Crystalens HD, the latest generation accommodating IOL produced by Bausch & Lomb, improves vision at all distances compared to the company’s previous model, the Crystalens Five-O, according to a new study.
Speaking at the recent annual meeting of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, Jay S. Pepose, MD, PhD, presented the results of a study of 67 eyes implanted with the Crystalens HD intraocular lens during cataract surgery. At one month after surgery, monocular testing of uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) revealed:
- 79 percent of the eyes were 20/30 or better for distance vision
- 97 percent of the eyes were 20/30 or better for intermediate vision (approximately 32 inches)
- 85 percent of the eyes were 20/30 or better for near vision (approximately 16 inches)
Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) with eyeglasses for distance vision was 20/20 or better in 96 percent of eyes and 20/30 or better in 100 percent.
Compared with data from cataract surgery using the earlier Crystalens accommodating IOL, the new Crystalens HD provides better vision at all distances. Forty-two percent of eyes receiving the Crystalens HD IOL attained uncorrected distance vision of 20/20 or better, which is 50 percent higher than the percentage of eyes attaining the same level of UCVA after surgery with the Crystalens Five-O, said Dr. Pepose.
The Crystalens HD also surpassed the UCVA performance of a leading brand of multifocal IOL (AcrySof ReSTOR, Alcon) for distance and intermediate vision:
- 57 percent of eyes with Crystalens HD were 20/25 or better at distance
- 45 percent of eyes with the multifocal IOL were 20/25 or better at distance
- 91 percent of eyes with the Crystalens HD were 20/25 or better at intermediate
- 35 percent of eyes with the multifocal IOL were 20/25 or better at intermediate
The AcrySof ReSTOR multifocal IOL, on the other hand, performed better than the Crystalens HD accommodating IOL when comparing uncorrected near vision. Twice as many eyes receiving the multifocal lens attained 20/20 or better UCVA at near than eyes receiving the Crystalens HD. But the percentage of eyes attaining 20/30 or better UCVA at near was roughly the same for both groups (85 percent).
Accommodating IOLs are single vision intraocular lenses that move slightly in the eye in response to focusing effort to provide a full range of vision. Multifocal IOLs maintain a fixed position within the eye but have an optical portion that contains several lens powers to provide a full range of vision. Both types of IOLs can decrease the need for reading glasses and computer glasses after cataract surgery.
Accommodating IOLs and multifocal IOLs are premium intraocular lenses that cost more than traditional monofocal IOLs used in cataract surgery. Therefore, choosing these lenses will increase your cataract surgery cost. For details, consult a cataract surgeon near you.
Disclosure: Dr. Pepose, director of Pepose Vision Institute (Chesterfield, MO) and professor of clinical ophthalmology, School of Medicine, Washington University (St. Louis, MO), is a paid a consultant to Bausch & Lomb.
Tags: accommodating IOL, accommodative IOL, cataract surgeon, Cataract Surgery, cataract surgery cost, Crystalens, multifocal IOLs