Peter,
I am glad your operation has been a success to this point. I had an eye doctor friend ask her phaco surgeon bosses about toric lenses. Do you have these? I would be curious to hear if you're still happy with the procedure, and what it cost. What other options did you consider?
Since I'm asking for intel, I'll give you some first.
Other folks, notably B & L, make IOLs. STAA seems to be trying to differentiate itself somewhat on the basis of having toric IOLs that correct for astigmatism when others don't.
Two things. 20% of the cataract patient population is charecterized by STAA as "having some kind of pre-existing astigmatism," as if this defined the market size. While technically true, my friend says only 5% have astigmatism severe enough to warrant correction ( >.75 diopters). Thus the customer base is overstated. Further, extreme precision is required in getting these toric IOLs into the right position in the lens sac. The phaco surgeons she talked to said that even competent surgeons were having to go back in to adjust the things a couple of times. In the long run, this is more expensive than LASIK, and bad for patient and doc alike. These elderly, retired cataract patients have plenty of time to badmouth a clinic that gave them a troublesome operation. The phaco surgeons are therefore reluctant to risk using these things. They are going to flop unless the delivery system addresses this issue. I have yet to find documentation that it does, but I'm still digging for that. She does say reversability is a big issue with patients, and I see that you mention it. I am looking at KERA on this basis, also.
I bought back my sold puts today, but if I can satisfy myself that my friend's fears about precision placement of toric lenses are misplaced or based on ignorance of the delivery system, I'll be back.
Thanks in advance, and best of luck to you.
Cheers, Tuck |
