“I can read the newspaper. I can drive at night and see my gauges in my vehicle, and see the road at the same time whereas before I couldn’t do that. I would recommend it to anyone who would like to do away with their glasses.”
Keith Cain, age 57
“The best part of Crystalens® is I have freedom from glasses. I would not have done this without Dr. Brown. He is the best. I think he has the most experience of anyone I’ve known as far as the eye is concerned.”
Dorothy Brummert, age 61
“The whole procedure only took about one hour – the actual operation only 5-10 minutes. It was painless. After surgery, I could see out of the operated eye within hours.”
Charles Pipher, age 72
Few patients with Crystalens have experienced problems with glare, halos and night vision. Crystalens focuses only one image to the back of the eye, unlike a multifocal lens that projects multiple images, requiring your brain to “adjust” to the differences.
The effectiveness of the Crystalens® was proven in clinical trials:
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What is Crystalens®?
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How does it work?
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How is this different from regular cataract surgery?
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How do I know if I am a good candidate?
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How is Crystalens® different from other lifestyle lenses on the market?
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Can my vision be corrected to 20/20 for both reading and distance?
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How long will the surgery take? Will I feel anything?
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Will I be able to read in all lighting conditions?
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Will I experience halos and glare? Will this lens effect how I drive at night?
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Will insurance/Medicare cover any of the procedure?
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What about my intermediate vision, like working on the computer?
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Will Crystalens stop working over time?
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Surgery Questions |
| Every patient is different and only your surgeon can fully explain the details of your Crystalens procedure. However, the following information may be helpful for most patients. |
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Should I have the procedure in both eyes?
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How long will the surgery take?
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Will I feel anything?
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When will I be able to return to my normal activities?
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What should I expect during the recovery period?
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How often will I need to have my eyes checked after surgery?
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Will I have to have cataract surgery again?
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What will the Crystalens® procedure cost? Will insurance cover any of it? |
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What is the Crystalens®? |
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Crystalens is an intraocular lens that, unlike a standard IOL, can treat both a person's cataracts and a person's presbyopia (loss of near and intermediate focusing ability). You probably noticed in your forties that you started to lose some of your up-close vision and had to start wearing reading glasses; this was due to a loss of acocmodation. Crystalens is designed to recreate your accomodation and reduce or eliminate wearing glasses. With the unique Crystalens, you can enjoy activities such as: reading a book, working on the computer, and driving a car.
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How does it work? |
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Crystalens replaces the eye’s natural lens and is designed to mimic the eye’s natural focusing ability, thereby enabling vision across a broad range of distances comparable to a healthy eye. As with the natural lens, Crystalens accommodates, or moves and flexes, in response to ciliary muscle contractions in the eye. These contractions drive forward movements of the lens so the eye can maintain a clear image as it focuses on near, intermediate and far objects.
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How is this different from regular cataract surgery? |
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In the past, cataract surgery was only able to treat a patient's cataracts, so patients would still be dependent on glasses for most of their daily activities, especially for up close and intermediate activities. Crystalens will correct for more than just your cataracts. Crystalens can offer you a fuller range of vision and reduce or eliminate your dependence on glasses.
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How do I know if I am a good candidate? |
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If your eyes are healthy, you have not had previous cataract surgery and you have no major health problems, you may be an excellent candidate for Crystalens. Your doctor will perform a thorough exam and advise if Crystalens is right for you.
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How is Crystalens® different from other lifestyle lenses on the market? |
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Crystalens is the only accommodating intraocular lens on the United States market. As with the natural lens, Crystalens accommodates, or moves and flexes using an innovative design, in response to ciliary eye muscle contractions. These contractions drive forward movement of the lens as it focuses on near, intermediate and far objects.
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Can my vision be corrected to 20/20 for both reading and distance? |
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No surgeon can guarantee 20/20 vision because everybody’s eyes function differently. However, our patients have been reporting excellent results and most enjoy the majority of their activities without glasses.
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Will I really be able to see without glasses? Will I be 20/20? |
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Since everyone’s vision, expectations, and lifestyles differ it is difficult to determine how much you will be dependent on glasses. If you are like the majority of Crystalens patients, you should be able to experience the same quality vision you did when you were younger, with minimal or no dependence on glasses after Crystalens surgery.
