i have my one week follow up tomorrow afternoon. Tuesday everything cleared up. i was able to meet a friend away from home. yesterday vision seemed 20/20ish i went shopping was able to read labels, and florescent lighting didnt bother me. i tested my night vision as well, started out at dusk and drove home on a two lane highway without much difficulty. i actually enjoy the 12 concentric rings instead of the glare/starburts/halos i used to see. im also a former lasik patient done in 2001 by sight trust sister company millinium. the only thing that is a complaint, but can not be addressed is the far distance vision, to infinity...i wish i had clarity/crispness forever, and with an astigmatism in the right eye, thats my hang up.
overall, im so happy that dr shatz was able to give me this vision where my original surgeon quite frankly disnt have a clue
if anyone is considering an exchange i highly recommend shopping around for a dr that specializes in exchanges, with a high success rate. someone who is comfortable doing an exchange, and is willing to answer all your questions, including the recovery process, expected outcome...we knew the possiblility of astigmatism would be high because of another puncture to the eye, another healing, etc. do i wish for perfect results, yes, but i know reality is it may not be possible.
one week of doing nothing, is hard for me. shopping was just a way to move around( i live in a small town, most shopping is done at one store), and test my eye sight before i made a long drive to the mainland on the turnpike, through the traffic of multiple lanes(see if left eye can detect things from my side view) depth perception and lastly night vision. more than likely i will be returning in the dark and i would like to be prepared
ill let you know numbers friday, but i think im there at 20/20 range with slight inflammation left
Wonderful news julielyn - pleased for you!!!!! Without significant glare and starbursts the concentric circles I can live with too. Nice to be able to function around the house shopping and work. What type of lens did you end up with finally?
Be curious to hear what your numbers are now. Look forward to your post.
one week follow up of exchange from restor 2.5 to restor 3.0
the original dr was never able to give me reading vision, because the 2.5 range isnt close enough for reading( especially for women=shorter arms) , i was repeatedly told to use a +1.0 reader to be able to read the phone etc. a +1.0 reader was never strong enough, i was using a 2.5 reader as i had done previous to original cataract surgery.
now with the restor 3.0 lens, i am reading 20/20 with both eyes, 20/25 with left eye being one week out from surgery ...my right eye was exchanged in november and i have 20/20 vision, but i have a slight astigmatism even with a toric lens...meaning the astigmatism is on the cornea, not at the lens, and more than likely due to multiple surgeries on that eye
history:
original right eye cataract surgery dec 2017 restor 2.5 lens: april 2018 exchanged to restor 2.5 with a higher power which resulted in a horrible surgery: the toric lens was never inserted into the bag properly and at a tilt: results were 20/32 at best reading with a ghosting or shadow effect: and the haptic rubbing against the iris. when i complained of discomfort, it was immediately dismissed to point of surgery...
final thoughts:
i am 100% satisfied with the outcome. i hate that ive gone through such an ordeal, but with the results i have today it was all worth it. if my experience helps anyone else in the future, again it was worth it
my surgeon is dr shatz at sight trust eye institute in sunrise fl and i highly recommend him for any exchange or cataract surgery ...
yag is something to think about in the future for the right eye . i do have a wrinkle in the bag that is effecting my vision slightly. i notice it more at night when the 12 concentric rings are not as noticable and oncoming traffic lights are more blurry. i will probably wait 6 months or more...see how night driving is when my left eye heals completely, and i drive more at night in the winter months. dr is in no rush, and neither am i
thanks everyone for well wishes, its been a journey for sure
if i can do it anyone can... i have terrible anxiety too and they gave me a little injection and then it wasnt a big deal... just try not to think about it so much because it wont help the situation (easier said than done i know)
thanks derek!! i am pleased with everything . ive only driven at night once so far, since the sun is setting later, i may not have time to test until my trip in june.
it just goes to show, that although a dr may do cataract surgery, they may not be good at cataract surgery. i believed the hype, its the most common surgery done...well doesn't mean they have perfected their craft.
having 20/20 vision with both eyes ( 20/25 out of left) one week after surgery is awesome!! this is how everyones surgery should go, especially if they are healthy patients
I couldn't agree with you more Julielyn. It is great to have positive results within a day or 2 when there are bo other wye health issues going on. Some people react to the drops more than others do and don't get their best vision to those are over - although I would think this would fluctuate where at times vision is good even if there ate times things are blurry.
What steps did you take to find this surgeon? I think it may be hard to get past marketing of some clinics and find out actual patient results.
So glad this has a happy ending for you. And happy the damage first surgeon did could be undone. Have you confronted that doctor since this surgery or taking any steps to recover lost funds?
I am so glad for you, my right eye has improved but I need the exchange as I have to use a magnifier to read on the right eye and can't see clearly further that 10 feet on that eye. So I am going to schedule an appointment with your doctors. Thanks for the update. I will post my results as well.
SueAn, sight trust is the sister company to millenium laser that did my lasik back in 2001. i should have followed up and gone to them first, but i was quoted by an earlier optomotrist that it would cost @$10k us out of pocket, and the requirements for follow up check ups where not appealing. i chose the original dr because of proximity, and he siad he could do the job for a lot less...hind sight is truly 20:20 in my case
im working on sending letters of complaint to the surgical center, state medical board and the dr. my sister in law is a DO and will assist me in the process. i may call the attorney i spoke with before the exchanges, but he said he would need another expert in the field to appear in court. i do have videos of both surgeries and my follow up reports from sight trust . im hoping a letter with my progress reports would be enough for a refund ...going to court my cost more than what i can recoup is what the attorney was saying nicely.
Can so relate I did go down the whole legal route and know what you mean over a house once. I call it the legal system vs the justice system for obvious reasons.
It wouldn't hurt though to send a legal letter ti see if that would incite them to refund your money. And/or get the max small claims court would get you without incurring the legal fees. Bet Judge Judy would award you the refund plus pain and suffering. Seriously small claims might be the way to go.
At least you have a happy ending. Can't imagine what it's like to live with sub par vision all your life.
He put Alcon Acrysoft Toric Aspheric UV absorbing IOL. What has been scary and disheartening is that now he is dismissive and says its my eyesight that suddenly changed. But I can almost see with my old glasses and that makes no sense. I just read that except for the night halos, everything is fine, I am so glad for you. How soon after the surgery were you able to travel? I am coming from Maryland.I am making an appointment tomorrow if they are open, if not, I will call Monday.