REFRACTIVE LENS EXCHANGE aka RLE/NLR +IOLs

Just heard the BBC Radio 5 Live Investigates report on eye surgery from your My Beautiful Eyes website, wish I had heard it before I had my procedure. Life changing indeed, ruined my eyes!!!
www.mybeautifuleyes.co.uk/

My husband had an appointment today at OE to discuss RLE, until I found your website.
We have now canceled that appointment.

Thank you, we will do a lot more research before making what could be a life changing decision.

American surgeon Dr Mark Packer talking about cataract surgery!

"I think that the most important factor is informed consent so that patients know what they're getting into," he said. "If a patient is willing to take a chance, my experience has been sometimes you win and sometimes you lose.”
www.eyeworld.org/printarticle.php?id=5768

Operative words - "INFORMED CONSENT"!

If we were honestly INFORMED how many people would give CONSENT for any unnecessary eye surgery?!

Not me :blink:

Mr Starburst, I am in total agreement with you on this.

Lorraine perfectly illustrates the urgent need for government intervention to collect and analyse patient outcomes. I really hope that the "My Beautiful Eyes" Campaign succeeds in this.

Just how many patients undergoing 'clear lens replacement' (RLE) have problems? With non disclosure clauses insisted upon by Optical Express we will never know!

Even those fortunate enough to have initial success can go on to develop problems later. Transparency of long term outcomes is needed. Lens replacement for cataracts Is very different to lens replacement to lose glasses for patients without cataracts.

How many patients develop vitreous problems (or retinal detachment) after clear lens replacement, and need yag laser for capsular opacity, secondary cataracts?

We will never know until all outcomes have to be reported centrally. This is what has to happen.

Last year my husband convinced me to get my eyes treated at Optical Express as two of our friends were having it done. At the time I was wearing two different prescriptions, one for close up work, and the other for watching TV, but my distance was getting worse and eventually I would need varifocals. I have a ‘lazy' right eye (amblyopia) and have worn glasses since I was six years old.

At the consultation I was advised that laser treatment wasn't an option but replacement lenses would be OK (RLE). I agreed, paid my deposit and went to London to see Dr Jan Venter. I went through all the tests and was told that I would have monofocal lenses.

I had them done a week apart, my right eye first and then the left. I managed with only the ‘lazy' right eye with the help of my husband until I could uncover the left eye.

Unfortunately for me the surgery was not a success because my sight did the opposite of what it should have! My close vision was absolutely fabulous, being able to read first thing in the morning without glasses was great, but my distance vision ended after about 5 feet.

OE finally gave me a pair of glasses for distance to help me for 6 months, until March this year when I had enhancement Intralase Lasik (enhancement - Unilateral) on my left eye to correct things. It was thought that it wouldn't be worth if for the lazy eye as I couldn't see out of it properly anyway.

My near vision has gone and now I can see distance, which varies from day to day!

Alas, from the very beginning I have seen black circles, I look out of them and they are there all the time, unless wear sunglasses. I can see both sides of them (peripherally), and they move in and out when my eyes blink to focus. I get sparkles on the outer edge of the black line, which makes me think I can see something out of the corner of my eye but when I look there is nothing there. I would liken it to looking through a kaleidoscope. I cannot scan anything fast, so have to read slowly.

Unless I am asleep, I also have the feeling of something alien in my eyes, like I'm blinking over mounds. They’re constant and as the day progresses they feel worse.

My eyes get dry so I am regularly needing to apply drops. I didn't sign up for any of this but when I have mentioned all these symptoms to the optoms at my check ups they tell me that I must be extra sensitive - and the black circles are permanent.

I hate my eyes.

I believe it should actually be illegal to perform RLE on eyes that don't have cataracts. One USA surgeon says he could in no way justify performing this type of surgery just so the person could throw away a $10 pair of reading glasses !

This has been seriously bad.

In December 2013 following an extensive pressurised sales pitch by Optical Express, and tests which said I was suitable, I underwent lens replacement (RLE) at the Bridgewater Hospital, performed by Dr Andre Oberholster.

The operation was not a success. Andre didn’t know what was wrong so sent me to Mr Michael Lavin in Manchester. Lavin told me I have a serious condition called Stargardt's Disease (Fundus Flavimaculatus).

Presumably Andre didn't read my notes because in March 2014 he sent me to Dr Jan Venter in London for an explant.

My eyesight has been appalling since the original operation, but since the lens replacement surgery I can no longer function independently, go out on my own, see in the dark, drive, read, etc... due to the significant deterioration in my eyesight.

I am about to lose my job due to my prolonged absence from work.

Still suffering problems after the explant I saw Andre again in May, who then commented on Mike Lavin’s report and told me quite bluntly that I am going blind.

Strangely, this genetic disease has suddenly materialised, which Andre advised me was the cause of my (now) appalling eyesight and has nothing to do with him or RLE surgery. His optometrist assistant suggested I contact the RNIB.

I left in complete shock.

At a further appointment in June Andre categorically denied he'd ever said that I was going blind!

Optical Express are 'kindly' funding an initial consultation with an independent gene specialist to investigate further, but told me after that I will have to rely on the NHS. They have also 'generously' agreed to suspend payment to Hitachi for three months after which they will reinstate collection of payment.

That’s presuming I still have an income!

I have gone through hell since this whole thing began and it's not over yet!

I now know that RLE surgery is for the treatment of cataracts, which I didn't have!

www.nhs.uk/Services/opticians/Overview/D...ltView.aspx?id=16277