Crystalens or Restor as a Multifocal IOL After Cataract Surgery?
April 1, 2010
I am 40 yrs old and in need of cataract surgery. I have taken prednisone and inhaled steroids for asthma, which may have contributed to the formation of cataracts.
I knew nothing of monofocal or multifocal IOL’s when I started to suffer degraded vision in my left eye. I received opinions from 2 optometrists. One was for Restor and one for Crystalens. It may have just been the $3000 extra per eye over a monofocal IOL, but my initial impression was that the multifocal lenses were some sort of shady up-sell.
Now after thinking about it, I really do not want to have to rely on 2-3 pair of glasses and feel the extra $$$ might be worth it. I have worn glasses or contacts since grade school and am a pretty active guy. I set my mind on getting a multifocal lense after my second opinion (better bedside manner). This second optometrist recommended Restor, while the first optometrist had recommended Crystalens.
I am all bet set to get this done next month, but I am second guessing now. Can you recommend some impartial reading on the subject? My right eye is supposedly about a year behind in needing surgery.
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146 Responses to “Crystalens or Restor as a Multifocal IOL After Cataract Surgery?”
I am 65 yrs old. I have significant near sightedness along with some astigmatism. My last visit to my optometrist indicated that I have a very slight cataract beginning in my left (dominant) eye. For most of my life I have worn eyeglasses. For the last (approximately) 20 years I have worn progressive lens eyeglasses for developing presbyopia. I can see pretty well with my eyeglasses but naturally I would like to both eliminate the chance of further development of cataracts and if possible, have excellent vision without eyeglasses. Let me qualify the eyeglass issue.
I am ok with eyeglasses for closeup work I think. I do a fair bit of computer work but because of my age I think that this will become less and less with time. In any event, I consider it to be no problem to have glasses sitting close to the computer – ready for use with the computer.
My value rankings for the various risk factor issues are:
I only want to do the surgery once. Surgery of any kind scares me, so I want to reduce the chance of the problem having to be revisited – to as close to zero as possible.
I value distance vision highest, along with excellent night vision. (I live at a latitude that has long winter nights, with driving necessary at times.
I think my values point me to monofocal lenses. Can these correct for astigmatism. Is the Toric lens simply monofocal with astigmatism correction?
Ari, you are a great resource. Thank you for your input.
monovision and crystalens both good options, but mono is free. crystalens not so great for reading- better for intermediate (like computer distance).
I am 57 yr who has cataracts in both eyes. I use glasses for reading and computer but not for driving or TV. My vision for TV and driving is not as good as it used to be, but not enough for glasses. As I age, my visoin has slowly deteriorated so I expect that to continue. My Dr. recommended that I remove the cataracts and install crystalens.
Are the benefits of crystalens worth the extra cost?
I am avid tennis player so I want the best choce for that and I do not mind reading glasees, but the thought of no glasses really appeals to me.
My sister-in-law had monovisons installed recently at Mass Eye and Ear and was told that the benefits of multifocal did not justify the cost so they stopped recommending them. Not sure whether to believe that.
Any advice?
there is no hard and fast rule. you could do near vision for the dominant eye if you wish. consider having the iol replaced in the right eye, or do lasik in that eye. a multifocal in only 1 eye is not typical, and you may not like it- the multifocals work best when done in both eyes, but some surgeons have had success with only 1 eye. consider crystalens in left eye- gives good intermediate vision.
My right eye was corrected, with monofccal iol goal of intermediate vision, and the result came out distance. 20-25. My left eye, which is dominant will be done in next couple of monhts. I hate not being able to see the computer and things close to me such as peoples’s faces, my phone, those things within 3 feet. My left still has a little ability to see close, but it has a cataract and well there is blurriness.
My qyestion is: Why does the dominant eye always have to have long distance vision ? Has any had their dominant eye corrected for near vision? Why couldn’t I get mutlifocal for left dominant eye?
My corrected right eye doen’t seem to have any problems, I already see much better in distance with both eyes.
I work as a dentist, and when I work I use Loupes and vision is good because of the magnification of 3X . It’s so frustrating to take off Loupes and notl being able to read the charts without glasses.
I’m am 51 and scheduled for surgery on my right eye, w/ cataract (camera eye) I’m a photographer, on Feb. 21. then on my left eye, no cataract March 6. I am -5.75 in both eyes now wearing mulitfocal contacts. The halos and blurry lights are a bother to me with these contacts and I would rather not have to deal with that after my surgery. My question is, since I already wear the mulitfocal contacts, would I adjust to the monofocal implant lenses? Also, would the monofocal lens still cause the halos and light blurriness at night? Any other advice would be appreciated if
needed.
I had ReStor multifocal lens in right eye July 2011 and left eye November 2011. I
have pain in the left eye with a blur in the middle. I will need 2.75 reading glasses,
computer screen is fuzzy and so are words on the television at 10 feet away. I
might as well get progressive lenses glasses. Not what I expected. Used to see halos at night around traffic signals but now I see a bunch of graduated circles and cars headlights are now huge starbursts.
Hopefully, others have better results.
02-03-2012
Multifocals may not be for you. they require a tolerance for some side effects and drawbacks. i think you would be better off with monovision if you are really motivated not to wear glasses. I’d advise to get a few different opinions.
Aloha all.
