Cataract Surgery: multifocal or standard IOL

[puppymommo]

I know I will be having cataract surgery within the next few years. Trying to decide whether to go with the standard IOL that Medicare (and Tricare) covers or spend the extra money (I've been quoted about $3000/eye) for the multi-focal lenses. I'm reading that a plus for multi-focal can be getting out of glasses all together, but some people complain about glare with the multi-focal. One eye surgeon whose story I read chose the standard IOL over concern about glare. Please share your experience. I am interested in hearing what you chose and why.

 

[rapmarks]

I did multi focal lenses. I do not wear glasses at all. I have a little problem with glare, but not bad. Had a problem with the halo effect but that has receded,

 

[Jan M.]

I was told that if I went with the lenses that I would have to use reading glasses. Since I currently don't have to use reading glasses to be able to read and don't want to have to I also need to do some thinking before I have the surgery in the next couple of years. My glasses are for distance and I rarely wear my glasses at home anyhow, just when I drive. My eyes aren't that bad but I do have keratoconus and one of my eyes sees better close up and the other farther away. I wear my glasses to drive because it gives me better depth perception.

My husband had cataract surgery something like 10 years ago and got the lenses. He still had to have glasses but with his eyes he was told to expect this. However he can see well enough to function without his glasses now so that was a big improvement for him. This past year he finally got new glasses for the first time since he got glasses after the surgery. There was just a very minor tweak in his prescription so his eyesight has remained stable.

My question to other people who got the lenses is did your eyesight remain stable? Did you have to get glasses a few years down the road or a stronger prescription every few years?

 

[bogey21]

You might want to consider a distance lens in one eye and an up close one in the other. Essentially this is my set up as I only had cataract surgery in one eye. I wondered how long it would take me to adjust. Answer: about 5 minutes...

George

 

[rapmarks]

You might want to consider a distance lens in one eye and an up close one in the other. Essentially this is my set up as I only had cataract surgery in one eye. I wondered how long it would take me to adjust. Answer: about 5 minutes...

George

My husband did this and he wears glasses all the time. And as for Hans question it has been seven years and my vision has stayed the same

 

[ronparise]

My wife did the multi focal lens. She was not able to adjust. So it was removed and a mono focal lens inserted. The procedure required a scalpel and stitches and took forever before the stitches came out.

She is convinced that she didn’t need the surgery at all. We have determined that here in Florida they do a lot of proactive surgeries. You will need this sooner or later any how. Why not get it done now in Florida a good candidate for cataract surgery is apaeantly anyone that has reached the age of 65 (because Medicare pays for it) and then they up sell you to the multifocal lens

The point is be sure you need it before you go under the knife

 

[Elan]

Just had surgery on one eye in April. Only one eye. I was/am extremely near-sighted naturally. I went with the multifocal IOL (Symfony). My experience is that I can see with my new lens down to about 18" from my face. Closer than that and my other eye takes over. I wear a multifocal contact in that eye. I am fine without glasses for most things, but running fishing line through a hook or something like that is more of a struggle now

I do not need reading glasses, but I'm pretty sure that when I have the other lens replaced, I will, for the reason mentioned above. This is pretty much in line with what I was told about the multifocal IOL pre-op, although they made it sound a little better than it actually is. I do not have any notable issues with glare, but I was wearing mf contacts in both eyes prior to surgery, so perhaps I was used to any glare already. Certainly no worse with the artificial lens than it was with a contact.

FWIW, my Symfony lens was a $2200 adder.

 

[Elan]

I know I will be having cataract surgery within the next few years. Trying to decide whether to go with the standard IOL that Medicare (and Tricare) covers or spend the extra money (I've been quoted about $3000/eye) for the multi-focal lenses. I'm reading that a plus for multi-focal can be getting out of glasses all together, but some people complain about glare with the multi-focal. One eye surgeon whose story I read chose the standard IOL over concern about glare. Please share your experience. I am interested in hearing what you chose and why.

Another thing to consider is that you can go with the single vision lens and wear a MF contact on top of it. I haven't tried this yet, but I'm going to before I have my other lens replaced.

 

[isisdave]

Very interesting to me too because I'm looking at surgery pretty soon now. I had monovision contacts for a long time, but about 1-2 years ago it became annoying; maybe this was the result of the cataract beginning. Anyway, the surgeon suggested monovision IOLs (we're only doing one eye first).

