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My Cataract Surgery with the Crystalens Trulign Toric IOL

Cataract Surgery
At my annual eye exam June 19, 2014, my optometrist said that new glasses would not help a lot anymore, due to my cataracts.  He recommended an opthamologist who did multiple types of implants, about 30 miles away.
On July 9, 2014 I had my cataract exam.  Lots of tests. Had a nice long discussion with the Doctor about my options.  
Monofocal lenses; set for distance, with a .5 to .75 diopter difference for better reading. Cheapest, fully covered by Medicare and my BCBS insurances. But would probably need glasses for ALL distances because of astigmatism.
Multifocal lenses, Tecnis or AcrySof ReStor.  Premium lens so out-of -pocket costs of around $2000 per eye.  NOT recommended due to many patient complaints.  Astigmatism is the enemy of mutifocals.
Toric lenses, recommended for my astigmatism correction (about 1.5D in each eye).  He does not do torics with traditional surgery because the results are so much better with laser and the Optiwave Refractive Analysis (ORA) System to insure correct placement and power of the lens.  He uses Verifeye, which is the new version of ORA and says it give excellent results. But would probably need glasses for reading and intermediate (computer distance) vision.
Accommodative Toric lenses, Crystalens Trulign. Same as the Torics, but with the probability of   good vision at all distances, including reading.  May need drugstore readers for reading small print or low-light situations, such as menus in a restaurant.  Out of pocket cost of around $2500 per eye.  Laser and ORA are also included in that price.
His 1st recommendation is the Crystalens Trulign, 2nd the single vision torics.
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177275 tn?1511755244
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Avatar universal
I'm scheduled to have my fist cataract sugery in a few weeks but am still confused about which lens to chose. Thank you for your postings -they did help a lot! My choice is torics to correct my astigmatism or mono -and then I will still need glasses. I asked about accomodating lenses and was told there were none for torics. Upon research, I found the Trulign so I'm assuming that my dr. just does not use the Trulign.  I'm feeling like I should definately get a second opinion.
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Avatar universal
Today was the 6 month visit (9 mo from surgery, 6 mo from YAG).
Everything is going well, surgeon says "boring, but boring is good!".  
Pressure 12 and 14.  Muscles are working well, and good accommodation working with the Crystalens Truliign hinges.  After reading or playing on the laptop, looking in the distance is not as sharp immediately, but clears in a minute or two.  
Surgeon says this is normal.
Distance is 20/20, reading is great.  Near, far, and in-between is all good.
Next visit scheduled 1 year from now.  
Even the dents in the side of my head from 30 plus years of glasses are filling in.
No glares, no halos, no complaints.  Love it!!!!
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Avatar universal
Dfffgggggggg
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Where are you located?
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Avatar universal
re: "best lenses overseas"

The lens best for each person will differ depending on their needs, since unfortunately no lens is perfect yet. I chose to go abroad to get the Symfony lens in December, which I felt was a better be than the Crystalens. It seems like the various trade industry publications here and abroad seem to indicate its one many in the field think is the most promising new lens. I have a thread with more info about my experience with it here:

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Eye-Care/my-Symfony-IOL-results-after-cataract-surgery/show/2425258

The thread is cluttered with mention of a rare side effect I've had (the iris and perhaps other parts of the eye jiggling more than they are supposed to). That itself  has nothing to do with the lens choice, though there is some chance the fact that its visually disturbing might be due to the fact that its not a monofocal (rather than the particular design of this lens), but since even people with monofocals have had this issue it seems likely it isn't the lens.
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177275 tn?1511755244
Kansas City, MO
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Grand Prairie, TX
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