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Multifocal IOL's

I am having cataract surgery in about 2 weeks for my right eye.    My eye doctor is recommending the ReStor IOL but I am heavily leaning against it as I am in cancer treatment also , and some of the research I've done indicates that the risk of having problems with the lens is much higher than with the older style monofocal IOL's.   I have quite a lot to cope with with my cancer treatment and want to minimize the risk of having problems with my vision after my cataract surgery.  I'm anxious to restore good vision.  Plus my other eye is developing a cataract and I will likely need to have surgery on it within a year.  Also I have glaucoma  .

My question is .. how much more risk is there with the multifocal lenses (of having problems with my vision post surgery).  And is the risk higher for me because I also have glaucoma?\
5 Responses
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233488 tn?1310693103
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
This is the bottom line. Dr. Kutryb and I studied 6 months of posts on the two eye forums. The resutls were published in three medical journals. Multifocal IOLs are about 23 TIMES more likely to generate a complaint here than a monofocal IOL.

If i were having cataract surgery I would NOT consider a multifocal IOL

JCH MD
Helpful - 1
Avatar universal
Hi mwbrawer,

Londodbridge sums it up nicely.  A multifocal lens can cause awful problems even in an otherwise healthy eye, so why take additional risks.  I am in excellent general (and occular) health apart from early cataracts, and the experience of multifocals + disaster + explant nearly killed me.

*Properly inserted* monos will allow you clear unimpeded and very natural-seeming vision to the extent that your eyes will support it, with a need for glasses at some point of your visual range, depending on the setup you choose.  Don't be afraid to bail out if you feel reservations - you have to live with the outcome, not your doctor.

All the best, it sounds as though you already have a lot to worry about.

Regards, Restornomore
Helpful - 1
574673 tn?1234125978
Absolutely read the many posts on this forum about problems with Restor. I had one Restor implanted and then explanted and replaced with a monofocal lens last December. If you want a range of vision without multifocal issues you can generally obtain excellent results with blended monovision...that is where you have your dominant eye set for distance and your nondominant eye for intermediate. This conceivably gives you the option of only needed reading glasses. Some people prefer an intermediate/close up combination and use glasses for distance. keep in mind that most IOL's (except for toric) don't correct for astigmatism and you may need glasses, laser, or limal relaxing incisions if you want to minimize dependence on glasses.
I would strongly recommend going the monofocal route. There are excellent tried and true IOL's  and they don't cost what the premium lenses do. Some people are happy with premium IOL's but many are not. The technology seems to be improoving especially for accomodating premium IOL's like Crystalens. I would steer clear of ReStor and never consider Rezoom. I don't think you can go wrong with a monofocal.
What ever you decide be sure to get several expert medical opinions and take your time making a decision, especially in light of your other medical concerns.

Good luck,
londonbridge
Helpful - 1
Avatar universal
I also have glaucoma and had a ReStor lens implanted mid-September.  I trusted my doctor without doing any research and regret it.  Since then I've done research on the internet and discovered there are some doctors who think that it is contraindicated with glaucoma.  I've seen two other doctors since then for second opinions, one who was older and said he wouldn't put it in someone's eye who has glaucoma.  Yet he was encouraging me to put another ReStor in the other eye so I guess he didn't think it was that bad to have it in an eye with glaucoma.  The other one didn't think it was an absolute contraindication and does put the ReStor in glaucoma patients.

I've had problems with my vision in that eye since having the ReStor implanted.  I've been experiencing fluctuating vision in that eye which can be corrected to 20/20 with glasses.  I'm now undergoing treatment for possible dry eye since that may be the cause of the problem.

The thing with premium lenses is that any problems with the surface of the eye, such as dryness, are exaggerated with the premium lenses.  They also have to be perfectly centered, which mine are.  They are prone to more problems and since you already have challenges, why add to it just so you don't have to wear readers?  I may have to wear glasses or contacts in that eye for part of the day if I want 20/20 distance vision anyway.  And that's after paying a lot of money and going through a lot of grief.

If this dry eye treatment doesn't solve the fluctuating vision problem, then I'm left with the option of explanting, and the additional risks that involves, especially for a glaucoma patient or wear glasses/contacts for distance.  And my doctor isn't absolutely sure that I won't have the same issue with the monofocal.   I also will have to do the other eye at some point.  I was going to have ReStor put in that eye as well as they are purported to work better together.  When I do get one in that eye, I'm almost certain I will go with a monofocal even if the fluctuating vision somehow resolves.  
Helpful - 1
Avatar universal
I had a

























                                                                                                          
I had theRestor lens implanted in one eye because of a cataract only.  No other problems.   The results were not good.  Had it explanted and a monofocal lens exchanged.  The results with the monfocal lens is excellent.  Everyone is different,and I am not an expert but if I were you I would stay away from the Restor. Check the archives.  Do more research on the Restor lens.There is a lot of posts on this forum regarding Restor ..  Do not make a hasty decision.  Get a second opinion if necessary.   Good luck
Helpful - 1

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