Yes, as the doctor explained, I have been favoring one eye for many
years, even when wearing the lens.

Not sure what you mean by this.

So, it seems the doctor is saying.  Basically, as I understand it, he
is saying I'll avoid some of the usual multifocal RLE pitfalls because
my dominant eye will continue to remain dominant.  What I don't
understand is the reading part of this.  Even my dominane eye needs
reading glasses.  So, if I get a multifocal, won't my uncorrected eye
still need reading glasses?  Unless, the new implant takes over for
reading.

Definitely a choice, which is why I'm asking these questions.  If I see
as well as now or better than I do now with a monofocal lens, I could
live with continued use of reading glasses.

It sounds like you've been wearing monovision, essentially, since the -1200
contact was undercorrecting.

If you had to wear +2.00 over that, then your myopic eye doesn't contribute
much (ie your other eye is strongly dominant.)

So it won't really matter which type of IOL you choose - you probably won't
favor the IOL eye any more after surgery than before.

Clear lens extraction is still an excellent choice, but I'd consider using
the simplest IOL, to match the fellow eye, and count on the same reading
glasses after surgery. Not elegant, but very satisfactory vision and a safer
procedure if the cornea isn't in peak condition.

-MT

I just found this group, and I'm sure your answers to my question will
help me in making an upcoming decision.

First, some background.  I am 56 years old and one eye is very Myopic.
I wear a -12 contact lens, which is not a 100% prescritption.  My other
eye is almost perfect.  My eye refraction has been fairly stable over
the last three years; lens going from -11 to -12 two years ago.  This
last year my good eye changed very slightly to a +.5, but I haven't
corrected it.  I use reading glasses for almost 10 years, and they are
a now at +2.  Recently, it has become difficult to wear the contact
lens. I even have trouble putting it in.  Sometimes, I can wear it for
almost two weeks and then throw it away.  Other times, one or two days
after putting it in, I get up in the middle of the night and my eye
feels like its in a vise.  Today's Dr. told me the eye was rejecting
the lens, and it will become increasingly more difficult for me to waer
a lens (something that has become more apparant over the past few
years) So, the contact lens is no longer much of an option.  If I could
continue using a contact lens, then peering over reading glasses or
taking them on and off, is not that much of an inconvenience.  I am
very athletic and play softball every week from March to October, and
golf most weeks during the same time.  I ride a bicycle.  I spend a lot
of time in front of a computer, at work and at home.

So, while investigating possible solutions, it has been impressed upon
me by my regular Doctor, who does cataract operations, but not lasik,
and a Lasik/IOL doctor I went to today, that the best solution for me
is a Clear Lens Extraction.  It appears that the implantable lenses
aren't optimized for those over 40-45 years old, and the CLE is very
effective.  Also, I am likely to get a cataract in that eye anyway, as
I grow older. The Dr. took many measurements and pictures of my eye
today, and commented that I have a small pupil, which he said was good.
I have no idea why it is.

So, I'm trying to decide whether I want to go with a Restor, which the
Doctor today suggested, or a monovision implant, done by my regular
doctor.  As the Dr. today told me, I have a unique situation in that I
have a very good dominant eye, and I have been, in effect, using this
eye primarily through the years, even while wearing a contact lens in
the other eye.  I am concerned about the Halos and other drawbacks to
using the Restor, but I'm not sure it would affect me as I would still
be relying on my dominant eye.  On the other hand, I would be okay with
a monovision lens and the continued use of reading glasses.  Still, one
wants to get the best possible outcome, the first time with such an
operation, so I want to seriously consider all my options.  The Dr. I
saw today seemed fairly confident that I would adjust well, in part due
to the Restor lens and in part due to having a good dominent eye.  In
addition, as part of the contract, he would perform Lasik for free for
the next two years, if that would help adjust the vision in the lens
with the CLE.

Obviously, the most important things for me are that I can continue to
play ball without having any Depth of Field or peripheral vision
issues. I would not like it at all if halos became a big problem.  I
would prefer the shortest period of adjustment, no matter which lens I
chose.

I hope I've given the experts in this group enough information for you
to help me make an informed decision.  Thanks . . . Steven