Halos are Ferris Wheels

[eyesore100]

I had genetic cataracts, found out when I was 20 but did ok without glasses till now - 43.  Went to get glasses and the Dr. said she couldn't correct to 20/40 and advised Cataract Surgery.  I am very active person and specially driving at all hours of day.  So many people I asked had good success with surgery and said it had come so far, I opted for surgery and the Dr. at Cataract Inst. recommended because of my young age the mutlifocal - Rezoom. My night vision/driving at night was the main reason I sought out surgery.   The video they gave me to make the decision showed "halos" around lights with night driving.  My husband agreed their indication was that it was a fuzz ring directly around stop lights/car lights.  I had always put up with elongated stars around only white lights. I was led to believe the halos were small and not too noticeable. Last Monday I had rezoom installed in left eye and it turns out that the "halos" they warn you about are really LARGE FERRIS WHEELS, and not just aroung white lights now but tail lights, stop lights and of course all oncoming headlights.  At about 20-30 feet these ferris wheels of light merge into an acceptable halo.  I spoke with the Dr. He says "time",  and let your brain learn to live with it.  This has effectively made my night driving 10 times worse.  The only other option is to take out the Rezoom and put in a monofocal.  I need to decide this apparantly within 2 weeks so the eye does not heal in completely with rezoom in place.  If the monofocal would improve my "Ferris Wheels" and therefore my night driving, I would gladly wear glasses after surgery  to make these large rings of light around even the tiniest street light go away.

[eyesore100]

I did go in and had the rezoom taken out 2 weeks after the first surgery. The monofocal lens definetely did give me my night vision and driving back.  Now I have just a bit of glare on the sides as overhead light enters in but grateful that even though I will need glasses for some closeup reading...it's a much better option.  I believe it really was a sales job and that is very sad when you consider these people are supposed to be looking after your health.  It was also painfully costly, so remember..buyer beware, even in health care. It may be quite some time before I think about having the other cataract removed.

[Dee1947]

I had Restor implants June, 2007 almost 11 months ago.  I call your LARGE FERRIS WHEELS my day or night year round FOURTH OF JULY FIREWORKS around any glare or light.  I was told your brain will adapt.  Well I have two college degrees and passed the CPA exam so there is nothing wrong with my brain and I have never adapted.

My friend has monofocals and she suffers from glare and halos too.

I agree with the masterful sales job comments but I do not believe any of the lenses are perfect.

I posted on this site at 7 months post-op and 10 months post-op.  I have had some improvement with initial problems but not the glare and halo issues.

[Michael J Kutryb, MD]

I hear what you are saying.  Thank you for sharing.  I hope more people will  share their experiences also.

MJK MD

[vivian756]

I notice many comments from patients stating their ophthalmologists recommended ReZoom and/or ReStor.  Of course they did--they are highly profitable for ophthalmologists.  In some of the medical journals, such as Eye World, etc. you will see references to selling the patient, closing the sale, etc.  The sales pitch begins with the technicians who first visit with you, right up to the surgery appointment desk.  My ophthalmologist didn't even mention monofocal or monovision--just ReZoom/ReStor which he said he recommended based on my activities. Interestingly, I never said that I wanted to be glasses free, but he pitched the ReZoom/ReStor anyway.  Suzie

[Michael J Kutryb, MD]

Just to be very clear - it should be expected to have halos at  night with the rezoom.  Even the video showed you that.  If you want to see well driving at night this is probably not the lens for you.  One of your options is to try pilocarpine drops which will make pupils and reduce halos when driving.  Just a temporary effect - as long as you take the drops which lasts about 6 hours.  I suspect that the rezoom may not be the right lens for you as the video suggested - due to problems with night driving.  Talk to your surgeon about IOL exchange.
Michael Kutryb, MD