Rezoom revisted

[Highsound]

I'm back with an update and question. Brief history. Rezoom inserted in right nondominate eye 2/28 and Crystalens removed from same because of scar tissue displacement which was not corrected by Yag laser capsulotomy in Oct. Left eye is 20/20 with very small stable cataract.
Lens was put in cilliary sulcus. First week results were great with 20/20 far and J3 close and no visual aberrations. Lens started decentering resulting in more prominate ghosts and halos as it got worse. Doctor said he would fix it in place with a stitch and I would get back initial great visual results.
3/6 IOL was repositioned and McCannel suture done to fix to iris.
Initial results were poor with bad ghosts and halos which blurred vision close and far day and night. Over 2mths, vision improved where outdoor in bright light it's excellent but ghosts indoors remain,very bad under flourescents. my brain was freaking out. Doctor said eliminating -.75 in 105 axis astigmatism would make everything much better. Prescripted glasses to help simulate correction. Planned AK in June at 90+ days out. Glasses sharpen images so ghosts and halos are not as disturbing, but do not eliminate them. Close and intermediate no change. I only have sweet spot at 8in. without ghosts.Went to another doc for 2nd opinion. He said lens was centered but slightly tilted and thought it could be causing my problem. Didn't say what to do about it.
Looking for input whether I should ask for another op to attempt tilt removal or try to live with it. Multifocal lens placement seems critical to be success.Guess I fall in the 5% group.

[K-D]

PS. Highsound, it was after 3 months that my inside vision began to focus. The outside vision was incredible after several weeks.  So, I did not have hope for the inside vision to clear either.  Let your eye heal and settle down.  It was after 3 months that day by day my inside vision became clearer and clearer, and continues to get better. I had no hope of inside clear vision either.  Now it is almost as clear as my outside vision. Hang in there Highsound. I think the reason that it is so upsetting is that most people with Rezoom see clearing immediately.  But not all do.  And that does not mean it will not clear up.  I can testify to that.  Believe me.  I once was a total wreck. Now I am so thankful I choose the Rezoom.  Just give it time. I never thought my vision would change either, but it did!  The brain has to adapt too. And it takes longer for some people. Don't give up!

[Cindy G.]

A related discussion, Near Vision with ReZoom was started.

[spect]

Hello everyone,
here an update on My husband's and my rezoom lens surgery on our last eyes today, we Thankful that we both are doing very well and try our glasses on either of us could see to read at all with them were able to read letters and computer screen without eyes just with our naked eyes, what a wonderful experience.

we both found that the second eye surgery was more sensive
during the procedure than the first. when I mention this to the nurse said" the doctors have found that to be an un-explained happening in most cases of their patients. This feeling didn't last more than a few hours and a good long nap help alot.

as you all can tell we are so happy with the total results of our surgery, and pray you all have the same kind of experience as we had.  
Oh yes I did see halos and rings around the ceiling lights for a few hours but they are gone now.  

I enjoyed a beautiful aray of halo and spokes in the full moon nights ago while i can see them.

[DianeAllen]

I'm 60, very far-sighted, with glaucoma. In June/2006, I had Rezoom IOL's implanted in both eyes during 2 rounds of cataract surgery, 2 weeks apart. It has now been 7 weeks since the 2nd surgery & I'm having a LOT of unpleasant downsides.

Background: I've worn glasses since age 4, & for the past few years have coped with 2 sets of bi-focals: a set of 'progressive' lenses with closeup, intermediate & distance for walking around & driving, and another pair with just close-up & intermediate distance (used at my desk & computer). Like everyone I know, I was unable to use the progressive lenses at my computer; it was just too difficult to constantly hold my head at the angle necessary to read the screen through the narrow band of 'intermediate' lens.

I wasn't unhappy wearing glasses, but it was a nuisance to have to change from 1 pair to the other every time someone came into my office, or I got up from my desk. I also had fond memories of the few years I had worn soft contacts -- the feeling of freedom, instead of a wall on my face; no fogged up lenses when coming inside on a cold winter's day; etc. I eventually gave up on contacts, mainly because I never saw as well with them as I did with glasses & my eyes were always dry. I stopped when I went to live in Saudi Arabia where the sand made them impossible. Then, I had a baby & contacts became 1 too many things to be bothered with.

