Crystalens Nightmare

[vicklet]

Originally Posted by EYE-KANT-C

Sorry, this is a long post:



I am 47 years old, female and in "excellent" health, no smoking, drinking, etc. I had a clear lens extraction (for refraction -- no cataracts) because my eye doctor and his associates were so excited about the new alternatives to Lasik. I was losing my near vision, but intermediate was still good. They told me that I would be free from reading glasses, except for really small type. I have pretty bad eyes (-10 myopia soft contacts for 33 years). I wore +1.5 readers for extended reading, but not needed for computer work. He put in -12.5 Crystalens for right eye and I had great distance vision, and was planning to do the left eye 4 weeks later. I called to tell him that my closeup vision was much worse than before the surgery and his technician said he may want to do more measurements before doing the 2nd eye. He never called me to come in, but when I went for surgery on the left eye, he said they had decided to do my other eye so that I would be slightly nearsighted and that would carry me through till the right eye gained near vision. He put in -14 in the left eye. The near was immediately amazing in the left, but terrible distance. I NEVER WANTED MONO-VISION AND I HATE IT!!!!

Now -- right eye (2-1/2 months post-op) and left (1-1/2 months post-op) are exactly the same as after surgery -- distance in right 20/20 but can't see to even use the computer, let alone read. Left eye -- good for closeup, 20/70 for distance. MONO-VISION. Which is pretty irritating during the day, and I can NOT see well enough to drive at night. And I drive at night a lot.

But in addition to that: I have cloudiness in both eyes which he says I need to have laser to fix (YAG?) and I am at high risk for detached retinas being very myopic and my mom & sister both had D.R. previously for no apparent reason. I heard that YAG really increased the risk of D.R. And Crystalens really increases the risk of PCO because it is made of silicone. And you can't get a Scleral Buckle if you need it for Detached Retina because of the silicone in the Crystalens. Why didn't anyone tell me this?????

Believe it or not: the worst part is this -- I have constant edge glare where I can see reflections around the lens (doctor says this is not possible, I'm not really seeing the edge of the lens). It's like floaters -- no big deal if you just ignore it and I have halos at night -- also not such a big deal -- BUT, I have EXTREME edge glare/flare that looks like sunrays only usually rainbow-coloured, that flash across the front of the lens when any light source hits the edge of the lens, day or night. In doctor's offices and side-view, rear-view mirrors, street lights being the worst. I also see major glare from windows even during the day. He gave me the Alphagan P (Allergan) but that did nothing to stop the light show.

I know that removing the lenses is probably not possible -- I've read all the horror stories, and YAG would weaken the capsule, quite possibly causing Detached Retinas. He said I may not have a choice and I will have to do the laser procedure. Why would a reputable surgeon do this to a perfectly healthy person, knowing how risky these lenses are? Are they using us as guinea pigs??? Is there anything I can do to see better/not go blind?

I thought about sports contacts to cut down on the glare/reflections -- not sure how dark they are for night driving (I sometimes use sunglasses at night now, but it's scary) And I considered Multifocal contacts to get back some near vision -- I miss it badly. That's the only reason I did the surgery. I'm now wearing one contact for distance, since I was so miserable with mono-vision. So I'll be back to contacts and reading glasses and I went through excruciating pain for the 1st eye surgery and still have eye pain in that eye, a lot of money ($6,000 total) and I am higher than ever risk for detached retina and have major light show/fireworks when encountering light sources in my peripheral vision.

I'm so miserable. It's good I went through this first because several relatives/friends were considering Crystalens implants. I have spared them and I hope to warn others. I know everyone says have patience, but I highly doubt this will get better since it hasn't changed at all in 2-1/2 months. Not even a little.

I am so sorry to hear about your difficulties. I have been a high myope my entire life. Recently had implantable contacts, but now considering having them removed and having clear lens extraction because my own lens has had changes that create visual abberations very similar to what you describe. Have also had 2 retinal holes, so am at higher risk for detachment as well. It is scary.

Just wondering about the Crystalens implants. Is that a brand name and are there other kinds that have been more successful? Are there other brands that allow for scleral buckle should you need one? Thanks and best wishes.

[tom07]

Eye-Kant-C,

I just had the crystalens surgery 4 weeks ago(m,47), and am having many of the same problems as you and the other posts: halos, day glare and terrible night glare, pretty good vision outside in daylight but as soon as I enter a store it all goes to a blurr, etc. My surgeon is actually geting irate with me when I explain all the problems and says that he can't see any reason why I would be having all the problems. I am new to the boards and was hoping to get an update on your condition and has anything been done to help your situation?
Also where did you find info on explanting of the crystalens? I couldn't come up with anything.

