Why was I not given AcrySof lenses

I have just been reading about a 93 yr. old who had AcrySof lenses used in her cataract operations 20 years ago and claims to still have perfect vision & can even read without glasses. She has not needed any further treatment either. Two years ago, I had 2 cataract operations with a 3 months interval & am now awaiting laser treatment on the first one due to profound blurriness. My Optician says the other eye will also need laser treatment but it's not causing problems at present. I am wondering why I was not given AcrySof lenses. Have they proved to be unsuitable for some people? Immediately after surgery I needed reading glasses but none for distance but gradually I have had to go back to wearing varifocals.

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

Your case shows selection bias. While the AcrySof IOL is a very good IOL there are many people that need yag capsulotomies, or need glasses, or have deterioration as they grow older.

There is no single IOL that has demonstrated itself to be far far superior to the others.

JCH MD

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

Your case shows selection bias. While the AcrySof IOL is a very good IOL there are many people that need yag capsulotomies, or need glasses, or have deterioration as they grow older.

There is no single IOL that has demonstrated itself to be far far superior to the others.

JCH MD

[silverdollar78]

Thank you very much for your prompt reply - much appreciated.  It sounds as if the 93 yr. old lady I read about was incredibly lucky and not your Mrs. Average!!

Kind regards.

Silverdollar78

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

Yes it's like when the reporter's talk to a 100 year old and ask what the secret is and they say something off the wall like "smoke a cigar every day" or "eat lots of beef jerky". Whatever they say will appear "the answer" whereas to really study the issue you need to study a large group say 500 younger people that are say 50 follow them for 50 years and design the study to look at multiple variables like smoking, weight, exercise, alcohol, etc.

If I had to have an IOL put in my eye I would choose a Tecnis.

JCH MD

[JodieJ]

I agree with Dr. Hagen--the Tecnis one-piece monofocal IOL would get my vote as the best.  It reportedly doesn't have the "glistening" effect to onlookers that is obvious in my AcrySof IQs,  Other than that issue, the AcrySof IQ is an excellent lens.

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

Just FYI, I have seen scores of patients with Alcon Acrysof IQ "gliastenings" without one having a single symptoms or reduced vision due to them.

JHC MD

[JodieJ]

Dr. Hagan is correct (as usual).  The glistening has no effect on vision.  My acuity with my AcrySofs is 20/20+, even with a slightly damaged retina.  And I've never had even a minor problem following cataract surgery.

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

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