Crystalens®

Dallas, Texas

One of the most exciting advancements in vision correction is the intraocular lens implant or IOL, a device that replaces the eye’s natural lens. IOLs are helping people see better and clearer than ever, replacing the need for thick glasses and correcting refractive errors.

Crystalens® is one type of intraocular lens implant, distinguished by its ability to closely mimic the eye’s natural lens in a way other IOLs cannot. Even older individuals can enjoy the visual acuity of much younger eyes with Crystalens, approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2003.

Read about Crystalens® and Accommodation.

Understanding How Crystalens® Works

The eye’s natural crystalline lens is behind the iris, the colored part of the eye. Ciliary muscles surround and control the lens. The lens can bend, flex, thicken and thin to focus on distant and close objects. This ability to focus is a called "accommodation". Accommodation helps our eyes focus images onto the retina, where they are interpreted by the brain. Healthy eyes focus easily on distant and close objects, because of a normal curvature of the cornea and the crystalline lens.

Nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism occur when the cornea and lens are not perfectly shaped. Laser vision surgery, such as LASIK, and corneal implants can correct the curvature of the cornea, but cannot correct the shape of the lens. Crystalens, however, flexes and curves just like the eye’s natural lens and has a high success rate in helping people enjoy clearer vision.

Crystalens® and Cataracts

As we age, the lens becomes less accommodating or less flexible. The lens may also become cloudy, resulting in a condition known as cataracts. Vision affected by cataracts may deteriorate without medical intervention. Crystalens® can replace the clouded natural lens in a surgical procedure known as cataract extraction, so the cataract patient can regain clear vision.

Risks of Crystalens

All surgery involves some risk. While complications from Crystalens® implantation are rare, some potential risks include:

• Infection
• Additional surgery to correct lens placement
• Possible cornea clouding
• Permanent vision loss
• Increased risk of retinal detachment

Is Crystalens® right for you? The best way to find out is to schedule a comprehensive vision consultation at The Carter Eye Center in Dallas, Texas.