Blurred vision with ReSTOR lens

I had cataract surgery two weeks ago and had a ReSTOR lens implanted.  I have had blurred vision in that eye ever since -- it is like looking through gauze.  While it has gotten slightly better, I can't see anything clearly up close and not well for distance either.  Prior to the surgery, I was near sighted and could read and use the computer without glasses, only needing them for distance.  My eye doctor says he can either change the lens or correct the problem with lasik.  I don't want lasik and am concerned about having the lens removed -- how dangerous is that?  Also if removed, should I just get a monofocal lens?  I still need to get my other eye done, but am doing nothing until I can see clearly with this eye.  In the meantime, I am using a contact lens in my untreated eye when I need distance vision and take it out to read, etc.  Essentially, I am only using my one untreated eye to see.  As a result, I almost feel as if I have vertigo due to the blurred vision in the eye with the ReSTOR lens, which is unpleasant.  Any responses, suggestions will be appreciated.  

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

I will invite readers of your posting to comment on their experience with multifocal implants. Bottom line is that 1. more poeple complain about multifical of all types than monofocal 2. glasses are often necessary for certain visual tasks 3 it often gets better when the second eye is done 4. it may take as long as 4-6 months for your visual system to transition to this new way of seeing.

JCH III MD Eye Physician & Surgeon

[cdn_glenn]

Lin,

I had multifocal Tecnis IOLs implanted last November.  Initially I had a number of issues such as being unable to read fine print and not being able to focus clearly.  Two weeks is barely enough time to see change.  After a month I was able to read very fine print.  My non-dominant eye lagged behind my dominant eye (that could see clearly immediately after surgery) for about two weeks.  Then vision in both eyes was equally sharp.

Also, from reading (I had both lenses exchanged at the same time) multifocal IOLs work well in pairs.  If you have only one multifocal implant ... I don't know, but from reading on MedHelp Forums for the past year+ the situation improves when the second multifocal is implanted.

It's ten months later and my vision is very clear.  There's some night halo issues, but minor and mostly a reminder that these aren't my original eyes.  Beyond that I rarely need to use glasses.  The only ones I need are +1.00 reading glasses for when I'm leaning back in my seat, surfing the web on my computer.  Otherwise, now for instance, I'm not wearing reading glasses.  I can see fine when tucked up to the keyboard & screen.

Good luck, and give it a little more time before you make a decision.  I've met many people who are happy with their ReSTOR lenses.

Glenn

[LinSF]

Thanks to both of you for your comments.  I met with my eye doctor today and he recommended and I agreed to have him remove the ReSTOR lens and replace it with a monofocal lens.  

[Snooky655]

I had my Restore Lens implanted 4 weeks ago and am having the exact same problems that you are having, which makes me feel better that someone else is experiencing this.  My husband had both his eyes done and he is not experiencing any of this.  I am also having trouble with my eye being very dry.  My doctor has put plugs in both ducts in this eye, so now I am having water problems also, I will have them removed next week so that I can function at work.  They want me to have the other eye done with the Rezoom lens but I am not having this done until I see some improvement in the blurriness in this eye.  They want me to have the other eye done and say that it will help this eye.  I find it hard to believe that it would help the blurriness go away.  I am scared that both eyes will have the same blurriness and dryness.  I also had pressure build-up in the eye when I had the surgery, that was not fun.  My halos at night are very intense and I have not seen any signs of this letting up.  You said that you had the monofocal lens put in, how is this working?  Is the blurriness and night halo's and vision any better?  

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

----------------------------

[JodieJ]

I have aspheric monofocal lenses and have never experienced blurriness and night halos.  Neither have others I know who have monofocal lenses; everyone I know is pleased with their post-surgery vision.  If you check the archives of this forum, you will find other posts from women who have experienced significant problems related to dry eyes and blurriness with ReStor.  At least in one instance, there was some improvement with time, but the woman posting remained unhappy with her vision with bilateral ReStors.  I think that you are very wise to postpone the surgery on your second eye until you are satisfied with your vision in the ReStor eye.  (ReZoom has an even higher percentage of unhappy recipients than ReStor.)  You might consider consulting a second surgeon who is experienced with multifocals.