I’m going to have my first cataract removed in Feb and like a LOT of peeps I’m still debating whether to pay the extra $2,000+ per eye for multifocals.
I’m pushing 73 but still active flying RC planes, deep sea fishing and need GOOD distance 3D vision.
I also still work as a woodturning artist and close good vision SURE would be nice also.
My surgeon normally uses Tecnis IOL’s.
After a LOT of surfing the internet I’ve yet to see anyone saying how GREAT multifocals are.
floaters, especially after surgery, are normal as we get older and get slowly better over months/years. we dont treat them.
why are you having your implant replaced?? you think it causes the floaters? the implant has nothing to do with floaters.
Hi i am Arun from India Mumbai i developed cataract in both eyes at age of 35 it got very bad in left eye & had a sugery done with multifocal lens implant just one 1& half year back, my vision was restored in just a few days & there was no problems at all with vision for far near as well as reading fine prints are concerned apart from the regular problems of halos glares & contrast which at times are manageable & at times its not.
Now i am facing a problem of floaters which really obstruct vision especially in sun & they are heaps of them i did consult my doc & he had a retina tear test done & sed it was all ok my question is are these floaters here to stay with me permanetly or will they fade out with time? I am also thinking of having this lens replaced is that a good choice as very soon i wud be having to do surgery for the right eye too so i want to go for monofucal whats the risk involved for taking out my first implant? Wil i go blind or blurness in vision?
Will there be addition side effects to my 1st surgery?
monovision is having one eye focused at distance, and the other for near. it works quite well, and its free. sure- the monovision can give you vision at computer distance for one eye. the other eye will be blurred, and vice versa for distance. if you have astigmatism, i strongly advise the toric lens- most charge about $1000. also, if you have significant astigmatism, you are not a great candidate for the multifocal anyway
I am 43 and like most people on this Board, I have to decide if I should have monofocals or multifocals. I don’t mind wearing reading glasses at night when I read a book, but during the day I use the computer and I would hate to have to wear glasses all the time for work. Do monofocals work OK for computer reading?
Also- I am not sure I understand what people on this board mean when they say ‘close up monovision’ and ‘far away monovision’ – is this all monofocals?
I have astigmatism as well and have worn contacts since my teenage years.
Thanks!
Doug
if you did monovision in the past, that’s the way to go for the implant.
I need to have a cataract removed from my left eye..not my dominant eye. In the past I have worn mono vision contacts. I hate wearing glasses. I have not been able to wear contacts for the last year due to inability to see with them. I do not know what option to take in replacing my lense. I was highly considering the mulitfocal iol until reading some of the comments. Now I am wondering if I should choose the monovision for close up vision and continue to wear the far away monovision contact in my right eye which is not surgical ready. Up in the air as to what to do.
sounds like a benign floater. i would call the surgeon and ask if he should see you sooner.
I should also clarify that I had astigmatism in both eyes – and that was corrected by the eye surgeon.
I am 61 and had cataract surgery on the right eye 11 days ago and on the left eye 4 days ago. I have been severely nearsighted and wore glasses at age 5. I started wearing contact lenses when they first came out (hard lenses) and switched to gas permeable monovision lenses about 6 years ago. Lately, I wore my glasses more often than my contacts because the contacts were no longer comfortable and my eyes are somewhat dry.
I began to have rapidly growing cataract in my right eye causing blurriness and color compromise. The left eye was not quite as bad, but still causing symptoms.
I decided to have Restore multi-focal iol inserted in both eyes. Although I wore monofocal contacts, I was wearing bi-focal glasses more often.
My first surgery on the right eye went off without a hitch. Although blurry the first day, I could tell that behind that little curtain – there was clear distance vision. It felt like a miracle – and over the course of 4-5 days – i was simply amazed. I saw clear, distinct images for the first time, and colors were brighter. Being dependent on corrective lenses my whole life – suddenly I could see!
I couldn’t wait to get the second lens done a week later -as that interim week is a challenge being so nearsighted!
The left eye was done 4 days ago – and right away I had pain and scratchiness. Dr. said my cornea was scratched and he placed a contact lens bandaid on it. Then he said my eye pressure was high and he released fluid. Since then, it has healed well, no pain. And it is getting clearer each day.
BUT….now, 11 days after the right eye surgery – the right eye is becoming somewhat blurry. Sometimes, when I blink, I get what seems like a film or fluid that floats over my eye and causes a blur for a second – then passes. This is particularly noticeable when at the computer, which I am – a lot. It reminds me of a floater – only instead of being dark and string-like – it is opaque and fluid-like.
It is increasing each day now – and somewhat irritating. If I were to be told that there is nothing that can be done – and to live with it – that would be difficult. Because it reminds me a little of what the cataract looked like! When that blurry spot is not floating onto my eye, my vision is AMAZING. But when it is there, I strain to see.
I put on some readers -and that helps me see the computer – but the sensation of something floating over my right eye vision is difficult to ignore.
My left eye does not have this and when it is fully healed – I think the vision will be great in it.
I don’t care about things like halos, but I’m concerned about this floating thing in my right eye. I don’t see my doctor for another 2 1/2 weeks. Should I see him sooner?
Thanks for any input.
1 last thing- crystalens has no such drawbacks- but the reading vision is not as good. better for intermediate vision.
if you are really concerend about night driving and loss of contrast (not an unreasonable fear), then yes, i advise monovision.
