Almost half of people over age 65 have cataracts, clouding of the eye's natural lens that eventually leads to vision impairment or loss. Many undergo cataract surgery, which involves removing clouded lenses and replacing them with intraocular implants made of high-density acrylic. The vast majority of people who undergo the procedure are implanted with monofocal lenses that give them distant vision in both eyes or distant vision in one eye and near vision in the other. Following surgery, many need to use reading glasses or bifocals for near vision.
The AcrySof ReSTOR intraocular lens, approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in March 2005, significantly reduces the need for glasses for some people after surgery. "It's a bifocal lens, which means it lets you see both near and far," explains Cleveland Clinic Cole Eye Institute surgeon Allen S. Roth, M.D.
Noting that the FDA study showed that 80 percent of the patients who had received the lens had a return to visual acuity of 20/25, he adds, "It's like having young eyes again."
Through a process called apodization, the lens contains a series of concentric rings that resemble a bull's-eye. The rings send incoming light to focal points responsible for near vision and distant vision, providing clear vision up close and from a distance at the same time.
ReSTOR isn't for everyone. People with astigmatism, which is curvature of the cornea, aren't candidates, and it generally isn't for people who only have a cataract in one eye.
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This information is provided by the Cleveland Clinic and is not intended to replace the medical advice of your doctor or health care provider. Please consult your health care provider for advice about a specific medical condition. This document was last reviewed on: 8/1/2006
