Hi All:
I am an optometric intern currently finishing my
externalExternal incontinence devices rotations and I have been observing several cataract extractions using current techniques. One of my parents is goig to need cataract surgery sometime in the near future and I was wondering which of the two multifocal implants has been met with the greatest patient satisfaction. I have personally seen the Restor lens implanted but have not yet seen the results from these patients at followup. I have not seen the Crystalens implanted not have I heard any patient testimonials. I was wondering if anybody has personally seen and/or managed both of these types of implants. Thanks.
EyeDoc007
JO
My current concern is that the outcome statistics offered by Victoria Eye Center for ReSTOR lenses is 80% of those with the lenses don't need glasses and 90% would do it again. Yet, none have posted here anything positive in their personal experiences with the ReSTOR lens. I would welcome some positive comments from people who have had these lenses installed.
More follow-up postings describing my results over time to follow.
Over the past several months I have experienced a situation where my head turns to the left and if I cover one eye the situation is relieved. Could this be a reaction to double vision (my optometrist says I have slight double vision)? This has only started to happen since my cataract surgery. Anyone else experiencing this?
Have you gone back to your surgeon to see if you need a YAG laser? This is a common office procedure after cataract surgery.
The bag or cellophane membrane that the lens implant is resting in clouds up like was paper over time. A simple, painless laser procedure which only takes a minute clears it up. You may need a prescription change afterwards.
Here's the deal:
standard monofocal implants are great for distant vision. crystalens is great for distance-because it's a monofocal.If it moves, great-you get maybe 1 diopter of accomodation for only as long as your muscles keep their tone, and other age-related breakdowns don't defeat it. Big deal, and a hell of a gamble. Rezoom is best at distance because of the 6 mm optic, the central 2mm is distance only. Then there is a near ring, then another distance ring. And then near, and one last (5th) ring for distance. Pretty much the same as the Array. Just less near-vision ability.
Restor has 12 apodized steps in the central 3.6mm, any part of which gives near, intermediate, and distance vision. The highest step is 1.2 microns, the lowest step is 0.2 microns. (Human hair is about 60 microns thick). This apodized diffractive portion is what Alcon, the number one implant manufacturer in the world, has been working on since it acquired the technology from 3M about 15 years ago. No other technology will allow you to read your cellphone without glasses, use the TV remote, read your prescription bottle, check price tags, inspect your grandkids scraped elbows, tie fishing flies, etc. spectacle free. As your pupil enlarges beyond the 3.6mm portion, say, in a darkened bedroom, a higher percentage of the light is for distance vision, so you don't trip over the dog.
The category that is recognized by Medicare is called presbyopia-correcting lens implants. There are three brands available today that have varying degrees of efficacy. No matter what your lifestyle or career is, your best chance of spectacle freedom will be with ReSTOR. Don't find out too late.
Thank you for your response. I guess my real concern is that my right eye has a samll cataract but nothing that would require surgery at this time. (the vision is -6). I am not overly comfortable with my Mutifocal in one eye and the contact len in the other. My amin concern is to restore my ability to read up close and small print particularly in less than ideal lighting. At this point I feel I have but 2 choices: have my right eye done or switch out the mutlifocal for a single vision in my left eye at -3 and go back to my bifocals. I got a few opinions. They all said that what I was told by my eventual surgeon was correct and truthful but that he was taking a more aggressive approach than they might (suggesting that I do both eyes in order to get the full benefit from the lens). I plan on acting soon do to my discomfort with my current situation
I have another three weeks to go before my next visit to the Surgeon where he said he will treat any residual problems with laser correction. We will be having a discussion on the LRI procedure....
I will post the results in one months time.
Pre-surgery: both around -6D.
After surgery: distance vision is good (20/25, 20/20) and near is similar. However for near vision you must have bright light. Going into a dark resturant, you will not be able to read the menu.
Recommendation: Look into the reZOOM lens, get hard facts such as acutal focal point for near/intermiedate distances. Think about getting standard IOL and wait for better overlay/secondary lens options (.i.e. reSTOR is comming out with a secondary lens that overlays the standard IOL for near vision).
in the summer of 05'...either I was told or I just wanted to beleive I could see better with the lens; WRONG!! Before surgery
I had some vision problems, essentially I could just move my head
around to "see" around the obstruction, but could read a paper
without glasses. Since I got up off the operating table, 7+
months ago, I can only see colored light. No reading anything. No
correcting, apparently. The surgeon immediately backed off and
gave me to her associate. He has already injected meds into my eye hoping to "re-shape" the retina...the only part that is known
to be uninjured. Sure seems like the implant, maybe even the surgery was defective and now they're into CYA mode, trying to get something to put the blame on besides themselves!!Make the Doctor explain the odds of unfavorable outcomes...make them know
you hold them accountable for poor outcomes...especially if they
are the ones promoting the lens...they're NOT promoting it for free!!!
lens, but my regular doctor recommends monofocal distance lens in one eye and slightly near focal in the other. Until about a year ago I had used reading glasses (150)for some years and Im not uncomfortable with that but want to make right decision. Anyone have experience with that combination of monofocal?
