Eye Medical Center

I used Eye Medical Center for cataract surgery. The Vivity lens was used on both eyes. After surgery my eyes were blurry even though I tested in one eye at 20/20. That's no consolation if your vision is blurry. Despite complaining, my doctor seemed uncaring. Then the bad part started. First, he did laser surgery (YAG) on the right eye. That did not help, so I was told to go home and wait a few months to see if it cleared up. Next, I changed doctors at Eye Medical Center. He did laser surgery (YAG) on the left eye. This was done months after the original surgery. What I learned later is the following; 1. The Vivity lens may NOT the correct lens to use if you have macular degeneration, which I did. 2. My vision should have been clear immediately or within a week or so if there were no complications. My vision did not improve.. 3. The YAG surgery can be performed within 30 - 60 days after the initial cataract surgery but in doing so you damage the sac which holds the lens making it… difficult to support a new lens. YAG surgery is done to clear any debris from the pathway that might obstruct your vision. This is fine if your lens are working properly but what if they need to be changed? 4. The lens can be changed fairly easily within four months of the initial surgery. In my case the Vivity lens did NOT work, so I was a candidate to go back and replace them with the standard lens. The Viviity lens cost an additional $2500 per eye. If it had worked, that was a bargain. It did not work. Was the decision to not inform me of possibly replacing the lens to the standard lens a financial decision on the part of Dr. Haik or Eye Medical Center? 5. My complaint is as follows; a. The Vivity lens probably should not have been used with my macular degeneration or I should have been notified of the issue. I was not informed. b. By waiting past the critical first four months, a lens replacement became more difficult due to the new lens being scarred into place. The scarring into place is normal. I should have been offered a replacement lens but that was NEVER discussed. I had no way of knowing. c. By performing the YAG surgery the doctor made it all but impossible to replace the Vivity lens. To do so now would be at a far greater risk and the new lens would have to be supported since the sac has been damaged. It becomes a risk reward scenario. If I were in an accident and there was no other choice, I would be forced to take that risk. Again, was the decision to not inform me of the possibility of replacing the lens to the standard lens a financial decision on the part of Dr. Haik or Eye Medical Center? d. I now live with a blurred vision. Upon complaining, my initial doctor said to me; "Well at least you have 20/20 vision!". That was the last time I saw him. e. Dr Hilliard Haik was my initial doctor. He is horrible about explaining procedures or answering questions. If I had been informed, things would have gone far more smoothly. Who, in their right mind, would have allowed YAG surgery knowing that it all but removed any future replacement of a lens that did not work? Although Dr. Nelson did YAG surgery on the left eye it was done a year after the initial surgery. By that time I had passed the short (four month window) period that allowed for an easy replacement of the lenses. f. What are my options at this point? It appears that I will go into my later years with blurry vision. It took the joy out of driving and, though I try to hold no ill feelings, these doctors should have known better. g. Dr. Haik told me to go home and wait and see if my vision improved over time. I did so but there was no improvement. After several months I returned. I dropped Dr. Haik and went elsewhere for treatment. I only hope that something can be done to admonish a doctor that clearly did not perform up to any sort of medical standards. I truly hope that his review can save someone from the horrible experience that i had with Eye Medical Center. Find a good indepe