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Worse vision after RLE lens replacement with Optimax
4 years 10 months ago #20
by treeebs
Worse vision after RLE lens replacement with Optimax was created by treeebs
I raised a complaint with Optimax earlier this year following Refractive Lens Exchange surgery (lens replacement) in both eyes less than a year ago.
Prior to surgery I only wore glasses for distance (e.g. driving) and had excellent reading and near vision. However, following the procedures my reading and near vision in both eyes were adversely affected.
Pre surgery the Optimax Consultant, Mr Manzar Saeed, told me the lenses they intended to use would provide me a 9.5 out of 10 vision compared to what I was achieving with my distance glasses, with ‘excellent reading and near vision’, and this was the outcome I was expecting but didn’t get.
At my first aftercare appointment, when I highlighted the issues with my reading & near vision the Optometrist advised this was due to my brain still needing to adjust to see black & white through the lenses.
At the next appointment the Optometrist said my vision had worsened further and there was cloudiness on the lens, which would need YAG laser to clear it. I was surprised when they told me I would have to pay an extra £790 for this procedure as I thought that all aftercare was included in the original cost, but their advertised claim of ‘Lifetime Aftercare’ is not what it suggests.
As I couldn’t afford this additional cost they told me I could have it done on the NHS, and provided a referral letter.
After YAG laser on the first eye I experienced no improvement to my vision.
I had a follow up appointment with the NHS Consultant, who advised that although the procedure had been successful, the issues with my vision were due to a refractive error with the lens. In view of this he advised there was no point having the YAG laser on my second eye as the outcome would be the same.
He also said that Optimax should not be telling patients they will have excellent vision following the RLE procedure, as I was told in my consultation before agreeing to proceed.
Optimax has since confirmed that once YAG has been carried out it makes it more difficult to explant problem lenses, which Optimax did not tell me before agreeing to have the YAG, so this may restrict any chances of getting my vision improved.
In view of this I raised a formal complaint with Optimax in May, and was disappointed that the Consultant, Mr Manzar Saeed, could not see me until over 2 months later.
When we finally met, he said my eyesight was ‘perfect’, although conceded that it was only an 8 out of 10, and not the outcome I had expected when I reminded him that it was he who said I would have excellent reading and near vision as a result of the procedures. He said there may be some things they could tweak to try to improve my vision and would refer my details to their Head Optometrist.
Initially Mr Manzar Saeed said the solution was to wear glasses or contact lenses, which I told him was not an acceptable solution. Not only would I have to wear glasses more frequently than before I had surgery, but the whole point of undergoing Lens surgery was to not to have to wear glasses at all.
Following this Optimax advised me to trial a contact lens in one eye with the possibility of laser surgery for monovision, making my non dominant eye long sighted, for near vision.
I am obviously very unhappy with this situation and waiting to hear what they suggest next.
Thank you so much for posting your review and contributing to our forum. If you haven’t yet done so, we would highly recommend that you contact Sasha Rodoy who is Patient Advocate at My Beautiful Eyes Foundation and is leading the campaign for UK Government regulation of the Refractive Eye Surgery industry.
Here are the details if you wish to contact Sasha: sasha@mybeautifuleyes.co.uk
OR-Admin
Prior to surgery I only wore glasses for distance (e.g. driving) and had excellent reading and near vision. However, following the procedures my reading and near vision in both eyes were adversely affected.
Pre surgery the Optimax Consultant, Mr Manzar Saeed, told me the lenses they intended to use would provide me a 9.5 out of 10 vision compared to what I was achieving with my distance glasses, with ‘excellent reading and near vision’, and this was the outcome I was expecting but didn’t get.
At my first aftercare appointment, when I highlighted the issues with my reading & near vision the Optometrist advised this was due to my brain still needing to adjust to see black & white through the lenses.
At the next appointment the Optometrist said my vision had worsened further and there was cloudiness on the lens, which would need YAG laser to clear it. I was surprised when they told me I would have to pay an extra £790 for this procedure as I thought that all aftercare was included in the original cost, but their advertised claim of ‘Lifetime Aftercare’ is not what it suggests.
As I couldn’t afford this additional cost they told me I could have it done on the NHS, and provided a referral letter.
After YAG laser on the first eye I experienced no improvement to my vision.
I had a follow up appointment with the NHS Consultant, who advised that although the procedure had been successful, the issues with my vision were due to a refractive error with the lens. In view of this he advised there was no point having the YAG laser on my second eye as the outcome would be the same.
He also said that Optimax should not be telling patients they will have excellent vision following the RLE procedure, as I was told in my consultation before agreeing to proceed.
Optimax has since confirmed that once YAG has been carried out it makes it more difficult to explant problem lenses, which Optimax did not tell me before agreeing to have the YAG, so this may restrict any chances of getting my vision improved.
In view of this I raised a formal complaint with Optimax in May, and was disappointed that the Consultant, Mr Manzar Saeed, could not see me until over 2 months later.
When we finally met, he said my eyesight was ‘perfect’, although conceded that it was only an 8 out of 10, and not the outcome I had expected when I reminded him that it was he who said I would have excellent reading and near vision as a result of the procedures. He said there may be some things they could tweak to try to improve my vision and would refer my details to their Head Optometrist.
Initially Mr Manzar Saeed said the solution was to wear glasses or contact lenses, which I told him was not an acceptable solution. Not only would I have to wear glasses more frequently than before I had surgery, but the whole point of undergoing Lens surgery was to not to have to wear glasses at all.
Following this Optimax advised me to trial a contact lens in one eye with the possibility of laser surgery for monovision, making my non dominant eye long sighted, for near vision.
I am obviously very unhappy with this situation and waiting to hear what they suggest next.
Here are the details if you wish to contact Sasha: sasha@mybeautifuleyes.co.uk
OR-Admin
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