Replacing only one multifocal lens with monofocal lens

I am a 46 year old white male that has worn glasses since the age of three.  2.5 years ago, after my wife had successful Lasik, I went to a doctor for my own Lasik.  He said that I would still need reading glasses due to my specific situation.  He then said “What if I could do a procedure (i.e. Rezoom multifocal IOL lens replacement) that would give you excellent far and near vision and guarantee that I would never have cataracts?”  

Well, it sounded too good to be true.  And it was.

Foolishly, I did not do my homework.  If so, I would have found out what I know now which is that multifocal lenses have not yet been perfected.  

After the surgery, the “ghosting” and “halo” effects were tremendous.  I also had a constant headache and my eyes always felt tired.  After several (6 to 9) months the ghosting and halos were still there, but I became used to it, however, I still don’t feel comfortable driving at night.  

The claim not to need reading glasses turned out to be totally false.  I need +2.50 powered reading glasses for both print and computer reading.

Eventually, my right eye became almost fully functional.  My left eye is a whole other story.  If I do any reading of books or newspaper, or work on the computer my left eye becomes sore and tired and starts to ache and burn after only a few minutes.  I work in an office and I have to read and work on the computer all day long, so every day I suffer through it with a painful left eye which inevitably leads to a massive headache.  I take so many Advil that I’m worried about the effects it will have on my stomach, etc.

I have gone back to the doctor that performed the surgery, and I have gone to see three other doctors and they all say the same thing.  First, all have said the surgery looks text book and that no physical evidence suggest anything wrong.  Secondly, they test the vision in my left eye and say that it is good and I should be able to read with no problems.  One suggested that it is a neurological problem, but I know it is not because it is so obvious that reading is what causes the pain.  

One of the doctors that I saw told me that the surgery looks correct, however, he said “I would never, ever put these things (multifocal IOL) in one of my patients.”  He indicated that he felt this way for two reasons:  One, doctors and the manufactures are promising way too much when they know that a great deal of patients will still need reading glasses, and two, there are way too many cases like mine where patients develop complications.

I am now at the point where I want the lens in the left eye explanted.  My questions for anyone (medical professional or someone with a similar experience) are:

A. Can I replace the multifocal in my left eye with a monofocal and leave the multifocal in my right eye?

B.  In trying to cure the problem, my original doctor performed YAG on my left eye.  I have read that if you have had YAG, it makes it much more difficult to explant the IOL.  Is this true?

[Ray T Oyakawa, MD]

A). yes

B) Yes.

Dr. O.