Crystalens

[aar3406]

Hi,
On February 21st, 2007 I had my left lens removed and replaced with the Crystalens.  My vision had gone from 20/15 to 20/80-20/100.
History: This had to be done, due to a cataract that had formed, from an accident.  The accident was 4 years ago this March.  Very slow impact 5mph, a lady pulled out in front of me.  I bumped my head very lightly on the visor.  Had a slight lump.  From that point both lens had trauma damage, and were both forming cataracts.  The left eye being worse than the right.
After having the surgery on the 21st, I could see fairly well.  Went to all post-op visits.  Then on the 4th week after surgery, my good vision went blurry.  I had a a "shine" that came into the bottom of my eye.  Halfmoon shape like I could see the bottom of the lens.  I went to my surgeon, he checked me, and found that the bottom of the lens had vaulted forward, causing the "shine" and blurry double vision. I was scheduled for immediate surgery the following Tuesday.
Just had the surgery this past Tuesday, to have a tension ring implanted in the lens capsule.  The surgeon told me that my zonules had damage from the accident, but didn't look that bad (two that he could see had slight damage).  That is why he implanted the lens without the tension ring at first.  He said there must of been other damage that he could not see.  The surgery went fine.  
My pupil is still constricted from the drops.  I still have a shine in the bottom of my eye.  If I look down it goes away and I can see it with my eye shut.  My vision seemed to come in good yesterday morning and then went back out.  
My question is: Is this normal, and approx. how long will it take for me to recover?  What is the normal expectations from the eye? (example: week 1 blurry, week 2 distance vision comes in, etc)
How long should I expect to wait for really nice vision from this eye.  I have heard everything from 4 weeks to 1 year....
Any information would be great.  As I'm only 32 years old, an artist, and really need my vision.....

[aimee37]

Thanks for all the replies.....I'm waiting till 8 am this morning to call another facility, as my lens has definitely vaulted again. I will not mention names, but I have done some really hard research involving Crystalens.  I found this website:

http://www.pconsupersite.com/default.asp?ID=8590

It has a lot of great information.  I may have found the reason, why I'm having problems with this lens.  Actually there are 3 reasons, but I"m not sure which one it is.  The most possible cause is that I did not receive Atropine or Cyclopentolate to dilate my eye after surgery.  My doctor put a drop in that restricts the pupil, causing the ciliary muscle to move forward, thus causing the lens to vault forward and become stuck in that position.  I'm no way a doctor, but this is my best guess as to what is going on.  I will keep posting on this forum, to keep everyone up to date.

[aimee37]

aar: *standard* recovery from cataract surgery is 6 weeks.  but your case is definitely *not* standard.

most patients are told not to lift anything more than 30 lbs during their recovery.

[aimee37]

rus: half of the posters here are already under medical supervision from surgeons.  thats how this forum is.  you cant just make blanket statements like "you might have a retinal detachment, you need ultrasound".  you have to assume that the 4-5 docs theyve already been to have already ruled that out.

[aimee37]

So many questions fron patient who are already under medical professional supervision from surgeons. Visit different opht-gist, your situation is not ordinary.
Good health

[aimee37]

Hi,
Thanks for the replies.....What I want to know is:

What is the standard recovery time for a standard patient.....?  I've heard 4 weeks to 1 year.  AND are there any limitations, like picking up items that weigh over a certain weight?

[aimee37]

no.  its not retinal detachment.  retinal detachment symptoms are different than what either of these posters have described.  plus both of these posters are already under medical professional supervision from surgeons who are assumedly ruling out retinal detachment.  you usually dont need ultrasound to detect detachment.

[aimee37]

Your problem may be retinal detadhment. Your need ultrasound evaluation of eye

[aimee37]

I have Crystalens in both eyes. I can only tell you about my experience and can't give you much advise.  My left eye is almost perfect. The right eye became cloudy one week after surgery. My doctor sent me to a vitreorentinal doctor who determined my retina was swollen and leaking.  My doctor put me on Pred Forte and Nevanac drops 4 times a day for 6 weeks and after my appointment yesterday, the swelling is almost gone but will continue the drops 4 times a day for another 6 weeks. Note: If the swelling did not go down, my doctor was going to do an injection in my eye ball. Glad I did not experience that. I don't like needles. I do pick up a glare at night but I did when wearing glasses.  All the advise I can give you is to patient and it may take 6 months to a years before you have good vision, per what my doctor told me.

[Forum-OD-MP]

no, none of that is normal.  this is a unique case...i dont know 'how long' it will take you to recover or how long it will be before you have good vision, or even if you will ever have good vision.