Multifocal lens in one eye and standard in the other?

[Bluegoose]

I currenty have monovision, with the left non-dominent eye good for reading and the right good for distance.  The cataracts are more developed in the left eye to the point that I am ready for surgery.  I cannot see the actors on a stage clearly and have some blurring during night driving.  I have read about the disavantages of monovision going forward and am concerned about the deficit in depth perception that occurs, among other things.  My opthamologist will do monovision surgery, but suggests that I consider it carefully.  I am going to ask him about having Restor or Rezoom in the left eye to be able to contiune reading without glasses, while providing complementary vision for the standard distance only correction in the right eye.  I am 75 years old, so we're not talking about a 40 year fix.  I am looking for input from doctors or anyone who may have taken this compromise lens replacement approach.

[Michael J Kutryb, MD]

You did very well. If you have any reading vision out of the left eye consider that a plus.  You can always put on a pair of readers.  It sounds like distance vision is good.  I'm so happy for you.  These are the type of results I try to get every week with my patients!

MJK MD

[Bluegoose]

As a follow up, I had an Acry Sof IQ model SN60WF inserted in my left eye last Thursday.  I am able to read and see distance quite clearly with that lens.  My distance vision is better than with my right eye, which had been the better one for distance.  My doctor says that he is surprised by the reading clarity I have and that it might change, but if it doesn't he will be happy to take the credit for it.  LOL!

I am glad that I didn't go with the multifocal lens!

[twikle]

I had an Acrysoft IQ lens implanted in my left eye and a Toric lens implanted in my right eye. My doctor set me up for monovision where I can work on computers with glasses (20/25) and see distance without glasses (20/20). It is my first experience with monovision and have found it easy to adjust to. I need glasses for reading, but I am willing to pay that price for the clarity of vision that I now have. I don't have the issues that many people with multifocal lenses are reporting.

[Bluegoose]

Thanks for the reply.  My use of "good" is a relative thing.  I don't see the ball hit the green on 160 yard par 3 holes as I used to.  I have star bursts looking at lights at night with the left eye and double lights when I look at the same light with the right.  The distance blurring with the left eye apparently causes some diffusion of the scene I see at distance with my right eye, as I said particularly when at a concert or play on stage.  I would prefer not to have to wear glasses to read, therefore the idea of the Restor or other multifocal lens in the left eye, giving me the ability to read and some reasonable help to the right eye at distance seems attractive.  Do you know of anyone who has taken this approach?  If not, why not?

[Michael J Kutryb, MD]

First off - you just said that your left eye is good for reading and right eye is good for distance so I don't completely understand why you are having surgery.  I gather that you want to improve your distance vision so the easiest way to do that is monofocal aspheric IOL with cataract surgery in the left eye when it is ready.  Your distance should be much better but you will have to wear reading glasses for near work and reading.  Driving vision. especially at  night should be much better.  If you go with restor or rezoom - you would gain some near vision but distance vision for driving at night would suffer (read posts here.)  You already have monovision so you know what it is like.  If you don't like the distance vision you have then wear glasses or get cataract surgery for distance visiion when you're ready.  I probably wouldn't go with rezoom so take that out of equation.  Considering restor - you would likely have good near vision but distance could be less than with monofocal aspheric IOL.  As I always say ask a few friends or people you know how they like their restor IOL.  If you can't find someone to give you some good personal info - then perhaps you might not want to be the first.

MJK MD