Crystalens review: Can't see as promised 81

Had crystal lens implanted 2012, both eyes. I had yag and laser done on both eyes, which helped with the distance, but near is still a problem. I even tried a contact for near vision which helped somewhat. The laser was suppose to reflect the same as the contact, but now the near vision is even worse. The Doctor said everything was ok with my eye and can't figure out why my left eye (for near vision) wont focus. I too am at my wits end, I paid the extra out of pocket for this surgery and I'm very disappointed in the results.

Implant works for distance, ok midrange, forget close, a mono lense I was told from a second doctor would have worked just as well.
$8000 lesson that I will pay to Care One for years. If I knew then what I know now.

At the time even the finance guy was in on the deception. When I told him I couldn't see closeup, he said the doctor could touch it up. The touch up as I later learned from another doctor only helps with distance.

My original surgeon that I paid $8000 to, over and above my insurance coverage, on my follow up basically slapped me on my butt and said see you in year? Is he kidding, I'm a friggin accountant, so what do I do? Back to Walgreens for readers and continue to pay my $8000 bill?

DON'T GET A CRYSTALENS, Don't believe the hype. Really research your doctor, go to more than one, feel comfortable, if you get a bad vibe, leave. Price and prominence is no assurance. Trust me, I went to a Prominent, decorated experienced surgeon. Unfortunately, it's just a business, an upsell, like leather seats on a car, if you have money to burn go for it since the results in most cases aren't worse, but not really better either, just the card in my wallet says I spent more money than you did, what a sad badge of honor. I'll take comfort in knowing I wasn't the only idiot that fell for the scam.

I am a 45 year old male and got Crystalens in both eyes in May (separated 2 weeks apart). My right eye was done first and immediately had light flickering issues. I wanted to wait to do the 2nd eye but was SOLD to get it done as it would help my brain adjust. BAD MOVE! Now both eyes are flickering and I feel like I am wearing swim goggles all day. There is distortion on the edges at all angles. I have also lost my near vision, I went from being able to read my computer on the 1st week of surgery to having to wear cheaters at 1.0 and now 2.0. Only good news is I don't have floaters or halos. I am a competitive Table Tennis player and have lost my ability to see depth (so no accommodation here). I am able to play racquetball as the ball is bigger and slower; however, I have trouble telling the angle of the balls. Accommodation is a JOKE. I wish I got non accommodating lenses as these don't work anyway. My best friend is a retina specialist MD PHD at Johns Hopkins and he told me to stay away from Crystallens but I was too optimistic. I thought that 95% (as stated by Bausch and Lombs website) no longer needed any glasses. What a blatant lie. Now I am scheduled to do the YAG procedure to help with scarring. I asked what the side effects are and the doctor said none. Not sure what this will resolve. Anybody had good experience or heard of good experience w YAG procedure. Cost is $2500 for two eyes.

So far my experience with Crystalens AO is not satisfactory. I had them put in both eyes three months ago. At first computer distance was perfect and near vision was acceptable but far was still myopic. But near and mid has gradually faded while far has only improved slightly. They will do LASIK or PRK as part of original price but mid and near will be even worse. It cost $1700 per eye extra for Crystallens AO versus Trulign Toric. I will wind up having wasted $3400 and still wearing glasses for all but distance.
I am 61 and in good health. I think the doctors are excellent surgeons but I don't believe that the diagnostic processes are sophisticated enough to identify patients who will benefit from an accommodating lens.

I'm in the same boat. Had a cataract surgery. Paid an additional $3000. for the crystal lens because I was promised it would accommodate both near and far vision. I never got my near vision back. Now, my far vision is blurry again too. The Dr keeps telling me to do eye exercises and maybe it will start working. It hasn't. How do we launch a class action lawsuit? I was better off prior to cataract surgery.

Three months after crystal lens in both eyes, $6000 later, I am worse off than ever in my life. I went with this eye surgeon because of extensive advertising. Maybe that is the way to go...false advertising!

I had the Crystal Lens put in during cataract removal about a year & a half ago. Left eye first, right second. I saw great, near & far for about 10 months. Doc said I had some debris or scar tissue floating about, so wanted to do laser. Had the laser, then a week later everything changed. Distance was a problem. My right eye is blurry & night driving is not good. I had 5 more laser treatments. Still, right lens will not accommodate for distance. My right eye is always irritated & mostly blurry. My doc had a B&L doc there for the laser treatments, and they both were nice. My distance has not really improved. Doc says the lens is stuck in a forward position. I can still read & see the pc fine, but all the clearness & sharpness I had for distance has not came back & now am noticing a flash of lights on the side, the right eye, of course. Like everyone else, the hype of not having to wear glasses for anything is what sold me. And I still don't wear them but I feel it is going to happen. I would rather it just start working again. I loved it when I could see good. Don't know really what will happen, but I do know, Crystal Lens does not work right. And I am sorry I spent the $6000 extra. I don't know about class action lawsuit, but do know I am an inch away to talking to a lawyer!

