Hello, I am doing research on IOL options as a young(ish) 45 yo with large pupils. I am really disappointed to learn that IOLs (in the USA) only come in 6mm options. I was even more disappointed to learn Tecnis only gives 5.2mm of focal view due to the lens design (the wide edge border does not provide vision.) Was hoping other people could weigh in on their IOL monofocal experiences and report: Which IOL monofocal do you have? Age? Any glare, halos, starbursts or blurry side vision? Also wondering how many people with Alcon have a cat eye's reflection (flashing noticeable by other people) in their lenses. Thanks.
I believe the Tecnis only reduces the effective diameter in higher powers. The Alcon AcrySof does not reduce and maintains the full 6 mm in higher powers. This may or may not be an issue depending on what power of lens you need. . I have the AcrySof IQ Monofocal. I am 71, and have not experienced glare, halos, starbursts, or blurry side vision. I have not had any flashes of light until I was recently diagnosed with posterior vitreous detachment (PVD). In dark situations I see flashes of light down one side of the eye now. My optometrist says it is related to the PVD and not the IOL. . I think we have discussed this cat-eye effect before. You are the first that has raised it. It seems to me that it is a curiosity at most, and not an issue that affects vision. I tested both my IOL eye and my natural eye with a penlight and there is a very distinct reflection off of my eye that another person would see. The reflection in both eyes is identical to me. I understand that if a slit lamp is used by an optometrist they may see additional reflections if there is an IOL present. Like I say it may be a curiosity item for an optometrist to see, but you or others certainly are not likely to see it. It may be a method for an optometrist to determine if a patient that has memory issues actually has an IOL or not.
Ron,
I think my reply got flagged because i tried including a link to show you the "Terminator Eye" a nickname for Alcon lenses. Google it to see for yourself. It may be your pupils are too small for it to be visible?
I think it is internet myth. I am sure I would have heard of it before if it was a real issue. Seems to me there are a lot more important things to be concerned about when selecting an IOL.
The article below suggests the Tecnis only gives you 4.9 mm of effective diameter if the lens power is over +21 D. . crstoday Two Aspheric IOLs, Two Different Designs Quentin B. Allen, MD
Like Ron, I have the Acrysof IQ monofocal, in my case in both eyes. I was 61 when I had my surgeries two years ago. I do have very slight halos around lights at night, but they're not bothersome at all.
I had never heard of 'Terminator eye' (heh), and no one has ever mentioned seeing anything odd when they look at me, but perhaps they're just being polite. However, this is truly the last thing you should be concerned about.
45 yr old here. no monofocal. symfony. large pupils. 7mm would be fantastic.
Do you have a lot of side effects or blurry peripheral vision?
at night in the dark the whole iol lights up.
I'm 47 and had the Eyehance IOL put in my right eye for mono distance vision on Thursday. It's Monday now. Although the doctor said that my vision is now "objectively terrific", we disagree on criteria. I see individual letters in a dark room as long as the individual letters are separated and you are testing my eyes at the eye doctors office. What I couldn't do was read words the next day...or the clock across the room or SEE anything within ten feet. I was in tears . Thankfully, it does appear to be getting better. I can now read billboards. I can now see objects at 6 feet or farther. I still can’t read anything within 6 feet, but I am hopeful that will improve as everything else does. Thankfully, it does appear to be getting better. I can now read billboards. I can now see objects at 6 feet or farther. I still can’t read anything within 6 feet, but I am hopeful that will improve as everything else does. I’m supposed to be able to read at 2 1/2 feet or farther. My real challenges are driving and working. I only had one eye done and you CANNOT just pop out one lens from your glasses. I tried that and got so dizzy that I almost fell over. I have been told by the doctor to give it a month and so I am trying to do that. As for the surgery itself, I think being younger results in a different experience. I broke through the Versed, so I remember the painful part of the surgery and YOWZA . It does indeed feel like someone cutting into your eye. I talked to a friend who is a nurse and she said that it is not uncommon for older patients to be more sensitive to medication than younger patients, so the fact that I remember the surgery and was in pain isn’t actually that surprising if they gave me a senior citizen dose. On the other hand, Versed has a black box warning so you dont want a lot of it. I think the expectation setting for younger patients isn’t there yet. Of course vision looks terrific if you have lived with Cataracs for 10 years and you are now 80 and your expectations are that of an 80 year old. It takes a while in my experience for things to calm down in your eye and I am used to being able to see and work, so my needs are more demanding than that of a senior citizen. Whatever you get, it won’t be perfect. Really drill your doctor on detailed expectations. How will you drive if you have to see both far away and the odometer in your car which is close? How will you work on the computer and read and see the projection in a meeting? What sort of glasses would achieve that? How long MIGHT it take for your ete to adjust? etc
An alternative to taking one lens out of your glasses is to get a contact lens for the non IOL eye. I found that much better than the one lens trick.
Hi Soks,
Can you explain what you mean when you say the whole IOL lights up at night? What do you see at night?
Please keep us posted on your progress. Do you see any halos or starbursts at night?
light flare starts at the centre and flows towards the edge of the iol. lighting up the edge as a circle of light and light spokes going go the edge.
look at the logo of american academy of opthalmology.
I saw the moon out of the IOL eye last night an cried. I was so relieved. I have not been patient with the time it is taking for my vision to return and prior to the surge friend who has halos (from Lasik) had shrugged and said , "It's no big deal. I just can't see the moon." I did not want to give up the moon.
After that I tested each eye on the streetlight across the way. Holy cow. Um, no, no halo with the IOL. I can see the actual lamp and the light itself is like a crisp starburst. My left (still cateract eye) sees a soft globe of light 2-3x the dimension of the lamp. I had no idea the rest of the world isn't stepping into an Impressionist painting at night. It truly is the difference between a painting and a photograph.
I do not trust driving, so I can't tell you about headlights. In the day, streetlights still have a small halo as does the overhead light where I'm sitting, but it's much greater with the cataract eye.
I can't clearly see my feet yet. That's probably 5' from my eyes, so certainly the mid-range hasn't improved to the promised 26". I'm still typing with the right eye closed.
You know what I suddenly could see? That my shower needed an intense scrub. I clean it with boiling water every week, but I don't shower with my glasses on. It was a weird and mortifying experience. I couldn't see that yesterday though, so it was a good marker of improvement.
I had the same shower experience. I knew it was time for a deep clean, but it didn't look that bad. Until the first shower after surgery--I got in and just about jumped right back out!
do you see this when looking at outdoor lights? car headlights, streetlamps etc?
Bit of a weird question but do you happen to know how long your arms are when outstretched to fingertips? Also when you say you cant see your feet yet, is it a total blur, like completely unidentifiable? i am highly myopic and essentially blind from about 3 inches out to infinity, and i am wondering if the near vision in the eyhance iols are the same level of blindness.
Glad you can see the moon. : )
any light but mostly street lights when there is no light source on my eye. for example if i am indoors with light on the pupil will contract and the street lights outside will be fine. but if i am in the car with no light source on me then things will try to flare.
in movie theatre the light from the movie screen will help contract the pupil. i can take lumify or alphagan and contract the pupil but that makes night time darker.
i have the same issue at night if the light strikes the edge, it lights up the whole IOL on top of my vision. i have multifocal from 2007 and im 31