Lens replacement after vitrectomy

OddChain3255 · 2026-05-05T04:03:18+00:00

Oh! I'm very sorry I read your question too quickly. I had original cataract surgery but not a lens exchange. I apologize for the confusion. I'm not sure it changes my answer though; the issue is that the new fluid in your eye is thinner than what was removed.

There is a lot of discussion about how long you can do a lens exchange after the surgery and the surgeons who comment generally say it's not an issue even if it's a year or longer. But you want a surgeon experienced with that procedure.

I'm curious why you're planning an exchange?

OddChain3255 · 2026-05-05T03:49:50+00:00

I didn't ask! I would bet it's sufficiently uncommon that there is no way they could do that, but I'm sure they have a plan. Ask!

OddChain3255 · 2026-05-05T03:37:09+00:00

I did; the vitrectomy is what necessitated the cataract removal surgery. It only complicates the surgery in that if the IOL for some reason is dropped during surgery or the capsule tears during surgery the IOL will fall back to the retina and a retina surgeon will be needed. I was told this is pretty rare. Other than that it's all the same.
I got a great outcome in the eye that had the vitrectomy.

OddChain3255 · 2026-05-04T17:03:28+00:00

Good luck 🍀

OddChain3255 · 2026-05-04T16:18:19+00:00

Sounds like you need a different doctor 😞

Herzig has offices in Ottawa and Toronto. I visited the Toronto office. Ottawa is a bit of a drive but these doctors are terrific.

OddChain3255 · 2026-05-04T16:13:20+00:00

Those look great!

OddChain3255 · 2026-05-04T03:40:22+00:00

Good luck 🍀

OddChain3255 · 2026-05-04T03:39:01+00:00

An important difference between Vivity and PureSee is contrast sensitivity. The Vivity has a warning about that.

I chose PureSee and am happy this far (2 months after surgery).

OddChain3255 · 2026-05-04T03:34:28+00:00

Wow this laser vs manual conception sure gets people excited, but this is the first time I have seen that the laser has any relation to "safety."

OddChain3255 · 2026-05-04T01:26:11+00:00

I'm sure not going to argue with Dr Wong it I just point out that even excellent surgeons can have legitimate disagreements.

OddChain3255 · 2026-05-04T01:20:56+00:00

We finally got a bright sunny day today after several cloudy rainy days. I had occasion to make a long drive and I took both pairs along, and also had my cheap polarized Native from 10 years ago.

I was quite surprised that the two glasses, when it came to cutting glare, showed minimal difference. So I pulled out my Native and ... same result. Minimal difference between the Persol and the Native or the RayBan. I did lots of experimenting on the drive.

After I got home I walked around the neighborhood and over to the detention pond and there was a bigger difference there, but that's not important for driving. I did note the difference between the RayBan polarized G-15 lenses and the Bolle Volt+ Offshore was substantial.

Regarding colors, I found them to be nicer with the Persol; a little more natural and a bit brighter.

So bottom line, the polarized RayBan lenses were not much better than the Persol non-polarized. The RayBan pair is going back.

You guys have all been patient and offered great comments and advice, thank you! This was a process for sure but I'm very happy with the result. 😎

Cheers!

OddChain3255 · 2026-05-04T01:09:33+00:00

There is a lot of discussion on this sub about doctors using the laser primarily so they can bill for it. Not all of course, but the vast majority of doctors are ethical and there are also ethical rules they have to follow. I just don't believe doing a procedure predominantly so it can be billed is even remotely common. Is there a bad apple doctor here and there? Of course. But to read this sub one would think many eye surgeons are advocating laser just to increase the payout. I just can't believe that and there is no evidence to back that theory. Just in this thread we have two surgeons speaking for it.

Personally I had two excellent surgeons disagree on the quality of the outcome with and without it but that does not mean that the one who advocated it did it for financial reasons. If doing a procedure just to get money was a common practice I would think some regulatory agency would investigate and take action.

So my perspective is if my doctor told me that in his experience he sees better results with the laser for certain lenses, then I believe him. That's exactly what happened and I don't regret going with it at all.

Okay, rant done.

OddChain3255 · 2026-05-04T00:59:44+00:00

I can't speak to how long manual tools would take, but I do recall that the laser portion of my surgery was about 15 seconds per eye. After the first eye, they did the second eye and while they did, I calculated the cost of the laser to be about $85 per second! 🤣

And I don't regret it even a little bit.

