Now that Symfony is FDA approved, is there any information about when it will actually become available for U.S. patients?
For me, the question isn't just academic. I'm scheduled for measurements Aug. 1, then eye one a week later, and eye 2 about a week after that. On my last visit, a week ago, just days before the FDA announcement, I discussed Symfony in passing with my ophthalmologist. The conversation went something like this: "Sounds like great option. Too bad it's not available." And he went on to recommend the Tecnis low add (+2.75).
I was ecstatic (not too strong a word) when I saw the FDA announcement Friday. Having learned of (and so much about) the Symfony from SoftwareDeveloper's posts, I've considered it the ideal lens for me, and even entertained the idea of traveling to get it. (The Tecnis +2.75 was an acceptable second place choice, and until Friday was a default first choice due only to uncertainty about Symfony availability. I'm in front of several monitors all day and so very concerned about intermediate vision--that, and the reduced glare/haloes and increased contrast sensitivity, are why I'm so interested in the Symfony.)
This week I spoke with the ophthalmologist's scheduler, who said she was told by an AMO rep that the lens would be rolled out "in the fall." She suggested I could get my measurements done Aug. 1 as scheduled, and then possibly wait a few months, if necessary/desired, for the Symfony to become available.
On a related note, has anyone seen documentation of the FDA study referenced in the approval? I have searched at the FDA
site but with no luck.
As for the FDA data the only working link so far is: http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfpma/pma.cfm?id=P980040S065 but the Clinical Trials link goes to a unapproved trial. The data probably still needs to be processed for online viewing.