IOL

[scams]

I am 74 years of age and have come to the point of needing cataract surgery (having a hard time reading a phone book or fine print).  I would appreciate any guidance as to what type of IOL lens should I chose for cataract surgery.  Doing some initial search, it appears that Crystalens is a good choice, but don't have any basic guidance as to what I should be looking for.  Talking to a neighbor indicates that the doctors he visted, wanted to install the lens they were familiar with.  Any suggestions and information to help me make the appropriate decision would be very much appreciated, Sam.

[KayakerNC]

Google Posterior Capsule Opacity (also called a secondary cataract).
Your ophthalmologist is a better choice to consult than the internet.

[xxx233]

  I have a implant that has moved and is causing blurred vision, after years
       of having cataract surgery done. what can be done to fix my problem.
    I think my lens has moved and is causing the problem.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

Go this article to read about the advantages of an aspheric IOL

http://www.ophmanagement.com/article.aspx?article=100491

At this moment in time in my opinion the state of the art is the Technis aspheric IOL. (no conflict of interest on my part).

Yes you can have a spheric IOL in one eye and an aspheric IOL in the other.

JCH III MD

[jojokiki]

Is the Alcon Acrysof IOL an aspheric design?  If not, what's the difference?  Benefit of aspheric?  Drawback?  Can you have regular IOL in one eye and aspheric in the other eye after cataract surgery?

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

A Crystalens is a so called "premium" lens and will cost you several thousand dollars out of pocket as they are not covered by Medicare or private insurance. The are more difficult to put in, have higher complications rates, much higher rate of needing to be removed, offer poor night vision and distrubing light reflexes for many people and often require glasses for some or most things.

I personally would chose a standard mono-focal IOL but of aspheric design (like the Technis IOL). After surgery I would plan on wearing glasses ideally in a progressive no line bifocal.

JCH III MD