Crystalens is a unique intraocular lens (IOL) for use following cataract surgery . Crystalens is the only implant that accommodates to improve distance as well as near vision after surgery. This is the only implant that focuses similarly to the eye’s natural lens before reading glasses were needed.  The standard monofocal implants have been used for years to improve distance vision. Glasses are required though in order to read after a standard implant.  Recently, a number of multifocal IOLs have been introduced such as the ReSTOR lens, allowing people to regain vision at a range of distances and reducing their dependence on contacts and reading glasses.  Crystalens is the only implant though that actually functions in a similar fashion to the natural lens of the eye.   

With the eye’s natural lens, your eye focuses at different distances using the process of accommodation.  Accommodation involves the contraction and relaxation of muscles that change the shape of the lens and its refractive properties, focusing light reflected from objects at different distances on the retina.  Monofocal IOLs and most multifocal IOLs are rigid and do not allow the muscles of the eye to reshape them, but Crystalens is flexible and allows for accommodation.  
 

Multifocal IOLs have a number of nested rings on the lens that focus light from different distances on the retina.  This creates multiple images of the same object on the retina.  After a short period of time, your mind adapts to select the clearest image of the object you are looking at, but this adaptation is not necessary for Crystalens users.  In addition, the rings are discrete units that are designed to focus at certain distances.  This means that a person with a toric IOL doesn't actually have clear vision at all distances, but has several clear zones with more blurry zones in between.  Sometimes, too, people with multifocal IOLs experience glare or halos due to the rings on the implant. 

Multifocal IOLs like ReSTOR and ReZOOM, and are good options for many people, but for others the best IOL is Crystalens.  

To learn more about which IOL is best for you, schedule a cataract surgery consultation at Horizon Eye Care in Charlotte, North Carolina today.