Crystalens

[Dgordon7733]

Has the crystalens been perfected.  I am scheduled for surgery on January 15, 2009 and am very unsure what I should do.  I don't want to make my vision worse, irreversible.  I know if the halos are bad it will drive me crazy.

Do you recommend the crystalens?  I look forward to your reply/advice.  Thank you.

[BJF]

I was going to have one Crystalens and one ReStor lens, but decided to go with both ReStor because I was concerned about how well the muscle controlling the movement in the Crystalens would continue to work as I aged.  I'm quite happy with two ReStor lenses.  My reading and distance vision are wonderful.  I do see halos around headlights at night.  It doesn't restrict me from driving, though.  I don't, however, see halos any other time.  I'm quite happy with my result and would definitely do it again.  I had very bad cataracts, though, so my improvement is tremendous.  The doctor told me no lens is going to give us perfect vision.  I have 20/25 reading and 20/30 distance, so I think that's pretty good.

[BUTTERCUP109]

Sorry for the delay in reply; I know you are under some time pressure to make your decision.
No, I'm not happy with Crystalens because the fibrosis locked the implants in place, so I get no near or intermediate vision. Essentially they act like monofocal lenses.
Regarding the question: Is Crystalens multifocal?...Your doctor may only define Restor and Rezoom as multifocal because these lenses have zones for near and distant focus within the lenses. In that way, Crystalens is NOT multifocal. However, Crystalens can give you a degree of near vision by moving within your eye. True monofocal lenses can give you only distance or near but not both. I have heard from many sources not to go with Restor or Rezoom because of the graying out of your vision (loss of contrast sensitivity). If you have cataracts and need cataract surgery and can afford Crystalens, go for it! I think you have very little to lose; I think the halo problem has been taken care of in the newest design. If you are doing this as a clear lens exchange (have no cataract and just want to get near vision)... you may be disappointed, but like Dr. K said, its possible to tweek it with LASIK enhancement.

[Dgordon7733]

My doctor is telling me that Crystalens' are monofocal.  Do you know if that is true.  From everything I am reading I thought they were multifocal lenses.

Confused

[Dgordon7733]

Are you happy with the crystalens even though you developed fibrosis?  Do you have much problem with glare?  I am really concerned with the glare.  I have a hard time driving at night now and was hoping that the cateract surgery was going to help get rid of the glare and not make it worse.

Truly I have never been so confused in my life.  Is there a site to check on your surgeon.  No one seems to mention their doctor's names here.

Thanks,
Donna

[BUTTERCUP109]

I can't comment on the halo issue. I had Crystalens two years ago and I have had no halos. Does your doctor say what the theory is on why some people have this? I think it has something to do with pupil size and light reflecting around the optic edges, but I'm not sure. I would definitly try to answer the question to predict as best you can if this might affect you. I know for certain that the latest model's design addressed this issue, I know there has been improvement on this. Be very, very sure to ask that you doctor POLISH the capsule well. If you are to get any near and intermediate benefit from Crystalens, there must be NO debris left in the capsular bag. My doctor did not and I developed fibrosis that restricts the implant movement and as a result am very dependent on reading glasses. And, be aware, the younger you are the higher your risk of this as there is an immune system component involved, as well as vitreous detachment, retina detachment, or macular edema.  Please, ask me any questions about this you wish.

[londonbridge]

I absolutely agree with the last post. I had Restor in only one eye in July, read my posts. I have been miserable ever since with the wrong power, making me moderately near sighted and poor vision at all focal distances, plus glare. I am planning to have it explanted hopefully in January, with the risk and expense that entails.
If you have any qualms at all i would RECONSIDER MULTI FOCAL LENSES.

[Michael J Kutryb, MD]

The main issue you have to worry about is that you might need an enhancement about 10% of the time because the distance or near might not be as good as you want it to be.  The near vision can be helpful but you may still need to use reading glasses, so be prepared for that possibility.  If you have concerns just get a second opinion from another surgeon in the area.

MJK MD

[FredZq]

If halos will drive you crazy, you will be crazy to have the crystalens or any other multifocal lens. Search the posts here and on the general eye forum here. Maybe some people have a good experience, but many do not. EXample just a few posts down from this one

Search my namefor the posts I have made about my own experience of the last six months with both eyes and aspheric monofocal lenses. No problems and absolutley  no problems driving at night or with glare any time.

After I found this site and I read Dr Hagan's opinions and advice I really started to do some checking. I was and am absolutely convinced that for most people the multifocals are a bad idea.

I'd cancel the surgery until I became sure about what I was embarking on. Probabaly need to tell them not to order lenses until you're sure. My $0.02 Best of luck.