In any case, I don't mind reading glasses at all, so I think I'm going to stick with the standard lens.

 

[rapmarks]

With the multi focal lens I am 20/20 near and 20/30 far.

 

[Rolltydr]

Bumping this up to see if anyone has any updates in the last couple years. I am scheduled for cataract surgery on my left eye in 2 weeks and am trying to decide on which type of lens. I have to wear reading glasses now and my ophthalmologist (who performed lasik surgery on me 12 years ago) is suggesting the monofocal lens. I have a cataract on my right eye also but he said if you go with the multifocal lens, you need to do both eyes and the right eye isn’t bad enough to do yet. I read all day so I wear the reading glasses more than I have them off. I would love to not wear them at all. He gave me a monofocal contact to wear in my right eye for testing purposes and it helps but text still isn’t clear. I know part, if not all, of the reason for that is the cataract, but it still concerns me. We’re going to talk again tomorrow and decide which lens to go with but I thought I would see if any Tuggers have recent experience with this. TIA!

 

[Ironwood]

I had cataract surgery a year ago, with both eyes corrected 4 months apart. My second surgery was delayed a couple of months due to CV lockdown regional hospital restrictions. I had multi focal AcrySof IQ PanOptix lenses inserted, and I am so glad I did. I now have better than 20/20 vision. I can read fine print on pill and supplement bottles. Distance vision is crystal clear and all glasses are gone. As an active pickleball player, in the months leading up to my surgery, I became aware of increasing difficulty quickly picking up the flight of the ball on fast volleys at the kitchen (it only means something to those who play). What a difference the new lenses made...turned back the clock many years.......now I still need a fix for O/A knees!

 

[pedro47]

I had cataract surgery a year ago, with both eyes corrected 4 months apart. My second surgery was delayed a couple of months due to CV lockdown regional hospital restrictions. I had multi focal AcrySof IQ PanOptix lenses inserted, and I am so glad I did. I now have better than 20/20 vision. I can read fine print on pill and supplement bottles. Distance vision is crystal clear and all glasses are gone. As an active pickleball player, in the months leading up to my surgery, I became aware of increasing difficulty quickly picking up the flight of the ball on fast volleys at the kitchen (it only means something to those who play). What a difference the new lenses made...turned back the clock many years.......now I still need a fix for O/A knees!

Can you give me a little more information about AcrySol IQ PanOptix lenses from a personal point of view?
The Pros and Cons. Thank you.

 

[pittle]

Ditto what Ironwood said. I got the PanOptic lens in March and June of 2020. Usually it is 2 weeks apart, but Covid had the elective surgery centers closed - day after I had my first eye done. I also had the cataract on just one eye, but they said that if I chose Multi-focal, I would need to do both.

It is pricey - $8000+ that was not covered by medicare or insurance. (They paid a bunch too.) Our opthamolgist had it listed as "Forever Young" amoung his 5 plans. I was hesitant to spent that much, but hubs said if I would be "Forever Young" it would be worth it. I love not needing glasses. These are tri-focal lens so you can see far, mid-range, and close. I attached a link that explains it. I now have my Kindle type much smaller and my computer settings on 80% for browsing.

PanOptix Trifocal Lenses (IOL) for Cataract Surgery & RLE

PanOptix Trifocal Lenses are the only FDA-approved IOLs in the US to offer clear vision without the aid of glasses for near, mid, & far distances.

www.nvisioncenters.com

 

[Rolltydr]

Ditto what Ironwood said. I got the PanOptic lens in March and June of 2020. Usually it is 2 weeks apart, but Covid had the elective surgery centers closed - day after I had my first eye done.

It is pricey - $8000+ that was not covered by medicare or insurance. (They paid a bunch too.) Our opthamolgist had it listed as "Forever Young" amoung his 5 plans. I was hesitant to spent that much, but hubs said if I would be "Forever Young" it would be worth it. I love not needing glasses. These are tri-focal lens so you can see far, mid-range, and close. I attached a link that explains it. I now have my Kindle type much smaller and my computer settings on 80% for browsing.

PanOptix Trifocal Lenses (IOL) for Cataract Surgery & RLE

PanOptix Trifocal Lenses are the only FDA-approved IOLs in the US to offer clear vision without the aid of glasses for near, mid, & far distances.

www.nvisioncenters.com

Thanks for the info! I have read a little about them and watched a YouTube video about it. It sounds great, well, except for the cost. Ouch! I was expecting maybe $3-4,000.