[JodieJ]

I have aspheric monofocal lenses and have never experienced blurriness and night halos.  Neither have others I know who have monofocal lenses; everyone I know is pleased with their post-surgery vision.  If you check the archives of this forum, you will find other posts from women who have experienced significant problems related to dry eyes and blurriness with ReStor.  At least in one instance, there was some improvement with time, but the woman posting remained unhappy with her vision with bilateral ReStors.  I think that you are very wise to postpone the surgery on your second eye until you are satisfied with your vision in the ReStor eye.  (ReZoom has an even higher percentage of unhappy recipients than ReStor.)  You might consider consulting a second surgeon who is experienced with multifocals.

[JodieJ]

I have aspheric monofocal lenses and have never experienced blurriness and night halos.  Neither have others I know who have monofocal lenses; everyone I know is pleased with their post-surgery vision.  If you check the archives of this forum, you will find other posts from women who have experienced significant problems related to dry eyes and blurriness with ReStor.  At least in one instance, there was some improvement with time, but the woman posting remained unhappy with her vision with bilateral ReStors.  I think that you are very wise to postpone the surgery on your second eye until you are satisfied with your vision in the ReStor eye.  (ReZoom has an even higher percentage of unhappy recipients than ReStor.)  You might consider consulting a second surgeon who is experienced with multifocals.

[JodieJ]

I have aspheric monofocal lenses and have never experienced blurriness and night halos.  Neither have others I know who have monofocal lenses; everyone I know is pleased with their post-surgery vision.  If you check the archives of this forum, you will find other posts from women who have experienced significant problems related to dry eyes and blurriness with ReStor.  At least in one instance, there was some improvement with time, but the woman posting remained unhappy with her vision with bilateral ReStors.  I think that you are very wise to postpone the surgery on your second eye until you are satisfied with your vision in the ReStor eye.  (ReZoom has an even higher percentage of unhappy recipients than ReStor.)  You might consider consulting a second surgeon who is experienced with multifocals.

[JodieJ]

I have aspheric monofocal lenses and have never experienced blurriness and night halos.  Neither have others I know who have monofocal lenses; everyone I know is pleased with their post-surgery vision.  If you check the archives of this forum, you will find other posts from women who have experienced significant problems related to dry eyes and blurriness with ReStor.  At least in one instance, there was some improvement with time, but the woman posting remained unhappy with her vision with bilateral ReStors.  I think that you are very wise to postpone the surgery on your second eye until you are satisfied with your vision in the ReStor eye.  (ReZoom has an even higher percentage of unhappy recipients than ReStor.)  You might consider consulting a second surgeon who is experienced with multifocals.

[JodieJ]

I have aspheric monofocal lenses and have never experienced blurriness and night halos.  Neither have others I know who have monofocal lenses; everyone I know is pleased with their post-surgery vision.  If you check the archives of this forum, you will find other posts from women who have experienced significant problems related to dry eyes and blurriness with ReStor.  At least in one instance, there was some improvement with time, but the woman posting remained unhappy with her vision with bilateral ReStors.  I think that you are very wise to postpone the surgery on your second eye until you are satisfied with your vision in the ReStor eye.  (ReZoom has an even higher percentage of unhappy recipients than ReStor.)  You might consider consulting a second surgeon who is experienced with multifocals.

