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Symfony Multifocal Lens or Regular Lens - looking for Recommendations

Posted , 7 users are following.

phyllis31515
phyllis31515

I will be having cataract surgery soon and am trying to decide on one of the following two options. 1) Right eye regular monovision lens and left eye regular Toric lens, and just correct distance vision;  or 2nd Option: right Eye, Symfony Multifocal lens, Left eye, Symfony Toric Multifocal Lens. I had Lasek surgery 11 years ago. It worked well for several years and I did not need glasses. My eyes were very dry after the surgery and it took almost a year to get optimum sight. About 5 years later I started wearing biofocal contacts again. I wore them for about two years and they caused severe dryness again and have been using Restasis and now Xiidra drops. I’d like to hear recommendations and or experience of others who have used both types of lens. Those with regular lens, if you corrected distance only, can you see and read instrument panel in car and cook without glasses. Just interested in results with both types of lens.

0 likes, 17 replies

17 Replies

  • justharry
    justharry phyllis31515

    Posted

    Coming up in my six month exam post cataract surgery in both eyes .. Crystal lens in right eye, Symfony lens in left. This combination works incredibly well for me providing intermediate and infinity vision in right eye and infinity, intermediate and even near vision from Symfony lens in left eye. Yes, that means I can do everything - including read - without glasses at all!!!  For tiny print, I can use low power cheaters.  So, based on my experience, this combo is excellent solution. 
    • soks
      soks justharry

      Posted

      Do you see the night time concentric circles? Or any other halos?
    • jantje32476
      jantje32476 justharry

      Posted

      Hi justharry, do you know which one of your eyes is your dominant eye? Is it your right eye implanted with Crystal lens, or your left eye implanted with Symfony? Thank you. smile
    • phyllis31515
      phyllis31515 justharry

      Posted

      Thanks for your response. I am happy to see that you had success with your choice of lenses. 
    • justharry
      justharry soks

      Posted

      Yes .. in both eyes .. most predominantly while driving at night .. I believe this effect is normal, and inherent phenomenon from these lens implants.  Although I was very aware of this effect right after the surgeries,  It was more of a curiosity and nuisance, not any dangerous distraction.  As time goes on it is becoming even less so ... ... am not sure if it corrects itself or if the brain gets used to it and blocks it out ... ... I suspect the latter, but will ask my surgeon when I’m back for six month exam tomorrow. 
    • justharry
      justharry jantje32476

      Posted

      Well, my right eye was my dominant eye but cataract in that eye progressed further and faster than left eye. Surgeon did right eye first and implanted the Crystal lens in that one.   Left eye done 3 weeks later with Symfony implanted. 
  • phyllis31515
    phyllis31515

    Posted

    Update -

    i had cataract surgery on my right eye yesterday afternoon and had the Symfony Lens implanted. My eye patch was removed approximately 4 hours ago. I am extremely pleased so far. My distance vision was very good on the drive home, as well as my intermediate and closeup vision. I ate dinner and walked around my house without glasses. I am also able to use my computer, I Pad and phone all without glasses. I also quickly read some ads in my newsper. My doctor said my eye looked great today, and we should be good to go with my left eye surgery on August 30. It will be implanted with the Symfony Toric lens. 

    • Sue.An
      Sue.An phyllis31515

      Posted

      Congrats on a successful surgery - pleased for you.  Wish you a good recovery.  
    • soks
      soks phyllis31515

      Posted

      That's great. How do you see the night lights?  

    • phyllis31515
      phyllis31515 soks

      Posted

      I hadn’t been outside after dark until I read your question. I just went outside to my backward. We have a city lights view. The city lights looked fine. I did notice the two street lights that are across the street from my house had what I would describe as how you would draw.the sunshine with lines going out away from it and all aroun it. It wass’t bad, and since it is so early in my recovery i’m Not worried about it. When I covered my right eye, my left eye that still has the cataract had lots of white dots and haze all around the streetlight, too. Tomorrow evening I will be going out in the car so that will give me a better indication of how the lights will look. I’ll send you another response on Thursday.
    • jantje32476
      jantje32476 phyllis31515

      Posted

      Congrats phyllis31515. Your result is amazing given that you had Lasik surgery 11 years ago. smile

      If a lens moving hundredths of a millimetre would make a difference, then it would be worth to avoid that bumpy roads, ....  etc.

    • phyllis31515
      phyllis31515 soks

      Posted

      Update - I rode in the car last night. What I noticed in the oncoming headlights was a more defined and actually prettier version of what I have been seeing all along before my surgery. The lights looked like how I would draw a sunshine with lines going away from the circle. They did not bother me any more than what I have been seeing before surgery. They may lessen, since I am only 3 days post surgery. If not, it is a small price to pay for great vision. The tail lights looked normal. 
    • Sue.An
      Sue.An phyllis31515

      Posted

      Sounds like you are doing well.  I had 2 Symfony lenses implanted last summer. The starbursts and glare you see will diminish in about 2 months time.  I didn’t see any concentric circles for several weeks.  The starbursts and glare hid them.  I see car taillights normal but when the driver applies the brakes that’s when I notice the concentric circles.  I will be interested in your updates.  Best wishes to you.
  • dennis39810
    dennis39810 phyllis31515

    Posted

    Sounds like you are doing great. Where did you have the surgery done (eg:NYC, London etc.) I am scheduled for Symfony IOL on 8/17.biggrin
    • phyllis31515
      phyllis31515 dennis39810

      Posted

      My doctor works out of two offices in Pasadena and Monrovia, California. He does all his surgeries in Glendale, California. He is the head doctor and Medical Director of California Eye Specialists.
    • phyllis31515
      phyllis31515 dennis39810

      Posted

      I’m having surgery on my left eye on August 30. He will be using a Symfony Toric lens since I have an astigmatism in that eye. 
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