Crystalens
The Crystalens is a premium intraocular lens option designed for improving the range of clear vision after a cataract procedure. The Crystalens is a monofocal lens, because there is only one power built into the lens, but it is different from the other monofocal lenses. The unique characteristic of the Crystalens is that it is the only FDA-approved accommodating lens.
What is Accommodation? In a healthy young eye, as the eye attempts to focus at a near object, the muscles within the eye contract. This changes the shape of the lens and helps focus the vision at that distance.
When a standard monofocal lens is implanted after cataract surgery, muscular contractions do not change the focusing ability of the lens. With the Crystalens, built in hinges allow the lens to change position within the eye as the eye muscles contract, helping provide for some near vision.
Strengths:
Ability to give improved intermediate and near vision without the glare and halos sometimes noticed with a multifocal lens
Weaknesses:
Variability in the effectiveness of the lens focusing mechanism. Some patients find that with the Crystalens they are able to have excellent near vision, while others still have to rely on reading glasses for their up close vision. This occurs because each eye heals somewhat differently and the movement of the lens relies on the function of the eye muscles as well as the final position of the lens as it heals.
For a more detailed discussion on the Crystalens click here or for the FDA studies on the Crystalens. For the manufacturer website, click here.
|