When I was referred for cataract surgery & offered Rezoom lenses (with a '90% chance' of not needing glasses at all in the future), I decided to go for it, even though they cost $1200.00 each over & above what my Ontario government health insurance pays for. I thought that a 90% chance of getting rid of glasses was worth the gamble.

I'm not sorry I did it, but I'm not happy either. My distance vision in the daytime is fantastic & I no longer need glasses for driving. However, night time is another story: the halos are so bad & my vision a bit blurry, that I can't judge distance well & don't trust myself on the road at night, even on the streets in my residential neighbourhood. For sure I cannot drive on highways after dark. In fact, I can't even comfortably WALK around after dark because of the halos & ghosting.

Fortunately, I work at home,  because I also can't see well, even in the daytime, in places that are fluorescently-lit: stores, offices, etc. Grocery stores are especially bad.

It is so bad that, if I'd had a job that required me to drive after dark or work in fluorescent light, I would probably have been forced to quit.

I also still need glasses to read or work on my computer, so now I have to carry them with me at all times, even if I move from 1 room of the house to another, because I can't read labels on a can, recipes in a cookbook, etc. I have to take them with me to the store, where I have to put them on & take them off, every time I stop to read a label.

I also can't use my digital camera because I can't see the image well in the LCD display without glasses, but can't see the object I'm trying to photograph in the distance with the glasses on.

I can't read the news crawl, program information or subtitles at the bottom of the TV screen.

I am wondering:
* how common these problems are
* whether they will go away
* how long that might take
* whether I should have the cataract surgery re-done, using a standard IOL instead of the multi-focal Rezoom

Any feedback would be appreciated!

[spect]

First I want to thank ech of you for sharing you experiences with rezoom lens. Your comments have help to inform me enough about what to expect, that i didn't bolt and run from eye surgery. I was os scared My stomach hurt for 3 days before surgery.
so I hope I can help someone else by sharing the following:

my husband and I both had rezoom lens put in yesterday.(in one eye His left and my right.)
I so relieved of easy and painless operation, we never had more than the little burn from the eye drops we used before surgery.I was able to e-mail friends the same day no straining.

I can see colors are brighter and read letters clearly on the doctors chart this morning except the very last paragraph,with the new lens.
So I cann't wait to have rezoom put in my left eye Next week,so I can get the best enjoyment of painting and designing jewelry. I sure the results will be a great assest to my work and pleasure.
It a piece of cake for us and I wishing you all the same suscess.

[Eagle eyes]

I think I get the gist of most of this, although I am having to read between the lines here. The thickening of the sac, is opacification or clouding of the posterior capsule or sac of which the IOL is placed inside. This is normal and is easily resolved with a YAG laser (30 sec office procedure which is totally painless. It is done sooner in ReSTOR and ReZoom eyes than in eyes with standard IOLs.

Astigmatism will make the vision blurry. You did not list the refraction.Because you are reading well in bright light, makes me think you are a bit nearsighted and getting a "pinhole" effect. This is a great benefit for you, so maybe you won't need to tweek it. As your doctor said, wait and see how you do over next few weeks/months. The different "rings" help you to read in the dim light as well as the bright light". It is fine to wait until you are comfortable to have the other eye done. Although, your brain will definitely adjust better after the 2nd eye is done. With your doctor saying he could make one eye a little different tham the other, he is trying to get the best vision for you so that both eyes can work in harmony to help you see all distances.  Overall sounds good, see how you look next time. Continued good luck to you.

[philz]

I was (yes was) a high myope (-10.5 diopters)64 year old who had the ReZoom IOL's installed in both eyes in February.  I was told by my doctor that these lenses worked better when both eyes have them, and that is what has happened with me.  While distance vision is in the 20/30 category, it is fine for tennis. I see my computer screen 18 inches away perfectly and read without glasses all the time as long as the light is not very dim (e.g., reading a menu at a very low light restaurant table.)  I even see small print on labels fine.  Any blurriness that I have reading with only one eye goes away when I use both eyes, which supports my doctor's statement that ReZoom works better when in both eyes.  I have noticed ghosting (from my dominant right eye, it seems) when looking at the distant scoreboard at Yankee Stadium, but not in normal vision.

Each eye is different, which gives me a monovision effect that seems to work out well when I use both eyes.  I do feel that my left eye may be getting some of that scarring that is removed by laser, as I think I do not see as well out of it with my right eye closed as I used to.  But maybe I am picky.  I will check this out in Sept., 7 months after surgery, at a follow-up visit.

