AcrySof ReSTOR IOL
Until recently, cataract patients and refractive lens exchange patients had their vision improved with a monofocal IOL providing clear distance vision, but requiring most patients to use bifocals or reading glasses to see near objects. Today with its revolutionary lens technology the AcrySof® ReSTOR® IOL allows patients to see clearly at all distances with little or no need for spectacle correction. Because of advanced manufacturing technology and a unique type of lens surface treatment called apodized diffraction patients with this lens implant will be able to focus at variable distances– unlike with traditional “monofocal” lenses which offer good distance vision but poor uncorrected near vision. With the AcrySof® ReSTOR® IOL it is possible to read a book, work on the computer, enjoy outdoor activities and drive a car with an increased freedom from glasses.
ReSTOR IOL surgery is performed on an outpatient basis and requires only a brief visit to the surgery center. The surgery consists of making a small incision, inserting an instrument to dissolve and remove the lens of the eye, and finally the insertion of the AcrySof® ReSTOR® IOL. An eye examination will be performed the next day. Prescription eye drops will be used to guard against infection and assist in healing. Everyone heals differently, but the majority of patients return to most of their normal activities the day after surgery. Once both eyes have been treated the advantages of the AcrySof® ReSTOR® IOL can be fully appreciated.
- 80% of ReSTOR IOL patients never need to wear glasses for near or distance vision.
- The AcrySof® ReSTOR® IOL most accurately restores the vision achieved with a normally functioning natural lens.
- Since its introduction in 2003, more than 15,000 AcrySof ReSTOR IOLs have been successfully implanted in patients.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is a ReSTOR IOL?
Am I a ReSTOR IOL candidate?
What is an intraocular lens implant?
What is refractive lens exchange?
Is LASIK different than the ReSTOR lens?
Are there risks with the ReSTOR IOL procedure?
Is ReSTOR IOL surgery painful?
Is ReSTOR IOL surgery safe?
If I have been told I have astigmatism may I have a ReSTOR IOL?
If I was told I was not a candidate for LASIK surgery would I be a candidate for a ReSTOR IOL?
If I have had LASIK surgery can I still have ReSTOR IOL surgery so I can see up close again?
What is a ReSTOR IOL?
A ReSTOR IOL is an intraocular lens (IOL) implant that is specifically designed to restore BOTH distance and near vision. This IOL is designed as an option for cataract surgery lens replacement, as well as for individuals with presbyopia, the inability to see things up close. ReSTOR IOLs are designed to provide a person with the ability to see objects at distance, mid and near vision ranges.
Am I a ReSTOR IOL candidate?
Patients who are nearsighted or farsighted or those with good distance vision (even after LASIK) will have increased ability to see again at near with ReSTOR IOL surgery. ReStor implants offer patients the option of correcting both distance and near vision problems with one procedure. This differs drastically from LASIK surgery which is designed to reshape the cornea.
What is an intraocular lens implant?
Intraocular lens implants have been around for decades and were specifically designed for cataract surgery. Cataract surgery is performed when the crystalline lens turns into a cataract. Cataract development is a normal part of aging. Cataract surgery is the most commonly performed procedure in the elderly population, and several million cataract surgeries are performed worldwide each year. Intraocular lens implantation has become the mainstay of treatment following cataract removal since the 1980’s.
What is refractive lens exchange?
Some patients who do not yet have visually significant cataracts express a desire to have the ReSTOR IOL procedure. When the ReSTOR IOL is implanted after removing a non-cataractous lens the procedure is called refractive lens exchange. This surgery is helpful and appropriate in selected individuals.
Is LASIK different than the ReSTOR lens?
Yes. LASIK reshapes the cornea and does not treat the aging lens. After LASIK surgery people still experience presbyopia. The lens becomes presbyopic and also cataractous over time. In cataract surgery and refractive lens exchange the natural lens in the eye is removed and replaced by the ReSTOR IOL providing good distance and near vision.
Are there any risks with the ReSTOR IOL procedure?
There are risks with any medical procedure. These risks are best discussed individually with your qualified eye surgeon.
Is ReSTOR IOL surgery painful?
The procedure is performed in a sterile operating room with effective anesthetic eyedrops to make the eye numb. Very little discomfort is experienced during this type of surgery.
Is ReSTOR IOL surgery safe?
The surgical technique for a ReSTOR IOL involves replacing the aging crystalline lens with an implant that is designed to provide an individual with both distance and near vision. The process of removing the aging crystalline lens is exactly the same as in routine cataract surgery which is performed millions of times per year worldwide. |
If I have been told I have astigmatism may I have a ReSTOR IOL?
Small amounts of astigmatism are not necessarily a problem. Astigmatism is usually present in the cornea but can also be present in the lens itself. A moderate degree of astigmatism can be corrected at the same time the ReSTOR IOL is implanted. Larger amounts of corneal astigmatism may require excimer laser correction (i.e LASIK) to create a spherical cornea allowing the ReSTOR IOL to function optimally. To make sure ReSTOR IOL surgery is right for you, seek the advice of your vision care doctor.
|
All rights reserved. 
