PanOptix® is a trifocal (technically a quadrifocal) IOL that allows patients to see the distance, intermediate and close vision. PanOptix® is also designed to help patients see less glare in the nighttime. Patients now prefer PanOptix® for their cataract surgery over any other presbyopia-correcting technology.

A trifocal lens is an intraocular lens that is designed to provide glasses-free vision at every distance. This includes vision at near, intermediate, and distance. It provides more benefits when compared to a standard cataract lens. PanOptix® is the first and only trifocal lens for cataract surgeries in the United States. It is also available in a toric lens form to correct astigmatism. Over 90% of the time, there is no need to spend extra money on laser cataract surgery.

Yes, the PanOptix® Lens is available in a toric option to correct astigmatism. Toric lenses sharpen vision and clear the distortion caused by astigmatism. This is because toric lenses are shaped in a way that makes them more suitable for patients who have the unusual corneal shape associated with astigmatism. Since it is essential that IOLs fit your eyes correctly, the PanOptix® toric lenses are a custom fit with specific features for patients with astigmatism. If you have astigmatism, measurements will be taken prior to your surgery to enable our cataract surgeon to choose the appropriate toric IOL power and the required orientation of the implant in the eye to correct astigmatism successfully. We have over 20 years of experience in Tampa with astigmatism-correcting implants. About 97% of our patients have almost no astigmatism after their surgery.

At The Eye Clinic of Florida, the majority of our patients see 20/20 distance and range from 20/20 to 20/25 for near vision. Almost everyone can go without glasses for distance, near, and everything in between most of the time. The best vision usually results from having the implant in both eyes.

Typically, you will be able to return to normal activities with some limitations in 2 days. Most can drive the day after surgery.

Once your cataracts are removed and replaced with an implantable lens, you will never have to have cataract surgery again. Occasionally, several months after the lens has been placed in the eye; the vision may start to become cloudy once again. This is sometimes called a secondary cataract and refers to the clouding of the membrane that surrounds the implant. During cataract surgery, we remove the cloudy natural lens from the natural bag or membrane that holds its place. The new man-made lens is placed in that membranous bag. The membrane shrinks around the artificial lens, securely holding it in place in the eye. With time the capsular bag becomes cloudy but a simple laser procedure can solve the problem. See our YouTube video here:

PanOptix® lens implants can be used at the time of cataract surgery or as an elective option for freedom from glasses.

We customize lens implant choices for each of our patients. How much you read, how much you drive at night, your hobbies, eye health, surgical history, and family risk are among the most important things Dr. Mahootchi considers when he makes a customized recommendation in his Tampa-based practice.

There is no perfect lens implant or surgery. About 90% or more patients have no issue with Panoptix®. The other 10% usually have manageable issues. Generally, the better the technology for near vision, the more likely the night vision or intolerance to other eye problems will be.

We carefully check for any issues after the first non-dominant eye is done. 90% of the time, patients will want PanOptix® for the second eye without reservations. For the 10% who love the near but don’t love the night vision, it’s good to have options. See our YouTube video here:

Usually, Crystalens in the dominant eye will give that 10% of patients the near and night vision they need without having to exchange the lens in the non-dominant eye.

Our rate of exchanging the lens for another type is less than 1%. We can do it, and we do it for other surgeons, but it’s rare.

We believe when you pay a dollar more for something; then you should be a dollar better.

There are many good surgeons in the area. But we think we do things better.

We have an unmatched patient satisfaction rate while not subjecting patients to $1000’s extra that other doctors bundle into their PanOptix upgrade price. Laser drops unnecessary pre-op tests don’t mean better results. But most won’t let you upgrade to PanOptix® unless you pay those fees. You simply don’t need to pay them because they don’t improve the outcome.

Doctors who use PanOptix® need to be able to:

• 1) leave the patient with a little prescription
• 2) do something about left over-prescription that affects vision (like astigmatism or nearsightedness).

Many charges extra for the laser or other technology that they claim helps them get good results. But the published literature doesn’t support the claims. Two good questions to ask a surgeon are: How bad were their results before using that technology? How much did the technology improve those results?

