Symfony lens comparison to naked eye

I have read that multi-focal lens (as well as symphony) do not have the same clarity and contrast as a mono focal lens.  Other than that, I can't comment too much more on it because I have two mono focal lens about 0.5 diopter difference (for mini-mono vision) which I'm very happy with.

Multifocal IOLs have reduced contrast than monofocals, Symfony IOL supposedly reduces contrast a bit too but not as much as a multifocal.

But what you describe might be more a sharpness vs contrast issue.  Is your Symfony IOL ended up at near plano (0D) refraction for best distance vision for 20/20 or better compared to your other natural lens eye?

I have a Tecnis monofocal toric IOL in my right eye and my aged natural lens in the left eye.  My left eye can correct with eyeglasses to better sharpness than my right IOL eye, however my right eye has some optic nerve damage from glaucoma that my left eye does not have so that difference may be due to that.

I do notice richer colors (except for blue) with the natural lens eye, but that may be due to aging yellows the natural lens that can appear to enhance some colors but the IOL eye's colors may be more accurate. The IOL eye definitely has pure whites compared to the natural lens eye.

I have 2 Symfony lens and I would not recommend having it done to anyone especially if they are so aware of the vision change like you are. A doctor put the wrong lens in my dominant eye and it left me nearsighted (before cataract surgery my distance 20/25 and I wore reading glasses) and the doctor lasered it to "correct" the lens.  Removing a lens after laser is risky so my second surgeon does not recommend it.  My second eye I had done at a large university eye center.  The doctor there tried to put in a lens that would work with my first eye but I still struggle with depth perception and need to wear corrective glasses for my nearsighted eye.  It's life changing...I am an avid tennis player who struggles with depth perception!!!  And I still need reading glasses because the second eye does not match the close up vision of the first eye.  My first surgery was a year ago and my second was in July 2017.  I read somewhere that people who tend to be perfectionists, like myself, should not get the Symfony lens because we have higher expectations.  I have a couple of friends who have 2 Symfony lens' and are perfectly happy but they are not like me.  When I read your story of comparing the 2 eyes at the movies I related to it.  I still compare my vision even though I know the 2 eyes are not seeing the same. I expected MULTIFOCAL to mean exactly what it says... 

There are good info on "cataract recovery". Can't post the link, but here are some relevant points.

*  Many everyday activities can be resumed soon after cataract surgery, although patients may experience blurry vision for a time.

*  Patients who receive intraocular lenses (IOLs) may notice some color distortion at first. This should resolve itself within a few months, as the eyes adjust to the new, clear lenses of the IOLs.

There are also information on IOL Power formulae. The problem faced by ex-Lasik recipients known to eye surgeons, and since 2015 were made aware of special methods to be used.

I know no words can comfort those suffering, just thought this info might help.

i was writing  a long reply but accidentally hit the wrong button and gone 

So here is the short version

- I am still in the same boat But now i have a light in the tunnel . Finally was able to step back a bit and stop thinking about the eyes

Went to a good optometrist and got prescription now with the glasses can see again

for me everything was blurry after 500 mm and especially after 1 meter

And since then my optimism returned , to remind you 2 months ago the only problem i had was that i  needed 3 or 4 pairs of glasses for near , intermediate and far i had clear lenses to get back to glasses with HALO effects is just  a terrible joke 

Went to my exam with the Doctor and he scheduled a LASIC enhancement for the first eye he said that 2 months is enough for settling the lenses inside sometimes can be 3 to 4

The doctor confirmed He said Focusing Error , for him astigmatism is type of focusing error

- NOTE: The doctor said that the HALO effects are much stronger when there is focusing error the worse the error the worse the HALO especially if the eyes are adapted for near vision 

- Optometrist said Astigmatism which probably is type of focusing error

- Also i have been long sited for years and now  a bit short sited which helps especially the brain has not adjusted  . But my main diopter was -0.25/0 ( the -0.25 is actually intentionally done)

Symphony has always HALOs for some people is mild  and not bothering , ( 40 %) and can not remember the medium and the real bad  percentage but you can check FDA test results . Note  Only Adaptive or mono focal lenses has a percentage with no HALO and the bothering HALO and glare is a lot smaller , but they still have people with glare and HALO reported much smaller also have other issues, like glasses. Or for the Adaptive lenses my doctor said that are very unpredictable in the focusing error around 16% quite a big error

On the direct question My doctor confirmed that he thinks the Symphony Extended Focus are one of the best results with out glasses with least amount of error in correction . And he thinks that the adaptive will not give better final result , but sometimes LASIK corrective is needed

With the glasses i am getting  20/20 , with out i can not read a street sign from 5 meters ithink was something like 20/50  , worse than 20/40

With the lenses my doctor gave me to try under ideal light condition the vision was better than 20/15 he said very close to 20/10

My Advise is:

- stop thinking and do the right steps

- Go to optometrist and get prescription , make a glasses with anti reflective surface and check i think there was one more surface which helps with HALO

- go to eye specialist to check general health of the eyes ( cornea, etc ...) i think you already did that

- Decide on the surgeon once you decide stick with him, may be your current one is not as bad .

- See if the HALO is manageable with the glasses note that it will diminish with the real LASIK and time

- if you can manage , then LASIK enhancement or what ever the doctor recommends 

- If you can not handle HALO change the lens

- Do not do LASIK if you are going to change lenses , it makes it more difficult after that .

Note that i have read that the astigmatism happens after RLE , because the way it is measured and the reason of the astigmatism 2 types of astigmatism which normally shows as almost no astigmatism but when the natural lens is removed and they put a new lens it shows up  . Some places has a proper diagnostics for this one not many . Also if the lens shifts or rotates a bit before is settled also will create astigmatism i think that was my right eye case as the first 2 days after the operation i was seeing better than after a week

 I still think that i could have found better place and doctor which will consult better with me in my choice  of lenses or will use the lenses of my choice, but maybe had to go to USA or Australia and also UK has  a very good eye clinic

Note: that after 6months to a year we may get a bit fogy vision , but that is easily fixable i hope that medicare or insurance will cover this , but if it is small it will not be covered

I will let you know how it goes after the correction , unless i cancel the LASIK I am still wondering should i opt for new lenses 

All the best and stop thinking , that helped me a bit

To add to that ... my optometrist admits that he knows pretty much nothing about Symfony lenses. So if/when I do find another optometrist, I'd like him/her to have some knowledge about Symfony lenses. In this whole adventure, it seems the hard part is finding a good doctor or surgeon (if you don't have one already).