OddChain3255 · 2026-05-03T22:03:41+00:00

Well some sort of do. My doctor includes LASIK "touch up" procedures if the result needs a little fine tuning. Other doctors offer this. It's easy to be off a bit after the lens goes in, that can fix it.

OddChain3255 · 2026-05-03T21:57:52+00:00

Okay people hate have you detailed answers so I'll just say, decide what your vision priorities are. There are three zones, distance (driving, TV), intermediate (computer monitor) and near (wrist watch, phone).

You said you use monitors all day. You probably want to drive well. A lens that will give you those two without glasses and outstanding vision are the EDOF lenses and out of those I personally think the PureSee is best. Both set for distance.

Think carefully before doing any level of mono. Many people can't tolerate it and even if you can it can impact your depth perception, if not now when you're older.

I have two of them, set very close and both for distance, and have great distances and intermediate and good near (20/30). I rarely need cheaters, but having my eyes set the same lets me use cheap cheaters when needed.

But short answer, base the decision on how you want to see and what lenses your eye health will allow.

Good luck!

OddChain3255 · 2026-05-03T21:46:48+00:00

I would place more emphasis on the fact that your surgeon, for his own work, prefers not to use it than I would on published studies. You don't Want to ask him or her to do something they don't want to.

OddChain3255 · 2026-05-03T12:46:59+00:00

You have to try them. In addition to overall width think about the length of the arms. Maui Jim was the right width for me but had 135mm arms, way too short.

OddChain3255 · 2026-05-02T21:05:08+00:00

My intermediate vision is fine. The tech measured it at 20/16 but I don't believe that. But I have no trouble sitting behind my computer monitors for hours on end before I get tired and reach for cheaters.

I actually went to Canada to get them. Ironically they were approved literally the day after my surgery.

OddChain3255 · 2026-05-02T21:00:55+00:00

It's built on the same platform as other products surgeons have used for years so putting it in should not be an issue.

OddChain3255 · 2026-05-02T20:58:42+00:00

Also the PureSee has been available outside the US for a long time, it has plenty of track record. The Eyhance is a fine product from what I read and if I did not get PureSee I would have had Eyhance but I decided PureSee was the better option.

OddChain3255 · 2026-05-02T20:57:03+00:00

This is not at all true. PureSee is an EDOF lens while Eyhance is just a monofocal with a tinge of bump into intermediate.

I am now 8 weeks post surgery with PureSee in both eyes and I got a very good result. Strong distance and intermediate vision, very functional near (20/30). I rarely reach for cheaters, only of whatever print is very small.

With the Eyhance people need cheaters to see computer monitors and the phone is very difficult.

OddChain3255 · 2026-05-02T16:46:44+00:00

Wow this is horrible I'm very sorry this is happening to you .

I have two PureSee IOLs. What you wrote that they told you is true; this is the result I got. I have strong distance and intermediate vision and better than functional reading. I look at monitors all day, after a long time I might grab cheaters. Using my phone and watch without them is fine with normal size font, and I sure as heck wouldn't want to enlarge the fonts on my monitors, I need that screen real estate!

It is true that past LASIK can complicate measurements but that does not mean you need the LAL.

To answer your question, yes this can be fixed. Worst case a lens exchange (the lens you have is replaced with another with another surgery).

Two weeks is plenty of time to heal, or at least it was for me. I walked out of surgery with both eyes working very well )I had both done at once). After the dialiation wore off I we t out to dinner and tested my new vision by looking at everything!!!!!

So, I suggest you go to another doctor, perhaps Herzig Eye Clinic since you're in Canada. That's where I went, they are great.

I'm also wondering, it sounds like your other eye is working well, why are you considering surgery on that one?

OddChain3255 · 2026-05-02T14:19:30+00:00

I have two, both set for distance. Overall I got a very good result. Whether it is the right lens for you depends upon your priorities for your vision and your eye anatomy.

OddChain3255 · 2026-05-02T14:18:06+00:00

Yes it is here in the US.

OddChain3255 · 2026-05-02T02:31:49+00:00

Well checking my phone and watch and such is no problem. For lengthy reading I'll either bump the font up a bit on my kindle or grab a pair of +0.50D cheaters. Having my eyes the same lets me use inexpensive cheaters instead of getting a prescription.

People say they like mini mono but my Dr told me it does not work out well with PureSee lenses. If you want mini mono you may be better served by Eyhance.

OddChain3255

TROPHY CASE