Refractive Lens Exchange

In your eye there is a natural lens that helps to focus the eye in a complicated alliance with both the cornea and the length of the eye. When you have nearsightedness or farsightedness your lens and your cornea are not balanced with the length of the eye. We can correct these refractive errors by changing the shape of the cornea (as with LASIK) or by exchanging the lens, but we cannot change the length of the eye.

Exchanging the lens is actually the most common surgical procedure performed in the United States, through not for refractive reasons. The same natural aging process of the lens leads to presbyopia at about 40 years of age and a cataract later in life. Cataract surgery, performed 2.7 million times a year in the U.S., is the removal of the natural lens and its replacement with a modern synthetic one.

In Refractive Lens Exchange, the same operation is performed, not to remove a cataract, but to change the power of the lens in the eye to help its focus.

For a relatively high amount of farsightedness (hyperopia) refractive lens replacement is, in our opinion, the only good choice at this point in time, especially if the farsightedness is greater than +3.00 to +6.00 diopters. Depending on individual considerations, it may be the best procedure for any degree of hyperopia when the patient is over 55 years old.

ReSTOR ®

ReSTOR ® is actually known by the technical name, AcrySof ® ReSTOR ® Apodized Diffractive IOL.

What is ReSTOR ®?

The AcrySof ReSTOR ® Apodized Diffractive Optic Posterior Intraocular Lens is a permanent artificial lens. The ReSTOR ® lens is convex on both sides and made of a soft plastic. It is folded and inserted into the eye through a tiny incision smaller than the optic diameter of the lens. After insertion, the lens gently unfolds to ReSTOR ® vision. The supporting arms of the lens maintain proper positioning within the eye.

How does it work?

The AcrySof ReSTOR ® Intraocular Lens 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 ® Intraocular Lens is used in adult patients with and without presbyopia, who desire near, intermediate and distance vision with increased independence from glasses and contact lenses. It is FDA approved for use after cataract surgery.

What will ReSTOR ® be able to accomplish?

The AcrySof ReSTOR ® Intraocular Lens 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 ® Apodized Diffractive Intraocular Lens:

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 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.

People who have had prior laser eye surgery including LASIK, Custom LASIK, PRK, LASEK, Epi LASIK or any other corneal Laser Eye Surgery may be acceptable candidates for ReSTOR ® implantation as long as their eyes are in good health. After a thorough examination and consultation, your surgeon will be able to better advise you if you qualify for the ReSTOR ® implant.

Crystalens ™

Crystalens ™, is a single-focus accommodating intraocular lens. It was developed to address the loss of intermediate and near focusing ability. Crystalens ™ is manufactured from a proprietary and specially formulated solid silicone called Biosil ™. Crystalens ™ is a cataract replacement lens that works naturally with your eyes' muscles to give you the quality of vision you enjoyed when you were younger.
The revolutionary design element that makes Crystalens ™ the state-of-the-art replacement lens are "hinges" which are designed to allow the lens to move, or accommodate to focus on objects near, far and all distances in-between seamlessly.

Unlike old-style fixed focal lenses, which didn't move, Crystalens ™ has the ability to move, thus focusing as your eye's natural lens did when you were younger. Your surgeon will take precise measurements to insure the correct lens power selection for your eye.

Upon having your cataract removed, it is now possible for your surgeon to replace the lens with Crystalens ™ in order to help you regain the ability to see not only at distance, but also see intermediate and near objects-without dependence on glasses.

After your surgery and the placement of Crystalens ™, you will "relearn" how to focus your vision with your doctor's help and instruction. After a brief time of adaptation, it is expected that you will be able to perform most tasks-far, intermediate and near-without dependence on glasses.

ReZoom ™ Multifocal Intraocular Lens

The ReZoom ™ Multifocal Intraocular Lens is an option for the treatment of both cataracts and presbyopia. It is designed to provide patients multifunctional vision if they have a strong desire for greater independence from glasses or contacts. The ReZoom ™ Multifocal Lens has a patented lens design called Balanced View Optics ™ Technology. This lens design creates multiple focal points so patients can see well at a variety of distances, be it near, mid-distance, or far.

The ReZoom ™ Multifocal Lens has carefully proportioned visual zones that provide it with the ability to provide patients with vision at varybing distances. Each ReZoom ™ Multifocal Lens 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 Lens 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 during night driving whereas others provide better bright light-near vision for close vision activities.

If you have been diagnosed as having cataracts and are experiencing one or more of the following vision problems, you may be a candidate for the ReZoom ™ Multifocal lens:

Difficulty reading
Difficulty seeing close objects
Difficulty seeing to drive, especially at night
Changing glasses prescriptions
Needing bifocals

Verisyse™ Phakic Intraocular Lens for Extreme Myopia

An Intraocular Lens is a microscopic lens that can be placed inside your eye in order to correct certain vision problems or conditions of the eye. The most common type of Intraocular Lens is one that is implanted in your eye when you have the natural lens in your eye removed during cataract surgery. This type of Intraocular Lens is called a "Pseudophakic Intraocular Lens" because it is a replacement for your natural lens. It is placed behind the Iris, or colored part of your eye in an anatomical area called the Posterior Chamber. For patients who are extremely nearsighted and may have contraindications to LASIK, an Intraocular Lens may be implanted in front of the Iris, in an anatomical area called the Anterior Chamber. When an Anterior Chamber Lens is implanted, it is possible to leave the natural crystaline lens intact that allows for uninterrupted focusing from far to near, a process called accommodation. For patients who are extremely nearsighted and who have LASIK contraindications, Verisyse™ may be an effective option for correcting their distance vision and maintaining normal focusing ability and near vision.

How Verisyse™ Works

The Verisyse™ procedure involves placing the Verisyse™ Phakic IOL behind your cornea and on top of your Iiris. This gives your eye an additional focusing lens that corrects your nearsightedness, much like have a contact lens placed inside of your eye. Although the Verisyse™ Phakic IOL is intended to be permanent, the procedure is reversible if desired.

The word "Phakic" means that your natural crystaline lens is left in the eye. This is important because your natural lens is responsible for helping your eye adjust between seeing objects that are near and far.