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Home > Archive > Lasik Eyes Surgery > November 2004 > Current Experience with Crystalens?
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Current Experience with Crystalens?
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| I am a 61 yr old male with bifocals and otherwise healthy eyes. When
I went to investigate whether I was a candidate for lasik, I was
offered either lasik which will require reading glasses or the
crystalens implant which I am told should eliminate the need for any
glasses. I googled the lens and learned that use of the lens for
refractive correction is rather new. Does anyone have any thoughts on
it's use as a refractive device? What are the risks? Does the lens
come in different powers? Do you ever need to go back for a different
lens? Any other relevant thoughts would be appreciated.
Thanks,
CLM
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| Glenn - USAEyes.org 2004-11-05, 11:09 am |
| I've been doing a lot of research on the CrystaLens lately and we have
a plain-language article about this new technology at
http://www.usaeyes.org/faq/subjects/crystalens.htm
At age 61, Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE) probably makes more sense
than a corna-based refractive surgery like LASIK. The reason is that
most people develop cataracts in their 60's and the natural lens of
the eye would need to be replaced anyway. If you have LASIK, the
probability is high that within a few years you will be back to have
cataract surgery. You can reduce your cost and exposure to risk by
going straight to RLE, which is essentially cataract surgery.
RLE is significantly more invasive than LASIK and has a whole
different set of complications, advantages, and limitations. Be sure
you do your homework.
The CrystaLens accommodating intraocular lens (IOL) is very new,
having just recently completed the FDA approval process. I'll leave
it up to our article to give you the details, but there are a couple
of points I'd like to stress.
The CrystaLens will probably not start accommodating immediately after
surgery. According to manufacturer representatives, it can take up to
six months for the full effect to be realized.
The claim that you will never need glasses is probably not accurate.
The most CrystaLens can add is a bit less than 2.00 diopters of
accommodation and sometimes it will add nothing. It is likely that
you will need corrective lenses on at least some occasions.
The skill set to implant a CrystaLens is vastly different than to do
LASIK, and is even a bit trickier than with a conventional IOL. Be
sure that you select a surgeon who has significant cataract surgery
experience and as much CrystaLens experience as you can find. There
have not been all that many CrystaLens IOLs implanted, so this may be
difficult or may take more time. If you want a referral, email me
directly.
If you have a diagnosable cataract and you are going to have the
CrystaLens, you may want to elect to have the surgery before you
become Medicare eligible. If you have a cataract, Medicare patients
cannot have the CrystaLens. If you do not have a cataract, Medicare
patients can have the CrystaLens, but will pay for the entire cost of
surgery, surgery center, and lens out of their own pocket. Such are
the oddities of Medicare reimbursement.
Glenn Hagele
Executive Director
Council for Refractive Surgery Quality Assurance
Email to glenn dot hagele at usaeyes dot org
http://www.USAEyes.org
http://www.ComplicatedEyes.org
I am not a doctor.
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