Has anyone who experienced a negative result from the Symfony lens brought a product liability lawsuit against Johnson and Johnson or a malpractice lawsuit against their eye surgeon?
My surgeon and Symfony toric lenses have improved my life immensely.
I am deeply grateful for both his expertise and Johnson & Johnson's superb Symfony toric lenses.
Both exceeded my expectations and I am an extremely critical person.
what is it you feel the surgeon did wrong or about the Symfony lens? For me they've worked out really well. My quality of life has improved since my surgery (have 2 tegular Symfony lenses).
i totally agree with Sue and Ed. i have a Symfony lens in my right eye and a Symfony Toric lens in my left eye. My surgeries were on August 13, and September 13 of this year. i am so happy with my results. i have wonderful vision without glasses at all distances. i am so grateful to my eye doctor for his expertise in selecting the correct lens strength and to Johnson and Johnson for the Symfony lens. For me, it has been a life changing experience. I consider it a miracle that I now can see everything clearly.
Bill, I didn't have Symfony lenses, but posts like yours really sadden me. Unfortunately, medicine isn't a perfect science and not everyone is going to get great results. A lot of times, it's down to the surgeon, but there are so many other factors. Do you have proof that your lenses were defective? What happened to make you feel that you've got a case? I'm not judging you either way, but please get a second, or even third, opinion before jumping to conclusions. I don't think too many folks here can say much without more information. Regardless, I wish you only the best and hope that things can be adjusted/repaired/replaced/whatever is necessary for you to have great vision.
Hi Bill
I understand where you are coming from. It is natural to question the choice of doctor and lens when you have to deal with some of the frustration that are associated with this process.
Good luck and wish you the very best. If you can share your experience that will be helpful for others.
Two physicians have said that the lens cannot be removed/replaced. Other sources agree. No jumping to conclusions here.
Hi Bill,
I agree with you if you talking about a night vision I see multiple rings around any light source including a stop lights so driving at night becomes a challenge on the road with two way traffic. During the day I see fine I don't need glasses anymore I have Symphony multifocal lens in both eyes done in August and September this year, I was told that my brain will adjust to it and those Halos and ring will not be noticeable well it didn't happen for me yet. What I would really would like to know is why some of us experience these problems at night vision and some of us don't. Is it a faulty Lance that nobody is telling us about because it's expensive ? Is mistake done where eyes are being measured? I thought I had done my homework I called a person that has done that kind of surgery , with the same type of lens, he's saying he has none of the night vision issues or symptoms that lot of of us do. So going back to the original question why only some of u?
If you haven't had a YAG for PCO the lenses can be exchanged. Several people have reported good outcomes here on forums as a result of lens exchanges. so don't give up hope. Something to bear in mind this takes considerable more skill than most surgeons who perform cataract surgeries. My own surgeon told me before I chose my lenses that if I would want an exchange he doesn't do them and I would have to actually go out of province to Halifax for that kind of expertise. You would need to make an appointment with a surgeon that specializes in those kinds of surgeries. Hoping you find someone that can perform an exchange.
I too see the multiple concentric rings but I was informed they wouldn't go away - compromise of seeing at all distances. I struggled with that decision but went ahead with Symfony IOLs. Was hard in the first few months as I had strong glare as well as the concentric rings at night. Glare diminished significantly but the circles still visible but these are light and not as bothersome as glare was. As I approach traffic lights at a certain distance rings disappear. I don't believe the rings will ever go away. I do think the night time artifacts ate worse for those whose pupils dilate beyond the 6mm IOL and if there is astigmatism or power calculation is off. AS britkennels said there are so many variables involved it really is not easy to predict outcomes. And I suspect that some of those issues would be the same if person chose monofocals over premium lenses.
Bill, sorry that I used the term "jumping to conclusions." Obviously, this has been troubling you for a while. As others have mentioned, if you can provide a bit more information/background, it might help. Again, I wish you nothing but the very best.
Had a Symfony put in one eye August 17, 2018- no problems at all, no rings, slight tolerable lens flare on lights at night. Real happy intermediate & far vision perfect... 1.25 lens help with small type close up. Good luck with your situation.