My night vision and driving is fine now, although I never had a bad halo or glare issue even shortly after surgery.  I do not notice anything, although there are small halos around traffic lights as there were before.  Hardly a problem, though.

If I sound like an advocate for ReZoom, I am.  The only bothersome issue I have is seeing clearly on TV from say 9-10 feet away the numbers in the small upper left box showing the score and count of the baseball game.  Reading the scroll below and other text is no problem, and I usually can read tese numbers anyway, just not sharply.  I found that a minor reading glass of +0.5 made it perfectly clear, but it is not bad enough that I remember to use these glasses.  

After reading this, I expect you will think I am a satisfied customer - you are right. My only caution is not to assume that all doctors are the same.  Experience at choosing the lens type and power matters a lot with these lenses, especially for high myopes.  I went with a doctor in New Jersey who exclusively does cataract surgery and who was and is an early clinical trial person, and I have been rewarded for it.

[ICanSee]

Here are the results of my 1-month visit. My distance was 20/30 on day 1 and 20/25 on 1 week. At 1-month distance was 20/60. Near went from about 20/30 to 20/40. I don't have the right medical terminology but the gist is that my Dr. thinks there is thickening (of the sac I think) as a result of the normal healing process. I'm going to be checked again in a month to see if it is worsening or staying the same. At that point we'll decided whether to fix it with the laser or not. I also found out my astigmatism is a 4 in this eye, which the Dr. thinks accounts for some of the blurriness in my vision. With glasses I could be corrected to a very crystal clear 20/20. When I asked about the refraction I was told 60. I was also told the astigmatism actually makes my reading better. Unlike some of the other writers, I read best in bright light. I see the best outside in bright light. Reading something on white paper outside in the sun is great I can also read in dimmer light OK too. When I asked about my problems with distance in the darkness I was told it has to do with the different circles inside the rezoom lens. I asked if my pupil size was relevant and was told they are in the normal range. I have put off doing my right eye for a while until I resolve this left one. I was told the right eye has a refraction of 800 with an astigmatism of 1. He said that my near/intermediate vision is definitely better than distance in the left and he would recommend making the eyes off a few steps to get the right a little better with distance. He said the eyes could still work together. Any comments or feedback? Thanks

[nugget616]

It is my understanding and I stand to be corrected that your vision will stay the same this is a man made lense that will not change as far as the vision in it--of course there's the rare chance of anything, but the only thing I've been told that I may have to have some laser (Yag) done for scar tissue other than that these are now my new eyes--I also thought it was too good to be true to be able to see--the day after my first eye was done I kept covering the old eye and using my new one to see things I haven't seen for Years even with contacts--everything was so bright and clear I was like a little kid--now I went right back to work--(don't if you can help it) using the computer was terrible--like my doctor said I had one eye trying to do the job of two--(it will try your patience and wear you out) anyway after the second one it was Amazing (of course I'm still trying to deal with this light issue with computers etc)--you're on the right track asking question from people that have actually HAD the surgery this web site helped me alot it's one thing to read about this and all together another to talk to someone that is going through (remember all eyes are different and so are doctors) Hope this helps

[Eyes416]

Many thanks for taking the time to post your feedback - it is so very helpful. You are right, I have had nothing done yet and I am embarrassed to admit that prior to my visit to Surgeon this week to schedule cataract surgery I didn't know vision correction was part of the deal.. I just thought I would be back to 'normal' which is myopic, presbyopic and with astigmatism. The idea of seeing (anything!) without glasses or contacs after 40 years seems too good to be true. I am looking for the 'catch'. The idea of halos doesn't bother me (I have that now with the cataracts - ha ha). I should probably book another appointment with the surgeon (or someone) to ask all my questions..For example, my prescription for the myopia and/or presbyopia changes slightly every few years, so I get new glasses. I wonder what happens now with IOLs ? I presume I will ultimately have to get glasses again, once my vision degrades...this doesn't seem to be discussed anywhere that I can find...I am not too concerned with immediate post-op experience, more with the long term.. I expect to have these things for 30+ years...

