considering Crystalens

I'm 57, female, diagnosed with early cataracts two years ago. Prior to this I was nearsighted, -6.50 in left eye, -7.50 in right, wore reading glasses since age 40. The right cataract worsened causing temporarily improved near vision in the right eye for the last 18 months or so, with distance vision badly deteriorated. I suffered with the monovision for awhile, didn't like it, I still wore reading glasses since close vision in left eye was still bad, but was getting by. Now the right near vision has worsened and I have decided to go ahead with surgery,

My surgeon recommends Crystalens. I told him I would rather go back to good distance and intermediate vision and use reading glasses if necessary. The left eye has a stable cataract and my vision with contact lens is still -6.50 and I have poor close-up vision in that eye. I don't have astigmatism that I know of.

My question is, from what I've been reading here, would continuing to wear a contact lens in my left eye for the time being cause a problem adjusting to Crystalens in the right eye? Is it true that I should stop wearing my right contact lens before being measured for the Crystalens? What if I am going to continue wearing a contact lens in my right eye? Thanks for any input.

[2ndsight]

sorry I meant to say I would be continuing to wear a contact lens in my LEFT eye

[JodieJ]

You would need to wear a contact lens in your left eye if you had a Crystalens in your right eye.

In order to get the measurements which are used to determine the correct power for your Crystalens, most doctors ask that you go without contacts for about 2 weeks if you wear soft contacts and longer if you wear  RGPs.  The Crystalens is supposed to work better when implanted in both eyes.  Many doctors like to measure both eyes at the same time.  Are you planning to do your left eye in the near future?

[2ndsight]

yes I would be definitely planning to do the left eye before too long, it has a cataract also. I am seeing distance well enough out of it now with -6.50 contact lens, but I am sure it will eventually worsen

At this time I wear disposable, daily wear soft Acuvue lenses. Two weeks is a long time to be virtually without sight in that right eye!  I will do it of course if it is recommended. I haven't scheduled things yet but I am planning to do so sometime very soon.

[JodieJ]

Unfortunately, contact lens wear can affect the corneal measurements used to determine the power of your Crystalens--and you definitely don't want that to happen.  Some doctors require less than 2 weeks out of contacts, but generally both eyes are measured on the same day.  If you don't have glasses that you can wear, you may have to get some made (like I did.)  After the measurements are taken, you can go back to wearing your contacts until your surgery.

The Crystalens is reputed to be the best of the multifocal/accommodating lenses, and I you will probably be pleased with your outcome.  But I still think you should do some research before you proceed.  This website has a wealth of info; try entering "Crystalens" in the search feature.  

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

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[2ndsight]

Dr Hagen there was nothing in your post

[colavecd]

I was a RGP lens wearer for 42 years. ONce my cataract worsened to the point of removal I started the process of getting my cornea stabilized. It took almost 4 months of monthly changes of a soft lens to one month of no lens in order to stabilize my corneal measurements. It was a 'dark' world with just one eye corrected and virtually no vision in the other. (FYI: My corrections are 8.5 and 9.5). It has been 4 days post op after having a Crystalens implanted in my non dominant eye. Two days after surgery I was measured at 20/20 reading with bright light and 20/40 distance (reading the eye chart) with the newly implanted lens. Night vision is not great at all. Hopefully that will change in time because I could not read any street signs with my Crystalens.  However maybe my new lens needs to learn to see in the dark.  As there is a cataract in my other eye as well, I have begun the process of getting that cornea stabilized by moving to a soft contact which has already needed modification in strength proving that the cornea is getting back into its normal shape. HOwever, I might ask for a lessor prescription for that eye as I noticed with a newer prescription given to me two days after surgery the Crystalens appears to have stopped working letting my dominant eye take over. (The lens that was replaced was very weak as my cornea had changed so I was unable to read and had poor distance vision, but now the new soft lens which is multi-focal is so great at reading that the Crystalens appears to be  having trouble focusing. ) As I type with only the Crystalens I am able to see the monitor clearly, read small print on a newspaper and see out the window into the back yard clearly. With a contact in the other eye for balance, the vision is much better.  Not sure if I answered your question but it sure sounds like we have the same issue!

[2ndsight]

interesting comments. I posted that discussion before my surgery. As it turned out my vision in both eyes is now very good, but the Crystalens eye and my contact lens eye do have some disparities at the close-up distances. So far I have not tried a multi focal contact but I might try this in the future. Your night vision will definitely get better, the first few days post op  I could not see much at night at all.

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

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[colavecd]

Dr. Hagan, I would love to read your reponse if you did respond, however your screen remains blank. ??

[2ndsight]

I think this means Dr Hagan has read the posts but didn't have any new info to add

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

That mark -  means I have nothing further to add.

JCH MD