Thanks
Tom07

[kcpowers]

Good afternoon everyone. I'm 42 years old and had cataracts in both eyes and in October had my first surgery for this. Was told by my surgeron and regular eye doctor (all the same doctor) that I was a perfect candidate for the Crystalens that it was new on the market and that it would let me have the surgery and not require reading glasses afterwards. He measured my eyes told me that I would be amazed after my surgery since my cataracts were so bad and I have to say... after the surgery I was AMAZED!! There was color and bright colors at that. BUTTT 2 days after my surgery I went to bed that night and woke the next morning to blurry vision. I called him at home as he instructed me and told him and he said come to the office in the morning and let's see what's going on. After seeing him in the office they thought maybe that it was just due to the swelling from surgery so he made me a follow up appt in 1 week. I went back in one week and the rep from Crystalens was in the office to also see me the same day. They both agreed that it was in place but that maybe I had some PCO ( I believe that's what they called it) suppose to be scare tissue on the outside of the sack where how they explained it was like having a scab on the inside and it starts flaking off and it landed on the outside of my membrane in front of my lens and they thought that was causing my blur. Said to give it at least 2-3 months ( my doctor said 2 the rep said at least 3 months) before I had anything else done. So we waited and in the mean time came back several times to see how my progress was and determine if something else was wrong. But nothing was getting any better. So down hearted and hurt because I had just a Very Small nearsighted problem before my surgery I have went now to having....

Can't drive at night (at age 42) because of halo's double vision and streaks coming through my eye apparently I'm seeing around the lens too. If it's dark outside.. I cant' do crap. Can't even walk from the truck around my house to the door because everything is almost black in this eye. If I go around the side of my house where the street light is located. I can see fine. As long as it is bright. I have pain on the upper side of my eye itself not in the lens or the brow area. They can't explain why that would be happening and also my eyes after looking at a computer for 8 hours a day hurt to no end. I have to keep computer eye drops with me to help with the pain. I have to blink all the time as it is just like the lens is moving each and everytime that I blink. After the 2 months.. my doctor kept doing pressure test and one time it would be up and the next time it would be down and my astigmatisum changed from one visit to the next and he decided he would do the yag to help with the PCO (??) and I hadn't done any research believing in him and now I feel like a dork because of it. But he did this and all I got was pain from the procedure and 2 days later.. more halos is all I got from it. Nothing has changed and seems to be getting worse all the time. He also informed me that when they did the yag that I would never be able to have the crystalens taken out that there would be nothing behind the lens to hold another in place. Is this correct?? I have done much research since then on the crystalens and even contacted a well known federal company that has contacted the makers of the lens now and they have contacted the doctor with in turn the doctor calling me and setting me up with another appt to maybe try a hard contact to see if that will help with my vision. I'm kinda scared to even let him work on it again now. But he also said that eyetronics had requested that he send me to another doctor to get a 2nd opinion. I'm hesitent about going to his doctor and not just picking a doctor for myself for a second opinion. Has anyone had this happen with the company and the doctor wanting to send you for a second opinion? Would you go to the one he wants or one I choose? Or... does it matter? I think sometimes they all work together so they don't get the wrong decision. Which I know happens. I work for the police department here and I know they all work together when it comes down to it. So we'll see how it goes from here and I'll keep everyone informed of what happens tomorrow at 4:30pm.


EYE-KANT-C I feel for you as everything you talked about with your surgery I have had also. He wants me to have the other eye done to correct it but I am NOT going to have anything done to it until they have this eye corrected as I am a very active person and do NOT want to be blind at 40. I think it's about time Crystalens (eyetronics) stands up for what is going on with this lens and figure out how to fix our eyes so we dont' have to live with being human guinea pigs for their experiments.

[tom07]

kcpowers

I was also having the terrible problems at night. My dr. said nothing wrong and quit being sooo picky--can you believe that? He sent me to another dr. for a second opinion and we began trial and error to see what was causing the night halos, stars etc. He gave me alphagan drops(they don't allow the pupil to dialate as much) and lo and behold all the symptoms have disappeared...no glare no halos. I have a follow up this monday to give him the results and to find out my long term prognosis. Does this mean a lifetime of drops? Did they measure my dialated pupil incorrectly? Did they get the wrong size of crystalens? I will hopefully get answers mon. You might ask your dr to try the drops to see if it helps your night symptoms...it made a world of difference to me. Can you believe we paid extra for this lens and all these problems?

[seriousperson]

tom07, crystalens implants are smaller than most people's pupils, which causes our halos at night, etc. Why ophthalmologists don't seem to recognize this problem is a mystery.

He also informed me that when they did the yag that I would never be able to have the crystalens taken out that there would be nothing behind the lens to hold another in place. Is this correct??

kcpowers, yes that's correct.

I think it's awesome that you got the Eyeonics people to pay attention. I selfishly hope you do go for the 2nd opinion just because it is a step towards the company and doctors recognizing the down side of the crystalens. Just don't let a second opinion turn into a procedure that you don't want to try.