Trifocal Lenses Implant Operation Diary

Internally, the Centre’s design created a light and airy feeling. Everyone was welcoming including receptionists Lorraine and Lyn.

The consultation was very thorough and extensive. I think I was there for approximately 4 hours.

After meeting Lisa (Patient Coordinator), I watched videos which explained the procedure and went through the pros and cons of Trifocal lens.

Thankfully, the carefully animated video imagery was informative and sensitively presented so that it was suitable for all viewers. Indeed, the videos could have included Mr Daya’s comments within them, thus, making them personal and specific to Centre for Sight.

In addition to reading tests, Cristia (senior ophthalmic technician) assessed my eyes on approximately 11 different machines.

Various eye drops were then administered by another member of the team (Jette).  My eye pressure was also taken for the first time with an instrument which directly contacted the eye. I was told it provided a more accurate reading.

Eventually, I met Mr Daya. He went through all the extensive test results and said I was suitable for the trifocal lens but that my right eye might be a problem because I had Pseudoexfoliation in it.

Furthermore, he didn’t know how fragile the zonules might be. Therefore, he suggested he would incorporate a ring around the lens which would help centre and reinforce the capsule.

Post operatively, I felt very tired and very slightly downcast (which lasted a couple of days) – I couldn’t understand why – when it was obvious from day one that my eyesight was so vastly improved.

Maybe it was the trauma of the procedures or the drugs in my eyes plus the sedative and the fact that our journey back took 9 instead of 5 hours.

My eyes hurt inside sometimes when I moved them e.g. turning round to check traffic whilst driving. This started to disappear after 3 weeks.

Initially, there were aches round my eye sockets, also forehead, back of head, sinus area, teeth and gums. Maybe the aches were due to operation trauma. After 4 weeks they had almost disappeared.

Sometimes there is a pricking sensation in my eyes, an itch in the corners and very occasional stabbing. I think this might be part of the healing process or possibly due to my dry eyes. (I must ask Daya about the new laser treatment – Intense Pulsed Light – for dry eyes.) When the corner of my left eye became slightly pink, on one occasion, the post-operative eye drops cleared it immediately.

At first it was difficult to remember I mustn’t bend down – so I have started bending my knees slowly in a squat position whilst keeping my back straight so that my neck avoids the 90 degrees angle – I intend to continue doing this, several times a day, as I feel it is a good exercise to do.

Sometimes, the brightness continues to make my eyes feel tired creating a feeling of eye strain. At first I wanted to close them often. Wearing old faded sunglasses in the house and anti-glare sunglasses outside helped to soothe them and counteract any glare. The feeling that my eyes were not secure continued for a few days.

From time to time, it feels as if there is something in my eyes particularly the left one. At night it can feel like there is a delicate thread or hair in the left eye. I have also noticed a slight reflection on part of the bottom of the vision in my left eye – like a sliver of light. It appears to be reflecting from my lower lashes but after 6 weeks it is less obvious.

I phoned the Centre for Sight helpline on 22/08/2016 to report the continuing symptoms in my left eye. They were very helpful and Adenay talked me through it and also asked me further questions.

She then telephoned me back within an hour to let me know that Mr Daya had been consulted and he had said to reassure me that all was well and it was nothing to worry about. (But she didn’t say what it was.)

She also suggested I resume my dry eye drops as that might help and added that it would help my eyes from watering too much when outside which it did.

Occasionally, I have to concentrate on re-focussing when looking at small print and print on certain backgrounds/colours and when the spacing is too close.

After 6 weeks, my ability to read small print is still improving.

It was such a thrill to be able to read a book without glasses although as yet I have not done any intensive reading.

It was also an incredible experience going to art exhibitions. Seeing the paintings and text close, intermediate and distance without glasses is an indescribable joy.

The whole journey and experience of looking through my trifocal lens is a slowly unfolding revelation in particular at the wonder of what my ‘new magical’ eyes can reveal.

For example, I can’t get enough of looking at nature and art – colours, shapes, textures, and fine lines – specifically the individuality of detail – every blade of grass is visible even when viewing it from a distance. There is clarity of vision which I haven’t experienced for a long time.

Before the operation was performed on my right eye, it was amazing to see the difference in looking at colours when using the left eye only – they were so intense and vivid in comparison.

After finishing the Combigan eye drops, I went to see Mr Doyle (an Optometrist located on Centre for Sight’s website) to have my intraocular pressures checked. The pressures were 18 in the left eye and the average pressure in my right eye was 22. I also had a Humphrey visual field test. (This appointment was 5 weeks after the procedures.)

Mr Doyle thought my sight was very good both distance and near and there was no evidence of any astigmatism. Unaided, he said my distance was 6/7.5 in both eyes and my reading N5 in both eyes.