Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Eye Care Archive (Expert Forum)
My Ophthalmologist says that multifocal lenses are rubbish! Is he right?
Our Ask A Doctor Ophthalmology Forum is where you can post your question and receive a personal answer from physicians affiliated with the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
My Ophthalmologist says that multifocal lenses are rubbish! Is he right?
by hondaboy2001, Dec 09, 2006 12:00AM
Hi Guys
I'm 37 and have a sever cataract in my left eye. I've been referred from my optician to Moorfields hospital in London to see a cataract specialist.
He was very nice and told me a lot about the condition, but when the subject came up of which IOL I should have, he told me that multifocal lenses are all **** and I must, must, must have a monofocal lens. He says that he'll use an acrylic lens that he's been using for the past fifteen years with good success.
I talked to an Ophthalmologist in Florida, who said that I absolutely should have a multifocal lens if at all possible. He went on to say that he wouldn't let anyone near his eye with a lens that's been around for fifteen years.
I really don't want to lose my near and intermediate vision, but am very confused.
Would anyone here go for (or have gone for) a monofocal lens over a multifocus one?
I'm 37 and have a sever cataract in my left eye. I've been referred from my optician to Moorfields hospital in London to see a cataract specialist.
He was very nice and told me a lot about the condition, but when the subject came up of which IOL I should have, he told me that multifocal lenses are all **** and I must, must, must have a monofocal lens. He says that he'll use an acrylic lens that he's been using for the past fifteen years with good success.
I talked to an Ophthalmologist in Florida, who said that I absolutely should have a multifocal lens if at all possible. He went on to say that he wouldn't let anyone near his eye with a lens that's been around for fifteen years.
I really don't want to lose my near and intermediate vision, but am very confused.
Would anyone here go for (or have gone for) a monofocal lens over a multifocus one?
Doctor's Answer
by Forum-OD-MP, Dec 09, 2006 12:00AM
If I were 37 years old an needed cataract surgery, I'd definitely want either monovision or multifocals IOLs (even though they're not perfect.)
My surguen said that he has implanted Crystalens, but said it was **** (his exact word).
The Ophthalmologist I've been speaking to in Florida, says that he finds most success with Restor (which he uses wavefront to fit...whatever that might mean). He says he gets a success rate of about 50/50 with Crystalens. He doesn't rate Rezoom at all. He did say that there is a new version of Crystalens out now, but he hasn't tried it yet. Anyone have any experience of this?
Has anyone used Technis multi-focal, which is available here in Europe, I believe?
After I found out about the multifocals, I read what I could find about them and spoke to many doctors, including some in other states. I also read the information available in this forum. My choices among multifocal lenses included Crystalens, Restor, and Rezoom. Initially, I was impressed with Crystalens, but decided against them based on the range of accommodation and safety factors related to the hinge design. I was told that the surgery for the Rezoom and Restor is very similar to surgery for the standard monofocal lenses. All of these lenses are easier to extract if changes need to be made later. I learned that many doctors were going with a combination of Rezoom and Restor lenses in an effort to take advantage of the strengths of each. A newer multifocal similar to the Crystalens but without the hinges called Tetraflex is currently being field tested in Europe. This was not an option for me as I live in the U. S. In England, this might be an option if you can contact the right people.
One potential drawback to the Rezoom and Restor lenses is halo effects. Other issues are cost, pupil size, and the effects of astigmatism. I personally have had no serious problems with halos, and these problems are supposed to abate over time anyway. I have had to pay an additional $1800 per eye beyond insurance coverage for the multifocals, but this cost includes follow-up Lasik surgery for astigmatism. Small pupil size can undermine the effects of the Rezoom lens for intermediate and near vision. Vision with multifocal lenses at all distances also can be significantly compromised by astigmatism. The best way to correct astigmatism is via Lasik surgery after lens implantation. I had to learn all of this information on my own.
Right now, my vision is not perfect at all distances. I have very good (20/20) distance vision in my right eye and better distance vision in my left eye than before lens replacement. Vision at other distances is coming in slower. I can read a book in good light without glasses but not at a 20/20 level yet. I have noticed gradual improvement at closer distances, and my doctor is confident that the Lasik surgery will remedy most if not all of my current deficiencies.
Overall, I'm glad that I had this surgery and anticipate that I will be glasses independent eventually. You just have to be patient. I recommend reading through the archives in this forum. There is a lot of discussion about the pros and cons of multifocal and monofocal lenses.
Thanks for mentioning this Tetraflex lens. I've never heard about it, but will check it out.
Although Moorfields is one of the best eye hospitals in the world, if you are referred there under the NHS then they will only give you Monofocals as they consider anything else a “luxury”. For me it was really important to have good reading and computer vision as I just hated being dependent on glasses. I had 3 different pairs and was constantly losing them or treading on them! If you can afford it, or have insurance, then I think Tetraflex are the best around at the moment (in the UK anyway – they’re not available yet outside Europe). It cost me £2250 for each eye which is loads of money but at least you get to choose the best surgeon around - unlike the NHS. Mine was recommended by my optician and has done over 7000 cataract operations. He only uses Tetraflex lenses now mainly because they give less problems and you don’t get those horrible night halos that people constantly mention. I’ve read some really bad reports about the Crystalens so I’m surprised that Dr. Eizenhower recommends it – I guess he’s probably just a rep. Do some research on the internet and I think you’ll be impressed. Also get opinions from different opticians and definitely AVOID all those eye clinics springing up all over the place – make sure you choose the surgeon not the clinic.
Thanks for the advice. Could you tell me who your surgeon is and how to contact him?
I've got private insurance through work, so it should pay. However, I see in the US, insurance companies will only pay for monofocal lenses as well. So, I guess I might have to top it up. We'll see.
I've read some reports this afternoon that suggest that Tetraflex stops focusing after about six months. Did your surgeon ever mention this, or is it just a rumour?
Sorry to hear about your problems with your multifocals. I realise that this is a big risk and that multifocals are not a great solution.
That's why I'm seriously leaning towards the Tetraflex.