Multifocal Lens Implants for Musicians

Question: I am scheduled to have cataract surgery in a couple of weeks.  I am thinking about multifocal lens replacement with ReSTOR® Multifocal Lens Implants, which is the only multifocal, type my cataract surgeon recommends and will use.  It will cost an additional $2,000 per eye.  My concern is whether the implants will improve my vision enough to be able to focus on reading music from a little more than arms length to twelve inches or so without any distortion.  I wear progressive lenses and I'm having difficulty reading music now.  Progressive lenses don't work because as I move across the page, the focus wavers.  Mono lenses are a problem because I have to read at different distances and I can't maintain my focus.  Are the ReSTOR® Multifocal Lens Implants going to solve my problem reading music?  What have you heard from musicians who have had this surgery?

Answer: If you are seeking clear vision at 12 inches through arm’s length, you are attempting to optimize the clarity for an intermediate range of vision. The ReSTOR® Multifocal Lens Implants might be able to provide you with this, but it may also require some adjustment of your distance vision and absolutely complete correction of any preexisting astigmatism that you have. Might is the  operative word here as the ReSTOR® Multifocal Lens Implant is not typically recognized as having its nest performance in the  intermediate range of vision. You really need to carefully discuss with your cataract surgery including providing him or her with the precise distances that are you seeking clear vision for. Regarding the other issue of distortion, it is not likely to be a problem with this lens.

Important Note: The information presented on the About Cataract Surgery Blog or provided in response to a request for information in the Ask Cataract Surgeons section on aboutcataractsurgery.com is not intended to diagnose or treat eye problems, eye conditions or eye diseases including appropriateness of treatment, risks, complications or side effects as related to Cataracts, Cataract Surgery or Lens Implants. In particular a response to an inquiry made on the Ask Cataract Surgeons section of aboutcataractsurgery.com is not meant to take the place of the professional medical care provided by your eye doctor, ophthalmologist and Cataract Surgeon. Contacting us via e-mail or any other means is not a substitute for medical care.

Multifocal Lens Implant for Bifocal Eyeglasses

Question: I am 58 and wear bifocals. It has been my dream for decades to be free of eyeglasses. This summer I am going to do it. It appears I have a choice of two methods to correct my vision:
Should I get a corneal transplant? Or should I get a multifocal lens implant? What are the risks and benefits to each?

Answer: Being free of eyeglasses is an admirable goal however you need to get more information about you vision correction options. Multifocal Lens Implants could very well correct your near and far vision-however it may depend on your prescription and exactly what your expectations are for seeing up close and intermediate distances. Further, for some reason you have stated that you are considering a corneal transplant for vision correction. Do you have some underlying corneal disease or problem that makes a corneal transplant medically necessary or are you simply confused? Before doing anything you need to go find the best cataract & lens implant surgeon you can and if you have some other corneal problem you probably want that surgeon to also be a corneal specialist. Schedule a consultation and absolutely take the surgeon’s advice on what your options might or might not be.

Important Note: The information presented on the About Cataract Surgery Blog or provided in response to a request for information in the Ask Cataract Surgeons section on aboutcataractsurgery.com is not intended to diagnose or treat eye problems, eye conditions or eye diseases including appropriateness of treatment, risks, complications or side effects as related to Cataracts, Cataract Surgery or Lens Implants. In particular a response to an inquiry made on the Ask Cataract Surgeons section of aboutcataractsurgery.com is not meant to take the place of the professional medical care provided by your eye doctor, ophthalmologist and Cataract Surgeon. Contacting us via e-mail or any other means is not a substitute for medical care.

Multifocal Lens Implants & Halos

Question: I have read that having a multifocal lens implant installed would lead to "halos" around lights when driving at night. First, how bad are the halos-do they impair your vision enough to make driving at night difficult? Second, if I get a lens that corrects my astigmatism and to see distance and near vision (computers, etc.) but I need glasses for reading, would that be considered multifocal enough to produce halos at night? If it does not produce halos-what type of lens implant would you suggest I use to accomplish-far vision, near vision and correct astigmatism and use glasses for reading? I am 76 years old.

Answer: First, multifocal lens implants are a very specific type of lens implant in terms of design. There are a few different designs produced by different manufacturers-each of which has somewhat different optical characteristics and thus differing tendencies to produce halos. Further, depending on your pupil size in bright vs. dim illumination, your results could be better or worse than what you have read-and could differ with each type of multifocal lens design. In addition, the shape of your cornea and its aberrations could also cause halos. 