[JodieJ]

I have aspheric monofocal lenses and have never experienced blurriness and night halos.  Neither have others I know who have monofocal lenses; everyone I know is pleased with their post-surgery vision.  If you check the archives of this forum, you will find other posts from women who have experienced significant problems related to dry eyes and blurriness with ReStor.  At least in one instance, there was some improvement with time, but the woman posting remained unhappy with her vision with bilateral ReStors.  I think that you are very wise to postpone the surgery on your second eye until you are satisfied with your vision in the ReStor eye.  (ReZoom has an even higher percentage of unhappy recipients than ReStor.)  You might consider consulting a second surgeon who is experienced with multifocals.

[JodieJ]

I have aspheric monofocal lenses and have never experienced blurriness and night halos.  Neither have others I know who have monofocal lenses; everyone I know is pleased with their post-surgery vision.  If you check the archives of this forum, you will find other posts from women who have experienced significant problems related to dry eyes and blurriness with ReStor.  At least in one instance, there was some improvement with time, but the woman posting remained unhappy with her vision with bilateral ReStors.  I think that you are very wise to postpone the surgery on your second eye until you are satisfied with your vision in the ReStor eye.  (ReZoom has an even higher percentage of unhappy recipients than ReStor.)  You might consider consulting a second surgeon who is experienced with multifocals.

[JodieJ]

I have aspheric monofocal lenses and have never experienced blurriness and night halos.  Neither have others I know who have monofocal lenses; everyone I know is pleased with their post-surgery vision.  If you check the archives of this forum, you will find other posts from women who have experienced significant problems related to dry eyes and blurriness with ReStor.  At least in one instance, there was some improvement with time, but the woman posting remained unhappy with her vision with bilateral ReStors.  I think that you are very wise to postpone the surgery on your second eye until you are satisfied with your vision in the ReStor eye.  (ReZoom has an even higher percentage of unhappy recipients than ReStor.)  You might consider consulting a second surgeon who is experienced with multifocals.

[JodieJ]

I have aspheric monofocal lenses and have never experienced blurriness and night halos.  Neither have others I know who have monofocal lenses; everyone I know is pleased with their post-surgery vision.  If you check the archives of this forum, you will find other posts from women who have experienced significant problems related to dry eyes and blurriness with ReStor.  At least in one instance, there was some improvement with time, but the woman posting remained unhappy with her vision with bilateral ReStors.  I think that you are very wise to postpone the surgery on your second eye until you are satisfied with your vision in the ReStor eye.  (ReZoom has an even higher percentage of unhappy recipients than ReStor.)  You might consider consulting a second surgeon who is experienced with multifocals.

[JodieJ]

I have aspheric monofocal lenses and have never experienced blurriness and night halos.  Neither have others I know who have monofocal lenses; everyone I know is pleased with their post-surgery vision.  If you check the archives of this forum, you will find other posts from women who have experienced significant problems related to dry eyes and blurriness with ReStor.  At least in one instance, there was some improvement with time, but the woman posting remained unhappy with her vision with bilateral ReStors.  I think that you are very wise to postpone the surgery on your second eye until you are satisfied with your vision in the ReStor eye.  (ReZoom has an even higher percentage of unhappy recipients than ReStor.)  You might consider consulting a second surgeon who is experienced with multifocals.

[JodieJ]

I have aspheric monofocal lenses and have never experienced blurriness and night halos.  Neither have others I know who have monofocal lenses; everyone I know is pleased with their post-surgery vision.  If you check the archives of this forum, you will find other posts from women who have experienced significant problems related to dry eyes and blurriness with ReStor.  At least in one instance, there was some improvement with time, but the woman posting remained unhappy with her vision with bilateral ReStors.  I think that you are very wise to postpone the surgery on your second eye until you are satisfied with your vision in the ReStor eye.  (ReZoom has an even higher percentage of unhappy recipients than ReStor.)  You might consider consulting a second surgeon who is experienced with multifocals.

