Cataract surgery has undergone tremendous technological advances since the days of your parents and grandparents. This year, millions of patients will choose to have both their vision and their lifestlyes restored, thanks to this life-changing procedure.

Once you understand what a cataract is, how it will be removed, and how your vision may be improved with the AcrySof ReSTOR IOL, your concern about your diagnosis could turn into excitement.

 
     
  How Cataracts Develop  
 

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 the images to your brain.

The human lens, made mostly of protein and water, can become clouded to the point of keeping 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 it cannot be corrected by laser. The best way to treat a cataract is to remove the old, clouded lens and provide a replacement.

CLICK HERE to see the AcrySof IOL implant

 
 
 
     
  AcrySof ReSTOR Apodized Diffractive IOL  
 

What exactly is it? The AcrySof ReSTOR Apodized Diffractive Optic Posterior IOL (ReSTOR) is a permanent artificial lens. ReSTOR is implanted in the eye to restore vision after the natural lens is removed because of cataract with or without presbyopia.

FOOTNOTE: Presbyopia is the natural aging process of the eye

The ReSTOR lens is convex on both sides and made of a soft plastic. It is folded and inserted into the eye through a tiny incision smaller than the optic diameter of the lens. After insertion, the lens gently unfolds to restore vision. The supporting arms (haptics) of the lens maintain proper positioning within the eye.

How does it work? The AcrySof ReSTOR IOL replaces the natural lens. It has a patented optic design using apodization, diffraction and refraction technologies. The apodized diffractive optic design gives it the ability to focus light correctly on the retina for images at various distances without mechanical movement of the lens.