rezoom lens problems

[disappointedinrezoom]

I am almost a month out from having a cataract removed and a Rezoom IOL placed in my right eye.  My near vision is the only thing that I think has changed for the better, certainly not my mid- and distance-range.  This seems the opposite from what I was told would happen with Rezoom.  I am having a lot of ghosting and some haloes (the latter has improved over time, but not the former.  My doctor, who has done many of these, says that all of my measurements have improved compared to pre-op and is encouraging me to have the other eye done soon-- next week, in fact.  He feels like this will help my right eye "neuro adapt."  I am nervous about this, though.  He may be right, but what if I just have "more of the same" in my left eye?  It would be hard to function.  Please advise.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

Please review the conversation threads and postings in the ophthalmology  forum and in the patient to patient eyecare forum (link on this page) on multifocal implants. Several have to do with the many problems of multifocal intraocular implants. You can also use the 'search' feature of this website. These multifocal lens work best with 'glasses haters'. They are more complex, more expensive, more likely to need explanted-exchanged, have more problems with glare, flare, ghosting, poor night vision, etc. In many/most cases glasses are still neaded for certain tasks. There are a lot of unhappy multifocal IOL posters here and elsewhere on the internet. There are some very happy and pleased people (and hopefully some of them will respond with their experience) but all in all many more problem postings from multifocal implants than monofocal implants. To stress the obvious happy people are not trolling the web looking for answers to problems because the have none. The field is evolving and as these implants are improved, surgical experience accumulates and is refined the number of people having these types of implants will increase. MULTIFOCAL INTRAOCULAR IMPLANTS ARE NOT FOR EVERYONE.

I believe the bottom line is that you will likely continue to adjust to the changes occuring in your visual system. For many reasons multiifocal implant patients that are unhappy or concerned one month out are often quite happy 6 to 12 months out. I would again ask that some 'Happy' multifocal implant patients respond with their experience.

As I have said before you do not need to rush into surgery on the second eye. Also there is always the option of seeking a second opinion. My personal philosophy on the surgery I have done is 'let's not do the second eye until you're very happy with the results of the first eye'.  I have never felt threatened or upset if a patient asks for a second opinion. I'm a big believer in consultation or second opinions in complex problems, when various therapies are available and when I think the patient would feel better with a second opinion (even if I don't feel I need one-we do it for the patient's benefit and peace of mind).

Good luck to you.

JCH MD



JCH MD

[disappointedinrezoom]

THANK YOU!
I really, really appreciate your medical expertise feedback re: my Rezoom lens angst.  I am going to wait on the second eye surgery until (and IF) I do feel a sense of "it was worth it," which I certainly don't now.

Thanks again.

[2997]

About a year and one half ago I had cataract surgery with the ReSTOR lens impants. I am thrilled with the results. My surgery was performed by Dr. Perkins of the Barnet, Delaney, Perkins Eye Center in Phoenix, AZ. I was very nearsighted but had terrible far vision also--could not see the big E on the eye chart without my glasses. My uncorrected vision has been poor since I was a child. My corrected vision with contacts was 20/20 at one time in my left eye, but I have a lazy right eye, so it's correction was never as good.

Prior to the surgery I could read the smallest print but it had to be almost up against my nose.

When I was diagnosed with cataracts in both eyes, I decided to go ahead with the ReSTOR lens after much research about different multi focal lenses.

I did have a retinal surgeon examine my eyes to be sure the surgery would not put me at any greater than normal risk for a retinal tear or detachment. This has been a big worry for me. But the surgeon did not see a problem in this regard.

I could not be more pleased with the outcome of the surgery and the ReSTOR lens. I can now see without corrective lenses. I can read the Wall Street Journal at a normal distance, can use my computer, and can see street signs all very well. My left eye was corrected to 20/20 and my right eye to 20/30 minus some letters due to the lazy eye. So, for me, it's been a miracle. The security I feel being able to open my eyes at night and see is wonderful! I do have a slight hallow effect with street lights while driving at night, but it's minor and is not a problem. I am used to it.

My doctor did feel that to gain optimal advantage of the multifocal lens, I should have the lens in both eyes even with my lazy right eye. There is definitely an improvement in the right eye and the left eye is wonderful. I am 59 now, was 58 when I had the surgery done. I did have the yag laser shortly after the surgery for both eyes, and have not had any complications.

I hope that the longer I go without problems the less chance anything will go wrong as a result of the surgery, but for now, I could not be more pleased with the results. I will mention that my husband, who is 15 years older than me, had cataract surgery about a year ago with the same doctor, but he had the standard lens, not the multi focal. He has since developed a retinal tear which was corrected by laswer treatment, followed by a macular pucker, which was followed by a retinal detachment! The retinal surgeon believes the detachment may have been the result of excessive scar tissue forming after the macular pucker surgery. Did the initial cataract surgery start this string of events? It seems likely, but it could also be a coincidence. Could age have played a part? Perhaps.

I hope this helps the person who had the ReZOOM lens.

[John C Hagan]

Thank you for your input. It's nice to hear from someone happy with a multifocal implant. Your husband's problems could have occurred even if he never had had cataract surgery but retinal tears are somewhat more common post cataract surgery with the risk being the same for multifocal and monofocal implants. The macular pucker following treatment of the retina tear could be a complication from the laser or a new problem. I saw three or four macular puckers today in my practice and none had had cataract surgery or laser surgery.

JCH MD Eye Physician & Surgeon

[Bobsterbob]

Had a Rezoom lens implant amd astigmatism correction done two weeks ago to fix a cataract in my left eye. My right eye is very farsighted with astigmatism. I now have double vision making reading very difficult and using the computer is also tricky. Sometimes I get a little dizzy and nauseated when there is too much visual stimulation, such as in a store.

The doctor would not tell me how long it will be before I can see adequately with my left eye. It is slowly getting better, still fuzzy at best. I could see so much better before I had this surgery, that it makes me worried that I have made a mistake putting so much faith in my doctor. The brochure he gave me on the ReZoom lens said the average person takes 6-12 weeks to adjust to it. My dr says I will probably have the double vision until I get the other eye done. However, the cataract in that eye is not ready yet.

So much of my life is dependent on good vision and I feel like I have put my life on hold indefinitely. Any comment?

[Twilight Zone]

I would like to let you know of my experience.  I wanted to get rid of reading glasses.  My far sight was very good. I was told crystal lens was the best option.  Well crystal lens was put in my left eye, can't read without 2 different pair of glasses.  They tried crystal lens in my right eye would not hold and replaced it with rezoom. Total nightmare.  Can't see to read, cant see computer, can't see far away clearly now, have shadows, can't drive at night, and can't stay anywhere with artifical light for any length of time and I am 5 months out.  Had yag, had astimatism corrected and some touch up lasik.  This added to the problem.Spend $20 to $30 a week on tears for dry eyes. They tell me I have 20/20 in left eye and 20/30 in right eye,but yet I can't see as well as I could befor the surgery something is wrong here.  Would not recommend anyone to do this.

[radm]

Please read my entrees. Our complaints are so similar. I had ReZoom lens implants.
Good Luck
Radm