RESTOR 3

[barbiesa]

Although I did not notice any problem with my vision before my eye examination, I was told that I had cataracts and would have to have eye surgery at some point when my vision got worse. It was July and being a teacher, I did not want to have to have surgery during the school year, so I hastily agreed to have surgery. It was then proposed to me that I have a multifocal lens implant, that I was told would not only resolve the cataracts problem (which I never really perceived as a problem), but that it would resolve all of my vision problems and make it likely I would not have to have glasses again. Well, I was told that 9% of the cases required glasses for up-close vision, but of course, I expected to be one of the 91% who didn't.

Well, it's been over 3 months now, and my close-up vision is GONE! I had GREAT close-up vision before, and I could see everything all the time with my glasses, and since the surgery, I have not had good vision EVER AGAIN. While it is true that I pass all the distance vision tests and get rave reviews from all the staff, everything is cloudy, like I have cataracts, which, ironically, I never experienced before the cataracts surgery! I am told that a simple little zap of the laser will take care of it, and that is in the works, but I have since read that other people have had this problem and that is the fault of the lens.

However, the worst part of this mess is that I have apparently paid $4000 (the part not covered by insurance) only to have WORSE vision than before. I cannot read a computer screen without glasses, and reading a paperback book is difficult even with reading glasses. I used to be able to do all of these things without any hassles; now there are some things I cannot read even WITH glasses, such as read the caller ID on my phone. I used to read several books a week; now I get too frustrated to read more than 1-2. I have to carry reading glasses around with me all of the time, and the cloudy distance vision is just as annoying. The sad part is. . . I never minded wearing glasses. I wore them all the time for more than 40 years. However, everyone I know encouraged me to have this surgery and told me things like, "Your eyesight is important," and I fell for it.

I write this because I hope some people will read it and think twice before having this surgery unnecessarily. The pamphlets from the doctor's office make it seem like this is a miracle cure, but for me, it has been a horrible nightmare.

[barbiesa]

Get other opinions from whom? In any case, I didn't realize you could exchange the IOL at all. What would it be exchanged with? I've also been told the monofocal lens would take away my close vision as well, and that the close vision is even worse than with the multifocal lens.

[Ray T Oyakawa, MD]

Use the search function and get a second or third opinion before the YAG (simple zap of laser).  It is more difficult to exchange the IOL after a yag.

Dr. O.