explanting Restor IOL, decision help needed

[MsLN]

sparing repeating the details from  my prior posts, regarding dissatisfaction  with Restor multifocal IOLs, my primary problem is loss of quality of  prior (nearsighted) sharp near vision. Now it feels like I'm farsighted, its been about 6 weeks with no improvement. The original Dr said he would discuss changing them if I wanted,  after upcoming  next post-op check  and I believe he is a good surgeon, though he convinced me these lenses would do it all, but that didn't happen. I am going for second opinion  right after that with supposed renowned Dr., if both give same opinion, if my best solution is explanting them,  HOW do I decide, WHAT do I ask, to know , find  and decide who is best choice for explanting these? any helpful input, advice or suggestions would be appreciated

[MsLN]

yes I'm aware you're not a professional but you obviously are knowledgable somehow or by experience. Sometimes that can be more helpful than a doctor's information.  My bit of initial research revealed nothing of these Restor problems, I found this site and all the negatives afterwards, after much more digging. With my personal  experiences, and eduation in a health profession, I  understand medical terms and explanations to a degree and thought I knew what to ask. I feel misled as to the risks  when these lenses don't work perfectly or nearly so that the more severe side effects were not disclosed or illustrated . There is no way I would have agreed to risk getting  the vision I have now, it is no improvement, it's more of a hindrance than before and certainly quality of life altering, I lost more in practical functioning than  I gained by better distance. The results  the Restor lenses were inferred to deliver were not realized, nor was full disclosure of all side effects and their ramifications. I now feel  for a "qualified" patient their lifestyle and  needs should be  put into the equation, had my personal priorities and  enjoyments been taken into account, this should have indicated I might not be happy with these IOLs, so were my expectations too high? or was I deprived of making a fully informed decision in my own best interests? Thanks for listening

[JodieJ]

You're aware that I am not an eye care professional.  Your last post suggests that you really want more than ReStor can deliver.  I suspect that you would be happiest with some version of (mini) monovision with a near vision bias using monofocal lenses.  This could give you the crisp near/intermediate vision that you're used to.  You'd probably need glasses for some/all distance vision activities.   I suggest that you discuss this option with your surgeon.

[MsLN]

My first issue is what is going to give me clear  near vision, that doen't become so compromised as light conditions change even by a little. Right now   with  such variations in  quality I cannot comfortably do the things I enjoy, Ex-reading , sewing , detailed crafts, I need reading glasses and a close light source or to be by a window. I feel like I am farsighted. Unfortunately,  my vision with the cataract was not yet affected enough to need the surgery just yet, but   it was suggested  the Restor Multifocal IOLs would do it all and ,so why not do the surgery now and benefit from better vision and not needing glasses, except for MAYBE certain  intermediate tasks.  I even asked if I should wait a month until after my son’s wedding, but was assured I would be fine by then and enjoy not needing glasses or contact lenses which no longer gave comfortable vision .(LOL) that was why I needed the contact lens as a temporary fix. I can't believe the mistake I made and compounded it by doing the other eye because of the " will work better that way". The Dr has said he will do whatever I want and will even refund the extra cost, he just wants me to have a happy outcome. Do you have any opinion what may be my best assurance, lens exchange (he says he is comfortable doing this) or can PRK correct the problem. I will also be getting the second   Dr opinion this week, and hope there is an answer. If a choice was possible I would probably rather wear glasses to drive if I had decent near-intermediate vision, enough to see across a room without glasses. can this be achieved? any advice  or insight would be appreciated

[JodieJ]

Unfortunately, any of the options for correcting your vision is going to involve some compromise.  I don't think that it's possible for you to get the crisp near/intermediate vision with ReStors that you used to have with your nearsighted eyes.  However, with some PRK and healing time, I think that you could get acceptable near/intermediate vision.  (You might still need weak readers for some lighting situations, but would that really be so awful?)

Alternatively, you could exchange your ReStors for monofocal IOLS, which you could have set for some version of (mini) monovosion.  But monovision involves compromise, too.  In order to get crisp near vision with monovision, your distance vision would necessarily suffer.

I think that you should discuss your options with your surgeon.  

[MsLN]

clarification-I did not think my near vision would be so compromised
if it helps, I have copy of records for 2nd opinion . Dr has written on chart pseudophakia, suggested lens exchange or refractive prk to fix residual correction

[MsLN]

distance vision is good, no complaints, I think what is happening is  even though I can make out(guess) the eyechart  letters to indicate good close vision, the quality of vision is poor, it feel like I went from nearsighted to farsighted, all near & like up to 4 ft away, vision is blurred, but the brighter the light the clearer it gets, outside in bright daylight  my full range of vision is excellent, then indoors it fluctuates depending on amount of lighting, which also determines which strength of reading glasses, if needed to help, have used from +1 to +2.5 in a dim restaurant and sometimes need extra light too, Dr thinks PRK  may help improve vision. I was told my near vision would not be as good as before when I could work or read without glasses, but not as compromised as it is now. I cannot function comfortably as it currently is. I am going for a second opinion with a renownd Dr (in Florida)  Thank you  both for replying , made me feel someone actually is concerned and maybe will have some specific advice or guidance for me