Presbyopia occurs when the lens in the eye loses its ability to focus and begins to fail with age.  Presbyopia usually occurs in our 40's and gets progressively worse as we get older. Presbyopia occurs in 100% of the population.  Traditional correction of presbyopia requires reading glasses (for individuals that have good distance vision) and bifocals for nearsighted or farsighted patients.  Some nearsighted patients overcome presbyopia by removing their glasses so they can comfortably read.  Multifocal IOL’s like the AcrySof ReSTOR and the ReZoom provide excellent and reliable methods for surgically correcting presbyopia.

With cataract surgery, your natural lens is replaced with an artificial implant called an intraocular lens (IOL).  A standard IOL maximizes your distance vision.  This means that you still need glasses to see close up for reading or computer distance.  Since standard IOL’s are only monofocal, they only correct the vision in one focal plane and do not address the presbyobic state of the eye.  Presbyopia is not corrected in standard cataract surgery with standard IOL’s. 

You now have the option to choose a Premium IOL.  This exciting new development allows you to turn back the clock and see well both far away and close up without glasses.  In a recent study of patients implanted with these new Premium IOL’s, 80% reported never wearing glasses after their cataract surgery.  In contrast, only 8% of those who had standard, distance-only IOLs were glasses free after their surgery.

We offer multiple types of Premium IOL’s.  We analyze your hobbies and lifestyle to determine which one best suits your visual needs.

The AcrySof ReSTOR Multifocal IOL replaces the natural lens.  It has a patented optic design using apodization, diffraction and refraction technologies.  The apodized diffractive optic design gives it the ability to focus light correctly on the retina for images at various distances without mechanical movement of the lens.

• Apodization is a gradual reduction or blending of the diffractive step heights.
• This unique technology optimally manages light energy delivered to the retina because it distributes the appropriate amount of light to near and distant focal points, regardless of the lighting situation.
• Apodized diffractive optics are designed to improve image quality while minimizing visual disturbances.  The result is an increased range of quality vision that delivers a high level of spectacle freedom.

When is ReSTOR used?
The AcrySof ReSTOR Multifocal IOL is used in adult patients who desire near, intermediate and distance vision with increased independence from glasses and contact lenses.  It is FDA approved for use in cataract surgery.

What will ReSTOR be able to accomplish?
The AcrySof ReSTOR Multifocal IOL has been shown in a clinical study to provide good near, intermediate and distance vision with increased independence from glasses.

When should ReSTOR not be used?
There are no known contraindications.  However, based on the FDA clinical trials, Alcon, the lens manufacturer, has indicated the following types of patients possibly should not have the AcrySof ReSTOR Multifocal IOL:

• Patients that are hypercritical with unrealistic expectations
• Patients with excessive complaints about their prescription
• Patients who drive at night for a living or whose occupation or hobbies depend on good night vision
• Patients who are amateur or commercial airline pilots
• Patients who have life long complaints about glare
• Patients who are happy wearing glasses
• Patients who want guarantees on surgical outcomes

Who is a good candidate for the ReSTOR Intraocular Lens?
Virtually everyone who has cataracts and is in good general health may be a candidate for implant surgery, but people with chronic infections, uncontrolled diabetes, or other health problems may have to wait until these conditions are under control prior to surgery.

The ReZoom Multifocal IOL has a patented new design called Balanced View Optics™ Technology.  This lens design creates multiple focal points so you can see well at a variety of distances, be it near, mid-distance, or far.  In fact, in clinical studies, 92% of those who received the ReZoom Multifocal IOL reported wearing glasses either "never" or "occasionally."

Five focusing zones for a full range of vision
The ReZoom Multifocal IOL has uniquely proportioned visual zones that provide it with its major advantage.  Each ReZoom Multifocal IOL is divided into five different zones with each zone designed for different light and focal distances.  Unlike other earlier multifocal lens designs, the ReZoom Multifocal IOL has proportioned the size of its zones to provide for good vision in a range of light conditions.  For instance, some zones have been designed to offer greater low light/distance vision support during night driving.

If you are diagnosed with cataracts and are experiencing one or more of the following issues, you may be a candidate for the ReZoom Multifocal IOL:

• Difficulty reading

• Difficulty seeing close objects

• Difficulty seeing to drive, especially at night

• Changing glasses prescriptions

• Needing bifocal

While the AcrySof Toric IOL is considered a Premium IOL, it’s not a multifocal IOL like the ReSTOR or ReZoom.  The AcrySof Toric IOL is ideal for those patients who have visually significant corneal astigmatism.  Corneal astigmatism occurs when the cornea is not perfectly spherical and is instead slightly oval in shape.  The AcrySof Toric IOL has built in astigmatic correction which is used to counterbalance and correct the corneal astigmatism.  This provides the patient with excellent single focus vision making it an excellent choice for the patient who wants the best distance vision they can achieve after cataract surgery without the need for glasses in most cases.  Reading glasses, however, will most likely still be required in order to see up close. 

The AcrySof Toric IOL also provides an excellent choice for patients who enjoy monovision as a way of freeing themselves from having to need glasses.  The single focus vision provided by these IOL’s is superior to that from the traditional monofocal IOL’s.

Another possibility for those interested in decreasing their dependence on glasses after cataract surgery is monovision.  With this option, we choose the IOL so that one eye sees well far away and the other sees well for reading close up.  There are no added expenses for monovision with traditional IIOL’s, but you would experience a decrease in your depth perception.  This would be a poor choice for those who enjoy golf, tennis or other activities where depth perception is important.

The AcrySof Toric IOL provides an excellent choice for patients who have corneal astigmatism and would like to choose monovision as a way of freeing themselves from having to need glasses.  The single focus vision provided by these IOL’s is superior to that from the traditional monofocal IOL’s.

In the course of your day, you really are focusing at three different distances: far-away (driving or golf), intermediate (computers, countertops, newspapers or hobbies) and very close (small print books or maps).  No one Premium IOL allows you to see all three distances clearly.  All of them offer good distance vision coupled with either good intermediate or good close reading vision. The bottom line is that you may need thin glasses on occasion for some activities.

If you do a lot of night driving, the Premium Multifocal IOL’s may not be a good choice for you as you may experience glare at night.  However, the AcrySof Toric Premium IOL would provide an excellent choice if you do a lot of night driving.

Another disadvantage is cost.  While your actual cataract surgery is probably covered by insurance, the added fees associated with the Premium IOL’s are not covered by Medicare or most insurance companies.  These fees are for the extra testing necessary before surgery, the added cost of the Premium IOL, and the extra corneal surgical step needed in most cases at the time of surgery.  The added fee is $2,250 per eye for the ReSTOR and ReZoom Premium IOL’s and $1500 per eye for the AcrySof Toric Premium IOL.  However, if you dislike glasses, wouldn't it be worth it to be able to see both close up and far away without them after your cataract surgery?

A final possible disadvantage is that you may require a slight refractive adjustment to your vision after the cataract surgery with LASIK vision correction.  There cannot be any residual near-sightedness, far-sightedness, or astigmatism after the cataract surgery for the Premium IOL’s to work optimally.  Should any of these refractive problems still be present after the cataract surgery, the LASIK adjustments would be provided at a very discounted rate of $1,000 per eye.