AcrySof® ReSTOR® Intraocular Lens (IOL)

The Natural Crystalline Lens

The crystalline lens is a refractive structure within the eye consisting of a transparent membrane filled with a transparent protein. The crystalline lens is responsible for approximately 40% of the eye's focusing power and can change its curvature in order to focus images of nearby objects in our environment. As part of the normal aging process, the crystalline lens progressively loses its clarity and elasticity. This hardening of the natural lens begins very early in life, but tends not to interfere with clear near vision until after the age of 40. At this approximate age, when the lens tissue has hardened and lost its ability to change its curvature sufficiently enough to focus for reading vision, the condition is called presbyopia. When presbyopia occurs, individuals require reading spectacles to fine-tune vision for near tasks such as reading or sewing.

Another aging process that occurs within the natural lens is the progressive loss of transparency in the transparent protein. When the lens opacity begins to impair an individual's functional vision or block vision, we describe the condition as cataract, which can be surgically extracted. However, once the lens tissue is removed, spectacles, contact lenses or an intraocular lens (IOL) implant must replace the lost optical power of the natural lens to achieve visual correction. Today, ophthalmologists use the intraocular lens device as the most typical method of restoring optical power after natural lens extraction. NOTE: Cataracts may also develop as the result of exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light, eye trauma, medications, disease, genetics or infection prior to birth and/or other factors.

Restoring Optical Power & the AcrySof ReSTOR Intraocular Lens

Until now, the most commonly manufactured IOL implants were monofocal lenses, which offer a fixed-range of focus only, rather than multiple ranges of focus. This means, after lens extraction and monofocal lens implantation, a patient is reliant upon spectacles to fine-tune some ranges of focus (i.e., near, intermediate and/or distance vision - depending on patient preference).

Using technological advances found in microscopes and telescopes, Alcon Laboratories has developed the AcrySof ReSTOR intraocular lens to provide individuals with vision for distance and near after natural lens extraction (i.e., cataract or Refractive Lens Exchange surgery). This type of refractive correction with multiple ranges of focus is called pseudoaccommodation and it enables many patients to focus both ranges of vision adequately without spectacle dependence.

Basic Information About the AcrySof ReSTOR Intraocular Lens

• The diffractive properties of the AcrySof ReSTOR intraocular lens represent a significant technological advancement over traditional monofocal lenses by using the principles of dividing light to offer multiple ranges of focus.
• The AcrySof ReSTOR intraocular lens structure is made up of a series of concentric steps, formed in a circular pattern.
• The AcrySof ReSTOR intraocular lens is the same hydrophobic acrylic lens material as the original AcrySof intraocular lens, which has been implanted in over 16 million human eyes since 1991.
• The AcrySof ReSTOR intraocular lens uses the technology found in microscopes and telescopes to offer fewer visual phenomena (i.e., glare, halos, reduced visual acuity in dim lighting) than found with other multifocal lens implants. NOTE: Some visual phenomena, particularly at night, are expected in all patients selecting the AcrySof ReSTOR intraocular lens due to the simultaneous focus of near and distant images.
• The intermediate range of vision is not as good as near or distant vision with this IOL, which may require spectacle correction for activities such as computer work, lecturing and 
  reading music.

Good Candidates:

• Are motivated to reduce their dependency on spectacles or contact lenses
• Have generally healthy eyes
• Require intraocular implants in both eyes
• Cataract and Refractive Lens Exchange patients who want to regain the ability to see near and distant objects without spectacle dependency after surgery

Unsuitable Candidates:

• Have critical near vision requirements (e.g., artists, dentists, jewellers, engineers, architects or individuals who work on a computer for a living)
• Have difficulty adapting to changes in their prescription spectacles
• Have significant amounts of astigmatism
• Drive at night for their occupation and/or have life-long complaints about nighttime glare