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Crystalens & Premium Lens Implants

When a person has cataract surgery or a refractive lens exchange, the lens in their eye is replaced with an artificial lens called an intraocular lens implant (IOL). Up until the last few years, these implants have been a one-size–fits-all technology in that these “single vision” lenses focus for only one distance.
Patients with “single vision” implants need bifocals or trifocals to see to read (near vision) or to see the dashboard of the car or a computer (intermediate vision).

Today, there are new implants available, premium intraocular lenses, that offer a full range of vision including near, intermediate and distance vision – without the need for eyeglasses.

One of these new premium lenses is the crystalens. Unlike standard lenses that focus at only one or two distances that often requires eyeglasses, the crystalens moves fluidly with the natural action of the eye’s muscle thus providing a full range of vision.

What is the crystalens?
Crystalens is the brand name of an intraocular lens (IOL) that is designed to provide distance, midrange, and near vision for cataract patients and for patients considering a refractive lens exchange (RLE).

The crystalens is a new technology that is designed to mimic the eye’s natural ability to focus on distant, middle, and near objects. Used in conjunction with standard cataract extraction methods, the crystalens was designed to provide a continuous range of vision, from distance to intermediate to reading vision without total dependence on glasses or contact lenses.

What makes the crystalens different from other intraocular lenses?
The crystalens has the unique ability to focus on objects at varying distances using the eye’s natural focusing system. This means that the crystalens can provide a continuous range of vision, without corrective lenses, from near to far and everything in between.

Standard (single vision) lens implants do not have the ability to provide a full range of vision. Most people who have single vision lens implants MUST wear glasses for middle and near vision. It was shown in the two year clinical trial that supported the FDA approval of the crystalens that significantly more patients implanted with a crystalens (88%) could see better at all distances than patients implanted with a standard lens (36%).

Can my vision be corrected to 20/20, for both reading & distance?
The crystalens has been designed to focus your eyes at most distances. While virtually everyone will experience a significant improvement in their uncorrected vision after surgery, some people will not see 20/20 at all distances.

It is interesting to note that many people who have not had surgery are not able to see 20/20 at both near and far even with glasses or contact lenses. This is due to a variety of ocular and physiological problems as well as lifestyle preferences, yet most of these people function quite normally although their vision is reduced. The two-year clinical trial that supported the FDA approval of the crystalens indicated that 92% of the people enrolled in the study could see 20/25 or better at distance, 96% could see 20/20 at arm’s length and 73% could see 20/25 at near without glasses or contact lenses.

What is more exciting is that 98% of these people could pass their drivers test, 100% could see their computer and dashboard, read the prices in the supermarket or put on their makeup, and 98% could read the telephone book or newspaper, all without glasses or contact lenses. It is important to keep in mind that visual acuity is subjective and depends upon each individual’s own ocular and physiological conditions as well as lifestyle preferences. Some patients implanted with the crystalens still require glasses for certain activities. 

Will I be able to read in all light conditions?
The crystalens functions very much like the normal human lens. It is important to remember that reading vision in low light is also influenced by the overall health of your eye and by the condition of the light sensors in the retina. As we get older our ability to see in low light conditions may start to decrease. It is always best to read in good light conditions. 
Should I have the crystalens implant put in both eyes?

If you have cataracts, typically cataracts will develop in both eyes. If only one eye has a cataract, only one implant is necessary. If both eyes have cataracts and the vision in one eye is worse, the surgeon will elect to implant that eye first. If both eyes are the same, the surgeon usually starts with the ‘non-dominant’ eye.

How long will the surgery take? Will I feel anything?
The crystalens procedure is performed in our outpatient surgery center.
Once in the surgery suite, you will lie down on a comfortable bed, a microscope will be positioned over your eye and you will be asked to look up into the light of the microscope.

The actual surgery usually takes less than 10 minutes. You will feel no pain and only slight pressure on your eye. All you have to do is relax. After surgery your doctor will give you additional medications that you will need to put in your eye for the next week or two. These drugs help the eye heal, leaving no residual effects.

