Crystalens review: Can't see as promised 81

I am 67 yr.old, female who does landscape design for a living which entails drafting down to 1/16 of an inch. I had a Crystalens implanted in the left eye 15 days ago and have severe negative dysphotopsia. Constant flickering and shadowing on the temporal side. It has abated just slightly. Given the sudden, unexpected and severe symptoms, I immediately cancelled the surgery for the right eye. My unoperated hazy, yellow filtered cataract eye is now my good eye. The upcharge for my now miserable left eye was $2, 450. I have consulted a second eye specialist who has advised me to wait unitl 4 weeks post op to see if the dysphotopsia resolves on its own. If it does not he recommended a lens exchange to be done at no more than 5 to six weeks post op. After that the risks are too great as the haptic on this type of lens fibrosis into position and removal is very difficult. I know this much. I will not under any circumstances have any type of accomodating lens placed in the right eye. I'll stick to the ordinary, no extra charge type of monofocal lens. Unless my negative dysphotopsia symptoms are reduced by 95% at 4 weeks post op for the crystalens eye, I'm getting a lens exchange for the standard monofocal lens. In searching the net for scientific peer reviewed studies in opthalmolgy journals on negative dysphotopsia I found that there is a high incidence of this. In one study it was estimated that 15% of all accomodating lens patients expericnce this and for 3% of those patients it becomes permanent. What the heck? Where is the FDA on this? They approve these things before they enter the market. Once I get my situation corrected and fully under control I will contact the FDA. There needs to be forced reporting of the incidence and outcomes. Bausch & lomb.and the other accomodating IOL manufacturers are obviously keeping this problem hidden.

So what do we do. It has been two months since my last post and not much has chaned, except now tha the days are shorter and I have to drive at night, I am still bothered by the glare of all the lights. I can't decide whether to go to another opthalmologist or optician, or a lawyer. An advice?

I can ditto everything here. Had crystalens implanted in both eyes. Dr tore cornea in left eye. Then laser surgery in bot h eyes. Then LASIK and he tore left cornea again. Yes, I too have "dry eyes" . Have kidney disease and the extra anti inflammatory drops almost put me in dyalisis. I still need progressive lens glasses. My brother had lenses that were whatever Medicare would cover and he just needs readers. I wasted a lot of money.

So we all have had similar experiences. The doctors shined us on with the very same bull crap: you have dry eyes, yours is the only case I have had like this, it will take time to heal and won't be completely done healing for a year, you now have 20-20 visin. Yes I did but I was struggling to see the letters. Before crystalens I could read almost all of the bottom line and clearly. They also train young women to do all the work of conducting the eye examination, and developing your prescription, then the doctor comes in to confirm her work. Is that like letting your receptionist take out my appendix? This is a scam and they know it, I'll bet that if we wanted to go for a class action suit, Bosch & Lomb would be begging us to let them settle. By the way, while I was waiting the fifteen or twenty minutes I spent every time I went t the doctor's office, I heard my doctor talking to his assistant. She was concerned because one of their patients had gotten readers that were too strong for him, she said. The doctor told her not to argue with him, and to not tell him he was wearing too strong of lenses. In fact he told her that the man was better off not knowing the truth, and if he was satisfied to let him be. I'm sorry, that 's just too dishonest for me.

"I see better technically, but my overall visual experience is worse" Those words written by BWK77 describe perfectly my experience. I had the best damn far vision in the world. I could read a bus 's destination route from three blocks away. Now not so much. I loved my eyes, now I hate them. Do you remember how you used to be able to switch vision from one eye to the other to slightly change the perspective on whatever you were looking at? Well now when I close my left eye, I can only see up close. When I close my right eye I can only see far away. And Neither one is as good as it used to be. I didn't need corrective lenses, all I needed was for the cataracts to be removed and that would have been fine with the monocular lenses. Why did I listen to them. I really did not understand what the effect of these lenses would be. I did not listen carefully enough. God damn, I am pissed.

