Since I have been diagnosed with cataracts in both eyes, and am scheduled for surgery on the left non-dominant eye on Nov. 7, 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? I'm 45, and have only needed weak drug-store reading glasses - until recently. I can deal with wearing reading glasses for closer stuff, but would be more unhappy if I needed glasses all the time for intermediate ranges like computer work, or working on my tractors. My Doc wants to do Restors, but I hear the ReZoom is better intermediate. However, I do alot of night driving in the winter and I would be concerned about Halos. (Incidentally, could someone who has multifocal describe the halos to me? Maybe they are not as bad as the fuzzy blobs of glare I'm seeing now.)So, my basic question is, can I get decent intermediate vision with monofocals, or will they take so much of my near/intermediate vision away, that multifocals would be worth the risk?
I was told Rezooms would give me a 90% chance of not needing glasses at all - an amazing offer to someone who had worn them since age 4 (now 60) & had to use 2 sets of bi-focals (desk/computer, distance/closeup). I had to change my glasses dozens of times/day -- whenever I got up from my desk or someone came into my office. My bifocals were progressive & had a mid-range for the computer screen, but it was so narrow that I just couldn't hold my neck at the necessary angle for long. (Many people have told me the same thing). I was told that ReZoom offered the best solution to those who use computers & need intermediate vision.
The 1st lens gave me near perfect distance vision in that eye, but I still needed minor correction for reading & computer. The doctor then chose a slightly different prescription for the 2nd
eye in the hope of compensating for this & having me not need glasses at all.
The period after surgery was VERY awkward because:
* my old glasses no longer worked (since I had corrected vision in the eye operated on)
* it takes a while for the vision in that eye to clear up
* it takes at least 6-8 wks, sometimes longer, for your vision to really settle down to the point where new glasses can be prescribed if necessary
* the halos were bad enough to prevent me from driving at night, & made it difficult even walking around my neighbourhood. They form a wide band around every light, the same colour of the light - porchlight, car head or tail light, streetlight, illuminated sign, you name it. 4 mos have now passed & the halos have lessened significantly but are still present.
* going any place - store, office - that has fluorescent lighting is still very difficult. At 1st, it seemed like the lights were vibrating & I'd have to leave; even now I still don't see well in these places.
*** I absolutely would have had to take an extended leave of absence if I'd had a job requiring me to drive after dark or work in under fluorescent lighting. ***
In the 2 wks between when the 1st eye then the 2nd was done, I managed by:
* having that lens in both pairs of bifocals replaced by clear glass; this worked for driving/walking/etc but I couldn't read with them
* covering the clear glass lens in my computer/reading glasses & just using my unoperated-on eye & its prescription lens to read/work on computer (very slow & tiring)
After my 2nd eye was operated on (2 wks after the 1st):
* my distance vision was now fine w/o glasses - I can drive/walk around, & see people in the room clearly
* for a few days, I used my husband's computer glasses for reading/computer (they have just a little magnifcation).
* Once I could drive, I got my own drugstore glasses for this interim period, until it became clear whether I will still need RX lens for computer/reading.
I had migraines for 5 days straight afterwards; I think this may have been caused by my eyes/brain trying to adjust; the migraines were in a different place -- right between my eyes -- than usual (top of my forehead) ones which only come 1x/mos
It's been 4 mos now since my surgery. I still can't use the computer or read w/o glasses, & I don't have good intermediate vision for preparing food at the kitchen counter, reading the dial on the washer, etc. It is frustrating to have to always carry around reading glasses which inevitably are in some other part of the house from where I am when I need them.
Therefore, I plan to buy 2 different pairs of bi-focals (desk/computer, reading/distance) as before, only:
* I can still go w/o glasses to drive, walk etc if I want
* the new glasses will be much thinner/lighter than my old ones
I don't regret having paid the $3,000 for the Rezoom lenses, even tho finances are very tight for us, because it was worth the gamble & I still have the freedom to walk/drive w/o glasses.
I had no idea that the adjustment to multifocals was so challenging. You've really kept a positive attitude!
Just saw your comments and I was wondering which doctor are you using and how do I contact them. I have been trying to look for doctors that specialize in multi-focal IOL in Ontario. Any help you can give me is greatly appreciated. Thx
There's no magic here. With 20/40, you have distance vision good enough to pass the DMV test and excellent intermediate vision. I can read pretty much everything at 20 inches.
I am not saying that my choice was better than the Restore/Rezoom. I wanted to go with the safest route (my surgeon said the monofocal procedure is almost perfected that it can't go wrong) and made a decision. Except initial minor flickering vision, my recovery was ultra quick and smooth.
20/40 may not be acceptable for someone who's not myopic at all. But to me, as we age, being a slight myope does have benefits.
I know with this decision that I must be prepared to lose some intermediate range. Still, there may be ways to minimize that. I'm new to all this, so I'm just going to have the work the problem. You folks are a great help.
So, I guess now I'll have to find out about what types of monofocals are out there and what spherical vs aspherical means!
I can say I am truly happy with my results, and hope you experience the same....Good Luck and let us know how you come out.
Now scheduled for surgery on the right eye, Dr. recommends ReStor multifocal implant with stated 85-90% success in his practice. It should let me function without glasses except for extended periods of reading when cheap reading glasses would work. I tend to trust his recommendation but reading the almost completely negative comments in this and other forums, I am concerned about the results as well as the $1500 cost of ReStor not covered by Medicare. I am wondering if all the comments posted are from the unfortunate 10-15% of people who are in the group with expected unsatisfactory results. Supposedly the majority of applications are more than satisfactory so why isn't anyone with good results post a comment? Is this another case of the "silent majority"?
I don't know what to believe.
I am 43 and was recently implanted with a monofocal in the right eye, which was 20-200 w/o cataract. Since my left eye is ~20/60 I have been doing monovision pretty successfully since the operation, however small left eye cataract will likely grow problematic as I age, and will also need to be operated on at some point.
Like many who commented here, my distance vision is excellent but intermediate vision (computer monitor and tennis ball-contact point) is not good in the operative eye. I was surprised at this, because when choosing monofocal vs. multifocal the literature and Doc said choose monofocal if you do a lot at midrange, so I expected better.
Michael
Multifocal are put in like the monofocal but have different points of focus on the lens, trying to give you near, far, and in between vision. The Rezoom is generally better at intermediate and the Restor is generally better with reading. All have good points and bad. Crystalens hinges can become stuck in a forward or backward position. Thereby giving you one focal point of vision, which could be anything depending upon which way it is stuck. Also, harder to exchange if necessary. Generally has fewer problems with halos.
Multifocal does not depend upon the eye muscle to work. But halos can be debilitating. Also, if the exact measurement is not obtained, vision will not be clear. Multifocal is for near, far, and intermeidate vision. But generally with the Rezoom you may need glasses for reading and with the Restor you may need glasses for computor.
Monofocal lenses give you only one focal point. Confused as to why the surgeon told you Monofocal was good for intermediate unless he set the focal point point for intermediate. Then you would need glasses for near and far. Monofocal generally are good for only one focal point but some very lucky people get more than one focal point with the monofocal. but it is not the norm. Most people have it set for distance and wear glasses for near and intermediate.
Generally monofocal with a accomodating or multifocal lens can leave you with a feeling of imbalance. I know I have only one one multifocal lense implant and I do have a feeling of imbalance. Good luck and best wishes.
I would like to read my paper and the computer and drive without glasses. I am still pretty young
P.S. I was told toric IOL's where not an option because of insurance.