PanOptix lens implants require the surgeon to be able to predict the lens implant power with such accuracy that less than ½ diopter of residual prescription remains. We do that 96% of the time without using laser, ORA, or other technology.

The other question to ask is: How much will it cost to fix the bothersome remaining prescription if you pay for those extra fees. It’s free for the first two years at The Eye Clinic of Florida. You will be surprised that many surgeons won’t fix the problem even when the patient has paid more for the technology to avoid the problem. We see them weekly in our second opinion practice.

If you have already had cataract surgery, you are not a candidate for the PanOptix® procedure.

The PanOptix® surgery is typically performed in an outpatient surgical facility. Your total time at our surgical facility is 90 minutes. The actual surgery is few minutes because we have everything ready before you even step into the building. We are prepared.

You will arrive at the surgery center about an hour before the procedure. You will have some eye drops and medicine to help you relax. We have many different options to relax you. There is no general anesthesia – no tube in your throat or anything even close to that.

You will be able to follow commands but will be very relaxed. Think of it as the best happy hour you’ve ever had! You won’t have a care.

Once in the surgery suite, you will lie down on a comfortable bed and be positioned for the surgery. The actual PanOptix® surgery usually takes less than 7-8 minutes. You will not feel pain but may feel a slightly cold sensation on your eye or eyelid. All you have to do is relax. Once the surgery is complete, you will return to the recovery area and receive instructions. A patch may or may not be placed over your eye, depending on the anesthesia you choose. Someone will need to drive you home. Once at home, you should rest for the remainder of the day. You should avoid any strenuous activities. Do not rub your eye or lift heavy objects.

Your doctor will advise you as to how often your eyes need to be checked. Typically, the doctor will see you one day after PanOptix® surgery, after 3 weeks, and again around 3 to 6 months after surgery. Thereafter, an annual exam is usually sufficient unless you have a specific problem.

Our techniques avoid dry eyes. We don’t use the 400 or so doses of eye drops that other surgeons use because the science and expense don’t support that. Going “DropLess” as we call it, has serious benefits because dry eye can affect lens implant function. Some surgeons make a costly business of treating dry eye, but it’s more effective to be proactive. For dry eyes before surgery, a $150 treatment of unfrozen autologous serum seems to work best, starting for 3 weeks before the surgery and a short time after.

Typically, PanOptix® works better when placed in both eyes.

Dr. Mahootchi has noticed that patients seem to be happier when the non-dominant eye is done first. If only one eye has a cataract, only one implant is necessary.

If you only have a cataract in your dominant eye or have a regular implant in your non-dominant eye, then PanOptix® has a higher rate of having unsatisfactory night vision.

In our practice, 80% of patients will get to their final healing point in 2 weeks. About 98% will get there in 3. We usually wait 3 weeks to assess the results. What you learn from the first non-dominant eye can help you fine-tune the results for the less forgiving dominant eye

PanOptix® has the benefit of significantly reducing glares and halos at night compared to cataracts and other multifocal and extended depth of focus lenses.

Under both bright and dim conditions, PanOptix® demonstrates excellent contrast sensitivity. But that doesn’t mean it works for everyone. We believe though, that 6-10% will want to try a different lens for the other eye based on side effects. A few more weeks of time for your brain to adjust often helps, but there is no reason to push people as if there is no other option. You can put a different lens, like Crystalens® or Trulign®, in the other eye. You can exchange the PanOptix® within the first few months after the initial surgery.

Cataract Surgery or Clear Lens Replacement and be a life-changing event with lifelong benefits. We focus on you, our patient, and never pay for referral fees or farm out your post-op care.

At The Eye Clinic of Florida, it’s tough to beat our experience and our prices. We are one of the most experienced centers for advanced implant technology. Our state-of-the-art surgery center in Tampa, Florida is designed to provide the best experience for our patients. With over 25 years of experience, Dr. Mahootchi and the staff will help you make the most informed decision when choosing a lens implant for life. At savings of $500 to $1000, it’s worth giving us a call.