ReStor lens situation

[number1corky]

Can anyone advise me on what to do about my ReStor lens implant?  HISTORY: I had cataract surgery eleven months ago in my left eye.  The lens regressed in the capsule, so a second "regular" lens with a prescription was "piggybacked" on top of the capsule five months later to correct my eye's focal point.  I had YAG a few months after that to correct for a secondary cataract that formed.   PROBLEM: My vision is very disappointing in that eye.  Long distance is about 20/40 and cannot be corrected with glasses.  Middle distance is a bit blurry.  Near vision is IMPOSSIBLE -- print is so blurry that I cannot read out of that eye.  This cannot be corrected with glasses either.  The two opthamologists that I have seen say that "it takes time"  and that my vision will improve after I have the second, right eye, cataract removed an another Restor lens implanted -- that it will stop being so confusing for my brain to figure out how to see.  But I am afraid to take that chance; if the right eye has the same problem as the left, I will be totally unable to read, work at the computer etc.  What should i do?

[eyebad]

I have a situation similar to yours. I had a Restor implanted in my right eye 5 monthes ago. 2 months later had YAG. Now far vision is about 20/40.  Intermediate vision blurry.  Can't read with this eye.  Did you have an IOL exchange?  If so, what lens did you use? What are the results?

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

Dr. Kutryb of this forum and I have published 3 research papers on dysphotopsia seconday to IOLs especially multifocal.

We found that multifocal IOLs are 23 times more likely to generate a complaint or problem in these eye forums than monofocal IOLs

JCH MD

[number1corky]

     Again, I thank you for your speedy response.  I will bring your comments to my doctor, with whom I have an appointment in a few weeks.  Also, this gives me something additional to discuss with Dr. Alan Sugar, at U of Mich. hospital, who I am seeing for a second (or third ) opinion early in October.
     Now I have to look up "dysphotopsia"!  Here I am, a college-educated and professional person from a medical family, and yet it appears that I know -- or understand -- far less than I should!  

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

Yes, I think you may have "wax paper visision" associated with ReStor IOLs. Yes exchange means take old IOL out and put new one in. Aspheric is a new type of optic that reduces things like glare and dysphotopsia. The one we use is made by Tecnis.

JCH MD

[number1corky]

     Thank you for your response.  I have seen a retina MD, who says the back of my eye looks fine. I have also been told that the capsule is not cloudy and I have no eye pathology.  
     By an "IOL exchange", do you mean explanting the lenses?  I do not know what the term "aspheric" means either.

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

If your vision cannot be corrected to better than 20/40 with glasses, and the capsule is not cloudy and you have no other eye pathology its unlikely that your vision will clear with time.

Use the search feature and archives to read about people that have had problem with ReSTOR IOLs.  In a situation like this most people I have treated choose not to have the second IOL inserted if it is another ReSTOR. By 11 months you should adjust if you are going to.

I would get a third opinion, perhaps from a retina MD. If the IOL is identified as the cause of 20/40 vision then you may need to consider and IOL exchange for a high quality monofocal aspheric IOL.

JCH MD