Another Restor Lens Problem ----Resolved O.K.

[mikedesc]

On 8/20/06 I discussed on this site, the problem I was having with my Restor lenses namely excessive halos, ghosts, and shadows. I had previously discussed the replacement situation with Dr. Kevin Waltz in Indianapolis and he suggested that I go with the Tecnis monofocal lens system and agreed that I was one of the 5-10% who would have problems with a multifocal lens.

I had my right eye lens exchanged on 9/05 and I am truly impressed with the results of being able to see a gopher wink at me 50 yards away. All kidding aside, my right eye seems like it is only 20 years old as opposed to many times that age. I now have 20/20 vision with this eye and can even read a newspaper with it.

The left eye lens was exchanged this last Tuesday and already a dramatic improvement is being realized. I believe the past problems with the Restor lenses have gone away. The interesting aspect of this is that even after approximately 7-8 months, the problems of halos, etc were still present with the Restor lenses.

The point I wanted to make is that lens replacement is not that big of a issue if you have a skilled and knowledgeable doctor working on the problem. The procedure Dr. Waltz used was to install the new lens and then remove the old one which I find quite interesting and indicative of a skilled surgeon.

[asr]

Just learned recently that I need cataract surgery.  Have very little vision in my left eye due to the cataract.  My dr has suggested that I get the ReStor lens.  My night driving is terrible now, but from the sound of the comments, it could get worse with this lens.  I wear glasses for reading and a slight distance problem.  It would be wonderful not to rely on glasses to read prescription bottle or a menu, but I don't know that I could deal with all the halos that everyone is referring to.  I am suppose to make a decision on Tuesday - get my eyes measured, etc.  i think I'll ask for a demonstration.

[Susan12345]

I am also curious, Mikedesc, as to how you can see both distance and near with a monofocal lenses?  I HATE HATE HATE my ReStor lenses and wish daily I had never had them.  The doctor who put them in made it sound much too dangerous to even think of explanting them, but another doctor I saw made it sound like no big deal, though he did admit it was much riskier than putting the lenses in the 1st time.  He doesn't take them out himself, but referred me to another doctor who does, so I have an appointment for another opinion  in 2 weeks.  I'll see what that doctor has to say, but I am just terrified beyond belief at the idea of 2 more surgeries.

[mlm343]

Sorry I can't help with surgeon in your area. I'm in Canada and had mine done in Toronto. Good luck and would be interested in your results.

[heyEm]

I'm scheduled to follow your lead...in north NJ...any chance you're
in the same area and know the doc's? Emily

[mlm343]

Have been following this forum with interst. K-D, a big thanks for advising it was eight plus months before your halos/etc began to subside. It makes me breathe somewhat easier...there is hope. Had Rezoom in r/e on 11/03/06 and Restor l/e on 11/07/06. The combination was suggested due to my strong desire not to wear glasses for reading or particularly computer work where I spend 4/5 hours a day some days. Dr. who did my surgery has been doing combination of Restor/Rezoom for over a year with excellent results with the Rezoom giving the best intermediate vision. Was able to read the newspaper and work at my laptop immediately after Rezoom implanted. Outstanding results with near/intermediate vision. Restor has given me excellent distance, crisp and clear with almost no ghosting halos. However, Rezoom eye, although near vision excellent, has serious halos, ghosting, blurring beyond two feet. There is a clear difference in the two. Would be interested in others who have had combo restor/rezoom done. My vision was 20/30 one week post surgery with both lenses and 20/20 near but the ghosting, halos in rezoom eye are really difficult to deal with. I realize I am only three weeks post surgery. I'm not sure what my expectations should be.

[lcswte]

Thank you. I sure hope you are right. I made an appointment with another doctor this coming Thursday for a second opinion. My gut is telling me a Yag will not solve my problems.

