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What are my options for FineVision cataract replacement lens outside of the U.S.?
I'm interested in getting the FineVision trifocal lens implant for my cataracts (I'm 40). They aren't available in the U.S., and don't look to be for quite a while. I'm considering where I can go to have the procedure done, but don't know where to start. What are my options? In general, which countries are going to be the cheapest but still have quality medical care (the Cz. Republic or Mexico kind of intimidate me as options. I'm looking more for UK, EU, Canada, etc.)
Although obviously Canada is closer, If you are sure you want the Finevision, you could even consider using Dr. Damien Gatinel in Paris who is one of the creators of the lens (which means of course that his view of which lens to get will be biased despite his best intentions so I'd be sure about the lens choice first, e.g. I was of his approach in at least one paper about another lens that I recall, I think it was critiqued by others regarding the choice of light spectrum used in an optical bench test). One American expat living in Italy has posted here about traveling to use Dr. Findl in Vienna who is one of the top surgeons in Europe, though he used him for the Symfony toric lens. I would guess Dr. Findl deals with trifocals as well (though I'm not positive). There are good surgeons in most countries, and the costs tend to vary mostly by the overall cost of the country (e.g. in a low cost country even a top surgeon may be low cost).
A few years ago I was considering going abroad for a trifocal. At the time my impression was that the AT Lisa Tri and Finevision tended to be fairly comparable, with surgeons differing as to which one came out ahead, with perhaps a slight edge given to the AT Lisa Tri. It partly depends on your needs (e.g. one is pupil size dependent so its light splitting varies with light levels, the other isn't). I've seen some sources suggesting Alcon's Panoptix might come out ahead of those now overall , but I don't have enough info to be sure. In my case I decided at the last minute to go for the Symfony instead since it seemed a slightly better bet for intermediate vision and with lower risk of night vision issues. It depends on each person's needs what is best, it was a close call but I still think the Symfony was the best bet for my needs. (and of course its now approved in the US finally).
If you haven't yet hit presbyopia, or not much, then you might be more concerned with trying not to lose the near you have now by going with a trifocal. I'd describe the Symfony as being like early presbyopia where you can tell you've lost some near (e.g. to read the small print on an eye drop bottle I might need to hold it at the right distance) even if in practical terms usually you can see most things without correction (though a small percentage need readers), but need glasses to say thread a needle.
re :"aren't available in the U.S., and don't look to be for quite a while"
Are you close to needing surgery, are the cataracts bad, or might you be able to wait a couple of years? Since the FineVision and AT Lisa Tri have been available outside the US for a while, but I haven't heard even any rumors of clinical trials, I have to suspect they aren't even bothering to try for approval here. I have to wonder about Alcon's plans however since they are a major lens provider in the US and their Panoptix trifocal was approved in the EU last year so it seems like they'd try to get it approved here, though I haven't heard anything one way or another about it.
Obviously Canada is closer than the UK&EU, but I'm not sure what the costs are like for non-Canadians (there weren't options available at the time I got my surgery, but I think they have trifocals now). English speaking countries tend to be more expensive than other countries, and the cost difference might still leave them cheaper to do both eyes even when you factor in travel expenses. Most major cities have enough English speakers to let you function if thats your only language (unlike some small foreign cities, which can be more of a challenge, which is why I don't post publicly about options like what I used since they are only for those who are sure they are up for it and ask privately). Many folks in the UK go to Prague for medical tourism since there are high quality doctors there even though its lower cost.
Although you expressed concerns regarding Mexico, there have been posts on this site from people using Codet Vision for the LAL and Symfony lenses, and I think they offer a trifocal. There is an internationally prominent surgeon there. Although I would evaluate it more before using them, I hadn't looked into it enough to vouch for it for sure, but the general impression I've picked up is that they are like an American clinic located just over the border to have access to newer technology. They are literally walking distance from the border and offer shuttle service to hotels located on the US side in San Diego. I noticed a Mendez Vision Institute in the same area which might also be similar and worth checking out, but I didn't research it further (once I decided to go to a clinic that offered the Symfony as well as trifocals that removed any Canadian&Mexican options since the Symfony wasn't available yet), and I hadn't seen posts about it.
I will note that one surgeon especially expressed caution about treatment outside the US since they feel that overall average treatment standards in the US tend to be much higher, but I decided a top surgeon overseas is likely a reasonable choice, especially to get lens technology not available here.
