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Cataract Surgery-ReStor lenses
I had cataract surgery with astigmatism repair and ReStor multifocal lenses on my left eye 5 months ago and on my right eye 4 months ago. The ReStor lenses were a complete failure, did not help my near vision at all and I still must wear reading glasses and bifocals. I was very nearsighted before surgery and while my distance vision without glasses is of course much better than it was without glasses before surgery, it is worse than it was with glasses, even with cataracts before. I HATE the loss of near vision, being nearsighted, before surgery I could always take my glasses off to see something up close and now of course can no longer do this, basically I wear my reading glasses all the time inside, and try to function with bifocals outside, I have gone to 3 different optometrists trying to get glasses that will help. The worst part by far however, is that my eyes do not seem to focus as well together, there is an unpleasant, headache inducing "fluttering" sensation when reading (with my reading glasses, I cannnot read without them). My eyes are also very dry and tire easily when reading. Is there anything that can be done for these problems? I have actually started thinking about having the horrible ReStor lenses removed and replaced by regular IOL's, though I am terrified of more surgey. How dangerous is this? I have read that once too much scar tissue forms it can no longer be done. I am furious that these ReStor lenses were ever approved and VERY frustrated. Susan12345
I don't think your vision problems have anything to do with possible defects in your ReStor lenses. From what I've read, most people are pleased with their ReStors. The center portion of the lens is for near vision, with distance vision in the outer ring. It seems like you're only able to access the distance portion of the lens, and even then your vision is variable and has problems. I believe that an optometrist could tell if your lenses were properly centered.
A list of Castle Connolly "best doctors" appears in a local magazine here in Chicago. I've actually had two eye surgeries (eye muscle and retinal) done by docs on that list, both with excellent results. However, one of the previous "best docs" (not an ophthalmologist) was a joke in my office. (I work in a health-related field.) A few years ago this doctor lost his medical license as a result of his unorthodox practices. He was also sued successfully for very large amounts. Last I heard, he was arrested in another state for practicing medicine without a license. So it's hard for medical outsiders to know who is really good.
A list of Castle Connolly "best doctors" appears in a local magazine here in Chicago. I've actually had two eye surgeries (eye muscle and retinal) done by docs on that list, both with excellent results. However, one of the previous "best docs" (not an ophthalmologist) was a joke in my office. (I work in a health-related field.) A few years ago this doctor lost his medical license as a result of his unorthodox practices. He was also sued successfully for very large amounts. Last I heard, he was arrested in another state for practicing medicine without a license. So it's hard for medical outsiders to know who is really good.
Sorry, I don't have any idea who Castle Connolly is.
I talked to my surgeon's office today and begged them to have him give me a call as soon as he gets back, apparently he will be back Aug. 23, not Aug. 28. He's the only one at my HMO who knows anything about the multifocal lenses, the other cataract surgeons, wisely, just do the regular ones. I called the eye clinic at my local medical school, but they can't get me an appointment any sooner. I told them who my surgeon was and they said he was wonderful, used to work for them. Like I said, I just attract bad luck like a magnet.....I had knee surgery from another "best doctor", which made my knee a lot worse. Or maybe the "best" doctors get careless after a while because they think they're so good. I don't know. If my eye surgeon weren't a 2 hour bus ride away I'd go camp out in his office until I got him to see me. Though actually I think he has 3 different offices. Anyway, anybody who's thinking of having a multifocal IOL, think again. They definitely haven't been perfected yet, in my opinion, and I E-mailed both the FDA and the Alcon company to give them my opinion. Susan12345
I talked to my surgeon's office today and begged them to have him give me a call as soon as he gets back, apparently he will be back Aug. 23, not Aug. 28. He's the only one at my HMO who knows anything about the multifocal lenses, the other cataract surgeons, wisely, just do the regular ones. I called the eye clinic at my local medical school, but they can't get me an appointment any sooner. I told them who my surgeon was and they said he was wonderful, used to work for them. Like I said, I just attract bad luck like a magnet.....I had knee surgery from another "best doctor", which made my knee a lot worse. Or maybe the "best" doctors get careless after a while because they think they're so good. I don't know. If my eye surgeon weren't a 2 hour bus ride away I'd go camp out in his office until I got him to see me. Though actually I think he has 3 different offices. Anyway, anybody who's thinking of having a multifocal IOL, think again. They definitely haven't been perfected yet, in my opinion, and I E-mailed both the FDA and the Alcon company to give them my opinion. Susan12345
I looked up Castle Connolly and it looks like my local magazine's list of "best" doctors may have some association with them. Is that good or bad? Well, obviously it was bad in my case, but how ARE you supposed to find a good doctor??
When I had my stitches out my doctor said my IOL's were in the right position. My near vision wasn't any better then, but I wasn't having this fluttering sensation. If the IOL's have moved out of position since is there any way to fix it without removing them? And WHY would they move out of position? A lot of cataract surgeons boast about "no stitch" surgery, but mine said he did use them just to prevent that kind of problem. They tell you not to bend over for 2 weeks after surgery, and I was so worried I accidently would, but my doctor said, that was exactly why he used stitches, to prevent any problem if someone accidently bent over. Susan12345
When I had my stitches out my doctor said my IOL's were in the right position. My near vision wasn't any better then, but I wasn't having this fluttering sensation. If the IOL's have moved out of position since is there any way to fix it without removing them? And WHY would they move out of position? A lot of cataract surgeons boast about "no stitch" surgery, but mine said he did use them just to prevent that kind of problem. They tell you not to bend over for 2 weeks after surgery, and I was so worried I accidently would, but my doctor said, that was exactly why he used stitches, to prevent any problem if someone accidently bent over. Susan12345
Susan, it really is summed up by the Forum O.D. However, myself, I would most certainly get a second opinion from another Restor doctor, no matter if my HMO paid for it or not. And I would do it before it became too late for correction, should that be the route you decide to take. Good luck to you, no matter what you decide to do.
