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Cataract explant

I am a 49 year old and had the ReZoom implanted (right - dominant eye) last year (2/08) and have experienced ALL the side effects - hallos, blurry vision in low light and terrible night vision.  After MANY consults with my surgeon, he is agreeing that the rezoom needs to be explanted (replaced).

He is leaning towards the new (?) Alcon ReStor lens, but acknowledges that it also has some side effects...he also says you can't explant a second time (nor would I want to), so whatever goes in next is final.

I have read nearly all the postings and would say I am mixed between the ReStor and a mono-lens, but am not excited about wearing glasses all the time...I use a computer and read tech documentation nearly all day in my job and this is a concern with mono-lens (require glasses).  Night vision (driving) is critical as is distance vision to watch kids sporting events (equestrian and lacrosse).

Would appreciate any thought / suggestions...additionally, I have not been able to find many resources on surgeons with expertise in explants (Mid-Atlantic area).  The surgeon that performed my original rezoom is one of the best, but has only explanted ~10-15 over past couple years.

Thanks in advance....LaxDad

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233488 tn?1310693103
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
That's great. Just this week I had a lady come in totally unable to see at night with two ReZooms (rhymes with "doom") in each eye, hope she does as well geting them out.

JCH MD
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Avatar universal
Update on results...
I had the ReZoom explanted with a mono-focal IOL in late February and I am HAPPY to report that my vision with the mono IOL is great!  10 days post surgery and I have zero halos, no ghosting and night vision is fantastic!
Thanks for the feedback!

LaxDad
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233488 tn?1310693103
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
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Avatar universal
My recommendation is to forget the Restor Multifocal lens. You just might end up in worse condition that you started with. I had the Restor used last June and had one exchanged in Nov because of all the reasons you listed.  There are over 800 Adverse reports on the MAUDE FDA website for the Restor/Alcon lens. The doctors out there just don't know the truth.
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233488 tn?1310693103
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
You are confusing type of IOL with vision goals without glasses post surgery.

The best IOLs are the spheric monofocal made by Alcon, B&L and Tecnis.

You can have both eyes set for distance and wear glasses for mid/near
one for distance and one for mid and wear glasses for reading, one for distance and one for near need glasses for mid and often hard to adjust to (monovision) or one for mid one for read and wear glasses for distance mini-mono with near bias.

All of these are discussed at length in previous posts.

JCH MD
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Avatar universal
Dr Hagan,
Thank you for your comments...I am leaning more towards the monofocal.
A question I have reading through the postings is are there different types of monofocal lens?  I see postings describing aspheric lens, and blended vision and the like...are these different ways to described the same thing?  Also, if a monofocal is done after an explant, are contact lens a possibility?
Thanks!

LaxDad
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Avatar universal
I had an Alcon toric IOL (for astigmatism) implanted in December '08. This is a monofocal lens.  I requested a correction to -1.25 (about 20/25 correction). It enables me to use the computer (sitting about 22 inches away from the screen), read regular sized print, watch tv 7-8 feet distant, do ordinary household chores without glasses. Reading glasses are useful for reading in dim light and for small print. Driving with the other eye is corrected to 20/20 with a contact or glasses is no problem.

In short, a monofocal lens, carefully selected for activities of interest, "may" not be a glasses all the time situation.
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233488 tn?1310693103
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Heard that old saying "out of frying pan and into the fire?"  That's where you're headed in my opinion and if you've read all the posts you've noted that a multi IOL explanted and another "better' replaced often doesn't do the job.

My advise to a patient of mine would be to make your peace with glasses for some things and get a monofocal aspheric IOL. If you want it with a near bias (example -1.25) you could probably do your computer without glasses.

JCH MD
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Avatar universal
I've heard that explanting is easier if you've not had the Yag capsulotomy.

I had a Crystalens HD implanted in my right eye 3-1/2 weeks ago.  Since I am not getting near vision (<2 feet), my Dr. recommended I implant a Restor in my left eye.  I got a 2nd opinion, which agreed.

My Dr. says that the latest Restor IOL has been much improved to give good vision ~2 feet (moving it out from <1-1/2 feet).  He also said that the Restor lens is gaining market share and is surpassing the leading Crystalens and that the Rezoom lens has had a lot of problems and is not recommend.

He said that his patients who have the Restor lens talked about the halos around head lights, but they were not complaining.  Eventually they got used to it and were very happy.  In case you were wondering, my Dr. is a young man, late thirties?  He was trained at Jefferson Medical school and resident at Wills Eye Institute, Philadelphia.
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