The Alcon ReStor, Alcon TORIC, and AMO TECNIS premium lens implants are just a few of the options Dr. Tokuhara uses to improve the quality of your vision after cataract lens implant surgery.
Especially exciting are the latest lens implants that can provide both reading and distance vision without glasses. For 50 years, eye surgeons have used lens implants to replace the eye’s internal focusing lens, but until recently every lens implant acted simply like a fixed-focus lens. Three new lens implants have been FDA-approved recently for correction of both distance and reading vision.
Each of these implants works slightly differently, and not all implants are right for all patients. This page is designed to help people interested in these new-technology lens implants to understand the similarities and differences between them. Dr. Tokuhara has extensive experience implanting all of the lenses described here and takes pride in helping each patient make an unbiased, informed decision on an implant that will provide a lifetime of clear vision.
How quickly patients typically have clear vision for various distances:
| TECNIS | CrystaLens | ReSTOR | |
| Far away | Immediate. | Immediate. | Immediate. |
| Mid-range (2-3 feet) | Slowly improves over several weeks. | Slowly improves over one to several weeks. | Slowly improves over one to several weeks. |
| Up-close (1-2 feet) | Immediate. | Slowly improves over one to several weeks. | Immediate. |
Advantages and disadvantages of each:
| TECNIS | CrystaLens | ReSTOR | |
| Advantages | Excellent results for distance and near. | True accommodating lens. Theoretically best clarity of vision. | Best for fine print. Results are immediate. |
| Disadvantages | May get mild haloes when driving at night. 10% of Patients may need glasses. | Some “learning curve” in retraining muscles to focus. May need glasses for reading | May get mild haloes when driving at night. May need glasses for arms length vision (e.g., computer) |
Ideal candidate for premium lens implants:
| TECNIS | CrystaLens | ReSTOR | |
| Ideal Candidate | People who desire less dependence on glasses. 90% of Tecnis patients use NO glasses at all! | Active people who may not mind glasses for very fine print. People who need clear vision for driving at night. | People who drive minimally at night or are not bothered by glare. People who spend a great deal of time reading and do not mind wearing glasses for computer use. |