Crystalens HD 4th Generation Lens

[jrws]

Just wondering if anyone out there has any new input on this new generation Crystalens. I understand they are now being used by some Ophthalmologists (having been recently released and revised).

I would love some feedback from the Dr's viewing this site as well as from any readers who have used these new lenses as to your personal experiences with them, even if your early on impressions. Thank you all in advance for your input!

[JodieJ]

No cataract surgeon can ever guarantee results.  You have had a good outcome with the Crystalens 50--crisp distance vision and good near/computer vision with glasses.  In your place, I would absolutely not assume the risks involved in explanting the Crystalens 50's and replacing them with the HDs.  (You might end up much worse off than where you are now.)  Please let me know the outcome of your appointment Thursday.  Best wishes.

[Rita732]

First good news...I do not have problems with glare or halos. I do not have astigmatism.  Middle distance is good but not when it comes to reading small print.  Not sure about nearsightedness or farsightedness but will find out.  Bad news...you just confirmed what I've believed all along, which is, that I could have had the same result with the no-additional-fee monofocal lenses.  Now I have to see what can be done regarding the $4000 fee I paid.  My only defense is that I did not get what I paid for or promised by Crystalens company - the ability to read a newspaper or telephone book without glasses.  

I can almost bet that if I make enough "noise" I will be offered the new generation of Crystalens HD that came out in July.  You can be sure that I will let my surgeon know about them.  I will give them a try if offered, but not before I get something in writing regarding what will happen if they are not successful.  

I know it probably seems strange trying to get money back for an operation, but I'm hoping in this case things turn out to my benefit.  I'll keep you informed.

Thank you so much for helping me understand what is going on.  You've given me a lot of info that I can take with me Thursday when I make my case.  Keep your fingers crossed.  I can only hope my comments and your replies have helped someone else not make the same mistake as I did.  I should have done much more research beforehand.

[JodieJ]

I have good news and bad news for you.  First, the good news.  If you read through other posts about Crystalens, you'll discover that some people have terrible problems with glare and halos.  They are not able to see well at any distance, especially at night and in certain lighting situations.  By contrast, your outcome with the Crystalens is very good.

Now the bad news.  If you need glasses when using the computer, you do NOT have good intermediate vision.  Rather, you have about the same intermediate (computer) vision you would have gotten with no-additional-fee monofocal lenses.

It's possible that your vision with Crystalens is somewhat impaired by astigmatism, nearsightedness, or farsightedness.  Ask your surgeon if this is the case.

[Rita732]

Of course you are right!  It just entered my mind that if dry eyes hindered my ability to read close-up, it would also hinder me from seeing distance clearly.  This is ammo I will take to my surgeon.  I really do have excellent distance and middle vision.  No complaints there.  I just have a problem with computer reading and certainly with newspaper and books.  However, Crystalens advertise that I will be able to read a newspaper and a telephone book without reading glasses.  My surgeon did not tell me differently.  I must say in her defense that I was only the second person she had implanted with the Crystalens.  She would not do the procedure before because of the bad rep the older generation of Crystalens had.  But she is wrong to say that it's my fault (dry eyes) that the procedure isn't working.  We will see what happens when I see her this Thursday.  Obviously she needs to stop listening to the Crystalens tech.

You have been of great help to me.  Thank you so much.  

[JodieJ]

I can understand your anger, and I have trouble accepting your surgeon's explanation.  Dr. Kutryb (one of the forum ophthalmologists) recently stated on another thread that his own research suggests that the Crystalens 50 provides only about .5 diopter of near vision.  This really isn't enough to make a significant difference in near/intermediate vision; you'd probably still need glasses for using the computer and reading.  Sometimes surgeons set the Crystalens for modified monovision (leaving one eye a little nearsighted) in order to improve intermediate vision.  Of course, regular IOLs can be set for modified monovision, too, with no surcharge for the patient to pay.  Check out the archives of both eye care forums for more information about other people's experience with the Crystalens.    

[Rita732]

Thank you, Jodie.  This info does not make me happy.  I was told by my surgeon and the crystalens rep that I should be able to read close-up without glasses.  This is why I paid $4000 over Medicare,  Now that I am complaining that I didn't get what I paid for, my surgeon says it's because I have dry eyes, which I had before the surgery.  She never mentioned this condition would prevent me from being able to read without glasses.  I need glasses for my middle vision also.  

My husband, who had the regular lens put in, seems to see better than I do, or at least as well as I do.  Something is not right and I intend to fight this.  My argument is that I should have been given all the facts before surgery so that I could have made an informed decision whether I wanted to pay the extra money.