1. Community
  2. Eyes
  3. Cataract

Symfony results: both eagle vision and microscope vision

Posted , 5 users are following.

logan72565
logan72565

The title of this post is surely an exaggeration but does describe the essense of what I'm experiencing. Bear with me for some background details and then we can get into the interesting result of all this.

So, with my Symfony lenses, after 6 months both eyes measure plano 0.0 with a mild .5 astigmatism in the left.

This effectively gives my right eye a crisp 20/15 when reading the 10ft distance eye chart, and sharp vision for both computer and reading a pocketbook and even being just able to read the pill bottle at arm's length and measures about J3-J5 which is pretty decent for Symfony results, I think.

My left eye is a much fuzzier, but still, 20/20 when reading the 10ft distance eye chart, and barely reads the computer and can't read the pocketbook at arm's length and fluctuates around J8, which is poorer than expected near vision, but still a good result for the wall chart.

So, in the doctor's office, my right eye seems all around superior and in line with what I should expect for Symfony results. But I was a bit disappointed and worried about the near distance performance of my left eye and felt there was something wrong with my eye or the lens.

However, I just noticed something in the last few days that blew me away... 

For much LARGER distances encountered in daily life in the outside world and not measured in the doctor's office, say from about 30 feet to infinity, my poorer LEFT eye becomes the superior eye and is absolutely sharper at these much larger distances!

I see so well at these distances and was so focused on the doctors measurements that I never really tested to see which eye was actually doing the work at these larger distances - I just assumed it was the right eye since the doctors "distance" wall chart said it was slightly better - but the truth is as I look further and further in the distance, the right eye gets fuzzier but the left remains crisp and becomes the go-to eye.  

It's like my right eye rules from near to out about 25 feet, where both eyes are pretty equal, but a bit further out from there my left takes over and remains crisp all the way to infinity while my right becomes progressively more blurred.

I'm not sure this is a good thing and I should be happy or not! In daily life, it does seem my brain is choosing the best image depending upon the distance and the disparity between the two is not really noticeable unless I cover one eye.

There's one thing for sure - there seems to be more to the story of assessing your range of vision than what the doctor measures in the small confines of the office. What is measured there at 10ft as "far distance" does not seem to carry to infinity and tell the full story.

But I don't quite get it... I'm not sure what this all means? Although both eyes are plano 0.0 so technically not nearsighted or farsighted and no eyeglasses will make an improvement - there is no doubt a noticeable difference between them... it seems like the left eye is right at the border of being farsighted and the right eye is at the opposite border of being nearsighted?

0 likes, 15 replies

15 Replies

  • john56935
    john56935 logan72565

    Posted

    did the doctor tell you which one is your dominant eye?
    • logan72565
      logan72565 john56935

      Posted

      Yes, the doctor actually said he thought my dominant eye was the right and my brain would always choose its image and my left was a "lazy eye" and even though perfectly corrected just wasn't able to focus properly... but I don't think that's correct because my brain is choosing my "lazy eye" for every image from 30 feet outwards because it's super sharp there (and he doesn't know that because he hasn't got a test in the office that measures distances that large)... He is correct that inside of that distance the opposite is true.

      From what I read, I don't think dominant eyes or lazy eye works like that.

  • at201
    at201 logan72565

    Posted

    From what you are describing, it appears that your left eye is most probably far-sighted, with a spherical correction of about +0.5D or +0.75D (and not really plano). That will be consistent with your seeing really well from about 30 feet to infinity, still be able to seeing 20/20 at 10 feet distance (due to the extended focus capability of the Symfony lens), but not being able to see well at the intermediate distance or the near distance (because you have used up the good extended vision range by that point).

    It seems that you have good vision at all useful distances. So, you don't really need to do anything special to correct the vision in the left eye.

    By the way, when determining prescriptions, it is important that the doctor's assistant uses the Maximum +D value or the Minimum -D value, which lets you read well at 20 feet. May be the person checking your vision stopped checking when you could read well 20/20 at 20 feet without any negative correction and never checked the Maximum +D value at which you could still read.

    Also, most probably you were reading the eye chart at an effective distance close to 20 feet and not at 10 feet. Typically, the lighted letters are behind you and you are looking at their reflection in a mirror which is about 10 feet in front of you (making it equivalent to looking at an object 20 feet in front of you)

    • logan72565
      logan72565 at201

      Posted

      I've had about 6 different techs measure my eyes over the past 6 months and never have they mentioned me being farsighted... the machines always read 0.0

      I've actually even outright asked them because I suspected that farsighted was the explanation at one point -  but they always say I'm not.

      I'm not sure about this Minimum/Maximum... but I'll make a point to ask next time.

