For Dr. Hagan Crystalens and Halo's

[Rita732]

I had Crystalens implanted in April.  Long story short, I did not get what I paid for or promised.  She told me I wouldn't need glasses for near-vision.  She admitted she made a mistake.  I put it all down in a letter, asking for full refund of $4000  and waiting to hear back from her.

Now new problem - I thought I had no problem with halos. I found out differently last night when I had to drive after dark for the first time since implants.  I discovered I have a BIG problem with halo's, worse than I had before cataract surgery.  Another problem I was told I wouldn't have by surgeon.

My question to you, Doctor - is it possible to have the Crystalens taken out and the regular monofocal implants put in?  I know this sounds like I'm going backwards but sight-wise, I'm in worse shape than I was before surgery.  

Thank you
Rita

[susannahe]

Actually the doctor didn't really care at all about what was going on with my eye until I got a second opinion and that doctor called his office. I came in the day after surgery asking when I was going to get my peripheral vision back and he wouldn't even address the questiton. He just kept saying the lens was fine. Now I'm supposed to be getting the lens exchanged by a doctor at Duke University but it has taken a lot of work to get to that point. I'm still doing research just to make sure I get the best possible lens for my eye. Anyway if it had been left up to the original doctor basically nothing would have been done at all.  I think they need to study up on patient results. Every time a patient undergoes iol surgery they should be given a questionaire asking about their vision. From this they could develop statistics about results from different lens types and different types of surgery.  It seems to me that all of these new lenses and techniques are just based on what the doctors think and not based on what the patients are actually experiencing! It's ridiculous.

[Rita732]

I'm so sorry to hear of your problems with your eyes, especially the fact that they are so much worse now simply because you put your trust in someone you believed would help you.  Along with you, it is that betrayal of trust that has me more upset than anything.  I am trying to hold my surgeon accountable for her actions.  I believe this is something more people need to do.  

I hope you have seen another doctor/surgeon to see if anything can be done to help you.  I'm interested to know what your surgeon has said to you when you let him know how bad your eyesight is now, after he operated.

Rita  

[susannahe]

Hello, I would just like to talk to you about my situation. I am also very unhappy about the information I was given from my doctor ahead of time.  I am 36 years old, I have cataracts and was diagnosed with them when I was 10.  Anyway long story short the doctor said hat I met the criteria for cataract surgery and thought it made sense for me.  My father had it done and my grandfather had it done and they were both happy with it.  But that was when they were useing the PMMA plastic lenses, which I'm starting to think might actually be better.  Anyway my doctor didn't even inform me than an iol doesn't focus at different distances the way a natural lens does. Had I known this I would definitely not have gotten the surgery.  So, he put a monofocal lens in my left eye (I have cataracts in both eyes). Not only do I have terrible negative dysphotopsia (there is a dark line on the side of my vision and vision past that is basically blind), but I also had no idea that I would lose my wonderful quality of vision. I've lost so much depth perception. I'm always having to cover my left eye up now to see what things, nature and people really look like. I think that my doctor was basically  just trying to make some money off of another surgery and purposefully didn't tell me all sorts of things about the iol (more than what I have just mentioned). Anyway, I don't think it's fair and I think with a lot of these surgeries lately doctors are not being held accountable for not informing you ahead of time of the risks, possible outcomes and differences in vision from your natural vision.  Also, some of the new techniques may be easier for doctors but are not necessarily taking into account the effect on patients.  

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

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[Rita732]

Thanks again for your support.  My husband suggested I wait a little bit before sending the second document of complaint, i.e. the halos.  I agreed to wait to see how she handles the first document.  

I'm hoping she is a woman of integrity and can admit her mistake.  One thing in our favor is my brother-in-law is a lawyer.  He's in the background helping me and will represent us in Small Claims Court if necessary.  He sees these things happening every day between doctors and patients and usually it's the patients who win a settlement.  The only problem is time...it's been 4 months already that I've been dealing with this and will probably take another 4 or more months if it goes to court.  

I know there are things that happen in life that we just have to accept.  I know my eye sight is as good as it is going to get.  It is what it is.  But to come to the place of acceptance that my sight has been permanently altered because of someone else's mistake is pretty hard, on top of the fact that I paid her so much money to get this way.  