What are the chances that something could go wrong with the surgery? What would they be?
The treatment for cataracts or refractive lens exchange is to remove the crystalline lens and replace it with a lens implant. The medical procedure to implant the crystalens is the same safe, proven cataract surgery performed annually on over 7 million eyes globally. But because it is surgery, it is not completely risk-free.

Complications of surgery range from minor, usually temporary side effects, to sight-threatening complications. Fortunately, significant sight threatening complications are extremely rare. Current data indicates that 98% of people have no complications after cataract surgery and more than 95% have improved vision.

What will my vision be like after surgery?
Your distance vision will usually be very good after surgery. However, your middle and near vision may be somewhat blurred at first. You may need to wear reading glasses to help you read during this time. After about 2 weeks, you will notice that your middle (arm’s length) vision is improving and your near vision is also starting to get better. It is important that you discontinue the use of the reading glasses at this time so that you strengthen the focusing muscle of your eyes. It may take several months for your eyes to reach their full focusing potential

It may be necessary for some people to wear glasses for distance and/or near vision to obtain optimal vision. The difference from standard lenses is that most people will not be dependent on these supplemental vision aids to function normally. 

What about glare, problems driving at night and sensitivity to light? Can implant surgery create these problems?
Yes. These symptoms can be produced by surgery. Many people report these problems before surgery and even after surgery; however, they are rarely debilitating.

Sensitivity to light is often a temporary symptom. As with any intraocular lens, glare can be a problem at night when the pupil widely dilates and occasionally light can reflect off the edge of the implant and create a flash or halo of light. This typically does not occur in your central field of vision, but rather in the periphery.

Can I go to any eye doctor for check-ups after the surgery?
Your surgeon and/or his/her staff will want to see you right after the surgery to ensure your eye is healing properly. After that, the surgeon may allow you to see another qualified doctor or your family eye doctor to perform your follow-up visits.

Will I have to have cataract surgery again?
Once your crystalline lens is removed and replaced with an implantable lens, you will never have to have cataract surgery. Occasionally, several months after the lens has been placed in the eye, the vision may start to become cloudy once again. This is sometimes called a secondary cataract and refers to the clouding of the membrane that surrounds the implant.

A laser is used to make an opening in the membrane behind the implant, immediately improving vision. This is done painlessly without an anesthetic and takes just a few minutes. Once this is done, no further surgery related to cataracts will be required. 

What will the crystalens procedure cost? Will insurance cover any of the cost? 
Insurance coverage varies greatly from policy to policy. Generally speaking, private insurance may cover the cataract surgical procedure and anesthesia and may also allow a certain additional amount for the artificial lens implant. The patient is then required to pay a deductible as well as any additional amount above the primary coverage.

For cataract surgery, payment for standard lens implants is covered by Medicare. However, Medicare does not generally not pay for premium lens implants like the crystalens because the costs for this advanced technology substantially exceeds Medicare's payment.

The Medicare patient is responsible for payment of that portion of the charge for the deluxe lens implant and associated services.

Do you offer financing for the non-covered portion of a premium lens implant?
For those who are on a fixed budget, we offer the services of CareCredit to help with a portion of this uncovered expense.

CareCredit is a flexible payment program specifically designed for healthcare expenses. There are no pre-payment penalties or fees. For more information about CareCredit, you can call them at 800.677.0718 or you can visit them online at www.carecredit.com.

The crystalens implant replaces the natural lens inside the eye. The clear capsule encloses the lens.

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Facts About the Crystalens

Effective Near Vision
98.4% of crystalens patients are able to read the newspaper or a phone book without glasses.

Effective Intermediate Vision
100% of crystalens patients are able to see their computers, dashboards and anything else at arm's length without glasses.

Effective Distance Vision
98.4% of crystalens patients are able to see 20/40 or better after surgery, so the clock across the room or that street sign are clearly within sight without glasses.