ReStor implant

[dan58]

Guys, I had the cataract surgery last week. As per my doctor recommendation, I had the ReStor implanted in my left eye. Even though I have problems with glare and halos, my main problem so far is that when I read near or far I see a shadow of the letter that I am reading. It is driving me crazy. Does any one know about this issue?  Thanks

[pchintan33]

sir,
my age is 22
i got catract in my both the eyes
multi focal lense is better for me
or not
right now i wan operation in only in one eye
is it possible ?
can i get the operation with multifocal lense just in one eye

and  sir i does the job in computer so which lense better for me

sir please replay me fast

[micheal2828]

I am a 16 year old boy who had suffered badly from both eyes cataracts since like 10 year old. i had my first right eye surgery on 4 july 2009 and second on 12 sept 2009. Both my eyes are implanted with the Alcon ReSTOR IOL lens. I was very happy with my vision after surgery.  I could see perfectly at day and night without glare.However, now i feel that there is a slight blurring compared to before. My vision is blur when i open my eyes after closing my eyes for a minute or two. it takes 10 secs or so to restore my vision.. I think that it might due to Posterior Capsular Opacification.. Besides, i realise that i need brighter lights to read and see.. Does anyone have any idea to my current situation?

[JodieJ]

You seem to be mildly nearsighted.  You could have your IOLs set for the same vision you have now.  You would not need glasses as soon as you got out of bed.

This is an old thread.  If you would like a response from one of the forum doctors, re-post your question as a new thread.

[kitty33]

I am 60yrs.old and trying going to get monofocal implants after cataract surgery in 2 weeks.
I  am nearsighted now and never needed(still dont-even with cataracts) glasses to read or
do computer work, and I am on the computer for work 12 hrs daily.
I dont drive but I do golf and wear glasses for clear distance vision. I first opted to have
the vision set to be able to do close up work without wearing glasses after the surgery vs.
opting for an inplant that would enable clear distance vision but would mean I would have to
use glasses after surger to do all close up work.  Unlike the multifocal lens impants, the monofocal
dont adapt to different ranges.  While i use glasses to make distance vision clearer, I can get around
without glasses comfortably. I rarely wear them in the house . I am afraid that if I opt for the
monofocal lenses for good near-vision, that I will be totally unable to see anything beyond a few
feet clearly anymore and that I would need to put on my glasses as soon as I get out of bed.
Does anyone know if that would be the case and if they had a similar decision to make.
I like the forum and have found it very intersting.

[dan58]

Hello all

I had my right eye surgery on 11/20/08 with ReStor implant. The next day after surgery the doctor removed the patch from my eye. but I don't see from that eye. Everything is blurry, cloudy, I don't have vision in that eye. I told my doctor and he said that in five weeks it will clear out.

Is this normal? With my left eye, it was different. I was able to see clear the day after the surgery.

[dan58]

Thank you, MJ.

It is nice to hear that you are doing fine with your ReStor. I will post my results after the surgery.

[Ms_MJ]

Hi Dan58, good luck with your surgery on 11/20.  

My right eye surgery on 11/6 (I had ReStor in my left eye on 10/16, and rt on 11/6) went well, a day later I was seeing 20/20 both near and distance.  My vision came in much quicker this time than last, and I never got the ghosting this time. (Ghosting is completely gone in left eye too).

Mid range is still blurry, I plan on getting readers for long periods of time on the computer.  But it's nice to be able to read, look up, and see distance as well.  And I can still see the computer, its just not as good as I'd like it to be.  Oh, and I can tell that my left eye is getting better with the nighttime haloes, my right eye now has the haloes that my left eye had a week after the surgery.  Not debilitating though.

BH10, I do agree with JodieJ about ReStor and computer/night vision, although unlike her first experience, I had a good surgeon who thoroughly went over the drawbacks of ReStor and told me that too many people believe the ReStor literature - that they will be glasses-free.

If I thought I could stand monovision (most people can) I'd have gone that route as well.  It would have been cheaper.  But I really hated having monovision contacts, I was never able to adjust to them.

All in all, if I had it to do over again, I'd still do the ReStor; it's been a good choice for me.

[JodieJ]

If your priorities are having good vision for (night) driving and using the computer, I don't think that you'd be happy with ReStor.  Check out the patient education video at www tecnisiol com to see what aspheric monofocal lenses can do for you.  These lenses can be set for "blended vision" (distance vision in dominant eye, intermediate in non-dominant eye).  With a little luck, you'd only need glasses for prolonged reading or seeing small print.  (Ask about getting limbal relaxing incisions at the time of surgery to reduce/eliminate your astigmatism.)

