ReSTOR Lens®

For most cataract patients, life without reading glasses or bifocals is something they dreamed about. But today, AcrySof® ReSTOR® IOL (intraocular lenses) is turning those dreams into reality with its revolutionary lens technology, which is designed to allow patients to see clearly at all distances without bifocals or reading glasses.

What is Presbyopia?

When your eyes were young, your natural lens was both transparent and flexible. Because of this, your vision was most likely stable until you reached your fourties. Around that time, you may have noticed that you had to hold a menu or a book farther and farther away to read it. Many people end up wearing a pair of reading glasses or bifocals to compensate for this aging of the eye. This condition is called "presbyopia" and eventually affects everyone, including those who are nearsighted, farsighted, have cataracts, or had perfect vision most of their life.

The AcrySof® Family of Lenses

Intraocular lenses were first introduced in 1949 and are available today in all kinds of shapes, sizes, and lens materials. AcrySof® IOLs are made of the first foldable material developed exclusively for use in the eye. WIth more than 21 million lenses implanted, the AcrySof® lens is the most commonly used IOL in the world, since they became available in 1994. Its popularity is largely due to their ability to provide excellent visual results and a high level of patient satisfaction.

The Safest and Most Successful Procedure Performed Today

Cataract surgery is performed on an outpatient basis and usually requires just a few hours of your time from start to finish. Your eye will be treated with anesthetic prior to the procedure so you'll feel little, if any, discomfort. First, a tiny incision will be made in the eye allowing your surgeon to use a small instrument (about the size of a pen tip) to break up or wash away the cloudy cataract. Once the cataract is removed, the AcrySof® ReSTOR® IOL will be inserted through the same tiny incision and set into its permanent position.

How Cataracts Develop

A cataract is a clouding of the natural lens inside your eye. This lens, located behind the iris (or colored part of the eye) works just like the lens of a camera - focusing light images on the retina, which sends the images to your brain.

The human lens, made mostly of protein and water, can become clouded - so clouded it keeps light and images from reaching the retina. Eye injury, certain diseases, or even some medications can cause the clouding. But, in over 90% of cases, clouding is caused by the aging process. A cataract is not a "film" over the eye, and neither diet nor lasers will make it go away. The best way to treat a cataract is to remove the old, clouded lens and provide a replacement.

What others think...

"I have worn glasses and/or contacts for over 35 years. Every two years I would faithfully make an eye doctor’s appointment and find out that my eyes were getting worse but that it could be taken care of with a stronger prescription. Finally, 2 years ago, my eye doctor talked to me about lasik surgery and asked if I would be interested in it. I said yes and an appointment was made. I was quite disappointed to find that my corneas were too thin to make the operation successful, so I resigned myself to the fact that I would wear corrective lenses for the rest of my life. That all changed with my most current visit to the eye doctor. He explained to me about the ReStor Lens Procedure and got me in contact with Dr. Yee. After a short battery of tests, it was determined I was a candidate for surgery. The total surgery itself only took 20 minutes. I had my right eye done on July 17 and my left eye done on July 24. She even was able to correct the astigmatism in my left eye! I could see much better immediately after the surgeries and as time went on my vision became even sharper. Now, one month later, I have 20/20 vision in both eyes for distance and near without glasses. It is wonderful to get up in the morning and see the clock across the room. I would strongly recommend the procedure to anyone. Dr. Yee’s abilities are amazing!"

- Michael J. Lawrence - 8/19/08