Visual Freedom After Cataract Surgery
December 2005

“What a blessing to see” exclaims Betty Riedel after her cataract surgery. “Dr. Lee and staff showed much kindness and empathy; and I had total confidence in the team” states Ms. Riedel.

Until recently, cataract patients have received monofocal lens implant allowing them to see clearly in only certain distances and required a reading glasses or bifocal glasses. Today, the AcrySof® ReSTOR® IOL is a revolutionary lens technology designed to allow patients to see clearly at all distances without bifocals or reading glasses.  In the clinical study, 80% of patients receiving the AcrySof® ReSTOR® IOL reported that they never wear glasses for any activities. In fact, patients are so pleased with their vision, nearly 94% of patients said that they would have the AcrySof® ReSTOR® IOL implanted again, if given the choice.

A common cause of poor vision, especially for adults 60 and older, is a cataract.  A cataract is a clouding of the natural lens of the eye. It can be compared to a window that is frosted or “fogged” with steam. The symptoms include a gradual painless blurring of vision, glare or light sensitivity, needing brighter light to read, frequent eyeglass changes, poor night vision, double vision in one eye, and/or fading or yellowing of colors. Causes of cataract are most commonly aging, but also can include injury and surgery to the eye, medications, diabetes and other diseases, and family history.

Cataract surgery has undergone tremendous technological advances during the past decades. It is a surgery performed as an outpatient, under topical anesthesia with IV sedation, through a tiny incision to remove the cloudy lens and insert a replacement lens or a lens implant. Cataract surgery requires no sutures, no needles, and no patching.

In less than 1 week, Phyllis went from 20/200 vision without glasses to 20/20 in both distance and near vision without any glasses. She had worn her glasses all her life for her farsightedness and the progressive bifocals since age 40. For the first time in her life at age 62, she saw everything clearly in all distances without any glasses or correction. In fact, she sat close to her computer monitor and was able to see clearly as well as for driving. Imagine the joy!

Submitted by By Christine E. Lee, MD, Eye Institute of NC, in Durham. The phone number is 919.572.0050