I have consulted two surgeons. Both are more or less against multi-focals IOLs and say that they are not yet perfected and would come with a cost in terms of contrast (because the light is distributed). One of the surgeon (an experienced one) though suggested that I can go for Crystalens (the accomodating type with UV protection). The possible escape chute with that is that IF IT WORKS, then well and good (until my cillary muscle is able to pull it off) with minimal correction. IF IT DOESN'T, then it would be just like any other monofocal lens and I will have to use progressive glasses over it. This way I can hope to escape the perils of diffractive multi-focal lenses while having a 60% chance of getting all their benefits.
Just out of curiosity, will the ReZOOM help in this case?
Does anybody have any suggestions on using multi-focal contact lenses over mono-focal IOL? Not a bad idea at least in theory to correct astigmatism and be free from glasses for the better part of the day.
As for my lifestyle.....
1) I like playing outdoor games like cricket where you have a red cherry hurtled at you at 50 to 60 mph and you have to focus on it fast (pretty much like baseball) to hit it correctly. I also like swimming, table tennis, badminton, walking, etc.
2) I drive about 45 to 60 minutes in the night everyday back from work. It involes a lot of city driving so the oncoming lights might pose a problem to me (halos) in case of diffractive multifocals. I also prefer to drive on the highways during the weekends and while on vacation
3) As I mentioned, I work with computers 7 to 8 hours a day
4) I also need good and clear distance vision as I need to attend seminars/presentation and sometimes need to deliver one of these myself. Hence, you need clear vision to make good eye contact with you audience.
As far as use of contacts post surgery is concerned, I don't mind dealing with (multifocal) contact lenses during the day (for outdoor activities) as I have been doing that for the past 16 years. I also don't mind wearing progressive multifocal glasses during the evenings as I also do that right now after removing my contacts.
Hence, if Crystalens does not work, then I dont mind ending up with glasses/contacts BUT the catch is that if it works in one eye and not in the other, it will surely be a disastrous situation.
A third doc I consulted is also personally against any kind of multifocals and said that if I want crystal clear vision, then I should go for mono-focal IOL with progressive glasses (and MF contact lenses). He said that he suggests MF IOLs for patients who were old and who did not require driving or other outdoor activities at night. He also said that these days we have very good quality progressive glasses available to achieve good vision post surgery. He also suggested use of hydrophobic acrylic material (Acrysof) is better (than silicone) as instances of posterior capsular opacification are less with these IOLs. He was against Crystalens for that fact that if in the future I wanted a Refractive Lens Exchange, the Crystalens in a relatively difficult candidate to explant.
I hope I was able to provide relevant info to you.
I had my right eye done and then my left lens re-centered. Prior to the re-centering I could not read well at all. On the 2nd day after the re-centering surgery my reading kicked in and I am reading even the smallest print (in good light). The computer screen is less clear and I do wear cheaters when I have long work to do. But overall I went from -6 to no glasses (no glare at night while driving!!) Was not happy at first but after the long haul I am quite satisfied with the Restor - particulalry my reading.
If TECNIS (aspheric) can give me uncorrected crystal clear distance vision, I would be more than happy with it wearing progressive glasses or readers. I am -8 in left eye and -10 in the right. All the surgeons I consulted said that I would still end up a bit myopic (-1 to -1.5) and (funnyly) they would intentionally keep me that way as I was used to that condition. This approach is very difficult for me to comprehend as I would expect zero or minimal correction for distance. This might improve my near vision slightly but disturb my distance vision which I am not happy with.
Tomorrow, I am going for an A-scan and that would help the surgeon pinpoint how much correction I would need for distance post surgery with a mono-focal IOL.
I am sure you guys will help me decide on the best possible option by wednesday.
Cheers !!
If TECNIS (aspheric) can give me uncorrected crystal clear distance vision, I would be more than happy with it wearing progressive glasses or readers. I am -8 in left eye and -10 in the right. All the surgeons I consulted said that I would still end up a bit myopic (-1 to -1.5) and (funnyly) they would intentionally keep me that way as I was used to that condition. This approach is very difficult for me to comprehend as I would expect zero or minimal correction for distance. This might improve my near vision slightly but disturb my distance vision which I am not happy with.
Tomorrow, I am going for an A-scan and that would help the surgeon pinpoint how much correction I would need for distance post surgery with a mono-focal IOL.
I am sure you guys will help me decide on the best possible option by wednesday.
Cheers !!
I am considering either mono or multifocal implants (to correct cataracts) but with minus 2.50 astigmatism correction, I understand I will still need glasses or surgery to get clear vision. I am myopic (-6.0) and presbyopic (2.50)
my aim is to do away with glasses in all but few cases
thanks for yr thoughts