I live in Hong Kong, have cataract and have been trying to choose between multifocal IOLs and Crystalens HD. I tend to prefer Crystalens because of its advantages in reading computer screens and less halos, while realizing its shortcomings in near vision (40cm and under).
As Crystalens HD is still kind of under a trial peroid in Hong Kong, it may be more convenient for me to have surgery in Singapore which has passed the trial stage.
A doctor in Singapore just told me, based on his experience, it is difficult to predict the results of Crystalens. Many of his patients were happy just after the surgery, but after 1 or 2 months, the performance slipped. Some may have changed from very good near vision to say 200 degrees. Some had perfect long vision but had to wear glasses later. It is somewhat like loss of accomodation after 1 or 2 months.
He said the biggest problem is unpredictability. He normally aims at 0 degree, but the result after 1 or 2 months may be minus an unpredictable degree and in a unpredictable way (-100 degrees? -200 degrees? -?degrees? in near vision? in long vision? in?vision?)
For multifocal lens, while they have many shortcomings, they are predictable.
These comments are a big surprise for me as I have not read similar comments by U.S. patients and doctors.
Certainly no patients including myself would like to implant a premium IOL which "degrades" or loses most or many of its advantages in just 1 or 2 months after surgery.
If this "unpredictability" or "degradation" problem happens in Singapore, I cannot see why it does not happen in the U.S. or why I have not seen it on the internet.
For the benefits of all cataract patients, I would truly appreciate anyone, patients and doctors, to share his/her experience or what he/she has heard on this issue.