Restor in one eye, ,trying to figure out what to do???

[confusedbob11]

I just had the Restor put in my right eye this past Monday. I am 39 and never had issues with my eyes before cataracts. Not sure if I made the right choice???

When shutting the other eye and looking out of the Restor lens I can see fairly well with short distance (one foot or so) my intermeiate is good but my distance from 15 to 25 yards is not very good at all. I can not focus in on peoples faces from this far and things seem a little blurry, escpecially in warehouse or gym lighting? is this typical? I have to get the other eye done in two weeks and I am scared I am making the wrong decision. Should I have the Restor replaced with a standard and learn to use contacts or glasses for reading?

I want the best overall sight I can get when playing softball, volleyball, watching my kids place sports ect...

Please someone tell me what standard monofocus lens look like? This is a very critical decision and I don't seem to be getting the answers I want from my Dr. If I had perfect site before the cataract will I have perfect site with standard lens from arms length and further??? This is what I really think I want now after seeing the vision through the one Restor lens.

Please help...

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

This problem has been discussed at length and in depth many times here. Access those postings using the search feature and archves.

Best advice. If you're so unsure that you are thinking about having the ReSTor taken out of your first eye you might want to rethink having a second Restor put in the other eye.

Our group does not "rush" people into surgery on the second eye. We like them happy and pleased with the first eye surgery before moving on.

Consider post poning the second eye surgery until you are happy with the first eye.  If you don't feel you are getting straight answers don't fret about getting a second opinion.

JCH MD

[confusedbob11]

I have read hundreds of post here and have not heard anyone talk about the issues of looking out of one eye to test? or Having issues with seeing from 15 to 25 yards out? Just wanted these exact questions answered. When poeple talk about long distance what should I expect to be able to see with Monofocus???

If one eye is set for long distance and one for intermediate I know I will need assistance to see up close to read. But how far and at what clarity will I be able to see far away.

Will I be able to see a golf ball land and hit the ground from 200 yards out?

When I am coaching in a gym setting will I be able to make out the players faces from 20 yards away? I can not do that now with Restor looking out the one eye???

When I am coaching baseball in the evening will I be able to see the baseball coming at me???

All the post I read talk about up close, intermediate and distance but nobody talks specific distances. I want specifics and not sure if I am going to get the right answers.

[Fleetfoot197]

Bob, Dr Hagan offers good advice.  Wait until you know for sure what you are doing with the first eye before you proceed with the second.  

Experiences are bound to vary from person to person.  My experience with monofocal lenses is generally positive.  I see well at distances from 6 feet to 200 feet.  Within 20 " of my face, I need reading glasses unless I strain my eyes.  I was a high myope so this is a good result. As for function, I still coach and that is not affected.  What is affected is catching a ball.  You some how have to either retrain your eye or wear some type of progressive lenses.  For example, when a football is thrown to me.  I see it leave the quarterbacks hand.  It then is a blurr in the intermediate distance then it appears real sharp and clear about 10 feet away (which causes an oh how nice feeling for a second)) and then it whizzes past my ear.  I can still hit slow pitch softball, but fielding hard throws or hits is a challege.

I encourage you to get a lot of opinions from folks who perform activites that you hope to do post surgery. But most of all, make an informed decision.

[confusedbob11]

Thanks Fleetfoot,
It's great to hear actual true stories from patients. Did you have one eye set at intermediate and one eye set at distance? Or did you have one at near and one at distance. I am very scared that you can't see the football all the way to you? I was not told this by my Doctor and told him specifically that I play a lot of sports. He acted like it wouldn't be a big deal. I had perfect vision before the cataracts and want to do the best lens that will keep me active.

If anyone else has any stories this would be greatly appreciated.

[Judy7469]

I had both eyes implanted with ReStor lenses last January.
  It is a decision I deeply regret.
I am now in the process of having them removed.  This past year has been a nightmare of vision problems from the ReStor lenses, can't drive at night because of extreme halos around lights, cannot read in dim light, struggle to see anything on cloudy days.
This experience has been maddening to say the least.
Eye Doctors do not tell you prior to surgery, about the major problems you will encounter after surgery. It is a very lucrative businessfor them.
I am back to wearing progressive lenses just like I did before ReStor, only this time I still can't see well.