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Crystalens not what they said

I had cataract surgery on both eyes about a month ago. I am 46 and because my doctor said that with the Crystalens HD I would not need reading glasses I spent the extra $5k to get them. Although my distance vision is great, my near and intermediate vision is not. I need glasses to read, to write, to see my computer. Given my job, this means I am wearing glasses nearly all the time. I am not happy that I spent that much money for these; I would have had the same results with the typical insurance paid mono lenses.


This discussion is related to Crystalens HD 4th Generation Lens.
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Avatar universal
......also, by sharing your story, you will be helping others who are doing their research in advance of making their choice.
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Sorry to hear about the problems you've encountered.  You're right, we don't ever think that we would be a victim......until we are one.  So this forum serves as support when that happens.
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Oh yeah,....YES, I did have the Yag laser. I will clear your vision because it opens a hole in the membrane behind the implant so that this debris does not block light into your eye...but the Yag laser does not remove ALL the debris. The debris around the "hinges" of the implant, the haptics, is not removed in this procedure.
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Avatar universal
You may have read various comments, especially by the doctors, on this site that unfortunately sites like this are magnets for very unhappy patients who have had major complications, etc...so don't even pay any attention to my problems, as they are considered rare and unlikely to happen to most people. Of, course, I thought the fact that problems were rare meant nothing bad would happen to me before I got involved with this two and a half years ago...I believed my surgery would go fine, but it didn't So, hearing from people who had complications does serve the purpose of warning others to be prepared to accept whatever risks are possible.  
You are probably asking about the PCO and restriction of movement of the Crystalens... This is something that possibly could be fixed by replacement of the implants, I've been told. However, I can never have this done because I had many other surgical complications. My doctor tore the lens sack in surgery, caused a vitreous detachment and retina inflammation. I ended up having a second surgery because of the vitreous detachment This damaged my retina even more. I developed a chronic retina condition about a year ago that severely impairs my vision. I go to a retina specialist for injections into my eye every other week.I will likely always have problems. However, none of these things relate specifically to the Crystalens, except that having surgery in the first place carried risks. So have Crystalens if your cataracts are bad. Don't do it as elective surgery for vision correction alone.
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Avatar universal
What is your vision like now?  Did you have a YAG capsulotomy?
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Avatar universal
It does take time to gain what effect you will from Crystalens. However, I'm curious if you had to have the Yag laser for posterior capsule opacification? You may have had it and don't know or you may not have yet needed to have this done.  If not, ask your doctor if your eyes show signs of posterior capsule opacification. He will know what this is. This is a reaction to the implant that can occur in some people. It is a kind of debris that forms around the implants and restricts the movement of them. I was exactly in your boat after my Crystalens a few years ago. I could tell there was absolutley no intermediate vision as promised because I needed readers even for the computer as I do now. I had an ultrasound test that is capable of determining if the implants actually move as the are supposedly designed to do. The test showed that mine have no movement at all. I also have the restrictive debris that I described above. I'm corresponding with both Bausch & Lomb and the FDA about this problem..both are aware these problems do exist. Let me know what your doctor says about the posterior capsule opacification question.
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Avatar universal
Yes.  I was myopic before surgery.  I am now plano.
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Avatar universal
I don't understand.  You said that your Doctor achieved plano.  
And you said that you are myopic (-6.50D).  Do you mean that
you were myopic before your surgery?

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233488 tn?1310693103
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
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Avatar universal
Do you think your Dr. missed the target?  It took 5 weeks for my Crystalens HD to stabilize.  My Dr. had targeted -0.25D , but achieved plano.  I am fairly myopic (-6.50D) and I get excellent intermediate and far (2 ft on out).  I need reading glasses for news print.
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Avatar universal
Needing glasses for very near reading with Crystalens HD is not a big surprise, but needing glasses for computer work is unusual. How far is your computer screen from your nose?

Have you asked the doctor about the outcome? Generally Crystalens would target "plano" or -0.25. Have they done a refraction test and told you where your eyes have ended up? Do you have any residual astigmatism? Have you been doing the exercises they should have suggested?
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