Cataract Surgery-ReStor lenses

[Susan12345]

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

[JodieJ]

Please stop blaming yourself for your vision problems.  They are NOT your fault.  I disagree with your statement that your doctor did nothing wrong technically.  I think hud's right--your IOLs are the wrong power, and they may also be improperly implanted.  (It requires greater skill to implant a multifocal than a conventional lens.)  Please go for a second (or third, if necessary) opinion.  I think that a surgeon who is experienced with ReStor would be best for identifying the sources(s) of your difficulties and providing you with treatment options. Maybe hud can recommend a good surgeon if you tell us where you live.

[K-D]

Yes, Jodie J.  I agree.  I read where someone on the board posted that the doctor that does cataract surgery is not important, because it such a routine operation.  I could not disagree with this opinion more.  And I have a hunch that all Opthamologists who do cataract surgery would also disagree.
There is much that goes into the right eye measurements for the patient.  And the skill of the surgeon is of the upmost importance to me.  Yes, I guess cataract surgery is one of the most common surgeries performed in the world. But the outcomes can vary greatly, depending on the surgeon performing the operation.

[JodieJ]

I think that multifocal IOLs are much more demanding in terms of the surgeon's skills.  Measurements have to be exact, and the lens has to be precisely centered in order to get good results.  Some docs are still on the learning curve.

[Susan12345]

I don't know how you ever really know if a doctor is any good.  The one who did my eye surgery was listed in a local magazine as one of the best doctors in his specialty (as selected by the magazine surveying doctors about who they'd send a family member to).  He has both an MD and a Ph.D.  I was told by other doctors how lucky my HMO was to get him. He's the only one at my HMO who does mutifocal surgery, so I'm looking at about $20,000 out of pocket if I were to have the Restor lenses removed.  I don't mind wearing glasses, I chose the ReStor because I was so sick of switching glasses constantly because I could never read with bifocals.  I was fine with glasses until the middle-aged presbyopia set in.  I had a large cataract in my left eye and a small one in the right, if I'd had regular cataract surgery I'd just have had to have my left eye done; the right might not have needed surgery for years.   But because I stupidly chose the ReStor lenses, I had to have them both done, and now my vision is so much worse than before.  I don't understand what people mean when they say the doctor must have installed the wrong size implant.  The Restor people say flat out that 20% will still need glasses, so I accept that.  My main problem is the fluttering focusing problem and that seems to me to be intrinsic to the design of the ReStor.  The web site mentions glare and halos and I guess this is an extreme form of this.  Believe me, if I had had ANY idea it would be like this I would have NEVER have had it done.     Susan12345

[K-D]

Susan,

I would think that any correction that you needed due to your poor outcome would be covered by the surgeon that did your surgery.  What does he say about your poor outcome?  What reason does he give for your poor present vision?  How much did he charge for your surgery?
Was the magazine that you saw his name in, an advertisement paid by him? This is your life. Don't blame yourself for this situation. You are in no way to blame for anything.  Don't let anymore time pass.  Go to the Restor site and put in your city and get other opinions from doctors  that show up on the Resor site that practice in your city, using the Restor lenses.  This does not mean that you want other Resor lenses.  But someone that deals with Restor, will be able to pin point the problem more accurately than someone that does not use them.   Get another opinion from a reputable doctor before anymore time passes.

[JodieJ]

I'm a cataract patient myself, not an eye care professional.    Based on everything I know about ReStor lenses, your outcome suggests that something has gone very, very wrong.  And I don't think that your inability to adjust to your bifocal glasses pre-surgery has anything to do with the problems that you're having now.

If your ReStors were the correct power for your eyes and were properly implanted (not tilted or off-center), you should have good distance and near vision.   You might need glasses for intermediate vision tasks, like using the computer.  You might also experience halos/glare in some lighting situations, which would probably diminish during the months following your surgery.  Take a look at the new post (8/20/06) about ReStor lens problems.  ReStor lenses aren't perfect, and these are the type of complaints that you might have.

Your situation with Restor lenses is very different.  It's as if you're wearing glasses in the wrong prescription, and the frames are battered so the lenses are loose and out of alignment.  Maybe other factors (significant astigmatism?) are contributing to your woes.

I think it's common for people (especially us women) to blame themselves when things go wrong.  But your current vision problems are absolutely not your fault, and that kind of thinking is going to prevent you from getting your HMO to make good on their responsibility to you.  You need an evaluation from a doctor who is experienced with Restor in order to identify exactly what's gone wrong and how it can be fixed.  Keep us posted about your situation.