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Explanting ReStor IOL
After going through three months of blurry vision at all distances with my left eye ReStor IOL., I took the advice listed on this forum and submitted an Adverse Medical Report to the FDA. Imagine my surprise to find 50 pages of reports, over 500 of them associated with this lens. Most of them were for my model lens as well. All had similar problems to mine and none were resolved by Yag laser capsulotomy or PRK lasix to fix the power. I understand once they do the Yag it is much more dangerous to explant. Three doctors have confirmed that my capsule does not look blurry and contrary to the typical events, my vision after surgery hasn't changed, verses becomming blury later like most capsule problems. My current doctor recommended a piggy back lens for the power, which he claims is off due to measurement error. This type of procedure is not recommended by the manufacturer of the lens. I sought the opinion of MASS Eye and Ear, a world renowned facility and they said that there were risks in explanting my lens.
So now I am faced with a life of blurry vision that can't be corrected with contacts or glasses. I currently wear a contact in my "good eye", which is -7.5 with a small cataract, a +2.5 in my operated eye to even out my vision so my mid distance isn't half in and half out of focus and reading glasses! My visual handicap was better before the surgery when the only thing I couldn't do was drive at night, which I did any way.
The other alternative appears to be an explant of the left eye, continuing with the right eye wearing a contact. What are the risks of an explant? Would you replace the Restor with a monofocal for far distance and get a far-intermediate contact lens for the right? Acylic verses silicone, which is better?
So now I am faced with a life of blurry vision that can't be corrected with contacts or glasses. I currently wear a contact in my "good eye", which is -7.5 with a small cataract, a +2.5 in my operated eye to even out my vision so my mid distance isn't half in and half out of focus and reading glasses! My visual handicap was better before the surgery when the only thing I couldn't do was drive at night, which I did any way.
The other alternative appears to be an explant of the left eye, continuing with the right eye wearing a contact. What are the risks of an explant? Would you replace the Restor with a monofocal for far distance and get a far-intermediate contact lens for the right? Acylic verses silicone, which is better?
Hey londonbridge – I thought you’d get a kick out of this. I was at MEEI yesterday for pre-op stuff and they were telling me that they do not do exchanges much but had a woman last week that they did and it went so well and she is really satisfied. I wanted to say “yea, I know all about that” but didn’t. Dr. Melki said my ReZoom piece of garbage (my words, not his) is situated in such a way that the removal would be tricky. He laid out the risks and I almost spilled my cookies but when I asked him if he thought it being more than 50/50 chance of it being successful he quickly said “oh yea”. I guess they have to lay out the risks so if it does go bad, they can’t say I wasn’t told and come after them. I understand that but I have to sweat this out until February 2.
Anyway, I thought you’d get a kick to know they were talking about your case (it had to have been you) so positively.
Anyway, I thought you’d get a kick to know they were talking about your case (it had to have been you) so positively.
Glad you are able to go back to MEEI and Dr. Melki. Having the Rezoom in such a short time should be a definate advantage. My surgery took a little longer but fortunately my Restor was not as stuck in the capsule as we thought and the capsule was not stuck to itself. Dr. M is only there a few days per month for surgery I believe because he has a busy private practice in Brookline plus teaches at Harvard Medical School. He is a wonderful, skilled and caring surgeon in my opinion. Very lucky to have found him.
I agree with you regarding only needing glasses to read. With my unoperated eye having a distance contact and my new toric four days out I can already see the computer, though readers help sharpen and I could actually wash dishes without needing the readers. So sad that so many people including me are so wowed by the claims of these lenses. After 40 years of glasses it all seems so tempting, but soo not worth it for me.
Live and learn I guess.
Take heart that your ordeal will soon be over. I wish I had not waited a full six months before making the final decision to explant, but I am so happy that I took the risk and did it.
londonbridge
I agree with you regarding only needing glasses to read. With my unoperated eye having a distance contact and my new toric four days out I can already see the computer, though readers help sharpen and I could actually wash dishes without needing the readers. So sad that so many people including me are so wowed by the claims of these lenses. After 40 years of glasses it all seems so tempting, but soo not worth it for me.
Live and learn I guess.
Take heart that your ordeal will soon be over. I wish I had not waited a full six months before making the final decision to explant, but I am so happy that I took the risk and did it.
londonbridge
londonbridge – Thank you so much for sharing your experience. It sounds almost exactly like mine in October when Dr. Melki put in the Toric in my right eye. I stupidly went elsewhere (Scooby Doo Eye Care) for the left eye and had ReZoom with the promise of no glasses anymore. They put the wrong strength in besides ReZoom being a poor choice to begin with and now I am left with hideous blurriness and night misery. So now I have gone back to MEEI kind of hat in hand asking them to take this piece of garbage lens out and put in another Toric. I’ll have to wear glasses to read, but so what? The things I like most in life – running, golf, hiking, concerts – won’t need glasses. I am really beating myself up for not going to MEEI but there’s no looking back, as they say…….
In October, I was scheduled for 7:30 surgery and didn’t get on the table until noon. That was a little unsettling being left to sit all that time with no explanation but the medical side was awesome and the time on the table was about what you explained. I have only had this beastly implant in my eye since December 30, so I am reading that being such a short time should be less tricky. Yours was longer, right? What do you think on that? I just want this thing out and am miserable waiting until February 2. I guess he’s only at MEEI the first Monday and Wednesday of the month for surgery.
In October, I was scheduled for 7:30 surgery and didn’t get on the table until noon. That was a little unsettling being left to sit all that time with no explanation but the medical side was awesome and the time on the table was about what you explained. I have only had this beastly implant in my eye since December 30, so I am reading that being such a short time should be less tricky. Yours was longer, right? What do you think on that? I just want this thing out and am miserable waiting until February 2. I guess he’s only at MEEI the first Monday and Wednesday of the month for surgery.