 

[x3 skier]

I’ve had monovision contacts for over twenty years. I probably had 2-3 prescription changes but none in the last 5. If I ever need cataract surgery, I’ll have monovision lenses.

My wife had monovision lenses when she had cataract surgery. She still occasionally used readers but not consistently.

Cheers

 

[pedro47]

Ditto what Ironwood said. I got the PanOptic lens in March and June of 2020. Usually it is 2 weeks apart, but Covid had the elective surgery centers closed - day after I had my first eye done. I also had the cataract on just one eye, but they said that if I chose Multi-focal, I would need to do both.

It is pricey - $8000+ that was not covered by medicare or insurance. (They paid a bunch too.) Our opthamolgist had it listed as "Forever Young" amoung his 5 plans. I was hesitant to spent that much, but hubs said if I would be "Forever Young" it would be worth it. I love not needing glasses. These are tri-focal lens so you can see far, mid-range, and close. I attached a link that explains it. I now have my Kindle type much smaller and my computer settings on 80% for browsing.

PanOptix Trifocal Lenses (IOL) for Cataract Surgery & RLE

PanOptix Trifocal Lenses are the only FDA-approved IOLs in the US to offer clear vision without the aid of glasses for near, mid, & far distances.

www.nvisioncenters.com

Wow. Thanks for sharing this information.

 

[pittle]

Thanks for the info! I have read a little about them and watched a YouTube video about it. It sounds great, well, except for the cost. Ouch! I was expecting maybe $3-4,000.

Me too!

I got my folder where I had the prices to bring home to discuss with hubby.

Non laser was covered by Medicare & insurance.

Basic laser cataract was $1300 per eye. Could do just one.

The one that you could choose distance or near vision was $2935 per eye. Could do just one.

Then the multi-focal panoptic was $4290 per eye. They did have a 24 month no interest plan.

On the bright side, we did get huge medical deductions and therefore tax refunds. Those and stimulus $ made it net out to about the cost of one eye.

 

[Luanne]

I had cataract surgery on both eyes in September. I don't remember any discussion about multifocal lenses. I went with monovision, one eye close and one eye distant. When I wore contact lenses this is what I had and I was easily able to adjust.

 

[PrairieGirl]

Do you know if the AcrySol IQ PanOptix lenses will work if you have an astigmatism?

 

[pittle]

I just did a search and the answer is yes.

 

[PrairieGirl]

thanks!

 

[David M]

My question to other people who got the lenses is did your eyesight remain stable? Did you have to get glasses a few years down the road or a stronger prescription every few years?

I had mine done in 2009 ... my vision is the same now as it was after my surgery.

My most striking memory was seeing subtle hues in the dawn sky on my ride home from the clinic.

My most regrettable memory was when the haptic on the first lens tore off in the injector ... cutting the torn lens up, and pulling its flotsam out of my eyeball, added an hour to my procedure.

Considering my vision before and after ... I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

 

[Rolltydr]

Wow! Sounds scary. Glad everything turned out well.

 

[BJRSanDiego]

Ditto what Ironwood said. I got the PanOptic lens in March and June of 2020. Usually it is 2 weeks apart, but Covid had the elective surgery centers closed - day after I had my first eye done. I also had the cataract on just one eye, but they said that if I chose Multi-focal, I would need to do both.

It is pricey - $8000+ that was not covered by medicare or insurance. (They paid a bunch too.) Our opthamolgist had it listed as "Forever Young" amoung his 5 plans. I was hesitant to spent that much, but hubs said if I would be "Forever Young" it would be worth it. I love not needing glasses. These are tri-focal lens so you can see far, mid-range, and close. I attached a link that explains it. I now have my Kindle type much smaller and my computer settings on 80% for browsing.

PanOptix Trifocal Lenses (IOL) for Cataract Surgery & RLE

PanOptix Trifocal Lenses are the only FDA-approved IOLs in the US to offer clear vision without the aid of glasses for near, mid, & far distances.

www.nvisioncenters.com

I read the info on the link, but it doesn't say HOW the tri-focal lens works. Yes, you can see close up, intermediate and at distance...but how does it do that? I'm familiar with tri-focal and progressive eye glasses but with an IOL, you can't really look through the bottom of the lens or the top - - you are always looking through the center for your primary focus and are only looking through the bottom with peripheral vision.

What am I missing? How do these tri-focal IOL, accomplish what they profess to achieve?