I am almost 3 years into this mess with crystalen lenses... Does one know how to start a class action suit against them... I cant drive... I have touble reading and just even typing this... I only use one eye now... Ended up in Boston with a specialist who come to find out is a spokesperson for the lense... really... I am happy to know it is just not me with this issue but I cannt believe we are to be left like this. argh

My vision was good not great... I got Crystal Lens and now I cannot see well enough to drive or work on my computer (my wife has to type this complaint).

First does anyone know a good doctor that can help me with my vision... I live in California

Second did you ever find a lawyer for a class action suit... because I will be glad to join in. I am studying for the Bar so that I can be a lawyer, however now with my sight so bad... I cannot see well enough to take the test.

Please respond as I want to at least be able to see well enough to Drive... Thank you!

Crystalens 5.0. Now, being told due to 'muscle accommodating need' that this particular lens wasn't a good idea for someone 65. (1) Severe astimatism isn't a good candidate, but that was overlooked. Cross or cockeyed, which I had trouble with my eye pulling outward my whole life, isn't a good candidate... (since the muscle tends to weaken as you age, and the muscle is what your lens adheres to to make then lens work properly). For months, it felt as though my eyeball was in a barrel, and I could see a black rim around my eye. I couldn't focus, and my eye (dominant eye) felt as though it was pulling outward. Right off, due to Astigmatism and bad eye muscle tone in the past, I should have never been given an accommodating type IOL (Crystalens). Because they operate by being attached to the muscle, and if the muscle isn't working right, the lens isn't either, and my vision has been horrid. I'm 5 years out from my cataract-lens implant surgery, and still struggle every day to see well. They say I have 20/20 vision. Don't understand how the test concludes that because I feel like I'm looking through vaseline. I wear a patch quite often over my right eye, especially when trying to read, because it is so distorted. I wanted to have it out, but they said, no, that wasn't possible, as I'd had YAG laser, in fact several times. They didn't tell me that unless it was removed asap, and especially before YAG surgery, that it could never be removed, as it begins seating, becoming one with the muscle. The YAG helped in making the eye not feel like it was sunk in a deep hole, but I still see what looks like a rim, just like when I wore contacts. My decreased peripheal vision is quite noticeable, also. I've lost the ability to do so much. My vision wasn't all that bad. I had 20/40 and could still pass drivers license. This was all about removing cataracts, and the song and dance for the Crytalens was loud and reassuring. In fact, she said, my dad is getting his done next week. Well, I found out that he didn't, because she became worried from too many folks having problems with their Crystalens. My other eye (which they said needed replacing the week after I got the Crystalens), because it too has a catarct, is starting to distort a lot. I've lived with it for 5 years, as I'm horrified worrying about losing even more vision .

I had my cataract surgery 3 years ago and had the crystal end HD implanted. What a mistake! my vision has been hazy and blurry ever since. I would rather cover my right eye and see out of my left eye because it is more comfortable. I fear having the cataract removal on my left eye because I am afraid I will end up with the same problem. My near sight is very good. This whole problem started after I had LASIK. I am 43 and I am afraid of my future. I am a nurse and I rely on good vision. Let me know about the lawsuit..I would love to join in!

Anybody did a lawsuit on the Crystal lenses since I have my surgery on July 2014 I been the same problems like everybody else, never had a problem with my far vision and now is I cannot see the signs unless I am very close. I cannot drive see halos and blurry vision. Very worry about losing more vision I already have the laser done on both eyes and instead getting better it got worse, don't know what to do.

Need 20 plus people with crystal lens implant issues for class action law suit if interested email zadehabas@yahoo.com. If I receive 20 + email addresses I will contact the group for the next step. Suffering and just want justice together we can make a difference.

So many complaints about Crystalens and nothing is being done by the FDA. I never heard the Crystalens until my eye doctor insisted how wonderful it is and I would be a wonderful candidate. I had the procedure done two years ago and have been miserable ever since. I need cheaters to do everything close up especially at work. I have severe floaters that are distracting due to a separation shortly after the surgery. The cost of Crystalens was $7, 000 and yet I needed a yag procedure--one eye done at $700. Did need the other eye. Save your money and don't listen to the professionals who are probably getting paid to push the Crystalens. What is with the brochures and professional comments "if you are hard to please the Crystalens may not be for you". What the hell does that mean anyway? Save your money folks... don't do it.