[nugget616]

Reading outside is only bad IF you're looking at white paper with the sun really bright--we have concrete out back so white paper--white concrete and bright sun is Bright---but sunglasses do seem to help a little (I just tried it for you) also if you move to the shade it helps--with ReZoom lenses you don't need as much light to see--I have a friend that got ReStor lenses and he needs more light than I do--as far as reading books doing office paper work my vision is great no problems--the only reason I'm trying the glasses is the computer scroll back and read above what I posted--I think when I get my glasses done with JUST the anti-reflective glass I going to do much better with this ghosting and the halos when driving---the Rezoom eyes do not become messed up to where nothing can correct them BUT
I've heard people that are doing even better than me---I take it you've had nothing done yet---if that't the case I can tell you what I experienced after my first eye if you'd like to know--I really think if you have a good doctor you will be well please with this lense--OH yes as far as driving with the sun it's no problem in fact I see further without sun glasses where before I had the cataracts removed I could NOT drive without them I'd get a terrible headache--not now---but nighttime is quite different---the halos--it's different--but you may not experience them

[nugget616]

I can only tell you from my experience with ReZoom--I have NO problem reading in fact I don't need really bright light when I'm reading in bed at night I have to actually use dimmer light where before I have to get a really bright light--now if I go outside in the Sun and try to read something on a white sheet of paper you can forget it---way too bright--Rezoom gives me really sharp vision at a distance and outside, I wouldn't need these low strength glasses execpt for work--the lights I work under and the lights from the computer still have this ghosting effect and I need room to spread out my work so the distance is
a little problem if I get about 15-17 inches from the monitor it's pretty good but I need room if I back away it's clear w/ghosting --- You probably won't even need to go there everybody is different if you're doing good with one ReZoom you'll probably be really happy with another one--but I'm not a doctor-I had been in multifocal contacts for years and I see better now than I ever did with them.  Good luck (I also had an
astigmatism)

[Eyes416]

thanks for your feedback - very helpful! In the case where reading outside is difficult in bright light - (dumb question)do sunglasses help? or is there really no solution. I am in general trying to figure out what are downsides of Multifocal Rezooms and the remedies in 'worst case scenarios'. So for example if reading becomes difficult - is the solution just to add glasses? or do the Rezoom-ed eyes become messed up in a way that cannot be easily remedied. I do a lot of reading and computer work, so near and intermediate vision most important to me...

[Eyes416]

I am so glad to see that others are facing the same decision I am - it is not easy! I am scheduled for catact surgery in Sept, and my surgeon offered either Tecnis single focus lenses, which will correct my Myopia or multifocal ReZooms to correct both Myopia and reading. I will also have my astigmatism corrected at the same time. I too am trying to assess the pros and cons of the ReZooms... How does ReZoom correction compare to say multifocal contac lenses? - which from my experience do allow reading in very strong light - but often require reading glasses in lower light ?? Is anything LOST (other than $$) if I go with ReZoom over Tecnis? eg.Tecnis touts its 'wavefront' optical measuring system to deliver safer, sharper vision. Is the ReZoom system as good ? as safe? as sharp? I see both lenses are made by AMO..

[nugget616]

Forgot I had one question somone may know the doctor told me with my age I would probably have scar tissue that would need to be taken off by laser--when would this happen and what are the signs that would alert me to this.  Thanks

[nugget616]

Well I finally learned that ghosting is what I'm having such a hard time describing- I had ReZoom lenes put in Feb 28, 2006 and the second eye done two weeks later I see wonderful outside and really good inside for the most part my biggest problem is still the computer (I use all day)because of the distance if I put the monitor right in my face I have no room to work if I back way up from it it's had to reach things last month I got glasses to help with that in-between but, back and forth with paper work to the computer gets me dizzy so that's not too good any way with these glasses they gave me Anti-Reflection glass studies were showing it helps with the halos which believe me I have along with rings on anything that reflects at night I highly suggest that any of you inquire about this it DOES help alot I'm going to take my old frames and have JUST the Anti-Reflection put in them--it does not take care of all the problem but it has made a big difference for me---I also work under fluorescent lighting which makes matters harder but, I'd still have the surgery again and I pray in time this problem will get better--I can't escape computer with work but it sure makes my eyes tired out--I also still see the rings of the lenses not bad but it's still pretty noticable.

[ICanSee]

I have a 1-month checkup on 7/12. I'll ask about the refraction then and let you know. My vision is still great in the bright light, but the darker it gets the worse it gets.