A few years ago I was considering going abroad for a trifocal. At the time my impression was that the AT Lisa Tri and Finevision tended to be fairly comparable, with surgeons differing as to which one came out ahead, with perhaps a slight edge given to the AT Lisa Tri. It partly depends on your needs (e.g. one is pupil size dependent so its light splitting varies with light levels, the other isn't). I've seen some sources suggesting Alcon's Panoptix might come out ahead of those now overall , but I don't have enough info to be sure. In my case I decided at the last minute to go for the Symfony instead since it seemed a slightly better bet for intermediate vision and with lower risk of night vision issues. It depends on each person's needs what is best, it was a close call but I still think the Symfony was the best bet for my needs. (and of course its now approved in the US finally).
If you haven't yet hit presbyopia, or not much, then you might be more concerned with trying not to lose the near you have now by going with a trifocal. I'd describe the Symfony as being like early presbyopia where you can tell you've lost some near (e.g. to read the small print on an eye drop bottle I might need to hold it at the right distance) even if in practical terms usually you can see most things without correction (though a small percentage need readers), but need glasses to say thread a needle.
re :"aren't available in the U.S., and don't look to be for quite a while"
Are you close to needing surgery, are the cataracts bad, or might you be able to wait a couple of years? Since the FineVision and AT Lisa Tri have been available outside the US for a while, but I haven't heard even any rumors of clinical trials, I have to suspect they aren't even bothering to try for approval here. I have to wonder about Alcon's plans however since they are a major lens provider in the US and their Panoptix trifocal was approved in the EU last year so it seems like they'd try to get it approved here, though I haven't heard anything one way or another about it.
Obviously Canada is closer than the UK&EU, but I'm not sure what the costs are like for non-Canadians (there weren't options available at the time I got my surgery, but I think they have trifocals now). English speaking countries tend to be more expensive than other countries, and the cost difference might still leave them cheaper to do both eyes even when you factor in travel expenses. Most major cities have enough English speakers to let you function if thats your only language (unlike some small foreign cities, which can be more of a challenge, which is why I don't post publicly about options like what I used since they are only for those who are sure they are up for it and ask privately). Many folks in the UK go to Prague for medical tourism since there are high quality doctors there even though its lower cost.
Although you expressed concerns regarding Mexico, there have been posts on this site from people using Codet Vision for the LAL and Symfony lenses, and I think they offer a trifocal. There is an internationally prominent surgeon there. Although I would evaluate it more before using them, I hadn't looked into it enough to vouch for it for sure, but the general impression I've picked up is that they are like an American clinic located just over the border to have access to newer technology. They are literally walking distance from the border and offer shuttle service to hotels located on the US side in San Diego. I noticed a Mendez Vision Institute in the same area which might also be similar and worth checking out, but I didn't research it further (once I decided to go to a clinic that offered the Symfony as well as trifocals that removed any Canadian&Mexican options since the Symfony wasn't available yet), and I hadn't seen posts about it.
I will note that one surgeon especially expressed caution about treatment outside the US since they feel that overall average treatment standards in the US tend to be much higher, but I decided a top surgeon overseas is likely a reasonable choice, especially to get lens technology not available here.
Hi Aimee. I'm in the UK and am planning to go to Prague to have the surgery done. I have done a great deal of research on it all and also had some fantastic info from this site - particularly from one user.
There are plenty of clinics in the UK that will offer it - but I'm really not convinced they will be any better than the clinics offering it in Prague. If you DO want to go ahead with the Finevision lens then I would recommend that you look into the Gemini clinic and Dr Stodulka. The clinic are not so great at corresponding quickly, but they have great equipment and Dr Stodulka is a leading eye surgeon who has performed tens of thousands of cataract surgeries.
I have an appointment in October to go for tests to a clinic in OPrague. I have decided to go for the Symfony lens after a lot of deliberation. The Gemini clinic don't recommend the Symfony and instead prefer the Finevision. There are still enough reviews I've read that suggest that the Finevision has a degree of halo problems, but has very good near vision (Dr Stodulka actually said this was the reason he used the Finevision)
I may change my mind - but it has taken me so long to decide on the Symfony!! I won;t go for the surgery until early next year.
There are plenty of clinics in the UK that will offer it - but I'm really not convinced they will be any better than the clinics offering it in Prague. If you DO want to go ahead with the Finevision lens then I would recommend that you look into the Gemini clinic and Dr Stodulka. The clinic are not so great at corresponding quickly, but they have great equipment and Dr Stodulka is a leading eye surgeon who has performed tens of thousands of cataract surgeries.
I have an appointment in October to go for tests to a clinic in OPrague. I have decided to go for the Symfony lens after a lot of deliberation. The Gemini clinic don't recommend the Symfony and instead prefer the Finevision. There are still enough reviews I've read that suggest that the Finevision has a degree of halo problems, but has very good near vision (Dr Stodulka actually said this was the reason he used the Finevision)
I may change my mind - but it has taken me so long to decide on the Symfony!! I won;t go for the surgery until early next year.
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