I had cataract surgery in 2006.  One of the surgeons I consulted started pushing ReStor about the same time she introduced herself.  I knew instantly that she would not be doing my surgery, and I could hardly wait to leave her office.  I'd definitely suggest that you get another opinion before proceeding.

[Lerbea]

You need to be nervous of your doctor not of us (patients).

[BH110]

I have astigmatism, 62 yr old reading eyes and a cataract w/ largew glow around nite lites already, I have to drive and use a computer. Dear Doctor--would I be better off w/ just the normal lens, not an IOL? Current doc wants to do Restor, but this group makes me nervous...

[dan58]

MJ, I am happy to hear from you and that you are doing well.

As you know, I had my left eye done with ReStor on 10/16/08. I went to see my doctor and he said that my eye is healing fine. He advised me to do my right eye with ReStor also. He said that ReStor work better when done in both eyes. So, I am going for it.

My right eye surgery is schedule for 11/20/08. So far, I have not wear glasses. Close and distance are ok, but I find myself moving my head close to the computer monitor while I am working. Also, when I am reading, I need to get the paper or book closer. Like you, I have noticed that my midle vision is not coming in yet. Some times when I focus and blink my left eye, closing the right eye, it seems like It is going to improve. But then, my vision goes away again. It might be that it is out of focus. I still see shadows of the letters, and I have noticed double vision.

Also, from time to time, I have a light flickering event in my left eye. At night, I have the halos and glare. Like you said, it is kind of odd. My doctor says that everything is going to improve. He mentioned that since my right eye is not done yet, it might be affecting my left vision.

I wish you all the best.

[Ms_MJ]

I had my left eye done w/ ReStor on 10/16, on Thurs 11/6 I am getting my right eye done, also with ReStor.  Everything has gone as advertised, surgeon says my eyes are healing well.  

Don't need glasses for close up or distance, will probably need for mid-distance though.  One thing I didn't realize was how much "mid vision" one uses throughout the day!  But reading is once again a joy, with my cataracts it was a strain.

Night vision is kind of weird, but it isn't debilitating.

Dan58, was wondering how you are doing, as we got our left eyes done on the same day, with ReStor.

[Lerbea]

Will this madness of the restor end?  I'm haveing one lens removed and see how I do with the dominate eye.  This is simply not acceptable.

[gamma002]

I agree with all of your experiences with the Restor.  I had both eyes done on 9/2 and 9/9/08.  It is the most regretable thing I have ever done.  I was nearsighted and needed glasses to drive.  Otherwise I used a pair of 1.50 readers to sew or sit at the computer or sometimes to read the paper in the morning.  Now my intermediate vision is like looking through vaseline and shopping is a nightmare.  I find that I have to wear the readers just to read prices at the grocery store.  I am a quilter and looking at fabrics is just dizzyng.  I wish I had never had the surgery.  I gave up so much good vision for the improved distance vision.  Bright sun is still hard to take - I wear sunglasses far more than I ever did before.  I was pre-warned about the haloing but I didn't realize that the halo would actually be multiple concentric circles which make a streetlight glow look 10 feet wide.  I am still hoping that the brain will adjust but it has been 8 wks since the first surgery.

[dan58]

Glenn, thank you for your comments. I am happy to hear that.

[dan58]

Sharman, what is doctor saying about all of this? Can he help in any way?

[cheenie]

I have had the same results you have had. I too had both my eyes done in July 08. I have the halos and glare & the gray shaddow around letters when reading. NOT what it was cracked up to be. I am not a happy camper. It is like I was always told "If it sounds too good to be true it IS too good to be true." I spent a LOT of out of pocket money for what? I do not see as well as I did when I wore glasses. They say my vision is 20-25 which isn't bad but it is not 20-20 like I had with my glasses. It is enough to frustrate me when I want to read & see prices in the grocery store. My night driving is so frustrating I could scream when I am in a lot of traffic. I don't drive at night on less I absolutely have too. Just being a passenger is frustrating enough.I never had all these halos before. My Dr keeps saying it will get better  in time & acts like I am making my problems up. I don't wish it on anyone but I wish my Dr could see things thru my eyes just for one  day and night  & see how frustrated he feels. Why would I say I don't see as well as I did and it not be true ? What would be the point? He has suggested possiably  reversing  the multi focal lenses but I am not sure I want him to do it. I may go for a second oppinion before that happens. I am so glad I got to read your results. Keep me posted on any changes & I will do the same.