I had the crystal lens implants in 2006 I have had 3 tears in one eye and 3 in the other, a detachment, the eye buckle had to be put in. Then have had 4 lens in left eye trying to get all this corrected, I go again 9-26-12 to have a lens installed on top of the eye because due to so much scar tissue that had to be removed, there is nothing to attach the lens too

I had cataracts due to the use of prednisone. I was being treated for a serious lung problem and the prednisone was helping me recover and it was a necessity. I had both eyes done, the first at the end of December and the second two weeks later. Coincidently, my husband also had to have cataract surgery also. He had a different doctor in the same clinic as that treated me. He opted for the regular monocular lens and I bought the crystalens. The only previous problem I had ever had with my eyes was presbyopia. I had excellent vision and could see a great distance and clearly. I would be called far sighted but I did not find that to be a problem. My husband has worn corrective lens since he was a teenager. I was aware that I would need reading glasses with the crystalens. My first reaction was that I had lost all of my far vision, and could see at mid-range, but none too well. I complained t my doctor who said that apparently I was someone who expected perfect vision. I told him that I wanted him to take out the crystalens and give me the ones like my husband had. He was happy as a clam with his new lens and only needed reading glasses. The doctor explained about the two different lens, that the left eye had far vision and the left had near vision. He said that they were adjustable and would find a focal point. The problem I had was that the focal point was much closer than it had been. Right about the midrange. He said I could either have very good close vision or I could have good far vision and need reading glasses. I opted for the second choice and had lasik surgery. It is now the first of August, and I can barely see my computer screen with the reading glasses. I am told that the problem is that my eyes are extremely dry. The only reason that my vision geis blurry is that my eyes are dry. It is reccomended that I use restasis, which I do, twice a day, and other drops as often as I need them, which is apparently. I can barely see the television screen. I can not read the channel guide on the screen Far vision is not better either. I am so frustrated I could cry. I read all the time. Now, I use a kindle with the letters magnified quite large. My husband says I should sue, but I don't think it will work because the eye doctor used a lot of weasel words which made me understand that he was covering his bases in case I did sue.

It has been 6 weeks since my first eye was done. I really had problems with the fluorescent lights in the office and had to work from home. Then I got my other eye done. UNTIL I got my second eye done I wasn't so sure about this. The day of surgery for my second eye I could see better than I had in YEARS! They have continued to get better and I am able to read, [I can read the labels on my pill bottles], see the computer, and distance is GREAT. Yes there is a bit of dry eye which is controlled with eye drops. My eye doctor recommended my surgeon and I can't be happier. I am SO glad that I didn't find this site before my surgery. I have 20/20 in one eye and 20/30 in the other. If anyone wants the name of my surgeon it is Dr. Kovach in Elmhurst IL. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND HIM.

I had crystalens surgery in my left eye on April 10, 2012. I had this eye done first because I had more cloudiness and it was harder to see so I went with the crystalens. A friend who had recently had this surgery said it was the way to go with the crystalens. With the crystalens you are suppose to be able to see near, far and in-between. Before I couldn’t see at a distance but was able to read without glasses. Not so right now. Just before the surgery I found out from the ophthalmologist that I also have Astigmatism. Which in all the years I have been going to optometrists I have never been told I have astigmatism. On May 15, 2012 I had the cataract surgery done on my right eye and went with the crystalens even though at that point I wasn’t so sure I made the right decision going with the crystalens. And with the high cost of the crystalens I feel in hindsight I should have gone with the standard lenses. Even now after over a month with the right eye and two months for the left eye it is still kind of blurry to try and read without readers. When I wear the reader glasses then I feel it pulls they eyes. It has been hard to watch TV since it feels like the TV seems so bright to my eyes and it bothers me and then I feel the lenses aren’t focusing together. I don’t know if this problem is going to get better or not. But I have had a harder time with the lenses then I had hoped I would and even my floaters are back already and like some had said I can see halos at night too so haven’t tried night driving. And after the first lenses was in for almost 4 weeks then I have had lightheadedness and dizziness and I asked the ophthalmologist who did the surgery on both eyes if it was caused from the lenses and he says no. I didn’t have a problem before and even last night watching TV I got a very intense headache and I never get headaches. So I don’t know what to think and now $4, 000 dollars for lenses that I have to question whether the vision and all will improve over time or not?

