Question:
Have any cataract patients had experience with the Alcon Restore
lens? My mom is having surgery soon and is scheduled for a standard
lens, which will require reading glasses afterwards. The Restore lens
is supposed to provide the same effect as bifocal glasses. Restore is a
competitor to the Crystalens product but uses a different approach.
The newer lens add about $1700 per eye according to the surgeon on
top of Medicare. I was wondering if there are any risks, complications,
etc. which would rule out the Restore lens. The surgeon did mention
that there are only thousands of Restore patients versus millions with
the conventional IOL. That is probably a US only number.
Answer:
As an optometrist who chose to NOT have any multifocal iols implanted
(Jan, '05) on the recommendations of a world class surgeon, I am happy
to need occasional readers, because I have such crystal clear vision.
Restore iols have multiple rings which will degrade her distance vision
somewhat, how much is unpredictable. Go with standard iols, or find a
surgeon who does Tecnis Prolate Silicone lenses, if you want the best.