[K-D]

I would never have the YAG without getting another opinion. My understanding of the YAG is that it is used when the capsular bag gives the appearance of a second cataract.  It would not reduce halos.
I had halos so bad that I felt I was thrown into another world at night.  Frightening.  Horrible.  Gave up believing it would improve after 8 months and too afraid to have the lens explanted.  Not I am shocked that starting in the 8 months, the halos are reducing daily.  Now the halos on cars are way in the distance.  It used to be that the car in front of me had a halo so large on the tail light that it covered the whole car.  Now the cars look absolutely normal and only halos in the distance which are reducing daily.
I have only one multifocal so do not know if that matters or not.  But I read somewhere that it can take up to a year for the halos to diminish and that is proving true with me.  Just give it time.  Changes take place for months and months after a multifocal.  And in my experience, they only improve with time. Unfortunately for soom, it can take a long time.  Best wishes.

[lcswte]

Thanks for the input. Do you think I should hold off on the Jag?
It helps a lot to know that I am not alone with these horrible halos. You really think they will go away? I didn't mention that I also have these dark arcs on the outside corners of my eyes. They are not as bad as they used to be. Now I only see them in certain lights. Sometimes when I look straight ahead like when I'm driving on a cloudy day. Sometimes in bright day light. Sunglesses kind of hides them. I wish I was told about these things before the surgery. I sure would have been a lot easier if I knew what to expect.

[JodieJ]

Getting a second opinion sounds like a good idea.  Could astigmatism be contributing to your problems?

[K-D]

After my cataract surgery with one Rezoom implant, I had abberations on everything that shinned, watches, rings, clip boards, everything.  It can take a very long time to improve. I am now in my 9th month and I am absolutely shocked how the debilitatng halos and glare are suddenly diminishing. I know how frightening the aberrations can be. I felt like I was thrown into another world.  But now the glare that was great is hardly visible.  And the horrible halos that covered a whole car and reflector in the road and on everything that shinned are suddenly going away.  I was too frightened to have my lens exchanged due to the glare and halos.  I did not expect any improvement after 8 months.  But suddenly it is improving daily.  I read somewhere that it can take up to a year for some people.  I think that if doctors would prepare their patients better, there would not be so much unexpected aberration shock and anxiety.  Best wishes.

[lcswte]

I had  Restore implanted in both eyes, left eye late April and right early May.I didn't have cataracts but I was wearing 2 pairs of glasses. One to see distance and one to read. I couldn't do bifocals. I started seeing large halos around anything that has lights immediatly.Driving at night is almost impossible but I am forcing myself to do it. I even have these halos durig the day with car headlights. I also have these dark arcs on the sides of my eyes. I have been back to the doctor three times for this. Last week he suggested Yag surgery. After lots of research I am having second thoughts. I don't think it will help and am really scared about getting another procedure done. Other then that my vison is very good. I am now considering getting a second opinion. Any suggestions?

[blue92]

Mike, I'll like to go private. Could you please contact me at ***@****
Thanks

[K-D]

Please don't be rushed into a decison. You can always reschedule.  You will have to live with your decision or risk an explant.  You have too many unanswered questions.  Have them answered before any surgery.  As Jodie suggested, have the doctor simulate with lenses, what your vision will look like with the monofocal lens.  Then you will know more what to expect, even though there are no guarantees with surgery. I so wish I would have known to ask this before my surgery.

[HamiltonGuy]

Since I have been diagnosed with cataracts in both eyes, and am scheduled for surgery Nov. 7, I have been following these and other posts. Mikedesc's progress is of great interest to me. I too would would love to better understand the visual difference in the intermediate zone , (computer screen - arms length) between a good monofocal vs. multifocal BEFORE surgery. I can deal with wearing reading glasses for closer stuff, but would be more unhappy if I needed glasses all the time for intermediate. In my case, I'm 45, and have only needed weak drug-store reading glasses - until recently. I am faced with deciding between the risks / costs associated with multifocals vs. tried and true monofocals.  The tipping point is..well HOW bad will my intermediate vision be with a monofocal? Will it be bad enough to warrent the use of the multifocals and the inherenent risks? I just don't know....and I gotta decide Weds.

