ReStor versus Crystalens

[Brajesh]

I need cataract surgery for both eyes.  Both ReStor and Crystalens have been recommended (by different providers.  What are the pros and cons of each?  I can get ReStor for a good bit less money.  Is one clearly better than the other?

[Pat606]

Can you have one restor lens and later get a clear lens?  I am being advised that I have to get the restor since I have a restor lens.

[OldNavy966]

Please see Dr. Hagan's advise above.  It seems Dr. Hagan is one of the few real Opthamologists around.  The VAST majority of refractive surgeons are nothing more then IOL salesmen when it comes to IOL selection.  Do your own research and weigh heavily what you find when making your decision.  We already know which IOL's your Opthamologist would be sugesting.  It comes as no surprise to any of us who have been on this board for a while or who have been to more than one Opthamologist.
  
To all who would consider cost:
We are talking about your eyes here, so cost should be the very last consideration if it has to be a consideration at all.  Only think of cost in contemplating your surgeon's motive for sugesting a "premium lens".  99 out of 100 times your surgeon would have contemplated cost long before it has entered your mind.

[bkdraft]

My wife was diagnosed yesterday with Cataracts and was told to research Crystalens and Restor. She had lasic surgery several years ago and currently only wears glasses to read. She is 54. Can you give us more info on the difference between the two and what would work better for her age. She is also a breast cancer survivor for 4 yrs. if that would make any difference.

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

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[ace399]

I had a Crystalens HD in my right eye and since it did not accommodate, I took my Dr's advice and implanted the latest Restor lens in my left eye.  After a YAG in my left eye (due to clouding of the capsule), the Restor is working out very well.  In the mean time, my CL HD shifted myopic.  Eventually my Dr. replaced the CL HD with a Restor.  I am happy with the two Restor IOL's.

Depending on your age, degree of myopia, tolerance to multifocal eye glasses, etc., there is a best solution for you that may be different for someone else.  In my case, I am a 62 year old male with -6.25D myopia in both eyes and I could not tolerate tri-focal glasses.  With the Restor IOL's, I can drive with no problems, even at night.  I do not see halos around lights, except pin point bright light at a far distance.  I can read the computer screen and in bright light I can read small print (8 pt. type).  All of this with no glasses.

The Restor IOL's have an extra benefit of having a UV block built in.  Since I already have some age spots on my retina, this is a nice feature to have.

I have the most difficulty reading in very dim light, like a menu in a dimly lit restaurant.  I need reading glasses then.

I had hopes for the Crystalens HD, but it may be best for someone who is younger, less myopic and has the ability to accommodate.

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

Your first issue is do you realy want to spend the extra money and take the extra risks of these multifocal IOLs and still need glasses for about 20% of what you do plus have inferior night vision and dysphotopsia.

If the answer is yes the Crystalens HD in my opinion is the best available today. If you go with the ReStor do not get the old model insist on the new ReStor aspheric +3.00

Use the search forum and read the many informative discusions from peiople that are either very happy or very unhappy with so called premium IOLs

JCH MD