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If you want to experience all life has to offer - you want to see it all, from the big expansive picture, down to the smallest, most precious details. From the moments you've waited a lifetime to see to every day reading, you don't want to miss a thing. But if you don't see as clearly as you used to, cataracts could be getting in your way, and life could be looking pretty cloudy.

Good news comes with the innovative AcrySof® ReSTOR® cataract replacement lens. The AcrySof® ReSTOR® lens is a revolutionary multifocal lens that improves vision in a range of distances-from near to far. It lets cataract patients see the whole picture clearly, usually without glasses. The results can be life changing.

What follows is an explanation of what a cataract is, how it can be removed with cataract surgery, what you can expect following the surgery, and the risks and benefits of the AcrySof® ReSTOR® lens.

Cataract surgery with the AcrySof® ReSTOR® lens means you won't have new eyes, but you will have restored sight.

What is a Cataract?

A cataract is a clouding of the natural lens inside your eye. This lens, located behind the iris, works just like the lens of a camera-focusing light images on the retina, which sends images to the brain. The human lens can become so clouded it keeps light and images from reaching the retina.

A cataract can be the reason sharp images become blurred, bright colors become dull, or seeing at night is more difficult. It may also be why the reading glasses or bifocals that used to help you read or do other simple tasks no longer seem to help. Vision with cataracts has been described as seeing life through old, cloudy film.

But a cataract is not a "film" over the eyes, and neither diet nor lasers will make it go away, nor can it prevented. Eye injury, certain diseases, or even some medications can cause the clouding. The best way to treat a cataract us with surgery that removes the old, clouded lens and replaces it with new, artificial ones to restore your vision, and in many ways, significantly improves your quality of life.

What is Presbyopia?

Presbyopia is the condition in which the lens of the eye loses its ability to focus. It is a common condition that could accompany cataracts and impair your ability to see objects that are close up. Have you ever found yourself holding a menu or a book farther away to read it? The need for reading glasses is usually a sign of presbyopia. This aging of the eyes eventually affects everyone. If you have cataracts with presbyopia, the AcrySof® ReSTOR® lens can correct both conditions.

What Exactly is Cataract Surgery?

One of the safest and most successful procedures performed today.

Huge medical advances have been made in the treatment of cataracts. For patients, cataract surgery is generally a simply, outpatient procedure with little discomfort, only requires a few hours, and uses topical anesthetic.

The operation itself entails making a tiny incision in the eye. Through this incision, the surgeon inserts an instrument about the size of a pen tip. This instrument breaks the cloudy lens into pieces and removes them from the eye. Once the cataract is removed, a cataract replacement lens is inserted through the same tiny incision and set into position to replace the natural lens.

What Can I Expect Following Cataract Surgery?

Most patients typically return home the very same day as cataract surgery. Eye drops may be prescribed to guard against infection and help your eye heal. For a few days, you may need to wear an eye patch to keep away irritants. Everyone heals differently, but most patients see well enough to return to most of their routine activities within a few days of recovery.

What Is An IOL?

An intraocular lens (IOL) is the replacement lens that is surgically implanted in the eye to replace the existing clouded lens during cataract surgery.

The good news is that you've encountered cataracts at a time when intraocular lens technology has taken great leaps in progress. Traditionally, the replacement lens used for cataract surgery was a monofocal IOL. This type of lens restores good functional distance vision, but people still need to continue wearing reading glasses. Today, you also have the option of the AcrySof® ReSTOR® multifocal lens, which can improve vision in a full range of distances, from near to far.

Why Choose The Acrysof® Restor® Lens?

The AcrySof® ReSTOR® lens is a breakthrough lens for cataract surgery that lets patients see from near to far, usually without glasses. An innovative optical technology call "apodization" makes the AcrySof® ReSTOR® lens uniquely effective, especially when placed in both eyes. A similar technology has been used for years in microscopes and telescopes to improve image quality and has now been patented for use in intraocular lenses by Alcon.

Most AcrySof® ReSTOR® lens patients find that they can read a book, work on the computer, drive a car-day or night-and play golf or tennis with an increased freedom from glasses.

You may experience visual disturbances. Additionally, some side effects with the AcrySof® ReSTOR® IOL may make it more difficult to see in low lighting conditions; therefore, increased care should be taken when driving at night.

Four out of five acrysof® restor® lens recipients reported never wearing glasses after having the lens placed in both eyes.

Why you can take comfort in the Acrysof® Restor® lens:

  • The AcrySof® ReSTOR® lens comes from Alcon, the world's leader in lenses for cataract surgery
  • The Alcon AcrySof® family of lenses is the most widely used brand for cataract surgery
  • The history of the AcrySof® family of lenses speaks for itself: more than 25 million AcrySof® IOLs have been implanted worldwide
  • AcrySof® ReSTOR® patients are so pleased with their vision, nearly 94% said they would have the AcrySof® ReSTOR® lens implanted again

They're your eyes and you have options.

The AcrySof® ReSTOR® lens is an advanced type of multi-focal IOL. But it may not be right for you. Talk to your eye care professional about the options within the AcrySof® family of lenses for your cataract surgery.

