Cataract IOL Recommendation

[EyeWannaKnow]

My mother has to have cataract surgery and is unsure of whether to go with a monofocal or multifocal IOL. She doesn't care for the fact that with the monofocal she would still have to wear glasses for near vision but she's not totally comfortable going with the multifocal since they are fairly new and there is a greater chance of halos. After doing some research it seems most people are happy with the ReZoom multifocal and that the risk of halos is very small. The monofocal lenses that a few local surgeons go with are the Clariflex, the Bausch & Lomb, or the Alcon AcrySof. I've also read that some surgeons recommend going with one type of lens in one eye and a different type in the other eye such as ReZoom & ReStor. I've read a lot of negative side effects of the Crytalens.

My questions are:
Can anyone recommend which IOL my mom should go with?
Has anyone had experience with using 2 different types of IOL's?
Is it better to go with a multifocal in one eye and the Crytalens in the other - or a multifocal in one eye and a multifocal in the other  - or a multifocal in one eye and a monofocal in the other?
If my mom decides to go with a monofocal, can anyone recommend which one to go with as I haven't found much information comparing the different brands.
My mom lives in Kansas City, MO. Can anyone recommend a surgeon either in the Kansas City area or Overland Park, KS area?

I really appreciate any & all advice from anyone. Eagle Eyes - I would love to hear from you. Thanks everyone.

[Eagle eyes]

Yes, in general I would agree. Let's see what HUD has to offer. He seems very knowledgable about Alcon products. Again, we have no experience with the Acrysof toric, so I won't comment. Perhaps you could go back to hard lenses after your IOL surgery and healing to correct just the astigmatism if you need it. That is unless there is some reason why you could not do so later. Just having cataract surgery itself, should not be a contradindication once the eye is completely healed.

Keep us posted!

[tslight]

Thanks for your comments.  I'm 56 and the right eye with the cataract has 8.75D (not sure what the tech term for nearsightedness) and my left eye is 9.0D (don't know the astigmatism of this eye.) I don't plan to do both eyes  by Sept.

I have talked with my surgeon since posting question.  He is not a fan of the Staar Toric due to the problem of "slippage" in the older version.  I have been reading that the newer Staar Toric doesn't seem to have that problem, but my doc doesn't want to use Staar.  

Yes my doc does do LASIK, but didn't want to subject me to possible multiple procedures.  I'm in excellent health generally, but I don't know how that might affect my eye recovery.

Bottom line, my doc's view is to take the conservative approach.  He feels that whether I have the standard IOL or the Toric, I will still have to wear glasses or contacts...so why not do the standard procedure. He says that the Acrysof IOL will only correct 2.0D of my 4.25D of astigmatism.  Do you have any different knowledge concerning the Acrysof Toric's performance?

I didn't mention that before the cataract, I have been a hard contact wearer for 44 years.  Boy do I miss them.  I've been in glasses for the last 6 months to allow my eyes to "unmold".

Thanks again for your perspective Eagle Eyes.

Hud - are you out there?

[tslight]

Well this certainly seems like a lively forum.

I need to make a decision in just 2 days about an IOL choice!  I have 4.25 astigmatism in the eye that needs surgery.
First my doc suggested just a "regular" lens as I was probably not a candidate for the Restore or Rezoom due to the astigmatism.

Research on the internet for the last 4 days has both answered a lot of questions and raised even more.  

My doc had mentioned the newest IOLs call toric for astigmatism correction  As far as I can tell there are two primary manufacturers.  The Staar Toric and the Alcon Acrysof Toric.  My doc nor any of the other 8 docs in the practice has implanted a toric IOL.  
Here are some of the parameters that I'm working with.  First I NEED to get the procedure done and back in the working world by the last week in August.   The doc said that it might be another month before he can order the IOL and get certified in the implantation.  That puts me back to the end of my recovery time.  I have confidence in the doc, but of course don't want to his "first".  

However, IF I go ahead with just a regular IOL in two days, I will be ready to go my my cutoff time, but may have lost out on a chance for better vision without supplemental correction.  Any thoughts?

[LLGirl]

Thanks for the input... have an appt today to get my eye measured, and i have to give them my decision on what lens i have chosen.  Still wondering if multifocals are worth it, since we hear/read about so many problems, and do not hear much from the people that are happy with them!  Maybe it is easier to get monofocals and just wear contacts!  
HOwever, since i am 37, my doctor thinks i should take advantage of the newest technology available. She says i will no longer be able to see at all in 2 years or less, so i shouldn't bother waiting for the next available technology.  And she says that monofocals will give me the eyes of a 70 year old, and i probably would not be happy.

I usually hold items that i am reading from about 1 - 1 1/2 feet (at most) from my face.   i think i am already used to getting fairly close to things to see better.  I am just worried about not adjusting to seeing through multifocals, or seeing two images... or things like that.  I think that a lot of the problems that people have might come from lack of surgeon skill in placing, or putting in the correct power?  My doctor is considered one of the top 3 in the nation, and usually takes patients that other doctors have not had luck with or made mistakes on, so she oviosuly has the skill.  i am sure that any multifocal i choose, i will be able to see fine, just do not want to be disapointed after spending $4000.00 for the lenses out of pocket!

thanks for all the help!

[Eagle eyes]

I apologized for the metal hinges in a previous thread.

The improved night time vision is based upon 2 FDA claims. I thought the Tecnis was made by Pharmacia, prior to AMO acquiring the company, and the FDA claims were then made?

I am aware of NTIOL status for Tecnis in February and Alcon IQ in May of this year. I think that is great for all. If there are FDA claims on SN60WF ,other than the NTIOL status I am not aware of it, but would welcome the information.

[hud]

Dear Mister Metal Hinges:
Do more research, rather than having beers with your AMO buds. Alcon's SN series is the most popular implant platform in the world. Its use outnumbers all your AMO designs COMBINED, across the world. If the retina protection of the UV and blue filter was a detriment, it would not be so popular.
As you are consistent in promoting one company's products over another, I must offer fair balance.
The Tecnis apheric lens established the New Technology IOL category with Medicare for improved contrast and night vision for the additional reimbursement. Bravo, great for patients and the industry. Alcon applied the SN60WF for inclusion in the same class, where the criteria was to MATCH OR EXCEED the performance of the Tecnis data. Bingo. SN60WF is now a NTIOL. You were caught again with a falsehood when you stated that Tecnis gives better nighttime vision. Not according to the Medicare wonks who are not in the financial position to grant frivilous inclusion that is going to cost them millions.
Oh yeah, you are the expert who knows IOLs, and stated that crystalens was made with metal.