Want “new” eyes? I bought them!

by Jan Cullinane

Iwas fortunate to have excellent eyesight until I hit my late forties, when good old presbyopia hit. That’s when our eye lenses become stiffer and less elastic, making it more challenging to focus on close-up objects. It’s an age-related thing, and it cannot be reversed through diet, exercise, or drugs. The majority of people begin to develop presbyopia in their 40s, and often its first manifestation is that it’s harder to read small print. Unfortunately, at some point, we’re all affected, although some of us develop presbyopia later than others. Presbyopia comes from the Greek words for old (presbys) and sight (ops). Sigh.

There are steps you can take to optimize your vision, such as eating well, exercising, getting enough sleep, protecting your eyes from the sun, etc. But, presbyopia cannot be stopped or reversed. So, I first turned to good old over-thecounter readers. I started with the lowest magnification and gradually reached the highest magnification I could find without a prescription. They helped for awhile. Prescription glasses were next. As time passed, I needed glasses with varying prescriptions for close work, for computer work, and for distance vision. I started to HATE wearing glasses. I disliked taking off one pair and putting on a different pair depending on what I was doing. I didn’t like wearing bifocals, I didn’t like wearing trifocals, and I didn’t like wearing progressive lenses. I investigated monovision with contact lenses, but I also wanted crisp vision for intermediate distances.

Now, I know I probably sound like a primadonna, but I have to say, most people would call me fairly easy-going (I am a Libra, after all!), but something about wearing glasses drove me totally bonkers. And, with my normal work and play activities, which involve reading, working on the computer, giving presentations, tennis, and bike-riding, I really wanted good near, medium, and distance vision sans glasses.

So, I began investigating implanting artificial permanent lenses in both eyes and totally ditching the glasses. And, with several additional years having passed, the ophthalmologist said I had cataracts, too. I told him I’d love to have my cataracts removed and, at the same time, have lens implants that “fixed” my distance, intermediate, and near vision, as well as clear up any astigmatism (when the shape of the cornea blurs vision). He handed me a brochure about getting artificial lenses called IOLs, or intraocular lenses. My goal to be glasses-free was within reach.

PanOptix Lenses

There are several types of these intraocular lenses, but I decided if I was going to do it, I would get lenses that address everything, so I chose PanOptix lenses because they are trifocal and would address close, intermediate, and distance vision. (I don’t represent the company, by the way, nor receive anything from writing this—just letting you know my experience.) These lenses are new in the United States, having been FDA approved in August 2019, but they’ve been available elsewhere since 2015 and are used in more than 70 other countries. I had the implants in October 2019, and I felt a bit like a guinea pig—my ophthalmologist had implanted these lenses in only one other patient. Short summary: I am very happy with the results. But, here’s the rundown:

PREP: There were several pre-op visits that involved making sure that I—and my eyes—was healthy and for taking measurements for my customized lenses. I basically looked into a machine that calculated the measurements for my new lenses. Two weeks prior to surgery, I needed to scrub my eyelids, use artificial tears, and use three kinds of eyedrops: an antibiotic, an anti-inflammatory, and a steroid.

PROCEDURE: Each eye was done separately, one week apart. The procedure was quick, taking only several minutes, and was performed in the surgery center associated with my ophthalmologists’ office (they have a big practice). They monitored my blood pressure and I was given an IV with a very light sedative. I remember a bright light overhead, my eyes were numb, and there was an eye holder that kept the lid open during the procedure to prevent blinking. (It reminded me of the scene with Alex in A Clockwork Orange if you've ever seen that film.) I was a little nervous about having something implanted in my eye, but there was no pain, no discomfort, and it was fast! You do need someone to drive you home, but I went to Chick-fil-A afterward for lunch. That’s how simple it was. Post-surgery, you need to take additional eye drops for a few weeks and go in for several follow-up appointments.

PRICE: The PanOptix lenses are not inexpensive. The price, which included the pre- and postop appointments, was $2,995 for each eye, over and above the cost of the surgery itself which was covered by insurance because my cataracts were removed. In addition, I had to pay for the various eye drops that I had to take pre- and post-surgery. One of these was expensive, so ask for a free sample (I did this for my second eye surgery, and they gave me one).

PROS AND CONS: I love being glasses-free, and even colors seem more vivid (perhaps that’s also due to the cataract removal). I am very happy I did the surgery and would recommend it. Aside from the price for the procedure, for me, there was one additional “con.” I had been warned from the get-go that many people see “halos” around lights at night — things like car lights, streetlights, and even the moon. The first evening of the surgery, I was freaked out. I didn’t see halos but huge arcs of light from cars and streetlights that went from one side of the road to the other (I was a passenger). I wasn’t prepared for that! I called the doctor in a panic but was assured those would become much more subdued. The arcs did disappear by the next evening, but I do still see halos around lights that I did not see before the surgery. But, even if that is permanent (it’s not yet been a year, and sometimes the brain adapts), I’m still delighted I purchased my “new eyes.”

Jan Cullinane is an award-winning retirement author, speaker, and consultant. Her current book is The Single Woman’s Guide to Retirement (AARP/ Wiley).

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