In choosing your cataract replacement lens, our eye care professional will take into account many aspects of your eye health. But you will also be asked to consider your lifestyle. How much reading or computer work do you do? What are your hobbies? Do you often drive at night?

Financial Considerations

If you're considering cataract surgery, you'll be happy to know that Medicare covers the cost of surgery and a portion of the AcrySof® ReSTOR® lens for qualifying patients. As with any lens of this type, you may be required to pay for additional services.

The AcrySof® ReSTOR® lens. Sight changing, life changing.

When your sight is compromised, your life is compromised. Fortunately there's a very effective solution to cataracts and presbyopia.

Cataract surgery with the AcrySof® ReSTOR® lens enables most people to see the big picture without missing the details, usually without glasses. Such dramatically improved eyesight immediately multiplies the possibilities in your life. Passengers could become drivers again. Golfers could keep their eye on the ball and enjoy the surrounding scenery. Travelers on safari could spot animals and identify them in their guidebook, not to mention see the expressions on everyone else's face.

The simplicity of this procedure for patients and these life-changing results inspires many to wish they had chosen AcrySof® ReSTOR® sooner.

To get the big picture, get the details first. Important questions to ask your eye doctor:

  1. Can you explain cataract surgery and how long it takes?
  2. I've heard about the new multifocal lens. Can you explain how it is different from a traditional cataract lens?
  3. I enjoy reading. Am I a good candidate for a multifocal lens?
  4. After cataract surgery with a multifocal lens, will I still need glasses?
  5. Are there any risks with a multifocal lens?
  6. Is the AcrySof® ReSTOR® lens right for me?

Current technology makes it possible to correct the cataracts that may be clouding your vision - and the astigmatism that may be distorting your vision - all at the same time.

What is Astigmatism?

Sometimes, the surface of the cornea is curved in such a way that vision becomes distorted or blurred. A person who has both cataracts and a corneal astigmatism will not regain high-quality distance vision after cataract surgery unless the astigmatism is also corrected.

What is the AcrySof® Toric IOL?

The AcrySof® Toric intraolcular lens (IOL) replaces your eye's natural clouded lens during ataract surgery. It has the ability to reduce or eliminate corneal astigmatism at the same time it corrects cataracts. The result is typically improved distance vision, and less dependence on spectacles. However, most patients still need corrective lenses for near and immediate tasks. The AcrySof® Toric lens also filters out harmful ultraviolet and blue light.

With the AcrySof® Toric lens, your distance vision can be clear and vibrant, giving you the power to see your best and be your best.

AcrySof® IOLs are:

  • The most widely used: More than 30 million have been implanted worldwide
  • Unique in their ability to filter high-energy blue light
  • Made by Alcon, the world's leading eye care company

As we age, the eye's natural crystalline lens often stiffens and hardens, which can cloud vision and create a cataract.

But that doesn't mean a permanent loss of vision or giving up activities. After all, cataract surgery is not only safe and effective; it's the most commonly performed surgery in the United States. Over 3 million Americans have the procedure every year and successfully regain the vision they had prior to cataracts.

The Crystalens advantage

Crystalens replacement lenses don't just treat your cataracts, they are designed to correct your full range of vision - flexing like the eye's natural lens, so you can see near, far and everywhere in between. No other replacement lens comes closer to mirroring the natural focusing ability of the eye.

Crystalens is FDA approved and permanent. Performed on an outpatient basis, surgery takes approximately 15 to 20 mins. And you should be able to return to normal activities within several days. You should be even able to resume driving and return to work within just 2 or 3 days.

Near, far and everywhere in between

If you're like many Crystalens patients, after surgery you'll hardly, if ever, need your glasses or contacts to see:

NEAR: Read books or newspapers and your cell phone

FAR: See things across the room or across the beach

IN BETWEEN: Use a computer, read a dashboard and anything else you see at arm's length

Is Crystalens right for you?

Your physician will perform a through eye exam to determine the most appropriate treatment for you, but you may be a good candidate for Crystalens:

  • If your eyes are healthy
  • If you have not had previous cataract surgery
  • If you have no major health problems
  • Even if you've had a refractive procedure such as LASIK

Potential Complications
Implantation of Crystalens is a surgical procedure. All surgical procedures entail some risk. The risks of implantation with Crystalens are generally the same potential risks that exist for implanting all intraocular lenses. Because Crystalens has a smaller optic compared to the standard IOL, glare and other visual disturbances may occur under certain lighting conditions, including at night when the pupil widely dilates. Only your surgeon can determine if Crystalens is right for you and explain the applicable risks. Your doctor will perform a thorough examination and fully inform you of any increased risk of complications. Because Crystalens only absorbs a portion of ultraviolet light, you should wear sunglasses with UV400 protection when out in daylight.

Indications For Use
The Crystalens is intended for primary implantation in the capsular bag of the eye for the visual correction of aphakia secondary to the removal of a cataractous lens in adult patients with and without presbyopia. The Crystalens provides approximately one diopter of monocular accommodation which allows for near, intermediate, and distance vision without spectacles.

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