Hello John0123
I was very pleased with MEEI and Dr. Melki. There was an intial delay in my surgery from 7:30 arrival time to 9:30. I think they were back logged because of the snow. Fortunately we stayed over night at the John Jeffries House owned by the hospital so we could be there on time, but I believe you said you already lived in the Boston Area.
One thing you may wish to be aware of, although it could be different for you, is that I did not receives any sedatives before going in to surgery and the preference was to use topical numbing drops verses an anesthesia local block and no IV sedation. In otherwords they preferred you to be awake and alert so you could follow instructions. They do imobilize your eye. I felt some pressure and tugging no pain. I think it took about 40 minutes. I was not prepared for this. It was a little unerving, even though I have had 9 other surgeries and am a very calm person able to detach myself from these situations quite well. Still I was anxious because I waited a long time and it was such a difficult decision. My blood pressure went a little high so the anesthesiologist asked to give me very light IV sedation to take the edge off during the procedure. That helped some but I was very aware. I believe if I had know that prior I would have been more prepared and thus more relaxed. The plus side is that I was not groggy or ill after the surgery only craving my morning coffee!!
Right after surgery my vision in my new eye was pretty blurry. The next day at the post op done by Dr. Melki's assistant, Dr. Patel my vision was 20/40 so I could pass a drivers test. ( I also requested my vision be set for mid distance and Dr. Melki recommended a -.75 target which I think was a good choice being that myopic people often can wind up a little more nearsighted so I don't expect far distance to be as crisp) Three days out and my vision is definately improoving but still a little blurry and variable. Last night I noticed some ghosting around street lights but with my contact in my right eye the two eyes worked very well together. I expect more improovement over the next few weeks. I have no pain or discomfort (unlike my Restor surgery where I had a huge corneal abrasion in the middle of my eye requiring a bandage contact, I guess the whole thing was a mess from the beginning!) I have no more ghosting around letters and no more reflections of those darned Restor rings on everything. I am no longer moderately farsighted in my operated eye and the two images going to my brain are much closer together and in harmony.
Overall I am pleased and feel the hospital and surgery staff are first rate. You are in good hands. Feel free to ask me anything you like about my experience. I am glad to help.
londonbridge
I was very pleased with MEEI and Dr. Melki. There was an intial delay in my surgery from 7:30 arrival time to 9:30. I think they were back logged because of the snow. Fortunately we stayed over night at the John Jeffries House owned by the hospital so we could be there on time, but I believe you said you already lived in the Boston Area.
One thing you may wish to be aware of, although it could be different for you, is that I did not receives any sedatives before going in to surgery and the preference was to use topical numbing drops verses an anesthesia local block and no IV sedation. In otherwords they preferred you to be awake and alert so you could follow instructions. They do imobilize your eye. I felt some pressure and tugging no pain. I think it took about 40 minutes. I was not prepared for this. It was a little unerving, even though I have had 9 other surgeries and am a very calm person able to detach myself from these situations quite well. Still I was anxious because I waited a long time and it was such a difficult decision. My blood pressure went a little high so the anesthesiologist asked to give me very light IV sedation to take the edge off during the procedure. That helped some but I was very aware. I believe if I had know that prior I would have been more prepared and thus more relaxed. The plus side is that I was not groggy or ill after the surgery only craving my morning coffee!!
Right after surgery my vision in my new eye was pretty blurry. The next day at the post op done by Dr. Melki's assistant, Dr. Patel my vision was 20/40 so I could pass a drivers test. ( I also requested my vision be set for mid distance and Dr. Melki recommended a -.75 target which I think was a good choice being that myopic people often can wind up a little more nearsighted so I don't expect far distance to be as crisp) Three days out and my vision is definately improoving but still a little blurry and variable. Last night I noticed some ghosting around street lights but with my contact in my right eye the two eyes worked very well together. I expect more improovement over the next few weeks. I have no pain or discomfort (unlike my Restor surgery where I had a huge corneal abrasion in the middle of my eye requiring a bandage contact, I guess the whole thing was a mess from the beginning!) I have no more ghosting around letters and no more reflections of those darned Restor rings on everything. I am no longer moderately farsighted in my operated eye and the two images going to my brain are much closer together and in harmony.
Overall I am pleased and feel the hospital and surgery staff are first rate. You are in good hands. Feel free to ask me anything you like about my experience. I am glad to help.
londonbridge
Lerbea -- Thanks so much for the input. It helps a lot. Many, many thanks........I'm glad you're doing well.
My IOL exchange went quick less than 30 minutes I think. I was awake, the eye was numbed by injection and I didn't even know it as they gave sedative just before. Told me I wouldn't be able to move the eye or see because of the way it was numbed. Right before the surgery I told them they better check that as I thought I was moving the eye but wasn't. That was funny. It wasn't really painful the next day but a little uncomfortable so I took pain meds just to be sure that first day. I was real apprehensive the few weeks till I got the glasses but everything was cleared up with the glasses. Right after the surgery I knew the ghosting was gone along with the glistening.
E verything was so professional and of great care for me as a patient. Emory billed the insurance correctly and was paid promptly by the insurance co. I highly recommend Emory University Hospital.
It wasn't like with the individual doctors which really tried to pull a fast one with billing and charging me. But I caught them and won out.
E verything was so professional and of great care for me as a patient. Emory billed the insurance correctly and was paid promptly by the insurance co. I highly recommend Emory University Hospital.
It wasn't like with the individual doctors which really tried to pull a fast one with billing and charging me. But I caught them and won out.
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