[Eagle eyes]

that tells us what diopter (the power or strength) of the ReZoom. It also tells us that you were very near sighted before surgery. The "refraction" is the number when your vision is tested in the office. When you have the instrument in front of your eyes, looking at the letters, and they ask you "which is better 1 or 2, etc. the end result of that measurement is called a refraction.
you mentioned on another thread that you were 20/25. that means you are pretty close to zero or plano as we say,,,,,which is good!

[ICanSee]

You asked for my refraction. I'm not sure what that number is, but I have the info on the (ReZoom) lens that went into my eye. It was Diopter: 9.5D
0T: 13mm (zero with a slash and subscript T)
0B: 6mm (zero with a slash and subscript B)

Is this what you mean?
Thanks - ICanSee

[Eagle eyes]

Yes try a CL if you like. YOu will know if you can do well with it or not. No reason why you should not be able to if you have successfully worn breviously!
Thanks for your kindness. Best of Luck!

[cataract49]

I also had one eye with a cataract that was far worse than the other. I had the ReZoom inserted into my non dominant eye in Jan 06 and have been using a multifocal contact in the other (-5.5) eye ever since. I have no issues and plan to wait until my other eye gets much worse before proceeding with the second eye. I do plan to have a ReZoom inserted when the time comes as I have had a great experience with the ReZoom IOL. From experience, I can tell you that glasses (one lens removed) do not work well.  

From a proceedure perspective,I wear my contact during all waking hours. I had been (and still am) a very successful contact wearer for over 30 ytears.

Good luck!

[Eagle eyes]

K-D: I will bet your pupils get rather small when you are outside in bright light. Stavrocis: it would be important to know what size your pupils are in bright light (high noon sunny day outside) dim light (restaurant on Saturday night) and country road pitch dark). This would be helpful info on knowing whether or not to mix ReSTOR and ReZoom. If your pupils are 2 mm in bright light, then mixing might be a good choice. If pupils are 3.5 - 5 mm in bright light then ReZoom both eyes should do it for comfortable reading. If you need fine print like medicine bottle, then again mixing might be best.
It would be great if you could see an ophthalmologist who does both. This is best way to get experienced MD to give you best recommendation. With the intermediate vision and outdoor activities you enjoy, ReZoom in one eye for sure sounds best, not ReSTOR in both eyes. Maybe one of each. If so, have ReZoom in dominant eye

[stavrocis]

Thanks Eagleeyes.  I will bring this up with my Opthalmologist.  I found this forum so useful, especially the citations to other articles on the web. The article about "Mix and Match" IOL were very informative and I found a study that was great from ASCRS San Francisco show supplement.
I have also read the sad stories about serious problems in IOL replacement. I guess you've got to keep your fingers crossed and make a choice.
One last thing, only my right eye has a cataract, my left is 20/425. My big question is that my MD says that I must have both eyes done and that neither a contact lense nor glasses will work on my left eye once the multifocus IOL (like ReZoom) is implanted. Can't I use a multifocus contact lense in my left eye until it really needs surgery?
THanks, it appears you help a lot of people on this. That's great!

[K-D]

I know the confusion you are feeling.  And it seems the more a person reads about the different IOLs, the more confusion results.  
Speaking for myself, I had no idea about all the choices in IOLs, until I went to see my doctor.  As I have said before, if I could see fine, except to wear glasses to read, I would have gone with the traditional lens.  But I was told that things would not be clear to arms length, with a traditional lens. And that really was a huge concern for me.  I was informed about the halos at night that might result from the multifocal implant.  But because of my astigmatisn, I also have large circles with spokes in them around anything that reflects at night. Example, a flame from a candle has a very large circle around it, with spokes in it.  Yet, some people get no abberations at all, I am told.  Anyway, I had the Rezoom implanted, thus far, in one eye only.  I was initially very disappointed.  In fact, I wanted it removed, but decided against it. And to my complete surprise, my outside vision became spectacular.  My immediate, inside or outside vision was always excellent.  My reading is very good in lower light, not in bright light. My inside distant vision was good initially only to arms lenght. And now that is very good too. It took 3 months to come around for distant inside vision. Still not as good as outside, but very satisfactory. I don't want to encourage or discourage anyone on any lens.  I am just trying to share my experience with those who are seeking information from those of us that have been through it.   The bottom line to me is, there is nothing as good as God has created. And so all we can do is try to get as close as we can to His perfection.  And for me, I am very satisfied with my Rezoom lens,  (Night only) halos, some glare,  circles and all.  Hope this helps you Stavrocis.