[JodieJ]

I have aspheric monofocal lenses and have never experienced blurriness and night halos.  Neither have others I know who have monofocal lenses; everyone I know is pleased with their post-surgery vision.  If you check the archives of this forum, you will find other posts from women who have experienced significant problems related to dry eyes and blurriness with ReStor.  At least in one instance, there was some improvement with time, but the woman posting remained unhappy with her vision with bilateral ReStors.  I think that you are very wise to postpone the surgery on your second eye until you are satisfied with your vision in the ReStor eye.  (ReZoom has an even higher percentage of unhappy recipients than ReStor.)  You might consider consulting a second surgeon who is experienced with multifocals.

[JodieJ]

I have aspheric monofocal lenses and have never experienced blurriness and night halos.  Neither have others I know who have monofocal lenses; everyone I know is pleased with their post-surgery vision.  If you check the archives of this forum, you will find other posts from women who have experienced significant problems related to dry eyes and blurriness with ReStor.  At least in one instance, there was some improvement with time, but the woman posting remained unhappy with her vision with bilateral ReStors.  I think that you are very wise to postpone the surgery on your second eye until you are satisfied with your vision in the ReStor eye.  (ReZoom has an even higher percentage of unhappy recipients than ReStor.)  You might consider consulting a second surgeon who is experienced with multifocals.

[JodieJ]

I have aspheric monofocal lenses and have never experienced blurriness and night halos.  Neither have others I know who have monofocal lenses; everyone I know is pleased with their post-surgery vision.  If you check the archives of this forum, you will find other posts from women who have experienced significant problems related to dry eyes and blurriness with ReStor.  At least in one instance, there was some improvement with time, but the woman posting remained unhappy with her vision with bilateral ReStors.  I think that you are very wise to postpone the surgery on your second eye until you are satisfied with your vision in the ReStor eye.  (ReZoom has an even higher percentage of unhappy recipients than ReStor.)  You might consider consulting a second surgeon who is experienced with multifocals.

[JodieJ]

I have aspheric monofocal lenses and have never experienced blurriness and night halos.  Neither have others I know who have monofocal lenses; everyone I know is pleased with their post-surgery vision.  If you check the archives of this forum, you will find other posts from women who have experienced significant problems related to dry eyes and blurriness with ReStor.  At least in one instance, there was some improvement with time, but the woman posting remained unhappy with her vision with bilateral ReStors.  I think that you are very wise to postpone the surgery on your second eye until you are satisfied with your vision in the ReStor eye.  (ReZoom has an even higher percentage of unhappy recipients than ReStor.)  You might consider consulting a second surgeon who is experienced with multifocals.

[JodieJ]

I have aspheric monofocal lenses and have never experienced blurriness and night halos.  Neither have others I know who have monofocal lenses; everyone I know is pleased with their post-surgery vision.  If you check the archives of this forum, you will find other posts from women who have experienced significant problems related to dry eyes and blurriness with ReStor.  At least in one instance, there was some improvement with time, but the woman posting remained unhappy with her vision with bilateral ReStors.  I think that you are very wise to postpone the surgery on your second eye until you are satisfied with your vision in the ReStor eye.  (ReZoom has an even higher percentage of unhappy recipients than ReStor.)  You might consider consulting a second surgeon who is experienced with multifocals.

[JodieJ]

I have aspheric monofocal lenses and have never experienced blurriness and night halos.  Neither have others I know who have monofocal lenses; everyone I know is pleased with their post-surgery vision.  If you check the archives of this forum, you will find other posts from women who have experienced significant problems related to dry eyes and blurriness with ReStor.  At least in one instance, there was some improvement with time, but the woman posting remained unhappy with her vision with bilateral ReStors.  I think that you are very wise to postpone the surgery on your second eye until you are satisfied with your vision in the ReStor eye.  (ReZoom has an even higher percentage of unhappy recipients than ReStor.)  You might consider consulting a second surgeon who is experienced with multifocals.

