be interested because I believe they over-hyped the benefits and downplayed the trade-offs needed to get the better range of vision so they could sell more Symfonys. If this were a car, I wouldn't be happy but could at least sell it--not so in this situation!
Sue.An phyllis31515
Posted
That process is very involved. Is iTrace covered under national health? I have a few in my office that said ever since they had lasik surgery their eyes were dry. I didn't know iTrace could measure that. Wondering if you see the concentric circles that most of us see with Symfony lenses.
phyllis31515 Sue.An
Posted
Hi Sue,
I live in California and have Health Net Insurance, which is Medicare Advantage Program. The eye traces were covered under my insurance, however I PAID $3300.00 per eye for my Symfony lenses. Yes, LASIK surgery does definitely cause dry eyes. My eyes were very dry after my LASIK surgery. It was almost a year before I had optimum vision. I was extremely happy that it was not a problem after my Cataract surgery. I do, however, still use Restasis, which is a prescription eye drop twice a day. I do not see circles at night, but I do see flares or spheres around headlights at night. My doctor said they would decrease with time. If they do, that would be great, but if not, they do not bother me, and it is a small price to pay for the extremely clear vision that I now experience at all distances. I am very thankful that I can now see the beautiful blue sky and the crisp clear mountains when driving near my home.