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Will I be able to read in all lighting conditions? |
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Crystalens works similarly to your natural lens in that it delivers 100% of available light rays at all distances -- near, far, and intermediate. Unlike many mulitfocal IOLs on the market, lighting conditions have very little impact on patients with Crystalens. Crystalens directs all available light received by the eye to a single focal point, resulting in quality of vision comparable to a healthy natural lens. Patients have reported very minimal disturbances. However, it is recommended that you use good lighting when reading.
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Will I experience halos and glare? Will this lens effect how I drive at night? |
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All IOLs, including standard monofocal IOLs, can create some degree of halos and glare. Glare and halos have sometimes been observed with the Crystalens. However, unlike a multifocal IOL, Crystalens works similarly to your natural lens in the way it delivers available light rays at all distances -- near, far, and intermediate. As a result, Crystalens patients typically experience fewer halos and less glare than a multifocal IOL patient.
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Will insurance/Medicare cover any of the procedure? |
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Insurance coverage varies greatly from policy to policy. Generally speaking, private insurance and Medicare will cover the cataract surgical procedure and may also allow a certain additional amount for a standard lens implant. With Crystalens, you are receiving an additional benefit of presbyopia correction that will allow you to enjoy a fuller range of vision with decreased dependence on glasses. You will be responsible for paying for the presbyopia correcting portion of the surgery, which is not covered by Medicare.
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What about my intermediate vision, like working on the computer? |
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In the Crystalens clinical trials, patients reported good intermediate vision. Most Crystalens patients are able to see their computers, dashboards and anything else at arm’s length without glasses.
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Will Crystalens® stop working over time? |
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Crystalens surgery is permanent and there is no evidence that the lens will stop working over time. Patients have had Crystalens implanted in their eyes for nearly 7 years with no change in its ability to flex. It is an extremely well-tested and durable design. In fact, there is clinical evidence to support that most patients' vision continues to improve with time.
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Surgery Questions
Every patient is different and only your surgeon can fully explain the details of your Crystalens procedure. However, the following information may be helpful for most patients.
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Should I have the procedure in both eyes? |
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Typically cataracts will develop in both eyes, and we recommend that the surgery be done in both eyes. Usually you will have surgery on the second eye within 2 weeks of the first eye.
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How long will the surgery take? |
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Cataract surgery is typically an outpatient surgery. The actual surgery itself is approximately 15--20 minutes.
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Will I feel anything? |
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No. Topical anesthetic drops will be placed in your eye and oral medications may be administered to help you relax.
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When will I be able to return to my normal activities? |
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Typically you will be able to return to normal activities within several days. You should be able to drive and return to work within 2--3 days.
Your eyes may be sensitive to the touch for a few days, and you should avoid strenuous activity and rubbing your eye. It is important to avoid lifting or straining that would increase pressure on your eye.
You can shower, but avoid getting soap in your eyes. Refrain from eye makeup for several weeks. You should also avoid public pools and hot tubs.
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What should I expect during the recovery period? |
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Patients vary widely in how they are affected during the recovery phase. For example, for some patients it takes longer for their near vision to come into focus, while others achieve great near vision almost immediately. The best way to learn about the recovery period is to talk to your surgeon about the procedure.
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How often will I need to have my eyes checked after surgery? |
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Your doctor will advise you based on your procedure. Typically, the doctor will see you one day after surgery, after 2--4 weeks and again around 3--6 months after surgery. Thereafter, an annual exam is sufficient.
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Will I have to have cataract surgery again? |
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Once your cataracts are removed and replaced with an IOL, you will never need to have cataract surgery again. Occasionally, several months after the lens has been placed in the eye, your vision may start to become cloudy again. This can happen with any type of IOL. This is sometimes called a secondary cataract and refers to the clouding of the membrane that surrounds the implant. Your surgeon will go in and quickly remove the clouded cells. This is done painlessly in an out-patient environment and usually takes just a few minutes.
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What will the Crystalens® procedure cost? Will insurance cover any of it? |
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Since each patient’s vision is different and unique, the cost for the Crystalens® procedure will vary. Which qualified doctor you choose, and the city you’re in will also be factors.
During your complimentary Refractive Consultation*, a member of the Crystalens® team will review the cost of the procedure along with all of your payment options, including cash, check, credit card, CareCredit and Chase Health Advance.
To determine the overall status of your eye health a Comprehensive Eye Exam would be required.
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Start enjoying a life of possibilities and stop worrying about glasses and contact lenses. Call for your complimentary consultation* at Eye Centers of Florida and discover a world of better vision.
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