So, there is no simple answer. In order to choose the best multifocal lens implant for your vision requirements and the distances you wish to see clearly at requires a VERY thorough eye exam and consultation and measurements and cannot be accomplished by discussing pros and cons of the designs. So-your best bet is to schedule a consultation and examination with the best cataract surgeon who is also a refractive surgeon and FULLY explain that you do NOT want halos. Then be prepared to provide the measured distances that you wish to see clearly for…i.e. the actual distance of where your computer sits and where you hold reading material. From this information a refractive cataract surgeon should be able to offer you options that might be the most desirable for you.

Important Note: The information presented on the About Cataract Surgery Blog or provided in response to a request for information in the Ask Cataract Surgeons section on aboutcataractsurgery.com is not intended to diagnose or treat eye problems, eye conditions or eye diseases including appropriateness of treatment, risks, complications or side effects as related to Cataracts, Cataract Surgery or Lens Implants. In particular a response to an inquiry made on the Ask Cataract Surgeons section of aboutcataractsurgery.com is not meant to take the place of the professional medical care provided by your eye doctor, ophthalmologist and Cataract Surgeon. Contacting us via e-mail or any other means is not a substitute for medical care.

Multifocal Lens Implants & Near Vision

Question: I am having cataract surgery but can’t decide whether to have multifocal lens implants. I do not always need my glasses to read and when I do I wear minimal eye wear for reading.  Should I spend $7000 for multifocal lens implants as they might cause haloes around lights?

Answer: Since you are able to read pretty well with minimal correction, it suggests that you are mildly nearsighted in at least one eye prior to your cataract surgery. If you have cataract surgery and the lens implant prescription is calculated to render your distance vision as close to 20/20 as possible-thus eliminating the  nearsightedness-you will no longer no able to see up close and read without bifocals or reading glasses. Your options are to discuss with your Cataract Surgeon the possibility of creating the same type of refractive errors that you have now so as to remain a bit nearsighted-which may very well require a mild correction for seeing clearly at distance-or to select multifocal lens implants which provide an extended range of clear vision. In some designs and for some patients they do experience glare and haloes although in most instances this goes away.

Important Note: The information presented on the About Cataract Surgery Blog or provided in response to a request for information in the Ask Cataract Surgeons section on aboutcataractsurgery.com is not intended to diagnose or treat eye problems, eye conditions or eye diseases including appropriateness of treatment, risks, complications or side effects as related to Cataracts, Cataract Surgery or Lens Implants. In particular a response to an inquiry made on the Ask Cataract Surgeons section of aboutcataractsurgery.com is not meant to take the place of the professional medical care provided by your eye doctor, ophthalmologist and Cataract Surgeon. Contacting us via e-mail or any other means is not a substitute for medical care.

Laser Cataract Surgery & ReSTOR Multifocal Lens Implants

Question: I had LASIK surgery with cataract removal and ReSTOR® Lens Implants in both eyes in past 2 weeks. One eye sees clearly for distance, but still blurry near vision. The second eye done one week ago is still very blurry for near and far, my cataract surgeon says they are not worried, but I am.  I can't see well at all, reading and all activities are an issue. Can someone tell me approximately how long this takes as I was told I would have clear vision at all distances?

Answer: First, it is not likely that you had LASIK surgery. It is more likely that you had laser cataract surgery, cataract removal and lens implants using the ReSTOR® Multifocal Lens Implant. If this is the case, and you and your eyes are otherwise healthy then one would expect that there would be rather good distance vision in each eye within just a few days after the surgery on that eye and that there would be at least decent near vision for reading and close vision tasks within a couple of weeks as you adapt. The multifocal lens implants do require and adaptation period to see comfortably, however one would expect some consistency and improvement in relatively short order. Your cataract surgeon may not be concerned because he or she sees the eyes quieting down and expects a good outcome but perhaps in a slightly or moderately greater length of time. That’s said, if you are not happy with the vision after your cataract surgery and lens implants within a 4-6 week period you deserve to have an explanation and plan to improve it that is reasonable.

Important Note: The information presented on the About Cataract Surgery Blog or provided in response to a request for information in the Ask Cataract Surgeons section on aboutcataractsurgery.com is not intended to diagnose or treat eye problems, eye conditions or eye diseases including appropriateness of treatment, risks, complications or side effects as related to Cataracts, Cataract Surgery or Lens Implants. In particular a response to an inquiry made on the Ask Cataract Surgeons section of aboutcataractsurgery.com is not meant to take the place of the professional medical care provided by your eye doctor, ophthalmologist and Cataract Surgeon. Contacting us via e-mail or any other means is not a substitute for medical care.