Laser correction after Restor lens implant

[confusedbob11]

My Restor lens has caused me to be nearsighted I guess with an astigmatism. My eyes have always been healthy before this. My doctor said this can be fixed or touched up with a Laser.

I have a spot from 12'' to 14'' where my sight is clear and can read, and then it gets blurry again until about 34'' out.  My distance vision is blurry and I am very upset with this and need it fixed. I definitley don't want to wear glasses for Distance.

If I get laser done how will it effect my near and intermediate?

Will it ruin the near? extend my near? bring it closer? same for Intermediate.

Right now I am leaning towards replacing it with a distance lens and guess wear glasses to read. I am hoping that I will have good intermediate vision with this? I take it my chances are 50/50?

Seems stupid to stay with the Restor lens and and hope for a lucky laser treatment and still have all the night issues??????????

How could measurements be so far off when I know I am using one of the best Dr's in town?

If I get a second opinion will they compare the measurements to my other Dr's office and split the difference?

Thanks,  

[confusedbob11]

Thanks for your comments they are definitley helping me through this experience. I have seen you in many of thread on this site and you seem to have a lot of experience through everyone else. Thanks for all the insight, as I am sure I will ask more questions until I am through with this ordeal. Hopefully after I get good results for what I am looking for I can post them and help others.

Thanks,

[JodieJ]

(continued from above)

...It seemed like I had continuously good vision from distance to near.  Then I started having problems because I had a phoria which I had previously been unaware of, and I had to stop monovision.  (These kinds of problems are extremely rare.)  So I had both IOLs set for distance.  I can read the 20/20 line on the chart without correction.  But I have the unpleasant sensation of being in a bubble of blur.  I can read some restaurant menus and see my monitor without glasses, but I have to strain.  I use a magnifying mirror to apply makeup.  Except for a few distance vision tasks (watching movies, driving), I'm much more comfortable wearing progressive glasses.

I really think that your doctor is exaggerating the significance of the slight loss of depth perception with mini-monovision.  Dr. Hagan has stated on this forum that it's the type of correction he would choose for himself.  (Dr. Oyakawa prefers the Crystalens.)  My friend who has mini-monovision only needs glasses for prolonged reading or seeing very small print.  In any case, mini-monovision is fully reversible with a contact lens or glasses.

[JodieJ]

You already have a preview of what your ReStor vision would be like after LASIK.  You can get a preview of what your vision would be like with 2 monofocal IOLs set for distance if you exchanged your ReStor for a monofocal and covered your second eye.

My experience may be very different from yours.  I did full monovision with contact lenses for several years and loved it.  It see

[confusedbob11]

Yes, the laser is to correct the astigmatism in the eye I guess created by the new lens? I do not have any cloudy sensation yet.

The first week was OK, things were clear both near and far although my distance was drastically blurry in different types of light. The first 4 or 5 days the TV at 7 or 8 feet away was very clear. Now, after 2 weeks my distance has become more blurry. The TV is a little blurry now as well.

I had a little (very little) pressure in the eye on the first post op and he took me off the Durezel and put me on two other drops to releive the pressure. I am off them now and still off the Durezel, but still on the Xibrom.

I just don't want to wait and then do laser and then still be unhappy with the results. Seems to me if the laser is going to mess up the little near vision I have it's stupid not to just take the lens out and go with the Monofocal lens?

I almost feel like the Dr is trying to make this thing right by jumping through hoops and doesn't want to just say it was a mistake for me to get the Restor. I am not saying the Restor is the devil like most people on here, but I would have like to been told all the issues with sizing and refraction before this, not after I have a problem. If it's so difficult for the Dr's to hit the right spot then they should talk about this more up front. Not afterwards?????

I just want the best site I can get for playing sports and coaching and if I have to wear glasses to read that's fine. I just don't want to have to wear glasses for things to look OK from 2 or 3 feet away and further. I guess I want to much?

[confusedbob11]

I guess the biggest decision is how much near I would lose compared to just replacing the lens in the first place?

Do you have distance in both your eyes? Can you see a coffee mug or your food on your plate clear enough not to wear glasses? Can you see your face in a mirror?

I am going to try the contact lens again in a few days. It gave me a headache after reading and working with it in. I want to try it in places like a Walmart, Basketball Gym or the house.

Again, my Dr. acts like Plano/Intermediate is not a good fit for me since I play a lot of sports and might not be able to catch a baseball at 60 mph?

[yarrow]

What Jodie says.  Indeed, reStor doesn't suit everyone.  I am one of the lucky ones for which the reStor D-1 was perfect for, and now my near, mid-, and distance vision--without any other corrective lenses--are what they were when I was a kid, but I am apparently pretty unusual.  My doc told me he was very, very selective about which patients he gave this lens to, and then only after measuring the eye seven ways from Sunday.  He said he only suggested this lens to about 30% of his patients, but my pupil size, 'short' eyeball, lack of astigmatism, and healthy retina all made me an extremely good candidate.  Happily it turned out to be true.

I'm sorry it didn't work out for you, but I don't quite understand your situation.  When your doctor talks about using the laser on you, is he referring to clearing up fuzziness behind the implanted lens (the very common, so-called 'secondary cataract') or is he talking about Lasik, in which a laser is used to reshape the cornea on the front of the eye?

I had to have that 'secondary cataract' laserized rather soon after my second implant; my vision had become less sharp in that eye.  My doc had told me to expect it based on the  'fuzz' he saw on the posterior capsule when he actually got into the eye with his trusty scalpel.  In my case, the laser cleanup worked like magic.

Here is some pretty detailed info about eye anatomy, lens replacement, and complications thereof--including laser work--which you may find helpful in understanding what's going on:

http://www.rnib.org.uk/eyehealth/eyeconditions/conditionsac/Pages/cataract_lasersurgery.aspx

[JodieJ]

You stated that wearing a contact lens over the ReStor improved your distance vision but made your near vision worse.  This is what would happen if you had a laser vision correction procedure.

Predicting IOL power is not an exact science.  Everyone is not a great candidate for ReStor.