Oh my I thought I was just crazy. I had both of my eyes done but the clouds or floaters the doctors call them are terrible. Have you ever had someone smear lotion or tanning lotion on your glasses? Welcome to my world... it's quite frustrating. That 's what I see everyday! I paid over $6000 for each eye. Dr Feinerman said I had 20/20 vision lol Yea and I can't see through the clouds! So he refers me to another specialist for the floaters. Nice huh

Bwk77
Yes it was elective, so what! and I too went with the experts and extensive tests, i am so upset...the Crystal lens suposedly cannot be removed safely, still waiting on the creators basuch & lomb to answer that...I have extreme discomfort at times, and fluctuating near vision now! Has affected my work...
It is a nightmare and I went to suposedly the best in South FL. Once they have your monies they don't give a rats ### what the results are...they will lie and put in report what they want.
I still looking to see how I can fix this physical nightmare in my left eye.

I am 34 and have had a very weak eye all of my life. I went to two doctors and both said I would not be able to correct it with LASIK. The one doctor suggested crystalens. I followed through with the surgery at a second doctor, who was not as eager to do the implant, but merely based on my age. When I asked about complications they said I shouldn't worry. I had the surgery a month ago and the glare to the side has yet to go away. The best way to describe my situation is as though I have a contact lens that has dried and floated into my feild of vision. Yes, I see better technically, but my overall visual experience is worse. I've been beating myself up cause it was completely elective. Now I wish I had left it alone and suffered through glasses and a weakened eye. I have an appointment this week to see what, if anything, can be done to resolve the situation. I panics me to think I will have this for life.

I just had both eyes down at age 31 didn't get the Crystal lens thank god. I got mono vision(recommended by doctor) and it sucks just as bad as what you all are saying. I wanted the new Restor multi focal he said they were crap and did this to me now night vision is bad the one they set closer blurs the one thats set far. I am so fed up with doctors his response to me was well lets try 2 diff types of glasses and if that doesn't work try a contact lens in one because I have a semi-dilated pupil now. And if this all fails then he will change both to far 6 weeks later. Yet the whole reason he wanted to do mono vision to was eliminate glasses. Now he tell me I will have to wear them all the time. Thanks doctor your an idiot!

oh if anyone has restor please let me know how you like them!

have you been there?

I feel like I was cheated and ripped off by a quack of a doctor, he had total disregard for end results...seems like that the fad with them when it turns out bad...they won't take responsibility..Anyone else on the class action lawsuit? Any lawyers out there, I sent paperwork email to bausch & lomb...still waiting on them... I need more people, I'lll try and make some legal phone calls for free advise, I need a lawyer, someone pro bono .. any other suggestions?
Yoyo

I am with you. My mother is with you. She has 1 one eye and needed cataract surgery. She was also sold down the crystalens highway. Her vision is worse than before. She needs glasses to see. She is grateful that she can see but totally feels robbed and cheated. What a scam. She found a new eye doctor that helped her report her old one. Her new doc thinks the crystalens should be removed as it does not perform as it claims and is no better than any other lens. Just more expensive and appears to be taking advantage of people.

