Crystalens®

One of the First Accommodating Lenses

The Crystalens AT 5.0 is a unique and revolutionary type of lens implant, enabling people who are over 50 to: Eliminate pre-existing near- or far-sightedness, and Restore close-focusing capability The combination of clear distance, intermediate and near vision creates the potential to see clearly without glasses! The Introduction of Crystalens Technology Standard lenses as placed in eye glasses or used at time of lens replacement surgery (such as cataract surgery) are single-focus lenses (also called "monofocal" lenses). Monofocal lenses have for decades been the 'default' lenses used toreplace a cloudy natural lens during cataract surgery. Followingsurgery with monofocal lenses, distant objects are clear but nearobjects may be less than perfectly clear, such that reading glasses maybe required to view a computer monitor, cell phone, wrist watch,restaurant menu, and anything else within arm's reach.

Consider the potential of NOT needing glasses!

With Crystalens, it becomes possible to see all these items more clearly without glasses .
Imagine the freedom of playing with grandkids without fumbling for glasses.	Crystalens has evolved since its introduction in about 2004. Initially it contained a 4.5mm diameter lens or 'optic'. The newer Crystalens AT 5.0 incorporatesa 5mm optic, which substantially reduces the risk of 'edge effects' (anundesirable condition that results in glare). Overall, the "Five-O"lens is a better design with superior performance compared to itsprevious version. To understand the full benefit of the Crystalens in comparison toolder-style monofocal lens implants, it is important to understand whatis meant by accommodation and accommodative amplitude. This is explained on the following page .
The Crystalens AT 5.0 is currently Dr. Wallace's preferred lens for the majority of patients considering lens replacement and presbyopia treatment.

How Does Crystalens Implant Work?

This lens responds to the "pull" of the focusing muscles within the eye, slightly shifting its position in response to close focusing or accommodative effort. For distance viewing (when the ciliary muscles are relaxed), the lens sits slightly further back in the eye. When focusing on a near target (and ciliary muscles are contracting or under tension), the lens optic is moved slightly more forward in the eye, causing a focus shift. See the graphic at bottom of page for a visual demonstration.

The Crystalens is not a *perfect* replacement for the eye's natural lens; at best it can accommodate or adjust focus by perhaps 1.75 diopters (closest comfortable focus to about 22.5") where the normal eye of a 30-year-old can accommodate comfortably to about 4.0 diopters (closest comfortable focus to about 10"). However, Crystalens can certainly allow improved distance, intermediate and near vision compared to monofocal lens designs. Reading glasses may still be necessary for sustained reading of small print. Crystalens implantatation works very nicely for people who were mildly nearsighted, normally sighted, or farsighted before treatment.

I cannow shop for sporty sunglasses instead of worrying about prescription glasses or getting dirt in my contact lenses!

How is Crystalens Inserted? Crystalens placement is performed at the time that the eye's naturallens is removed. If the natural lens is cloudy, this procedure isanalogous to cataract surgery .If the natural lens is not cloudy but has lost the ability to adjustfocus, this is called "clear lens removal" surgery. The Crystalens isplaced within a clear membranous sheath called the lens capsule, whichis connected to the ciliary muscles (focusing muscles of the eye) bytiny fibers called zonules. The capsular bag thus functions to suspenda lens implant in a fashion analogous to a hammock.

Please contact LA Sight today with questions or to schedule a consultation and
determine if you are a candidate for vision correction.

Crystalens: Position of the implanted lens is slightly forward in the eye when viewing a near object, (left) and further back in the eye when viewing a distant object (right). © Eyeonics, Inc.; all rights reserved.