Post Surgery Multifocal Restor Lens Vision

[Johnny949]

Before surgery, I needed reading glasses, distance vision near perfect.  After surgery, Nov 12 and 19 for L then R, I don't need reading glasses, however, anything beyond reading distance is blurry.  Now I require glasses to see distance.  Headlights, taillights, streetlights, etc are huge glowing lights, blurry until within 30 ft distance.  I'm a pilot by profession.  I feel devastated by the results.  I want to know can I have these lens removed and replaced with the monofocal lens for distance.  I hate what I've done.  My livelihood is threatened.

[JodieJ]

Elsewhere on this forum, Dr. Hagan has stated that there is at least one surgeon in every medium/large metro area who specializes in explanting IOLs.  Your surgeon should know who that is, and so should the staff at a major medical center.  I believe that it's easier to explant lenses early in the healing process.  (The glare and halos do diminish some over time for most people, but it sounds like your ReStors are the wrong power, making you nearsighted.  I'm not an eye care professional, but I think it's very unlikely that you will ever be happy with them.)  

[FredZq]

Sorry to hear about your problem. I'm a pilot too, and I can understand what your'e going through. I was lucky and found this site before I committed to surgery. As a result, I found a different Doc and he fixed me up with a Tecnis aspheric monofocal in each eye. One's for near and the other's for intermediate.

Both are working good. I have to wear glasses, but I'm 20/20 corrected each eye with the specs on and thats good enough for a first class. No problems whatever with glare, halos, etc

Due to the reports of night vision problems with the multifocals, I never even considered the multifocal option.

I'd try to find a super specialist with an interest in IOL replacement. You might have to search around and even travel, but if it fixes your problem, would be worth it. Good luck

[JodieJ]

If you use the search feature of this site (upper right corner of your monitor), you'll pull up many posts by unhappy ReStor recipients.  This IOL strikes me as being an extremely poor choice for a professional pilot.  At this point, you need to get additional opinions from cataract/refractive surgeons who are experienced with ReStor about what your options are.  (In your place, I'd ask my current surgeon for referrals.  You might also try the ophthalmology department at a major medical center, where you could see a senior staff member who specializes in cataract surgery.  S/he would also be a good source for referrals to surgeons in private practice.)  There are posts in the archives of this site from people who were delighted with their new vision after their ReStors were explanted and replaced with aspheric monofocal IOLs.  I believe that your current vision can be improved one way or another, so don't panic.

[Johnny949]

Two years ago this surgeon removed a pterygium from my eye and said I had cataracts. Noticing a decline in night vision I went back to this surgeon and again was told I had cataracts.  We discussed lens replacement and he felt I would be a good candidate for the Restor lens.  Are you saying in 6 months my vision could be more clear?

[Flavius G Pernoud III, MD]

If your distance vision was perfect, why did you have your natural lens removed in the first place?

Restore is a lens which works by producing 2 separate images inside the eye, one for near vision and one for far. Most people can adapt to this vision which may take 6 mos to a year. Removing these lenses is not easy. Before you consider removal, try some simple things. 1st try some eyedrops that constrict your pupil--bromididine which is weaker or pilocarpine which is stronger--you will need a prescription for these. This helps to minimize the two images. Sometimes you only need these when you are going out at night because the vision tends to be worse in the dark  2nd make sure you have very little astigmatism--0.5 diopters or less. If more than that seek a way to correct it--surgically or with a laser.