Hey everyone,
I am trying so hard to get this Crystal lens situation and results exposed, with whom ever is with me? We have to starts a class action lawsuit or something, any lawyers out there!
Through this website this is such a common occurrence, the doctor also rewrote his notes when he realized I stopped & disputed the charges of $12, 000, when I complained about the unhealthy outcome, yes I too was a perfect candidate, that's the sales pitch. I went to the supposedly best eye institute in Florida, and I have been screwed! He has never acknowledged constant discomfort, pain, flashes, in & out of focal near and far vision, etc. All the complaints mentioned, I am surprised I have been able to work, it has been difficult and painful. I went for second opinion, another 500.00 and all these frigging opthomologist stick together and say it's dry eye syndrome. It's a milllion dollar business! I was never ever told the crystal lens cannot be removed after 1 month, even though I complained constantly.

I had Crystalense about 4 yrs ago in both eyes. About 5k out of pocket. My distance vision is good. I have to wear glasses for any reading and computer work which is minimally 6 hrs a day. I'm so disappointed. My periferal vision is bad. When driving, cars actually appear closer on my sides then they actually are. I occasionally see flashes out my sides. I've had a visceral tear, which I was told is common with Crystalense, and have floaters all the time in one eyes. My eyes are my life, and to be honest, I'm scared. This sounds like class action!

I have Crystalens in both eyes and have experienced terrible results from the beginning. Wrong powers were implanted. One close, one distance. What the heck was that plan when they were supposed to "accommodate"? Next was Lasik for both eyes: a little better for distance but nothing for close-up but, alas, there were complications from that as well. Then YAG for both eyes which accomplished nothing! After visiting EIGHT eye doctors, including the best that Emory University has to offer four in Charlotte and the original surgeon, no one could explain [or would state] what was happening. Since then, I have had two Vitrectomies which did help with the "jelly" in the eyes. Still no movement in the Crystalens and so much surgery done that there seems no chance of getting rid of the Crystalens! Gradually, what little intermediate vision I had is fading as is depth perception. How can they say I have 20/20 vision?
I NEVER recommend Crystalens to anyone and no Dr. should recommend them either.

I too had crystalens sales pitch, they won!Oh yeah I was the perfect candidate for it, now after a second Advance Laser Correction to correct his mistake and miscalculations, and a 3rd Yag it is still the same.!..Now they messed up my distance vision...left eye same discomfort every frigging day, vision near, intermediate, and distance fluctuates in and out of focus...it's amazing that he actually wrotr in medical report perfect 20/20 vision..Biggest lie! Work thank god, they have such strong florescent lighting I by barely.. Constant blinking to focus on near, intermediate tolerable..with fluctuations...after the 2 surgery and Yag nite driving a nitemare!Dr.won't admit any wrong doing, s my left eye since day one after surgery has had discomfort, like an eyelash or bad contact lens is in my eye 99 percent of the time..Don't pass out but I got screwed for $12, 000...! Boy I am so furious, Bausch and Lomb make the Crystal lens, they are curious what went wrong? What are they gonna do? No egoo maniac doctor will adnit any wrong doing...so that ship has sailed!

I had a Crystalens implanted in my left eye in October 2011, and can see good up close and intermediate..but my distance vision sucks! Halos and blurriness an night and can't see far read signs etc...not past the front hood of my car. The eye surgeon wants to put another in my right eye, but definitely won't! I also had a Yag laser treatment done but that didn't help and now I have floaters which I didn't before. Don't waste your money on Crystalens. It cost me $3, 600.00 out of pocket, I haven't complained much but my eye surgeon tells me my vision is good and it's not. I'm going to try to talk to them about getting me laser to correct the distance and work out something for my right eye.

Had Crystalens implanted in right eye in late 2007 at age 49. Have good color and contrast but cannot focus on intermediate (computer screen) or reading (std newsprint) without glasses. Also a secondary cataract developed in a few years, resulting in night time halos. Recently had YAG to blast capsule. It improved (reduced) halos, but still cannot read computer or newspaper without glasses. The trouble with crytalens is that it doesn't "accommodate" in a large percentage of cases. B&L claims 95% patients eyeglass free but this is blatant promotional b.s...
Going for the left eye in 2 weeks, trying the Restor multifocal. It does not depend on accommodation.