Me too. My wife and myself had both eyes done by the same Dr.. She had the regular lens, covered by the insurance, and the results were very good.
I paid $5, 000 for a set of crystal lenses and the results I got are a mixed bag. I can see well, but when I enter a place with florescent lights like: an airport, stores, or when I drive at night; the glare causes me grate discomfort and confusion. Last year, when we visited the eye surgeon, he did a procedure to both of us, which according to him would clean and improve greatly our visions. My wife came out of there seeing much better. On the other and, I arrived home feeling excruciating pain in the eye he worked on. I called his office several times that afternoon asking permeation to return there. Finally, he saw me there that evening, applied some drops on my eye and send me home without any improvement of my pain.

My 81 y.o. mother had Crystalenses PUSHED off on her in cataract removal procedure. She was healthy and active before the surgery, a voracious reader and worked every crossword puzzle she could find. Since getting these lenses, she has had various problems, feels lousy all the time, and has had close to a $1, 000, 000 (yes, a million bucks) in tests, appointments with various specialists, only to be told that they can find nothing wrong with her. She has been losing a great deal of weight, complains that everything she eats burns, her eyes are always pinkish, is weak, feels light-headed and is afraid to drive for fear of fainting. She has been unable to sleep since the implants were put in. She states that bright colors and patterns overwhelm her visually, and other senses like smell and taste are also affected. She cares for my father who has had three strokes, and all of this has complicated things. I flew to Oklahoma City from Denver to spend a month helping her and talking with specialists. I am a health professional and felt I could advocate for her. She has never been depressed or a hypochondriac in her life! When I arrived, I was SHOCKED at how frail she looked as it had only been a year since I had seen her. (We talk on the phone daily). Her sister had called me, concerned that she was dying. After all of the tests (including cancer scans), our suspicions keep returning to the Crystalenses or the excessive use of steroid eye drops the surgeon prescribed. Our feeling all along has been that either the lenses or the eye drops caused neurological problems. The eye surgeon denies everything, of course. Mom is scared and depressed and she can no longer read because the words on the pages cause problems. Has anyone else had any of these problems? Email me at livefreeordie90@yahoo.com

Wish I had read all these before I chose these lenses. Like everyone else I was told I was a good candidate and that I would love them. My life hasn't been the same since. I complained immediately after the first lens was put in and was told you have to have two to be able to tell the difference. No change. I didn't have what most of you talk about vision wise, but I've felt sick, dizzy, and tired from day one. Some days worse than others and am not able to function normally. Since the vision is not all that bad I can't seem to get anyone to understand the issue. Has anyone else had this? Also, I want these replaced ASAP so I would love to know if anyone has done this and who they were able to get to preform the surgery..

My experience with Crystalens is as bad as any of the above complaints. I had both eyes done as an optional remedy for cataracts. I had one eye done in December 2012 and one done in January 2013. By the way, I am 72 years of age presently and had glasses for the first time at age 42, at first for near-sightedness and about 10 years later for reading up close. Anyway, back to my Crystalens complaint. For the next two years after I had the Crystalens lenses installed, all was well and my vision, both near and far. Beginning in early 2015, I started experiencing a condition like "dry eye"(something I had never experienced before). At the same time, my distance vision became worse. I have not had any problem with up-close vision, but my distance vision has become very bad, especially at night or in any area where there isn't good lighting.
Needless to say, I am very sorry that I paid $4700 for the Crystalens lenses. I would love to be part of class action suit against the manufacturer.

I had Crystalens placed in my right eye in August. For me, it did not work. Save your money.

So glad I finally found a sounding board for this problem. After talking to my doctor I felt as though I was the only one having a problem with Crystalens.. I'm 54 and never wore glasses until I bought a pair of reading glasses at 48. Luckily I only had this surgery on my right eye two years ago. I regret it to this day! Told that I would be able to see near far and in between (brochure claims the same thing). The only plus is that colors are brighter. Long distance is worse, moderate distance is worse (I can't read the street sign until I'm twenty feet away), near vision... I still need the same reading glasses! When I drive at night the halos are worse then when I had cataracts! The Dr's response: He gave eye drops. Hell I could have saved $3000 and gone with the drops.

I am 27 now I had the surgery when I was 24 due to family a family history of cataracts. My doctor recommend the crystal lens to me and I was very intrigued. I have two other sibling who had cataract surgery but had the regular soft lens put it. So I figured I would try something new that would give me good close up vision.

After getting the first eye done I had 20x20 distance vision but very poor accommodation for close up reading. I needed reading glasses for just about everything close up. This was a huge change since I went from having no distance vision and almost perfect close up vision prior to the surgery. When I finally got in for the the second eye I noticed it had average distance and just enough vision to read this webpage but a bit blurry. Now I am wondering what do these special lenses actually do?... They made one eye close up and one eye for distance. Why would they need to do this if they were accommodation lenses? To add to frustration I compare my vision to my sibling vision and they can read text even smaller then I can and see just as far, and they only have the soft lenses. One thing they don't warn you about it getting used to the vision difference in both the eyes. It can be challenging a come with a lot of head aches.