[cdn_glenn]

I'm not a doctor, just a patient like you.  But from reading MedHelp I don't think you'll do any harm starting with readers now.  I was told by my surgeon that I might need the +1.00 readers for mid-vision and he expected me to use them straight away after surgery.  Otherwise after surgery distant vision was good and near vision was adequate.

It was curious that I discovered it helped seeing near.  A month after surgery my near vision had improved, but I still used the readers for very fine tasks.  After several additional months the readers were in the way for fine tasks.  I could see just fine.

Though my mid-vision has improved and I'm often too lazy to put the readers on, it is much better with the readers on for "surfing the web" on the computer.  Tucked-up to the screen like I am now for typing I don't need them.

I expect some of your ghosting issues will go away with time.  But I also think some of it will be there to stay.  I've noticed that even if these ghosts are in my field of view I'm not noticing them anymore, unless I think about it.  I know which ones are the ghosts and ignore them.  That's only for mid-vision without the readers.  It's been a couple of years since surgery and my mid-vision is now pretty good in bright light such as in a department or grocery store.  I can read the shelf labels without leaning in or stepping back.  That was well after a year I noticed this.

Anyway, to summarize: you should use the readers as you need them now and hopefully you will be less dependent on them over time.

[Lerbea]

I'm with you Sharman on your comments.

[Sharman]

I had Restor in both eyes in July 2008. Still have so many problems, wish I hadn't done it. I would rather have lived with the cataracts! Impossible to drive due to halos and glare; lost nearsighted vision in dim light; letters in books, newspapers, etc., appear gray and with shadow, can't use computer without 1.25 glasses; can't see intermediate distance. In short, I know I had "realistic" hopes of being glasses-free (I only used them for distance. Now, I have glasses in every strength situated throughout the house. Notice the "fine print" in the Restor literature - "Visual Disturbances"... HAH! These lenses have basically robbed me of my quality of life, and I am angry!

[dan58]

Thank you Glenn.

Glenn, you were right. I borrowed a reader from a friend just to try, and when I put them on the ghosting went away and the letters looked crisp. I took them off because I don't want to cause any harm my eyes are still healing from the surgery.

What does this mean? Will I have to wear glasses again?

.

[dan58]

Ms_MJ, thank you for your comments. I can relate to you a lot. My cataract surgery was on the same day as yours (10/16/08). And I also got ReStor on my left eye.  My problem is mainly reading with the ghosting and letters fading at times. I am hoping that it will get better. So far, I have been able to drive and see the street sign waring only the sun  glasses that the doctor gave me after the surgery. I can watch tv fine, but I have to put on the sun glasses because it looks too bright. I am scheduled to see my surgeon next week. Let's see what he has to say. As you, I don't like my computer vision at all. And it is the most important to me because I work with computer the whole day. I am nervous to go back to work tomorrow and not be able to do my job.

The doctor wants to schedule me for the right eye also. He said that the ReStor work better when done in both eyes.

MJ, to answer your question, Do you wish you had not gone with the ReStor lens?

It is hard. Because I could always ask that question with any lens. If I had gone with another lens, and I had problems then I can always say I wish I had not gone with this lens. As I read in this site, all multifocal lens have some sort of problems. I thought for a while before going for the ReStor. But what is the best out there for being glasses free? I have not use glasses since the surgery though. So, I was left with two multifocal lenses the ReStor and the Crystalens. Then, would my cilliary muscles keep working as they should, or would they get stuck in one vision field? Would they keep working as I get older? You see! There was the this or that.

All the best to you.

dan58

[cdn_glenn]

I've had multifocals for almost two years (Tecnis not ReSTOR).  I get some ghosting in my mid-vision.  +1.00 reading glasses took care of that.  For the first six months I needed to supplement my (very) near vision (under 8") with the same +1.00 readers.  Give that a try to see if that reduces ghosting.

Your eyes are still healing from surgery.  Hopefully you'll have improved vision in a month.

[Ms_MJ]

I had cataract surgery on 10/16 - also got ReStor in my left eye.  I noticed a LOT of ghosting the first few days, but it seems to be getting better.  My surgeon at follow up told me this problem will continue to improve.  
I don't like my "computer vision".  I will probably get glasses for working at the computer but will also get the Dr to recommend to my company that I get a large monitor.

I have the surgery for my right eye scheduled on 11/6 and need to decide whether or not I want to do ReStor again.  Am leaning toward it.

Do you wish you had not gone with the ReStor lens?