Cataract Complications

Hi acc925,

Which IOL did you have implanted and did you have any other eye conditions? I suspect you had the monofocal lenses since you were farsightened and struggle to see near..

You're are correct, I have the monofocal.  I wasn't a candidate for any other kind, due to my farsightedness and astigmatism.  I didn't have any other eye conditions, however, I was at a high risk for narrow angle glaucoma - which is really why I had the surgery to begin with - it reduced my risk.  My cataracts were in their very early stages, not yet affecting my vision.  But, the surgery supposedly reduced the risk of the glaucoma, considerably.

How did you get the astigmatism taken care of? Also which focus did you set your monofocal to? I assume distance since you mention you can't read fine print now. Since you were able to read fine print prior, I suspect that it took time to get used to, since you no longer can accomodate for near vision.

I don't know which focus my lenses were set at. The little cards I received after the surgery (I guess I'm supposed to present them if I need to explain why I'm not weaing corrective lenses, as my dirvers license states I should be) says Power:  38.0 D and the other says

36.0 D.  As for the astigmatism, I don't have an explanation for that. The surgeon said I'd probably need glasses for close up work, but as it turns out, I don't. My adjustment time was instantaneous.  Also, I can still read fine print, but it's a struggle.  I have to blink on and off or use eye drops in order to see fine print clearly (I developed a mild case of dry eye post surgery).  Prior to sugery, I couldn't see well near or far.  Everything was nothing more than a blur.  I couldn't see faces, read, watch tv.  I couldn't see my own hands (without corrective lenses)  Being farsighted doesn't necessarily mean you can see far and not close.  It just means you can see better far than upclose. 

Well I'd suspect that the surgeon probably left you farsightedness so it was easier for you to adapt. Even people with monovision or those set for near might have a hard time seeing near, but that depends on the other underlying conditions. If you didn't have a toric lens implanted and if the surgeon didn't mention anything such as a LRI to fix your astigmatism then I don't think it was corrected during surgery, but I could be wrong. Was there a mention of how much astigmatism you had and whether it was necessary to correct it prior to surgery? Did you also have dry eyes before surgery or did it develop after it, if so what did the surgeon do for you to have them treated? Post cataract surgery may be curable, do you still suffer from it?

I was told that my astigmatism wasn't too severe.  I didn't have the toric or LRI.  I just had the basic lens, which was the only lens the doc said would work for me.  No, I never had dry eyes before.  The surgeon suggested I use moisturizing eye drops to treat them.  It's only a mild case - a little annoying - but tolerable.  Some times worse than others.   Overall, I feel a little dry eye is worth bearing considering all of my life I've been cosidered nearly legally blind and now I don't wear glasses or contacts at all.

May I ask why you didn't consider any premium lenses seeing that you don't have any other conditions and you probably would have been a good candidate for them? They would have provided more vision near as well but there are risks and complications. I would have to agree it's probably the best to go the safest route and removing cataracts itself can improve vision by a lot.

According to my surgeon, given the shape, or shall I say mishape, of my eyes, premium lenses are not made in the thickness I needed.  Apperently, only the standard lenses came in such thickness. 

I didnt have an astigmatism before surgery butI did after, I see the ground on different levels, colours are bright but definision is poor. My husband has refused to have cateract surgery having seen what has happened to my sight

 

Sorry to hear about your experience, has your surgeon done anything to resolve it? I'm assuming he did the incision by hands (traditional cataract surgery and not laser) and it may have induced astigmatism. Which lenses did he implant?

Yes the surgeon did the incision by hand. As it was NHS we are never told which kind of lens is used. I have seen another surgeon at another hospital who has refused to repair it. I am seeing another in September but as one Dr said to me (i am a nurse) we Drs stick together

Which brand of monofocal IOL do you know? Also what focus did you get it set to, distance, intermediate, near? Sometimes if your adapting to a new focus it'll take longer for your vision to recover.