[JodieJ]

So sorry about multiple posts.  Computer problems.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

-----------------------

[cdn_glenn]

Hi Snooky,

I also had difficulty with dry eye after surgery.  I don't want to worry you.  My dry eye symptoms did subside, but after two or three months.  I attribute this simply to having eye surgery.  Your eyes need time to heal.  I don't believe that the implant being monofocal or multifocal has any different effect.  I am certain your dry eye symptoms will subside.

Regarding blurriness I am unsure what to say.  I did have one eye, my non-dominant eye, lag behind my dominant eye for two weeks.  The lens in my dominant eye was implanted at the same time.  In two weeks the eye did catch up.  Because you have a single IOL at the moment (dominant or non-dominant eye?) I can't guess if your vision in that eye will improve with the second IOL implanted.  Only from my reading on MedHelp Forums I would hope the answer is Yes.

Regarding haloed night vision: here I have some expertise.  This is definitely a result of having multifocal lenses.  It was marvellous to have perfect vision after surgery, but horrendous to have that ruined by night time halos.  I could not separate vehicles from the swarm of oncoming vehicles' lights.  I could not drive in the city ... initially.  Neuroadaptation, that's the term I read about on this forum and other websites.  Slowly the brain perceives the information in a more orderly way.  In many ways I see like I used to, except without glasses.

You have gone the multifocal route.  I think you are fortunate to have received ReSTOR in your first surgery (I have Tecnis ZM900 multifocals, not yet approved in North America).  From what I have gleaned over the Internet the ReSTOR lenses seem to have the least night time halos.  I've read many reports of people not noticing halos after six months to a year, and many reports of the halos becoming manageable.  The ReZoom multifocal appears to have the most reports of excessive night time halos (at least on MedHelp forums).  My guess is that the Tecnis multifocals have greater issues with night time halos than ReSTOR, but nowhere near the issue with ReZoom.

I think you are correct to be wary of implanting a ReZoom multifocal in your other eye.  Bilateral ReSTOR implants have worked well for many people.

Good luck,
Glenn

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

----------------------------

[Snooky655]

I had the Restor Lens implanted in my right eye 6 weeks ago and am still having blurring vision, halos at night around the street signs and the lines on the highway, and also starbursts on the street lights and car lights.  These halos and starbursts plus the blurriness would make it impossible for me to drive at night at all if I was experiencing this with my other eye (which I have not had anything done to yet).  The surgeon I went to has the best reputation in Alabama and I like him.  He just keeps saying that he thinks it will clear up when I have the ReZoom lens put in my other eye.  I just can't believe that this would happen.  What are your comments or experiences.  Will my visual clarity become better within, lets say, 6 months or should I consider having monofocal lens put in to get rid of the problems of the blurriness and nights halos and starbursts?

[Snooky655]

I had the Restor Lens implanted in my right eye 6 weeks ago and am still having blurring vision, halos at night around the street signs and the lines on the highway, and also starbursts on the street lights and car lights.  These halos and starbursts plus the blurriness would make it impossible for me to drive at night at all if I was experiencing this with my other eye (which I have not had anything done to yet).  The surgeon I went to has the best reputation in Alabama and I like him.  He just keeps saying that he thinks it will clear up when I have the ReZoom lens put in my other eye.  I just can't believe that this would happen.  What are your comments or experiences.  Will my visual clarity become better within, lets say, 6 months or should I consider having monofocal lens put in to get rid of the problems of the blurriness and nights halos and starbursts?

[Snooky655]

I had the Restor Lens implanted in my right eye 6 weeks ago and am still having blurring vision, halos at night around the street signs and the lines on the highway, and also starbursts on the street lights and car lights.  These halos and starbursts plus the blurriness would make it impossible for me to drive at night at all if I was experiencing this with my other eye (which I have not had anything done to yet).  The surgeon I went to has the best reputation in Alabama and I like him.  He just keeps saying that he thinks it will clear up when I have the ReZoom lens put in my other eye.  I just can't believe that this would happen.  What are your comments or experiences.  Will my visual clarity become better within, lets say, 6 months or should I consider having monofocal lens put in to get rid of the problems of the blurriness and nights halos and starbursts?