      As you say, I do have a usable vision at all distances, so I've actually maybe got the best case in a way for the widest range of vision and should be happy about it all - until now I'd been quite distressed about the poor near vision in the left eye...

      The only odd thing might be that it's only one eye that is doing the job all the time... one for when I'm looking near and the other for the far... except around 25 feet where they are equal and both being used.

  • Sue.An
    Sue.An logan72565

    Posted

    That is very interesting Logan.  As my cataract was worse for some time in my right eye my left took over - so much so I believed it was my dominant eye.  After cataract surgeries those same tests to determine dominant eye changed and it is my right eye.  When I asked surgery he explained that often happen.  The brain will chose to see out of the eye that has the better vision.  

    You definitely are able to see better at further ranges than I and it sounds like this set up is good.  

    Is that eye that can see further got useful computer distance vision as well?  

    Thanks for posting this.

    • logan72565
      logan72565 Sue.An

      Posted

      While that eye can technically read the computer, it's quite fuzzy and I'd want to have glasses to do it for any length of time as it's blurry enough to really slow me down.

      So, if I have an overall larger range of vision this way, I wonder why if people end up with good reading vision on the first eye after surgery, they don't intentionally target some farsightedness in the second eye to get this increased range and the best of both worlds... or maybe some surgeons do?

    • Sue.An
      Sue.An logan72565

      Posted

      It really sounds like you are far sighted in that eye.  Guess it really depends on the preferences of individual.  Not enough discussion takes place as far as I am concerned on what would be best for patient.  
    • Sue.An
      Sue.An logan72565

      Posted

      How does that set up affect the concentric circles?  Do you still see them - are they bothersome?
    • logan72565
      logan72565 Sue.An

      Posted

      I see halos and glare exactly the same in both eyes.

      I'm wondering if they could do some PRK/LASIK in my case or if I should even consider it?

    • Sue.An
      Sue.An logan72565

      Posted

      They likely could.  Are you wanting to be less far sighted in that eye so as to see the computer better with both eyes?

      Might be good to live with what you have for awhile - also do research. Not sure if PRK or lasik would cause more glare.  Be worth investigating.   Also worth letting both eyes heal before doing anything.

    • logan72565
      logan72565 Sue.An

      Posted

      Well, I'm really torn about this since I can read the computer and books ok. I just struggle with newsprint. But I worry that since the one eye is taking all the load at these distances it might not be good long term in some way?

      I suppose it would be similar to you considering PRK/Lasik to make one of your eyes better for far distance... you'd lose the near vision of that eye though. Would you consider that?

    • Sue.An
      Sue.An logan72565

      Posted

      Well I am thinking that most people that choose a monofocal lens actually do opt for mini monovision or monovision so they would be in same boat as you.

      Before my trip to Ottawa I haven’t thought about not seeing clearly enough distance wise.  Driving had t been an issue.  Will discuss with my optometrist next visit and maybe she’ll suggest a small prescription for distance that I will use when driving.  But if she measures them still at plano not sure she would. 

      I have many friends that have done lasik years ago and bugged me about getting g it done but I have always been cautious- not wanting to risk my eyesight.  And they all say they see more glare after the procedure but live not needing glasses.  I will be curious to see what they choose when it is their turn for cataract surgery - some contemplate it now as for the first time they need glasses to read.  I discourage them from doing that knowing what I know.

      So I really doubt I will consider PRK or lasik.  Would rather leave well enough alone- but that could be just me.  

      I do understand the struggle though.  

    • at201
      at201 logan72565

      Posted

      No one intentionally targets farsightedness because any degree of farsightedness in any eye does not provide any benefit in the range of distances. A plano eye provides the best vision at infinity. A farsighted eye uses part of the good vision range (whether it is the natural eye or one using a Symfony lens) to see well at infinity, but has less of the useful range left to see well at closer distances.
    • at201
      at201 logan72565

      Posted

      Regarding " I'm wondering if they could do some PRK/LASIK in my case or if I should even consider it?":

      that is definitely an option (I have had LASIK enhancement in both of my eyes), but it depends on having a clear understanding of your current vision / prescription in each eye and what you expect to gain by LASIK enhancement.

      Ideally, if you can use contact lenses to see (and live) with the desired corrections for a few days before having LASIK enhancement to achieve those corrections, that will be much better.

    • at201
      at201 logan72565

      Posted

      Regarding "But I worry that since the one eye is taking all the load at these distances it might not be good long term in some way?" :

      You need not worry about any long term harm by doing that. My wife and I (as many others) have been using monovision for the last 35 years (with contact lenses and then with IOLs after cataract surgeries), using one eye for seeing well at reading distances and the other one for seeing well at far distances and have not felt or heard of any long term  bad effect by use of that  strategy.

Back to top

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.