"3 Month" - really 4-5 month update!
Had my 3 month follow-up today - really 5 months after my actual surgery. Things are the same. Pressure was 18 today with my right eye still 20/20 (yay!) and my left eye still 20/30 (boo!). 20/20 - more or less - together. My dry eyes affect the quality of my vision as well, I find.
They took a photo of my eyeballs / ICL today to measure the chamber depth and to double check the positioning - a check to make sure there's still proper spacing between the natural lens and the ICL. I have to wait a week to hear back on my results with the "actual" doctor reviews my file and measurements. They said I didn't need to make any more appointments and that I'm pretty much dismissed. But I think I will insist on the 6 month and 1 year. I paid for it, dammit!
I told them my corneal tattoo pretty much didn't work (though again, I'm not really that bothered by it) and that I still have strong halos at night only around really bring and specific light sources when I'm in a pitch black or very dark room indoors (see previous post). Otherwise, night vision is normal! My dry eye has also improved greatly - probably because my eyes are no longer angry at me for shoving contacts into them! I still need to use eye drops right before bed and right when I wake up... but that's pretty much it. Sometimes there are extra dry days where I use them throughout the day as well, but it's rare - unlike before surgery and immediately after.
When I call back next week to find out my chamber depth measurements, I also find out what they will recommend re: the glare line from the iridotomy. One option is to get the corneal tattoo re-done with darker pigmentation. Ugh... I really don't want to go through that again! I might just leave it since it didn't work the first time and it doesn't really bother me very much anyway!
More in a week...!
P.S. I just returned from my first big vacation and it was incredible travelling (and swimming) with no glasses! YAY!
They took a photo of my eyeballs / ICL today to measure the chamber depth and to double check the positioning - a check to make sure there's still proper spacing between the natural lens and the ICL. I have to wait a week to hear back on my results with the "actual" doctor reviews my file and measurements. They said I didn't need to make any more appointments and that I'm pretty much dismissed. But I think I will insist on the 6 month and 1 year. I paid for it, dammit!
I told them my corneal tattoo pretty much didn't work (though again, I'm not really that bothered by it) and that I still have strong halos at night only around really bring and specific light sources when I'm in a pitch black or very dark room indoors (see previous post). Otherwise, night vision is normal! My dry eye has also improved greatly - probably because my eyes are no longer angry at me for shoving contacts into them! I still need to use eye drops right before bed and right when I wake up... but that's pretty much it. Sometimes there are extra dry days where I use them throughout the day as well, but it's rare - unlike before surgery and immediately after.
When I call back next week to find out my chamber depth measurements, I also find out what they will recommend re: the glare line from the iridotomy. One option is to get the corneal tattoo re-done with darker pigmentation. Ugh... I really don't want to go through that again! I might just leave it since it didn't work the first time and it doesn't really bother me very much anyway!
More in a week...!
P.S. I just returned from my first big vacation and it was incredible travelling (and swimming) with no glasses! YAY!
DId your ICL implant improve your vision i.e. did you vision with ICL get significantly better than it was with glasses?
ReplyDeleteFor someone who is already wearing glasses, and only option to improve vision is RGP, will undergoing VIsiam ICL make improvements to eyesight. The objective is not to get rid of glasses but rather improve vision that is wanting without RGP. Also, is it advisable to do ICL + Intacs combo? Would that make a difference. Comparitively vs. RGP, how comparable would either ICL / Intacs in isolation be and as a combo how comparable would it be - these are questions to which I get no standard answers to and its quite furstrating.
J.J
Hello Jinu: I would say that ICLs did not make my vision better: it makes it the same, except you are now glasses free! If you've read my other posts, you'll note that vision in my left eye has actually been slightly worse, since ICLs aren't an exact science. It's barely noticeable though, but it is 20/30 L and 20/20 R. Together about 20/25. So vision compared to glasses is pretty much the same, though technically not as clear when measured by an optometrist. It all depends on the individual and how accurate the lens measurements are when made for your eyes as well as your healing process.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, I do not know what RGP or Intacts are and therefore cannot provide any advice on this. I hope you are able to find the answers you are looking for from a qualified professional. All the best!
