Restor Lens IOLs

[blurr]

Hello, I sure hope someone out there can answer some of my questions.
Two weeks ago I had Restor Aspheric IOL lenses implanted into my eyes and small slits made to correct the astigmatism. I was told the lenses would give me almost perfect near & far vision and good intermediate vision. They did warn me that I may experience rings and halos around lights at night. (I had no idea how bad this would be)
Since I love to spend all my free time outside and on the waters fly fishing the thought of being rid of my progressive glasses was a dream come true.
Right now my distance isn't too bad but not nearly as clear as it was before with my glasses. My near and intermediate vision is terrible. Everything is a blurr. I can't read anything unless its about 10 inches away and working at the computer is really difficult. Text on a white back ground looks as if someone has taken a light grey highlighter to it and white on black is almost painful. I work as a draftsperson for a busy engineering firm and if I can't see I can't work! My right eye is the worst as far as pain goes and I always have a dull headache which seems to be from eyestrain or bright lights.
What I need to know is:
Is this normal?
How long does it take for the lenses to "shrinkwrap" as they say to the where they're supposed to be?
Do most people have good results immediately or are they just as scarred as I am in the beginning?
I look forward to any advise you can give me.

[Sandy Feldman, MD, MS]

Dear blurr,

I would recommend that you speak with your eyeMD about your symptoms. It takes about three months for people to adjust to some of the changes you describe.  Not everyone adjusts perfectly.  I would speak with your doctor clearly about each activity and whether a prescription, light or reading distance can be adjusted to obtain clearer vision.

Dr. Feldman

Sandy T. Feldman, M.D., M.S.
ClearView Eye and Laser Medical Center
San Diego, California

[alicia606]

I feel for you having to make such a tough decision as I'm torn also.  I'm not sure what effect the slight fold in the capsular bag means.  How is the other eye that doesn't have the fold?  What does your doctor recommend?  My understanding is that it wouldn't make much difference if you waited an additional month or two.  I'm waiting at least another month before deciding.  Londonbridge I believe waited quite a bit longer than that and had successful explants.  It may make sense not to act in such haste and wait to see if the ReStor lenses can be made to work.  There are definite advantages to having near vision.  My right eye with the contact leaves me with no near vision.  If I had both eyes like that I think I'd have to have readers around my neck at all times.

Roncun, you are lucky to have such good results with the ReStor, and according to my doctor representative of his happy ReStor patients.  Obviously, they work for a lot of people or I can't believe all these doctors would continue to implant them just for the money.

[alicia606]

Hi...I've read your story Londonbridge.  Glad it has worked out for you after explanting the ReStor.  

I'm not sure what to think now that I've seen my doctor again.  He dilated my eye and he said everything looks great.  He is very convincing; even convinced my husband who was ready to blame him for everything.  He said that the blurriness was more with the earlier ReStor and my case is very different.  I do see clearly every early morning upon first awakening.  It lasts a couple of hours and then the blurriness starts.  I fell asleep on the sofa the other night in the evening and when I awoke, my vision was improved.  In addition, I had perfect vision for a few days after the surgery.  

He's never seen nor heard of anything like this and suggested that I could get a second opinion and suggested I try Restasis to see if the tear film has something to do with my problem.  My eyes feel fine so not sure that I have dry eyes. He said he could explant the ReStor and put in a monofocal but given my fluctuating vision, he wouldn't know what power lens to put in.  I might still have the same problem afterwards.  I'm going for an independent second opinion tomorrow so will get another perspective.  He said I could wait a few months before explanting to see if the Restasis works.

Now I'm more puzzled than ever and unsure what to do.
lurr.  At least your symptoms aren't as strange as mine.

[londonbridge]

Sorry you are both experiencing Restor woes. The same was true for me and I was grateful for having one unoperated eye -8.0 with a contact lens to depend on. Do read all of the posts mentioned and find a trustworthy eye surgeon, they are out there, who will explain all of your options. Most of the people who posted on this forum who had their multifocals explanted and replaced with monofocals have been very satisfied, myself include. It is distressful to have to go through all of this but there can be a good resolution eventually.
londonbridge

[alicia606]

I should've said in the post above  that I have to sit 5 feet from the TV when the contact is out of my other, unoperated eye (-5.50 myopia).  In other words without my unoperated eye, my life would be pretty unlivable thanks to this ReStor lens.  I don't think I'd be able to drive or pass a vision test for driving.

[disappointed66]

You are not stupid .I juimped at the chance not to have to wear glasses and my dr juimped at the chance to make money.  It was up to the doctor to fully inform us. Maybe we were lax in asking more questions. If I was told more I never would have had that Restor implanted in the first place.I was told very little and I believed what I was told.  I stopped at the first  eye but the doctor was pushing me to have the other eye done right away.Thank goodness I found this forum  I went to another surgeon for the explant. .Search the forum and you will see the post between me, londonbridge,restornomore and Jodie J. I got such encouragement from them. Good luck, There  definitely is hope.for having good vision again.
Keep us posted disappointed66   (no more)