[JodieJ]

OOps--I meant good distance and intermediate vision with modified monovision.  (This is the same as "setting one eye back.")

[JodieJ]

I hope your doctor is experienced with all the multifocals.  Ask for a demo of what your post-surgery near/intermediate vision would be like post-surgery.  And there is another alternative available--monovision (or modified monovision).  Modified monovision should give you good near and intermediate vision, and you'd only need glasses for small print.  Best of luck!

[K-D]

Hoddy, Great to hear from you. So very happy your decision worked out for you!!!!  I know all the pre-surgery anxiety that you endured. Fantastic!

[K-D]

Jodie, that is what I have been considering, especially since I am going to go with a multifocal, since I already have one already. The only thing is that I think they usually put the Restor in the dominate eye and Rezoom in the non- dominate eye.  I may have that backwards. My Rezoom is in my Left dominate eye, and unfortunately that pupil is a litte larger than my Right  pupil.  So, when it dilates inside, I get some blurr. If I had found this board before my surgery, I would have absolutely asked for a demo of the monofocal lenses. It would have answered so many questions for me. And I would not have had so many doubts about if I did the right thing or not. Thanks for your suggestion. It sounds like it would cover all the bases if the brain can handle one refractive and one defractive lens.

[JodieJ]

I don't think most cataract surgeons have had the surgery themselves, so it probably doesn't even occur to them to provide such a demonstration.  But I'm sure they'd be willing to provide one if asked, especially to someone considering multifocals.  An optometrist could also provide a demo.

K-D, you sound to me like a good candidate for a Restor/Rezoom combo.  A Restor lens in your second eye might let you toss those reading glasses and also eliminate a lot of the visual aberrations at night.  And your Rezoom would give you good intermediate vision.  I'm thinking that the combination might also give you better vision in a variety of light situations.  In any case, it's something to consider.

[K-D]

Thanks for the explanation Jodie.   Most of the time I have to use glasses to read with the multifocal, unless in dim lightening.  So, that would not be a problem for me.  However, things blurry to arms length would really be a problem for me. My hand to my face out is very clear, inside or outside, except for the PVD floaters. So for me, I would rather have the halos, than blurr to arms length. Too bad the doctors cannot take the time before cataract surgery to simulate what the vision without the multifocal lenses would look like. It would have been such a help to me in deciding what I wanted to do. Such a small thing to do, and then a person has no unanswered questions about their decision.

[JodieJ]

Hope you're doing well with bilateral Restors.  Let us know.

[Forum-OD-MP]

well good!  good for you!  thats great, seriously.  i'm glad we have a sucess story to print here!  thats pretty rare!  ;)

[K-D]

Thanks for the info.  I also have halos after 8 months, although I only have one eye implant. But since you can see so well, and even read the newspaper with  the the tennis, why do the doctors even fool with the multifocal?  I mean since you have experienced both, does the multifocal have any advantages over the Tennis? Sounds like something I would be interested in if I did not have a PVD.  Am afraid to rock the boat now. But so glad it worked out for you!

[JodieJ]

With my AcrySof IQ's I need +225 readers, which are even stronger than the +200's I had pre-surgery.  (My optometrist told me that +250 is actually standard after cataract surgery.)  Without correction everything within arm's length is blurry, although I can read most menus, larger newspaper print and most of my computer screen--if I strain a little.  I had some progressive glasses made in an hour, and I've been wearing them most of the time (except for driving and watching movies at a theater) until my new contacts come in.

I think you need a demo.  Next time you're at your eye doctor, have him simulate with lenses what your near/intermediate vision would be like with monofocal IOLs.  This will help you understand why so many people are eager to fork over up to $10K for the multifocals.  But everybody's priorities are different.  My friend who wore glasses all the time since age 6 (pre-cataract surgery) prefers to pull out his +250 readers only when they are absolutely necessary.  And I can certainly understand why someone would get their multifocals explanted if they caused debilitating visual aberrations.