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Cataract surgery following LASIK surgery --- bad result.

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nesta53720
nesta53720

LASIK surgery some 25 years ago -- cataracts recently developed in both eyes. Can't obtain LASIK records (lost by hospital). Had cataract surgery on right eye - long distance lens. Great vision for 5 days, then drastically deteriorated, pain, double vision, watery discharge,feeling that something in the eye, floaters, now short sighted in this eye, vision worse than before surgery. What is so frustrating is that the vision seems to vary during the day. Can look at an object using only that eye and it will be in focus, a few minutes later when I look again it will be blurred. Am seeing consultant again in a few weeks but he maintains as correct measurements as possible of eye pre surgery were taken, can't expect perfect result because of prior LASIK surgery. But,having had a long sighted lens inserted I certainly didn't expect to end up shortsighted and with worse vision than prior to surgery.

He has proposed piggybacking another lens on top of the existing lens to see if this improves vision and/ or laser treatment to break up floaters which he says are causing distortion of vision and due to dry eyes!. I'm not convinced and concerned piggybacking another lens will make feeling of something in eye worse.

I'd be interested in hearing from anyone who's had a similar experience and/ or received further treatment to address similar sight problems.

1 like, 25 replies

25 Replies

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  • janice30449
    janice30449 nesta53720

    Posted

    I also had Lasik about 21 years ago.  I was able to obtain my records from Lasik surgery, but cataract surgery came out terrible, could not see near or far in right eye, left eye was only a little bit better.  I did have a piggyback lens inserted in right eye & it did improve vision, but I still need glasses for reading & for driving at night.  My vision was so good before the cataract surgery.  I am seeing another Dr. to see what can be done to improve vision in the left eye.  I now have floaters in both eyes.

    • lin59
      lin59 janice30449

      Posted

      Janice, you originally had toric monofocals set for distance, right? What kind of piggyback lens did you have put in your right eye?
    • janice30449
      janice30449 lin59

      Posted

      Nina,

      I asked for monovision, left was supposed to be for near vision, & right for distance.  Right eyes vision was so far off, I don't know what kind the piggyback lens was, I only know the piggyback lens was not a Toric lens.

    • janice30449
      janice30449 lin59

      Posted

      No, they told me I only needed Toric in the right eye.  
    • lin59
      lin59 janice30449

      Posted

      Janice, when you said your vision was so good before the cataract surgery, do you mean before you got the cataracts? Normally people don't have cataract surgery until they can't legally drive anymore and their vision is very bad.

    • janice30449
      janice30449 lin59

      Posted

      My vision was better before the cataract surgery.  They told me I needed cataract surgery.  I have heard that you should not wait until the cataracts get real bad to have the surgery done.
    • lin59
      lin59 janice30449

      Posted

      That's not true what you heard. You should wait until your vision is at least bad enough to no longer be able to drive legally. Did your insurance pay for your surgery? I wouldn't just let a doctor do cataract surgery on me just because he said I needed it.

    • lin59
      lin59

      Posted

      I waited until my vision was 20/60 in one eye and 20/200 in the other eye before I had cataract surgery (I was basically seeing 20/60 out of both eyes together though). I could still see somewhat to drive during the day, but I was basically driving illegally for a few months. My cataracts did get worse pretty quickly over the course of around 6 months. I personally would never have let a doctor do cataract surgery on me before I got to that point due to the possibility of complications as witnessed by people posting about them on here, unless I had to drive more for my job or something like that and then I would not have done it before my vision got to 20/40 or worse in both eyes.
    • lin59
      lin59

      Posted

      Correction, I meant to say 20/60 or worse in both eyes, since people can still drive legally in most states with 20/50 vision in both eyes.
    • janice30449
      janice30449 lin59

      Posted

      My vision was better before the surgery, because my vision was worse after the surgery, the surgeon did not know how to figure out the measurements after someone had Lasik or he was just incompetent.  As I stated earlier the vision in my right eye was so bad, I could not see near or far after the surgery.   I have wondered if they did not mix up my lens with  someone else's.  Of course, they would not admit no wrong.  I had to complain to get them to get them to  put in piggyback lens & I had the Dr that owns the practice do that, I was not going to the let the incompetent Dr touch my eyes again.

      ?Yes, insurance covered the surgery, I had been told by 2 other doctors that I needed cataract surgery, I would not have had it done if it was not needed.

      ?

    • lin59
      lin59 janice30449

      Posted

      OK Janice, so you're saying your vision was better before since it got so messed up after the surgery. I'm sorry that happened to you and since you had your records, it wasn't supposed to be as hard to do as without them.

  • soks
    soks nesta53720

    Posted

    Did they use ORA to get the measurements pre-surgery. 
    • lin59
      lin59 soks

      Posted

      Probably most doctors in the US don't have ORA and I'm not sure if insurance covers it if they do have it. Mine didn't and my after-LASIK surgery turned out fine.

    • julielyn
      julielyn lin59

      Posted

      My dr has Ora and used it during my surgery and the calculations were still off. 6 weeks later I’m within .50 off but I still do not have clear crisp vision, I have a shadow effect so that is why lasik enhancement or PRK is being suggested. 

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