Well, it really doesn't matter whose fault it is, I'm the one who will go blind if further surgery makes it worse. Regular cataract surgery would have been covered in full by my HMO, I paid $2301 extra for the ReStor lenses and the astigmatism repair which was necessary for the ReStor to work. My astigmatism wasn't corrected 100%, but supposedly enough that the ReStor should have worked. But I know my HMO wouldn't cover anything if I used a doctor outside , and I doubt they even would if the doctor who did the 1st surgery did a repair, since I don't have cataracts anymore. My surgeon gets back from vacation Aug. 28, I wasn't able to get an appointment til Sep. 21, but I plan to be on the phone Aug. 28, begging to be seen to see if there is anything that can be done. No, the doctor review article wasn't an advertisement.
My prescriptions before surgery:
OD: -400 -275*032
OS: -525 -200*159
Add: +2.50
Latest (after several prescription changes)
OD; +1.00 -1.75x047
OS: +0.50DS
Add: +2.50
So the reading vision is on paper exactly the same before and after, in reality it's MUCH worse, since I can no longer bring things up to my nose to read without glasses the way nearsighted people do. No longer nearsighted, but still some astigmatism. But it's whatever's causing this fluttering sensation that drives me nuts! When I try to describe it to the optometrists they have no clue. The last one talked to me about needing to move through the stages of grief. He was the one who ordered the last prescription, with the anti reflection coating, so when those glasses get here I'll see if they help at all. I suppose I could experiment too by covering the right eye, the one with the worst astigmatism, and see if that's causing the fluttering. Though it feels like it's coming from both eyes. I hate it! I'm definitely still in the anger stage! Susan12345
My prescriptions before surgery:
OD: -400 -275*032
OS: -525 -200*159
Add: +2.50
Latest (after several prescription changes)
OD; +1.00 -1.75x047
OS: +0.50DS
Add: +2.50
So the reading vision is on paper exactly the same before and after, in reality it's MUCH worse, since I can no longer bring things up to my nose to read without glasses the way nearsighted people do. No longer nearsighted, but still some astigmatism. But it's whatever's causing this fluttering sensation that drives me nuts! When I try to describe it to the optometrists they have no clue. The last one talked to me about needing to move through the stages of grief. He was the one who ordered the last prescription, with the anti reflection coating, so when those glasses get here I'll see if they help at all. I suppose I could experiment too by covering the right eye, the one with the worst astigmatism, and see if that's causing the fluttering. Though it feels like it's coming from both eyes. I hate it! I'm definitely still in the anger stage! Susan12345
Based on your latest script, you're a little farsighted with significant astigmatism in your right eye. This could be corrected by Lasik/PRK enhancement (usually included in the multifocal surcharge), but I don't think that it would even come close to resolving your current vision problems.
I suspect that most of your ReStor problems (including the fluttering) are happening because your surgeon didn't implant the lenses correctly. (Eyecare professionals, please speak up if I'm mistaken here.) The center portion of the ReStor lens is for near vision. Because your near vision is poor even with a 2.50 add, I don't think that you're able to access the center of the lens with either eye. I'm also guessing that both lenses are tilted (probably at different angles), which is why it's more difficult for you to focus both eyes together than it once was. It's astounding that your surgeon would leave you in this awful state!
In your place, I'd get an appointment with a different ophthalmologist at your HMO, preferrably a doctor who also does cataract surgery. I'd claim that my headaches had become too severe for me to wait until the September appointment with the original surgeon--I needed to be seen this week! I'd bring a written list of all the problems and issues mentioned in your posts to the appointment, so that everything would get documented in my medical record. I'd certainly ask for the doctor's opinion about what needed to be done (at the HMO's expense, of course) to correct my vision problems.
ReStor lenses are made by Alcon. Their website has an 800 number. Perhaps an Alcon consumer rep could refer you to another surgeon in your area for an additional opinion. It would be probably be worth the money.
BTW, was it Castle Connolly who named your surgeon a "best doctor?"
I suspect that most of your ReStor problems (including the fluttering) are happening because your surgeon didn't implant the lenses correctly. (Eyecare professionals, please speak up if I'm mistaken here.) The center portion of the ReStor lens is for near vision. Because your near vision is poor even with a 2.50 add, I don't think that you're able to access the center of the lens with either eye. I'm also guessing that both lenses are tilted (probably at different angles), which is why it's more difficult for you to focus both eyes together than it once was. It's astounding that your surgeon would leave you in this awful state!
In your place, I'd get an appointment with a different ophthalmologist at your HMO, preferrably a doctor who also does cataract surgery. I'd claim that my headaches had become too severe for me to wait until the September appointment with the original surgeon--I needed to be seen this week! I'd bring a written list of all the problems and issues mentioned in your posts to the appointment, so that everything would get documented in my medical record. I'd certainly ask for the doctor's opinion about what needed to be done (at the HMO's expense, of course) to correct my vision problems.
ReStor lenses are made by Alcon. Their website has an 800 number. Perhaps an Alcon consumer rep could refer you to another surgeon in your area for an additional opinion. It would be probably be worth the money.
BTW, was it Castle Connolly who named your surgeon a "best doctor?"
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