Addendum:
ReplyDeleteSorry, correction: separate doctors have said that I actually see 20/20 even though the average technical measurement is 20/25.
I did a quick google search of RGP and realized what you are referring to. I don't think RGPs have any guarantee of improving vision. And whatever improvements may happen are minimal compared to getting ICLs. I wore RGPs many years ago and I couldn't even keep them in my eyes for more than 5 minutes as it was so painful and uncomfortable.
I have still never heard of Intacts - but googled it as well - I cannot comment on this, except to question the point of having a combo ICL-Intacts done when the ICL alone will likely make the needed improvements to your vision without touching your cornea.
I just had the Visian ICL procedure on June 4th 2013 and my refractive error going in was -12.75 diopters.. horrible eyes! after having the surgery I can now see 20/15! Cheers to high definition vision! I'm trying to create a Visian ICL community, and was hoping I could get a condensed version of your experience to post on my site www.visianiclcommunity.com? I would, of course, link to your page on whatever is posted from your story. Just let me know! Thanks again for posting your visian icl experience.
ReplyDeleteMy advice Ryan is to contact STAAR SURGICAL (the company that makes the VISIAN ICL) on Facebook. They would be thrilled to read your testimonial :)
DeleteHi ICLer,
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for posting about your ICL and corneal tattoo experiences! I just had my iridotomies completed three days ago in preparation for the ICL implants (scheduled for Dec 10th), and I'm getting the infamous white line glare that moves from the bottom to the middle of my vision when I blink. When I contacted the clinic, they said it was "normal" and would go away after 1-2 weeks, but I am very skeptical. From my reading online, it doesn't sound like the glare will ever go away. After voicing my concerns, they said that should the glare persist past two weeks, the doctor could correct the glare by corneal tattooing. I'm really scared of making things worse, and fear having the tattoo procedure that could further complicate things while not offering any improvements. I'm questioning whether I should proceed with the implants, or seek to have the iridotomy holes closed (sutured) and abandoning the ICL idea. I am so conflicted, because I have such a high prescription (about -13.00 in glasses) and I would love to be free of contact lenses and glasses, but not sure if I want to live with glare for the rest of my life.
A couple of questions for you:
1.) Did you find that the glare was reduced with time? Did it get better within two weeks, or perhaps your brain became accustomed to it?
2.) Who was the Canadian ophthamologist who did your iridotomy/ICL and corneal tattoo?
I'm glad that you're happy with the result!
Thanks!!
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ReplyDeleteHi Bryan: I agree with you. I don't think it will ever go away either. Your brain does adjust a little bit, but I still see them even after almost 11 months. Again -- it's really not that bad -- at least for me. Your experience will depend on hole placement and size of your eyes. I had one corneal tattoo procedure done and it did not work. The doctor offered a second tattoo -- he explained that light may be refracting into my eye at a different angle so he offered to make the tattoo wider. So far I have decided to decline -- have a couple more months before the "deal" is off (offer of a free tattoo procedure). Although the procedure was not horrible, I don't really want to go through all of that for it to not work again. The glare really isn't bad enough for me to warrant going under the knife again. I don't know how suturing works. In sum:
ReplyDelete1) the glare definitely does not get better in the first two weeks. my brain adjusted a bit, but it took more like 6-8 months. And even now I still see it, but only under certain previously blogged about conditions.
2) send me a private message and i'll let you know. avoiding naming names... then again, not sure if you want to go with this one (he's probably the most famous in Canada) since it did not work for me.
Overall, I am absolutely happy with not having to wear glasses - can't say i'm 100% satisfied with the results, After almost a year, it has changed my life for the better. I forget what it's like to have glasses! It's amazing. BUT i still see the glare particularly in extreme light settings (sunny days with no sunglasses...or a bright lamp or computer screen at certain angles...and in dark restaurants with small, bright light sources). Otherwise, it's great.
I cannot recommended that you do x or y. It's really up to you at the end of the day. I'm not a doctor and even if I was, it would still be your decision (and risk) to take. Best of luck! Fingers are crossed for you.
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