I spoke to a friend of mine yesterday who is also this doctor's patient.  My friend told me our doctor recommended to her the monofocal lens, which my friend loves, and has had none of the problems I am having.  So that shows you right there our mutual surgeon knew what she was doing.  To sit and tell me that monofocal patients can't read as well as those with Crystalens and see halos was something she knew wasn't true.  I hate to think she was motivated by dollar signs, but time will tell.

Rita

I'll keep you posted...

[JodieJ]

I'm keeping my fingers crossed about your refund, too.  I think that you absolutely deserve it.  I've seen advertising about your Crystalens model stating that close to 100% of the recipients are able to use their computers and read small print without glasses.  This is SO far from reality--how can people make possibly make informed decisions when they're given material (by their trusted doctors) containing such inflated claims?

On the positive side, I do think that your halos will diminish over time.  And you have crisp distance vision, which translates to crisp vision at all distances with glasses.  There are some really heartbreaking posts in the archives of this site from people who experienced truly dismal outcomes with multifocal IOLs.

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

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[Rita732]

Hi Jodie...Keeping fingers crossed regarding refund.  I just wrote up another document informing her of my halo problem.  This latest problem really blind-sighted me.  I feel discouraged and hopeless.  I was led to expect so much and it seems I not only didn't get what I was promised but much worse than I expected.  I am in worse shape, sight-wise, now than I was before having my cataracts removed.

About the halos...it seems to me the problem was better before and worse now instead of the other way around.  But I hope you're right about them getting better as time goes by.  I didn't have any problem with halos with or without my prescription glasses.  

Thanks for your words of encouragement...
Rita

[Rita732]

The problem is I wasn't "informed" that I would have any problems with Crystalens.  Instead, I was told just the opposite by my surgeon and a Crystalens rep. They both told me I would NOT have to wear glasses for close-up reading.  They never mentioned any potential problems with halos. Again, she told me just the opposite...that people who have monovision were the ones who had a bad problem with halos and needed reading glasses, but I wouldn't have a problem with either.  

When my surgeon asked me before surgery what result I was looking for from my cataract surgery I told her I would love not to have to wear reading glasses.  I had picked up a Crystalens pamphlet from her waiting room and asked her about them.  She raved about them and said they would give me just what I was looking for.  She said I would have clearer distance, intermediate, and near than with monofocal lens.  I believed her and paid the extra money for Crystalens.  Of course, I had a problem with them almost immediately and began complaining, which is why she had the Crystalens rep in to see me, both trying to convince me that any problem I was having was not because of Crystalens but was caused by a dry eye condition and later, because of the meds I was taking.  

It wasn't until my husband  told her she knew I had both of this conditions before implanting the lens, did she finally admit to us that she was under the impression from her "fellow colleagues" that Crystalens were all they said they were and she said this in front of the rep from Crystalens.  Thus the reasons for my asking for a full refund.  

The halo problem only came up last night.  I got the Crystalens in late April and apparently I wasn't out after dark until then, which is not unusual for people my age (73) especially considering it was Day Light Savings Time and the days were longer until just recently.  

So I am supposed to wear glasses for reading and different ones for night driving?  My surgeon made false promises when she should have known better, gave me the wrong information regarding multifocal and monofocal lens, and then tried to blame for for having a problem with the Crystalens.  

I respect your wealth of knowledge, Doctor, but I am not about to accept the unacceptable behavior from a doctor/surgeon who didn't do her homework.  I read evey consent form before I signed them and they all concerned surgery and nothing about the product used for implants.

Thank you  

[JodieJ]

Other Crystalens recipients posting on this site have reported that their halos did diminish with time (and neuroadaptation).  Yours should, too.  You might also get some improvement in your near/intermediate vision.  

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

I don't hold out much hope you will get any type of refund. Your problem is not uncommon and is always listed in the "informed consent" of this type of surgery.

If you can see well WITH glasses your best bet is to wear glasses over the crystalens.  Take the IOL out and replacing it is a not always a simple matter.


JCH MD