To the point of this thread: I paid a lot of money and do harbor some dissatisfaction and have a sense that this whole industry is "a little off" The technology is far from perfect. Some sort of legal action has crossed my mind. I paid for "premium" vision and received something less. But both doctors are of the mind that "striving for better would be the enemy of good" so I should simply take what I have and be content as any further action would risk making things worse. Fine. But do I get a refund/partial refund since results were not delivered? Should I expect to pay full price for a new "premium" sports car when I take it home and find that it does not go above 50km/hr? It just doesn't seem right.
Background: I've had my lenses for about 9 months. One eye has is nearly inline with the advertised expected outcome, but the second eye has a problem with all but very far distances - other distances suffer from blur for some unknown reason. I've had two opinions and neither has been able to tell me exactly what the issue is other than the lens looks to be positioned properly and undamaged.
My next step may be to get an iTrace as I understand that this will tell whether the problem lies with the lens or my eye.
Could you enlighten us about iTrace?
I haven't heard of iTrace - what is that?
If I had to guess it sounds as if the power calculation is off on that eye. Sounds as though you are too farsighted if you can see the far distances and all else is blurry. Particularly if lens is positioned correctly.
Have you asked another specialist for an explanation as to why you cannot see other distances well? If there is no underlying issue with your eye health and you've not had a YAG for PCO a lens exchange is not out of the question. Yes sometimes striving for better is the enemy of the good but that isn't always.
Be aware you'd need to seek out an opinion for a different specialist (not someone whose day is doing cataract surgeries (or clear lens exchanges). Exchanging a lens requires considerable more skill. Some have had it done on the forums (successfully). Maybe reach out and see how they made that decision.
I find it surprising the other opinions you sought out have nothing to offer in way of explanation. Are they in same city as your surgeon (worse in same practice)? Often they don't want to criticize another's work so best if you can go outside your neighborhood.
Very good advice.
I think that talking about iTrace or anything other than lawsuits in this thread will take it off topic, blur and do disservice to the original question (just google iTrace or ask that question in a fresh thread)
Let's maintain a sharp focus on the legal lawsuit issue. I do get the impression that we are really paying medical guinea pigs and part of an ongoing experiment for lenses that have not been properly proven. Google CBC MEDICAL DEVICES for a major news item released just this week.
Logan found the article - discusses many medical devices implanted (pacemakers, hip replacement among other things). Clicked on link to search a particular device but was unable to find anything specific to Symfony lenses. It is broad too - mentioning many countries not just UsA and canada. Did you find anything specific? I do think USA and Canada have more controls than many places - why we don't have access to many premium lenses that Europe and Asia have and ones we have are much slower to market - like Symfony.
I am not sure what you are getting at. Nothing is a guarantee but for the majority of people advances in medical devices do prolong life and quality of life. I recall my mother in-laws cataract surgery and her sight afterwards wasn't great. We are so fortunate to live in times we do.
Seems you are very angry (and maybe justified). But if vision is good in one eye - do think with a lens exchange or lasik enhancement as a201 suggested would improve things for eye that didn't turn out as well (went back to read your past threads).
Perhaps if you clarify things a bit we can try and offer other suggestions.
Logan just to add something. I suffered a major financial loss with a property I purchased over 15 years ago. Did choose the court route but after paying for repairs and my lawyer got a fraction of costs back. Should have eaten the expense or done just small claims court. One doesn't usually find justice in the legal system. Just saying.
I read the article about "CBC medical devices" in the Canadian "The Star;" it seemed to be a reasonable overview of a potential problem in Canada.
That said, health-care systems vary widely around the world, with pros and cons associated with the more socialist Canadian/British systems as well as the more capitalist US/Singapore systems.
Perhaps the Swiss and Norwegians have struck an optimal balance with competitive private insurance as well as an efficient safety net and excellent patient education.
Whichever system a patient happens to be in, it is incumbent upon the patient to do his homework regarding both the surgeon and the proposed product before surgery. Courts may provide some compensation after a bad outcome, but it never really makes up for the lost time, money, hassle, and possibly debilitating result.
Nothing's perfect. Hence each patient must try as much as possible to research the risks and rewards of a surgery before it takes place; then, make a choice, hoping for the best based upon the information available.