Problems with Restor IOLs after Cataract Surgery

[llanier47]

I'm a 60 yr old female and had Restor lenses placed in both eyes in Dec 2012 after cataract removal. Vision was perfect for several weeks and then became blurry. Was diagnosed with PCO so had YAG laser procedures in both eyes. Vision has not been restored as good as it was right after the implants. I see worse now than I did before cataract surgery. I have lost distance, intermediate and close vision. The doctor cannot explain it and says he cannot see anything wrong other than a slight astigmatism that is still left but he says not enough to correct. I asked to have the multifocal lenses removed and replaced with single focus lenses since I'm wearing glasses now for reading and intermediate vision as well as distance vision at night but it is still not as good as prior to surgery. I thought I could atleast recapture my distance vision by going with a single focus lens. The doctor informed me that after the YAG procedure this option is much too risky. Something I was not told in advance or I would probably have had the lenses removed and not done the YAG procedure based on all the complaints I've been reading about the Restor lenses. Everything is a blur and the halos and starbursts are incredibly big and bright at night. I did not have the starbursts before the PCO just small halos because I had Lasix on both eyes in 2000 which worked perfect for years. I was one of the lucky ones that didn't even have to wear reading glasses after Lasix. My question is what could possibly be wrong that's keeping my vision from returning to the perfect vision I had immediately after both implants were done. I was so pleased with the outcome then. And now I can't drive at night because it is just to difficult to see even with glasses. I'm seeing another specialist in June who is actually a professor at the Opthmalogy school at Baylor University but don't know what to expect. Cany anyone offer any suggestions? Thanks so much.

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

Best of luck to you.
JCH MD

[llanier47]

Thank you so much for your response. Dr. Koch is who I will be seeing. It's good to know I made the right choice! This gives me hope and prayerfully on the road to getting a good diagnosis. I have not read about waxy vision but I have read about ghosting or shadows which I do have. Interestingly, when I spoke with a representative at Alcon, I was told they had not been having problems with their Restor lenses! Again, thank you for responding.

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

Douglas Koch MD at Baylor is world famous. Anyone there should be good. The important thing to determine first is if your problem is dyphotopsia due to the ReStor or do you have some other problem causing blurred vision like macular edema or irregular cornea astigmatism or severe cornea surface dryness. You may have read about "waxy vision" associated with some ReStor IOLs.

Your best bet is to wait and see what Baylor finds and recommends.

JCH MD