Software developer thanks for telling me about magnification. Also my computer crashed this week and I'm working off an iphone and laptop I don't usually use. IT tech coming tomorrow PM.
Now I want to update my topic a little bit. Just recently I visited Dr. Ike Ahmed, a well known complex surgeon in Canada. Actually, he is the last one and I will not going to see anybody else.
His opinion for me was Artisan and a back up lens, if I've understood correctly, in case any thing happens in the OR, otherwise, if the first lens is OK, the backup is useless. I guess he mentioned pediatric Artisan because my eyes are small. He said I have to consider all the risks including infection and endothelial cell loss, which the latter occurs for sure, as far as I know. i.e after 20 years, I will experience a 50% endothelial cell loss. This is just my guess based on what I've read. He also said that I certainly will be wearing glasses for every day use, but they'll gonna be very thinner and lighter than what I wear right now. Something interesting was that he said my left eye is 20/200 and right is 20/60, but Dr. Stein had told me my L is 20/200 and R is 20/50 which is enough for driving here in Ontario and that even now, he signs the paper for me to get the license if I want.
So I'm thinking why should I put my life in danger when I can reach 1 of my 2 goals (1- driving and 2-getting rid of glasses) right now before the operation? Realistically, If I can get the vision I have currently with my glasses, then the surgery becomes rational, even with its risks, but what if I lose?
Believe it or not, deciding is very hard for me because as our friends here on medhelp have mentioned, there should be something positive that every one has a lens in their eyes, right? And actually, that is what tempts me to do the surgery.
I will appreciate any opinion on this matter. I don't know how efficient Artisan is. So please if you have any experience, or you know anyone who has, share it with me. I am in need. Thank you.
I cant advise on those types of lenses. I can however say that since your case seems to a little bit more complicated, go with the one that your surgeon recommends, as that is what he personally has had the best results with, and he will be the one who needs to get you through the operation without complications.
Any comments? Has anyone implanted artisan or alcon?
oh I forgot to mention something: they actually confirmed what Anomalychick has said to me, that my eyes already have lost the ability to accommodate and there is no reason to fear about setting the iol for distance. They told me that it will be like my current vision or even better. I have to mention that I think both of these lenses require suturing which is another concern.
oh I forgot to mention something: they actually confirmed what Anomalychick has said to me, that my eyes already have lost the ability to accommodate and there is no reason to fear about setting the iol for distance. They told me that it will be like my current vision or even better. I have to mention that I think both of these lenses require suturing which is another concern.
If you have IOL's set for distance, and your distance vision is then 20/20, at intermediate, you'd require one and half diopters correction. If you chose not to use it, each half a diopter removes approximately one line of vision. So your vision should still be 20/50. To be safe, lets say 20/60. At near, you'd be off 2.5 diopters, or 20/70, lets say 20/80. Is your current near vision really that much better than 20/80 wearing only your distance glasses and no magnifier? There is a reason why everyone has an IOL implanted.
If there are no complications, I cannot imagine that you would be worse off than you are now at any distance, even assuming that you are in the group that has the worst vision at multiple distances after a successful cataract surgery. Medicine can't promise you no glasses, but they can promise much better vision than you have now. Given your history, I would recommend using regular monofocals, and not going to multifocals or anything else new fangled. You had congenital cataracts ,which means its possible that your visual system didn't develop normally because your brain wasn't receiving clear input. This slight disability could become a serious issue if you had to deal with the reduced contrast sensitivity and quality of vision you'd have with multifocal IOL's or current accommodating options.
Now, there is a way to run a test. Go find yourself a good, patient optometrist, and get yourself a pair of single vision contacts for distance. They do make brands for aphakic people, I think one is called silosoft if I remember correctly. You also have a fairly low prescription (if you didn't have cataracts ,you would have been extremely nearsighted and needed thick glasses anyway) so you may be able to use normal brands too but I am not sure. This should be approximately what your vision will be like with monofocal IOL's, except with IOL's you may occasionally catch a reflection around the edge, but your vision should be the same. If your distance vision is not 20/20 in contacts, it wont be with IOL's either. But your prescription is only a +8.00, so contacts should be really close (at all distances) to what you'd have after surgery. Try that, and then decide to keep wearing contacts, have the surgery with monofocals for distance, or if you're unhappy, then you can keep beating your head against the wall on internet forums looking for a better solution.