Until recently, life without reading glasses or bifocals was not an option for most surgery patients. You now have an option. The AcrySof ReSTOR IOL is a unique technological innovation that can provide you with quality vision throughout the entire visual spectrum – near through distance – with increased independence from reading glasses or bifocals.
For most patients, the ReSTOR lens delivers excellent
near and distance vision, and good intermediate
vision without reading glasses or bifocals. In an independently conducted study, ReSTOR IOL patients were tested to see how easily they could read paragraphs of decreasing font size, and their results were compared to patients with other IOLs. While only one of 13 patients with other IOLs could read small type (such as the newspaper), four of five ReSTOR patients were still able to read small type quickly and easily.
AcrySof ReSTOR IOL |
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ReSTOR's Multifocal Zones |
If freedom from glasses is your
desired outcome, the AcrySof ReSTOR IOL may
be your best choice. This lens gives you the
possibility to have distance vision in addition
to the ability to read and perform close-up
tasks without the need for glasses. However,
results of the clinical trials indicated that
there is a slightly greater chance of having
difficulty with halos or rings around lights
or glare, as compared to a monofocal (single-focus)
lens. Over time, some people grow accustomed
to these disturbances and cease to notice them,
while others may continue to see them long after
surgery.
To really enjoy the benefits of this
lens, take a moment to review with yourself
all of the things you do up close:
- Playing cards with friends
- Changing the remote
- Reading for yourself or others
- Putting on makeup
- Shaving your face
- Baiting your fishing hook
- Ordering lunch from a menu
- Shopping for groceries
- Dialing a phone or cell phone
- Reading a recipe while cooking
- Eating lunch or dinner
- Reading your watch
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FREQUENTLY ASKED
QUESTIONS
After surgery, will I need glasses?
If you choose a traditional lens implant,
yes you will need reading glasses. If you select
the ReSTOR lifestyle lens upgrade, you will
be choosing your best chance of throwing away
your glasses for distance and reading as well
as intermediate. There is a small chance you
will need glasses for some tasks during the
healing process and adaptation period. It does
take some time to adjust to your new vision.
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Why can't the traditional lens implant
let me see up close?
The traditional lenses do not have
the special design that provides near and intermediate
vision. They are designed for distance only
and called a monofocal lens ("mono"
meaning one and "focal" referring
to point of focus).
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How do I know if I am a good candidate
for ReSTOR?
Your doctor will perform a thorough
exam and advise if the ReSTOR lens is right
for you. Virtually everyone in good general
and ocular health is a candidate, depending
upon your daily activities and visual needs.
Note, persons with chronic infections, uncontrolled
diabetes, or other ocular or health problems
may have to wait until these conditions are
under control prior to surgery in order to qualify
as a candidate.
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Should I have the ReSTOR procedure in
both eyes?
Yes, definitely! All of the studies
that have been performed on the lens report
results of patients who have the lens in both
eyes. It is very important for your eyes to
be able to work together as a team, and that
is a fairly difficult task if only one eye has
the ReSTOR lens in it. In some special cases,
your doctor may recommend the ReSTOR in only
one eye, but he or she will discuss that further
with you if they feel it may benefit you.
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Is this a quick fix like LASIK? Will
I see great the next day?
The surgery itself is very quick, but
the recovery is not always an overnight miracle.
You will have very functional vision right after
surgery, but you will have an adaptive period
that will include training your brain to get
used to its new vision. Remember how you have
needed to hold objects farther and farther away
as you have aged? This will all change and you
will now be holding your materials about 12-15
inches fro your face instead of at the end of
your arm. Have patience as you adapt over the
next two months as you achieve your best vision
possible.
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What if I have astigmatism?
Your physician will decide if it is best to
correct the astigmatism during or after the
surgery. This may make your healing time a little
longer than normal, depending upon the degree
of astigmatism, but you should be able to enjoy
the same great result.
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How long does the surgery take? Will
I feel anything?
The surgery is performed as an outpatient surgery
and usually takes about 15 minutes to perform.
A number of eye drops will be placed in your
eye and medications may be given by mouth to
help you relax. The eye drops will numb your
eye so you will not feel any discomfort.
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When can I return to my normal activities?
Typically you can return to normal
activities within a day or two. You should be
able to drive and return to work in two to five
days if your vision is stable and you are comfortable
with your new vision. Your eyes may be sensitive
to light and you should avoid any straining
activities and rubbing your eye for a couple
of weeks. It is important to avoid heavy lifting
or bending your head below your heart for two
weeks, which can increase the pressure on your
eye. You can shower, but you will need to avoid
getting soap or water in the eyes and avoid
eye makeup for the first two weeks.
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Will I have any unusual vision phenomena
after surgery?
Visual disturbances may occur in some patients
regardless of lens design. The ReSTOR lens has
a unique design which works to minimize nighttime
visual disturbances. Occasionally in your early
healing phase, you will see some glare and/or
halos around lights at night, but this is a
normal response to surgery and will reduce or
go away with time.
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Will insurance or Medicare cover any
of the procedure?
Insurance coverage varies from policy
to policy, but most private insurances and Medicare
will cover the cataract procedure and surgical
costs. However, most insurances and Medicare
will only cover a traditional lens implant and
not a lifestyle lens upgrade such as ReSTOR.
The ReSTOR lens upgrade is $2,200 per eye. Your
insurance will usually cover all other costs
of surgery. Southern Eye is proud to offer 0%
interest financing with Unicorn Financial, should
you be interested in making monthly payments
to cover any portion of your surgery.
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Will I ever need to have cataract surgery
again?
Once you have had cataract surgery, you will
never need to have cataract surgery again. Occasionally,
several months after the lens has been placed
in the eye, your vision may start to become
slightly cloudy again. This can happen with
any type of cataract surgery with any type of
lens. This is sometimes called an "after
cataract" and is just a normal clouding
of the lens membrane that supports your new
lens implant. This is easily treated with a
common, painless procedure called a YAG
laser.
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WHAT TO EXPECT
AFTER HAVING A RESTOR IMPLANT
1. Do not evaluate your vision until you have
had surgery in both eyes. It
is very difficult for your brain to accept the
difference in your vision between the two eyes
until they can work together and adjust to your
new vision.
2. Your near vision will be closer than you
remember it before surgery. Expect to bring
things closer to read comfortably for the first
few months.
3. Your intermediate/middle range vision will
be functional, but may not be as sharp in the
early post-operative days. Have patience! It
will improve over the next few months as your
eyes begin working together and your brain begins
to adjust. This is normal!
4. You will need to position yourself closer
to your computer until your eyes adjust to your
new vision.
5. Your distance vision should be good and will
also improve over time.
6. You may initially see some glare and halos
around lights early after your surgery. These
will improve over the next few months and are
a normal symptom of healing from eye surgery.
7. Remember there is some "give and take"
to attain freedom from glasses. The ReSTOR is
a revolutionary procedure that offers your best
chance at not wearing glasses for the majority
of the time.
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A REVIEW OF YOUR
CATARACT SURGERY CHOICES
| ReSTOR
Surgery |
Traditional
Surgery |
| Works like bifocals |
Works like single vision glasses |
| See distance, middle and near |
See distance only |
| Shouldn't need readers |
WILL need readers |
| Surgery is usually 1-2 weeks apart |
Surgery is usually 2-4 weeks apart |
| Partially covered by insurance |
Covered by insurance |
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