If you are planning on buying crystal lens or any sort of accommodation lense save yourself the 4000$, Stick to the soft lense.

I was promised by my ophthalmologist that the Crystal lens would self adjust so I can see both near and far on my right eye. That did not happen. I also had the YAG procedure after several months but did not improve my vision. I cannot see near and my distance vision is blurry on my right eye. Totally disappointed with the misrepresentation.

I had a Crystalens implanted in 2010. My doctor asked if I needed glasses post-surgery, would I rather wear glasses to see distances or for close work. When I answered "distance" he sneered at me. everyone who reads comments on this board is familiar with what the doctor tells you to expect after the surgery. Your eyes will be dilated, you'll have good distance vision, get reading glasses of several strengths and step down for two weeks. My experience was exactly the opposite. He put drops in my eyes so they weren't dilated and I vomited for at least 30 minutes. I could not see intermediate or distance objects and still can't. However I was able to read a novel three days after the surgery. Post-op follow up was turned over to an optometrist. On the fourth day I had an excrutiating pain in my eye and insisted on seeing the surgeon. He gave me a sample of eye drops and told me I should return to the optometrist I was seeing before. In other words, his work was done. I believe he ordered the side pieces slightly longer to ensure that I could read, and the lens puts pressure on my eye when I read too much.

My advice is to choose some other than a Crystalens for the simple reason that if the doctor measures wrong or something else goes wrong, they are risky to explant.

I had Crystalens implanted in my right eye in 2013. It is now three years later and my eye sight has never been worse. My intermediate vision now requires me to wear glasses for computer work...before I did not need glasses to see a monitor. My reading vision prescription is much stronger than before surgery. Bausch and Lomb tells you that you are a candidate even if you have an astigmatism. I have had two doctors tell me since surgery that I never should have been told that I was a candidate. It cost me $2500 out of pocket for the lense that insurance did not cover...$5500 total I had to pay and now have worse vision that I have ever had. Sadly, I did not look up Complaints on Crystalens before making my decision. I hope this post saves someone else the misery that I deal with every day and got to pay for the priviledge.

I am getting worried - had the Crystalens for cataract surgery in both eyes. First eye surgery was very painful - I could see to read immediately but anything 3 ft or more out is horrible. Had the second surgery 2 weeks later and have excellent far vision but cannot read a book or the computer monitor. Doctor has told me the Lasik procedure I am scheduled for in 6 more weeks will correct my problems but I have my doubts. There are halos everywhere & my left eye is still painful on occasion. I paid $3450/eye extra. I questioned the doctor quite extensively as to the lens as had a sister who's doctor strongly discouraged her on getting them. I am so sad I believed in my doctor - I have had him for RK in 1995 and touchup Lasik in 2005 and trusted him. When I went back to him for the YAG (I came early as my local optometrist recommended it and stated in my report so the clinic had called with an earlier date) and he was very condescending to me with the question "why are you are here". I am crossing my fingers for the October appointment but have my doubts. It has made my life so miserable.

I had both eyes done 3yrs ago with crystal lens spent 11, 000. I had good reading vision for about 6 months did all the eye exercises. Went back after 14months (I was afraid I to go sooner I thought had done something so I kept the issue secret, longer than I should have. I mean $11, 000. I didn't want my husband to be mad if I had ruined my investment towards perfect vision by tanning in a tanning bed) . I went in and had yag done on both eyes another $2000.00. Reading vision improved yay no reading classes woohoo lasted about 10 months back to using reading classes. My night vision and distance vision is fine but I'm back to using and losing reading classes. Very very very disappointed. No waist your money or chance of complications on this procedure.

Other than the recalled Crystalenses, how many of the problems reported here would be caused by bad practitioners? I'm not accusing, but would like to know if the lack of experience of the surgeons has led to these complications. I just heard Dr. Santamaria of New Jersey speak positively of the Crystalens. This doctor, however, is highly regarded in the ophthalmology field. Has anyone here been his patient? I'm considering getting this procedure done--even though my problem is only with near vision. You may hear Dr. Santamaria on this radio interview: https://youtu.be/YElRT6h7Kwc. His comments on Crystalens come at the end.

Has anyone checked about the removal of the frigging substandard Crystalens implant ! These lens had recalls as well, check FDA website..and yes Dr that was positioning them manually if put in wrong, they will never admit it...mine tilted permanently..left eye has been in distrest for over 5 yrs now...supposedly I went to the best...yes the best Dr in South Fla to rip you off, cost me 12, 000! There should be a law against these optometrists...my dr. practice got a legal warning and fined for making promises and statements referring the Crystalens implant that are just not true...it's all about the money isnt it.