This isn't just a woman's health question. I was near-sighted all my life. I just had cataracts removed from both eyes and can see in the distance now that the surgeon put in replacement lenses. I need reading glasses, but I have been using those for

Thank you so much, Alison. So, I'm not just a whiny patient who expects too much from the surgery. It could be an actual problem with the placement of the lens! And there are more options than glasses! Yay. I will pursue this with the surgeon and give you any information. Thank you, especially, for the guiding questions.

I have done some online research on Crystalens, and found varying degrees of what surgeons expect regarding "post-op" vision. Most reports indicated patient's corrected and uncorrected vision improving, almost immediately and/or up to 2 weeks after surgery. These same clinics also mentioned patients may expect other side effects from surgery lasting up to a few months, and may also expect to need further surgery or adjustment on the lenses.

Crystalens has not been around long enough for adequate reports regarding negative side effects to be published, but you can review the Pub Med Clinical trials involing Crystalens at:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=Crystalens. (Bottom line: all clinical trials showed improvement in patient's vision, so this does seem like a great treatment option for cataracts. There is no discussion regarding post-op effects except for one report saying two patients reporting Z syndrome).

With this information, you might want to contact your doctor with the confirmed diagnosis of double vision post-op, and ask the following questions:
1. Have other patients reported double-vision as a surgical side effect? If no, what would be the cause?
2. Is this an adverse event that should be reported to the FDA, in order for more testing to be conducted on possible side effects?
3. What should I expect regarding vision improvement (and symptom reduction) in the next 2 months? Can I expect double vision to be improved?
4. What are my treatment options?

You may also choose to call any of these clinics for a second opinion, or see another local doctor for a second opinion.

- http://www.allaboutvision.com/conditions/accommodating-iols.htm?gclid=CKPK7sX5_KgCFdI32god1mFKRw

- http://www.mylasikdoc.com/html/accommodative-iol.html

- http://www.seebetterflorida.com/eye-conditions-faq/crystalens-faq.aspx#10

Please let us know what you decide to do! Your double-vision could be a side effect that needs correcting (many of the sites above did mention patients who needed to wear corrective glasses after surgery, and not to expect perfection). This sounds like a delicate balance between finding out what went "wrong": patient expectations, surgical competence, normal side effects. Basically, let your doctor know you want all the information possible to figure out if this is a side effect other patients should know about (and clinical trials to be conducted), or if there was a problem with the surgery that went unnoticed.

Let us know how we can help!

Thanks, Alison. Yes, at my post-op visit to the optometrist/ophthalmologist (?) at the surgery center, I brought up the double vision issue. He confirmed it, then said I would need prism lenses and he could prescribe them or my regular optometrist could. Took my problem to my usual optometrist and all he did was do the usual vision tests then prescribe the lenses. I feel like there must have been a problem with the insertion of the Crystalens to be causing this so immediately after the surgery. By the way, I was not given a 'block' before either eye surgery so that is not the cause. Thanks for any help or suggestions you can give me.

Have you contacted your doctor, to let him/her know that as a result of surgery, you now have double vision? I just want to make sure this first step is taken care of, because if your doctor and/or surgeon does not hear back from you, they will assume surgery was successful with no negative effects.