Dr. Hagan, Thank you very much for all of the good information that you share with us and for your consistency in recommending a monofocal lens and especially the Technis. As a prior RK patient, please know that I, for one, am definitely listening to your advise. It is my hope that you will continue to share your knowledge with those of use who are going through a difficult decision-making process.
Jodie, Thank you for your ongoing comments. Please know that I value them and appreciate your postings.
Frank
The text box with your last post was blank. (or else I'm losing more vision than I realize!) Could you re-post, please?
I'm not certain at this point that my doctor recommended the ReZoom...it may have been ReSTOR, as he gave me literature on both. He referred briefly to a new lens coming out and in researching the AcrySof IQ, I see that just this week the FDA approved a new ReSTOR multifocal lens. I wonder if this is what he meant. I assume that Alcon makes both monofocal and multifocal lenses, but both are labeled as AcrySof IQ? It's all very confusing!
I am leaning toward the monofocal lens, as I am concerned about halos with driving at night and I want to have good intermediate/distance vision. I wouldn't mind having to continue using glasses for reading.
I had the Restor lens placed last summer. It was the biggest mistake ever. Like the other people said here, search the archives. You just may end up with worse vision that you started with. The doctors are telling patients the problems are neuroadaptation and when the brain learns to adjust they will be able to see. Neuroadaptation is only a tiny portion of the problems with the Multifocal. Be aware....
Aspheric monofocal IOLs have been around for a few years. AMO makes the Tecnis, Alcon makes the AcrySof IQ, and Bausch & Lomb makes the Sofport. I think that are all good lenses (but Tecnis has the best website.) I'm in Chicago, where all the surgeons I consulted used Alcon lenses. So I ended up with aspheric AcrySof IQ's, with excellent results. (Just like Tecnis, the AcrySof has been shown to improve night vision.)
Frankly, I would not trust a surgeon who recommended the problem-prone ReZoom, and I'd definitely suggest that you get another opinion from an experienced, board-certified cataract/refractive surgeon. It's true that your astigmatism can be reduced/eliminated at the time of surgery, and this should improve your uncorrected post-surgery vision. Since you are interested in reducing your dependency on glasses, the "blended vision" correction mentioned above might be a good choice for you. This is not emergency surgery, so you can take your time finding a competent doctor who will answer all your questions.
I went to the website for Tecnis, but it appears that there are no doctors within 200 miles of the Dallas/Fort Worth area who use this product. Is it new technology?
You are not me and I am not you. Having said that if I needed cataract surgery as a surgeon and ophthalmologist I would need the best possible vision and that, in my opinion, only comes from monofocal aspheric IOLs. That is what I would have, right now I would choose a Tecnis asphric monofocal.
JCH MD
Consider getting an aspheric monofocal IOL like the Tecnis. (Check out the patient education video at www tecnisiol com.) If you want to minimize your dependence on glasses, have the IOLs set for blended vision (distance vision in dominant eye, intermediate in non-dominant). If all goes as planned, you'd only need glasses for seeing small print or prolonged reading. Plus you'll save thousands of dollars.
...so you would recommend monofocal lenses for both eyes as first choice and as second choice a combination of Crystalens and ReSTOR? I don't mind using glasses for close reading, etc.
REZOOM IN MY OPINION IS ANTIQUATED TECHNOLOGY.
Save your self a world of trouble. Take about 30-45 minutes and use the search feature and archives to read about all the problems with the reZoom IOL. There are literally HUNDREDS OF UNHAPPY MUTIFOCAL PATIENTS POSTED HERE MOST OF THEM REZOOM.
Ask yourself this:
In return for an operation that is safer, the vision day and night better, and thousands of dollars cheaper can't you put up with wearing glasses some of the times?
If you absolutely must opt for an operation that is not as safe, much more expensive, vision not as good and that may not get you out of glasses then I strongly recommend to my patients to use the new Crystalens HD IOL in distance eye and aim for a residual refractive error of about -0.50 in the reading eye or have a ReStor IOL put in.
Get a second or third opinion. Remember last year in Kansas City over 150 eye surgeons were asked if they would want ReZoom IOLs in both eyes and not a single one raised their hand. Only 3-4 would even want a ReZoom in one eye. Crystalens was the big winner.
Don't say you weren't warned.
John C. Hagan III MD
Fellow American College of Surgeons
Fellow American Academy of Ophthalmology