I had crystalens put in both eyes and cannot see close or mid. It is terrible. I cannot believe that I cannot read my computer, a book, the expiration date on a milk carton. I have spent $10, 000 on promises that aren't even close to coming true. I feel handicapped. I have no idea what to now. I got a second opion and the doctor said that he would never put in the crystalens in as they don't react as promised. He said that my money would have been better spent remodleing my bathrooms (which is what I had saved up the money for). I can't get him to go on the record. I am stuck. Do not go for these lenses they do not deliver what they promise.

I had crystalens placed in left eye 3 weeks ago and am about to have it removed. I had a traditional lens placed in the right eye a month ago for distance and it was great. With the Crystalens My vision is blurred and uncomfortable.I understand that if it is removed within a month it is not to difficult. I would rather try the removal then put up with blurred vision forever. Driving at night isn't very good right now.

Doctor put crystalens in my right eye and now I can't see distance, everything is blurry. He told me he wouldn't remove the lens, why not. He, also, told me the wrong lens was put into my eye, evidently the measuremenrts were off. Now he's telling me not to wear my glasses so I can get the crystalens to flex. With out the one glass lense everything is really blurry, don't know how not wearing my one lense glasses will help improve my crystalens vision. Doctor is very arrogant and doesn't like to be questioned or answer questions, I took a freind with me to last visit to see if it was my imagination about his attitude she walked out of his office telling me she really didn't like that doctor. I really feel this lens needs to be removed so I have distant vision. Right now I can see about six feet in front of me and up close but no distance. Help I need a good doctor to talk to and who will solve my problem.

Very unhappy and depressed I spent. $5000 and can't see distance or drive at night but can read so for near far and close Dr wants to replace lens 10% chance of complications. Going for second opinion

I had both eyes done and can read but can't drive at night very difficult and can't see far. Could lose my job or get hurt on my job. Spent $5000
Quite upset. Doctor wants to change lens 10% chance of complications. Very very depressed

I had a Crystalens implanted in my right eye in September, 2010 and it does NOT work. I have ONLY distance vision and NO near or intermediate computer screen vision. My doctor tells me I am the ONLY patient he has ever had where the Crystal Lens did not work perfectly. I find this very hard to believe. I too paid thousands extra for a lens that would allow me to see near, far, and everything in between. I now have to decide if I should have a YAG procedure done and I am afraid of further complications and therefore am seeking answers. Has anyone out there had a Crystalens that did NOT work and then did work as promised after the YAG procedure or am I getting more opthalmic hype from the doctors?

Crystalens is a failure! No accomodation at all. All I've got is intermediate (arms length to about 6 ft.) vision. Need glasses for close-up work and have blurry vision at distance. Cannot drive at night due to blur and glare. The doctors' solution: they can perform Lasik surgery to one eye to give me distance vision and let the other eye as-is for computer, etc. work. Will still need glasses to read. Well, that's a fine how-do-you-do! I spend thousands of extra dollars for the top of the line lens that will let me see "near, far, and everywhere in between" and all I get is fixed (and fleeced)! They even performed YAG laser treatments to open up and help relax the capsular bag and let the lens flex; FAIL! No difference. I was given a "free" contact lens for one eye to let me see clearly at distance--but only in one eye! Whoopee!
Bottom line: stay away from Crystalens!

I had a Crystalens implant two weeks ago. Far vision is good at 20/20. But, the near and close vision is much worse than before I went in. I can't read anything at computer distance or especially reading distance. I question whether they put the Crystalens in at all. $2200 down the drain. I'm very disappointed.

i just would like some advice i am 38 years olad i am diabetic and i have a cataract in my right eye i was suggested by my dr. to ave crystalens put in, on december is my surgery i have been looking at alot of reviews and i am not feeling too confident about doing this surgery can anyone help me out on what to do thank you in advance