Can't see after cataract surgery
Posted , 17 users are following.
I had cataract surgery in my right eyes 3 weeks ago and my monofocal lense was set for distance. I was told before the surgery that I would possibly need to wear readers. Well I have noticed that immediately after the surgery and to this day, that I still can not see the regular print and small print on various things, even with readers on. I tried like 4 different power readers and everything is still supper blurry. I see fine with distance but everything close up is bad. I can't see the computer well and cooking is a challenge for me with the readers. I suppose to have my other eye done on dec 8 and im nervous. My surgeron wants to make that eye set at intermediate. I don't know if it should. Should i get a second opinion? By the way I was told i had some of the worst cataracts my doc have seen and i was legally blind in both eyes without glasses before the surgery. But when i when to my next day post op, he said my vision in the operated eye was now 20/30.
0 likes, 33 replies
acc925 sara06781
Edited
I had both eyes done earlier this year (a week apart due to severity of compromised vision having one good eye and the other so vastly different). I too was told that I would proably need glasses for reading and up close work. However, I can see just fine to read a book or a computer screen. If I put moisterizing eye drops in, I can see fine print for a limited time, until my eyes dry up again (a side effect of the surgery). I did notice that my vision was superb for the first few weeks after surgery - I could read tiny print with ease and relished my new vision, but that has waned over the months. While I wasn't legally blind, I was very far sighted (+9). It wouldn't hurt to get a second opinion. I think it a good idea.
sara06781 acc925
Edited
I'm defiantely gonna get a second opinion now after reading everyone's experiences with this surgery. Thank you.
rgCalifornia acc925
Posted
You are lucky. There are a few people who are able to see close up and read without glasses or contacts after getting cataract surgey with a monofocal lens set for distance. It's rare, but it does happen. It's not something people should expect.
bashley99 acc925
Posted
If your eyes are normally dry you can have punctal plugs inserted, which will keep the moisture from draining away. These can be temporary or permanent. I've been thinking of having them put in because, while my eyes aren't dry, when I take a shower or swim water leaks in through the puncta and into my sinuses and/or down my throat.
agnes90839 sara06781
Edited
I know exactly how you are feeling, got my first eye done in July, for 4 days I climbed the wall with pain but after that it settled down and I was OKish. I too deliberated about getting my other eye done but the optician said the cataract could get worse and lead to blindness, still deliberated, then decided to go ahead. The sight in both eyes is fine, well so far and the second eye was done in August but I do have symptoms ie slight distortion down the side of my eye, my eyes feel a little heavy all the time but I dont use drops now at all so maybe I should and that might help. But as I said my sight is OK and cant say im happy to live with the symptoms but it is better than having the cataracts cause my vision before the ops wasnt good.
Nobody can advise you on your second I op, I spoke to so many people before I had my eyes done and they had either had or knew of someone who had the op and they were all fine and I spoke to quite a lot of people about it but I didnt find it fine and thought it was just me till I read the letters on this site.
Please let us know how you are getting on and what you decide to do please.
Regards Agnes
acc925 agnes90839
Posted
Hello. I know what you mean about the heavy eyed feeling. That is something I've been experiencing since my surgery. I find that drops help, but don't cure. I feel as if I'm wearing contac lenses that need to come out and be cleaned. Sometimes, I feel as if there is pressure in my eyes. Other times I feel fine. Fortunately, I had no pain or discomfort associated with my surgery.
agnes90839 acc925
Posted
Regards Agnes
acc925 agnes90839
Posted
My vision did deteriorate somewhat about 30 - 60 days after surgery, but not to a point where I require glasses. I was thrilled at first because I was never able to see so well. Now I suppose I'm just average. Slight dry eye now and that heavy feeling, but for the first time in my life I'm able to see without glasses. I guess it's a small price to pay. Also, because I was so severely farsighted, I was at a high risk for narrow-angle glaucoma. Now my risk has been reduced considerably. Although, the the thickness of the artificial lens I've been fitted with is thicker than most, so the risk has not been completely illiminated.
sara06781 agnes90839
Posted
Hello
I'm just nervous to get the other eye done because my close-up and intermediate vision is really blury. Even with readers on i still can't see the regular or small print on anything well. I can tell its writing but its totally blurry that i cant read it.
jasonleon565 sara06781
Edited
Hi Sara,
If you haven't had your second eye done and if the difference between the natural lens and the distance monofocal is a lot then it may be affecting your time adjusting as well as your overall vision depending on if you how nearsighted or farsighted you were. Keep in mind with a monofocal you lose near and intermediate accomodation set for distance, so your eyes are probably still adjusting to using your good eye for monovision. I am suprised that they let your cataracts progress until you were legally blind. How were you functioning? My right eye is very progressed but I've still been waiting to find the right surgeon that offer the Symfony. My left eye is still good so hopefully I can live a while with only having one operation done for my right eye and keeping the natural in my left.
sara06781 jasonleon565
Edited
ihavenonickname sara06781
Edited
Both if my eyes were blind...way over 200...I had right eye down last year October for distance...left eye last December. .both eyes are now 20/30 without correction.
I use 2.5 readers... you have to move things in and out untik you learn the proper distancewhen things go blurry it is because I am holding the object too close...and I need nothing to cook. .recipe, yes...once the two eyes match, things will be nice.
hugs
judith
helen34256 sara06781
Edited
By all means, get a second even third opinion. If I had see a dif. Dr. my right eye
might be ok now. Actually I should have gotten another opinion before having
multifocals put in. My regular eye Dr. said with 6 specialists in that office, non put multifocals in, because 9 out 10 don't work. So now I'm stuck with blurry & wavey
vision in the right eye. Now after 1 year nothing improved. Hard time doing my crafts (my hobby) I'm really tempted to sue him. It's really stressful living with this. Very Watery eyes also. Drops don't help. So now I'm just complaining.
Do get another opinion. Good luck to you.
leann_24923 sara06781
Posted
My eyes were set like that also and I can see far away but close up I can't read or anything close. I have been reading everything I can to try to find out what is wrong. There are a lot of variables such as types of lenses they use to the way the dr fixes you. It's pretty hard to figure out if you aren't a dr. I am in the process of trying (without any luck so far after several attempts at getting glasses made) to get some glasses so I can read and see close things. I hope you have better luck than me.
sherrie95405 leann_24923
Posted
Leann....I was wondering if you had those glasses made from your last post? I've just had both eyes done and I saw great distance afterwards, but now, I can't see from either.....I mean, I can make out what things are, but it's hard to read street signs or see the tv or read without readers and they're a 2.75.
Sherrie
soks sherrie95405
Posted
Have you been checked or treated for posterior capsular opacification (PCO)?