Blurry Vision with Toric Lens Implant

Question:  I had cataract surgery & toric lens implants for astigmatism. My right eye is now 20/25 distance vision.  But my left eye is 20/80 distance vision & glasses can only correct it to 20/60. My cataract surgeon suggests leaving it that way or removing toric lens in left eye & implant a basic lens implant, then use glasses for distance and reading. Are there other options? I paid an additional $3500 total for toric lens and going to a normal lens implant seems a rip-off. The normal lens is paid for by insurance. But really if I can get better sight in my left eye I want care about the cost. Suggestions please. Thanks.

Answer: If your left eye is 20/80 with a best correctable vision of 20/60 with glasses, then you need to immediately find out why, as it is entirely possible that there is a reason that has nothing to do with the lens implant. You do not state how long ago your cataract surgery was. But, do you have posterior capsular opacification-which could be causing the blur. Do you have residual corneal swelling? Do you have macular edema? Do you have age related macular degeneration? Or one of many other possible reasons that need to be identified. You need to find out the cause of the 20/60 best correctable vision BEFORE making decisions about the lens implant exchange. Ask your cataract surgeon to identify and explain this to you and then make the decision. If he or she is unable to do so, get a second opinion.

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