[Snooky655]

I had the Restor Lens implanted in my right eye 6 weeks ago and am still having blurring vision, halos at night around the street signs and the lines on the highway, and also starbursts on the street lights and car lights.  These halos and starbursts plus the blurriness would make it impossible for me to drive at night at all if I was experiencing this with my other eye (which I have not had anything done to yet).  The surgeon I went to has the best reputation in Alabama and I like him.  He just keeps saying that he thinks it will clear up when I have the ReZoom lens put in my other eye.  I just can't believe that this would happen.  What are your comments or experiences.  Will my visual clarity become better within, lets say, 6 months or should I consider having monofocal lens put in to get rid of the problems of the blurriness and nights halos and starbursts?

[Snooky655]

I had the Restor Lens implanted in my right eye 6 weeks ago and am still having blurring vision, halos at night around the street signs and the lines on the highway, and also starbursts on the street lights and car lights.  These halos and starbursts plus the blurriness would make it impossible for me to drive at night at all if I was experiencing this with my other eye (which I have not had anything done to yet).  The surgeon I went to has the best reputation in Alabama and I like him.  He just keeps saying that he thinks it will clear up when I have the ReZoom lens put in my other eye.  I just can't believe that this would happen.  What are your comments or experiences.  Will my visual clarity become better within, lets say, 6 months or should I consider having monofocal lens put in to get rid of the problems of the blurriness and nights halos and starbursts?

[Snooky655]

I had the Restor Lens implanted in my right eye 6 weeks ago and am still having blurring vision, halos at night around the street signs and the lines on the highway, and also starbursts on the street lights and car lights.  These halos and starbursts plus the blurriness would make it impossible for me to drive at night at all if I was experiencing this with my other eye (which I have not had anything done to yet).  The surgeon I went to has the best reputation in Alabama and I like him.  He just keeps saying that he thinks it will clear up when I have the ReZoom lens put in my other eye.  I just can't believe that this would happen.  What are your comments or experiences.  Will my visual clarity become better within, lets say, 6 months or should I consider having monofocal lens put in to get rid of the problems of the blurriness and nights halos and starbursts?

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

The neuro-adaptive mechanism to your reZoom may take 6-12 months but I think it inadvisable to put a second ReZoom in the eye while you're less than happy with the first eye. The problems you are complaining off often do not get better. Review the many postings here of UNHAPPY ReZoom patients.

Get a second or even third opinion. If you need surgery on the other eye consider a monofocial aspheric Technis IOL.

JCH III MD

[Snooky655]

How did you do after removing the multifocal lens and putting in a monofocal lens?  What type of lens did you go with?  I am having some of your same problems and am thinking of switching.

[maieng]

I had ReStor multifocal lenses implanted   in my right eye Jan. 25, 08 and in my left eye on Feb. 9, 08.  After the first implant I thought I too had made a mistake.  I could not see very well with only the one implant. The halos were so bad I could not drive for those two weeks at night.   I had floaters which I had not noticed before because of the cataracts and I too thought my vision was blurry.  My doctor said that you actually need both eyes done to see the improvement.  Two days after the second implant was done the floaters seemed to disappear and both eyes had good distant vision.  I was near sighted and could see very good without glasses.  Now my close vision is still poor.  But again, my doctor said that unfortunately it takes the near vision to come in last.  I too am using 1.00 cheater glasses which does help.  Since I have had both eyes done the halos are not as bad and from what I have read the ReStor lenses are very satisfactory after about three months.    I too have dry eyes and I feel like I have eye strain.  I work on the computer all day full time.  This could be because the close vision still isn't working.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

In a medical journal just this week received with multifocal IOLs at 6 weeks 66% of patients have glare and flare (streaking) at 6 months 33 % still do.

Almost all need glasses for some tasks.

JCH III MD