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Cataracts and crystalens

I had cataract surgery done on both eyes in January.  I was told they had developed because of my taking prednisone. The dentist recommended that I get the crystalens even though my insurance would not pay foe them.  My husband, who coincidentally had cataracts removed at the same time with a different doctor.  He chose the regular covered lens and I chose the crystalens.  I was told that I probably would still need reading glasses but I was fine with that.  My eyes had mild presbyopia and there was a small astigmatism.  I never had lens designed for the astigmatism  but did wear bifocals for the close vision and dashboard and Computer screen.  I have always had extremely good far vision. But I am 72 so it probably had decreased some but not so as I had noticed.  I did not realize that the crystalens would put corrective lenses in both eyes.  My dominant eye was set to see distances and my left eye was corrected for close vision.  The idea being that they would adjust and I would be able to focus except for close up.   For some reason after both implants were in, My far vision deteriorated and was not as good as it had been.  I went to my opthalmologist and he said that he was quite puzzled because it had never happened to him before.  He said we should  allow a little more healing and he would do lasix on the left eye and improve the vision.  He said I hope you are not one of those people who want perfect vision, I hope..  I had requested that he remove the lenses and replace them with the same type that my husband had gotten because he was having no problem and despite having worn glasses for over fifty years was able to see well without glasses.  He promised me that I would be satisfied.  After the lasix the office checked my visual acuity and said I had twenty twenty.  Well that's not entirely true, I did need reading glasses and they made me some.  ( I had had another pair made that I wore until the lasix because I could not see well enough to drive).   I was told that I had dry eyes and the reason that I got poor focus experiences, was that I needed to use drops.  I had a prescription for Restasis and used that for all the time I was under treatment.  I had heard they were supposed to increase eye moisture.  Frankly I didn't notice any difference.  I did also use other drops.  When I used the drops it was because I was unable to focus on my reading or on the computer and with the TV.  I did not notice any improvement.  I still get double vision, blurring, and fuzziness which the drops don't seem to help.  My distance vision is not very good either.  I feel uncomfortable driving.  And now that it is getting dark and I am called to drive in the evening, I felt almost blinded by the considerable glare.  I won't drive at night.  The real issue is that I don't understand why after the doctor places lenses that don't allow me to have the good vision I had before I had the surgery.  He made my vision worse.  And everytime I ask for help he gives me something that costs more and doesn't help.  When I talked to his office today they said maybe he can make you some new glasses that will help you drive at night.  I have read lots of forums and hear a lot of the same complaints as I have made.
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Avatar universal
  I am certain that I was given a strong eyedrop program for both eyes.  I know that I followed it religiously.  I also used my readers.  fora while, and then asked for and got a new prescription to use until my eyes finished healing.  It is true that I did become nearsighted.  I did have the LASIK and my dr asked if I wanted good close vision or good far vision.  I said I wanted good far vision which is what I had had before.  He did the LASIK and after it healed, I had to buy new readers and that is what I'm using now.  I am interested in how this settling in the wrong correction could have occurred.  From your description that is what happened.  what do you mean I do not have accommodation (near vision)?    Can you give me a easier to understand explanation.  The lenses that were installed were accommodating lenses.  He said that what had happened was that my focal point had settled too close and that is what I think you mean.  But what does that say about my near vision?  The drops may not have been the one you describe.  All I know is that he said he had not had this happen before.  I talked to one of his assistants and she said that I had dry eye syndrome and blepheritis.  I don't remember having blepheritis and from what I read online that would have included a crustry discharge which would make my lashes stick together.
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711220 tn?1251891127
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Crystalens is the main presbyopia correcting IOL I use.  I also have one in one of my eyes.

In my experience the early post operative period is crucial.  If patient become slightly myopic, I put them on cycloplegic drops (to paralyze accommodation) and I also have them use reader for the first two weeks after surgery.  If you become nearsighted due to focusing for near to early, the IOL will not settle in the correction position and you become nearsighted.  LASIK can correct the nearsightedness but you not have accommodation (near vision).

Dr. O.
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