Cataract surgery, not happy with first, thinking of postponing second.
Posted , 5 users are following.
Hello,
i had cataract surgery a week ago on my right eye, and I'm disappointed in the results.
Prior to surgery i was quite myopic, since childhood, now approx -8 in the right eye and -6 in the left.
My vision in the operated right eye is not good at all. I cannot read even the large headlines at the bottom of the CNN news site, from about ten feet away, and the window shades (about 8 ft wide) appear to slant downwards at the right side. When looking at a full moon, I see it and also two more moons.The second one slightly to the right, and the third moon, a little more to the right. The second and third are just peeking out from behind the first one. I don’t see three circular shapes, just one and slivers of the second two.
What could explain this?
When I saw my surgeon the day after surgery, had my vision tested, then he said only, “Do you mind wearing glasses?” I told him that I didn’t mind, and then he said goodbye and left the room....no comments about how the surgery went or explanations of the results....nothing!
So I’m not happy, and I’m thinking of postponing or even the cancelling the second surgery with this doc. I am a senior with probably only a few years left, and being able to read and watch TV is important to me.
I made an appointment with an optometrist in town to see about new glasses and ask her what she thinks about my vision now. If she recommends going ahead with surgery on my left eye, I will ask her to recommend another surgeon.
Advice or suggestions appreciated.
Maggie
0 likes, 18 replies
RonAKA HappyHunter
Edited
Sorry to hear that the surgery did not go that well. Why type of lens did you have put in? A basic monofocal that would give you distance vision, and leave you needing to use reading glasses to read?
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From what you describe, it does not sound promising. However, it takes 3 weeks before the eye really recovers. And you should wait 6 weeks before getting an eyeglass prescription. I am not a medical professional, but if I had to guess, it would seem that the lens may not be centered in your eye. Perhaps the position needs to be adjusted. If so, it should be done as soon as possible. I think you have a good plan to see your optometrist. They should be able to tell you what is wrong, and give you some advice on your next steps. If the lens needs adjustment the surgeon who did it should have some obligation to do it.
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In any case I would see your optometrist as soon as possible for an evaluation and some advice. Keep in mind that there is no rush to get the second eye done. I would get the issues with the first eye resolved first.
HappyHunter RonAKA
Posted
Thank you for your reply. it's good to know what could be the problem.
I was offered several types of lenses, but chose just the basic type. i don't mind wearing glasses, actually prefer to, so that was an easy decision.
i will be seeing the optometrist on Saturday and I'll post her diagnosis and recommendation.
Maggie
Koshkaboo HappyHunter
Posted
Did you tell your surgeon about the visual distortion you are seeing. In addition to seeing the optomotrist I would consult with my surgeon and ask him specifically what is causing the problem and what can be done.
HappyHunter Koshkaboo
Posted
i have seen my surgeon only once since my surgery last Thursday, which was the day following, Friday. He had his aides check my vision so he knew there was a problem, and informed me that i would have to wear glasses. I'm waiting to see what my optometrist says when I see her on Saturday.
Pifutoast HappyHunter
Edited
Are you saying you had a mono focal set for distance installed? If yes, you should only need glasses for reading. What you describe is not normal and for the surgeon to simply tell you you will need glasses is wrong on many different levels. Besides getting a second opinion, try to get more information from them. What did they tell you? All normal, things will settle in? Anyway good luck with the optometrist
HappyHunter Pifutoast
Posted
Thanks for your interest in my situation.
Yes, I got a mono-focal set for distance.
They didn't tell me anything, just asked if i minded wearing glasses.
As i said, the doc just quickly left the room saying goodbye on the way out.
It's been almost a week now and nothing's changed. I'm seeing my optometrist on Saturday. She is very highly regarded in our town and I've been seeing her for years. I know i can trust her advice.
Will post again on Saturday.
Maggie
RonAKA HappyHunter
Posted
I guess things vary by country and location but where I am, to some degree an optometrist will act as an advocate for the patient and talk directly to the surgeon. If an optometrist tells them there is a problem, they are more likely to listen.
HappyHunter RonAKA
Posted
I think i might have discovered what the problem might be with my post-cataract surgery poor vision.
I found that when I hold my glasses (with about -6 lens) 5-6 inches from my operated eye, all the distortion completely disappears and the TV screen looks normal. All the ghosting is gone from the large black-on-white text at the bottom of the CNN screen and it's sharp and clear.
This was a pleasant surprise, and I think that the problem might just be that the wrong power IOL was implanted. I'm hoping this can be corrected with glasses. I should know when i see my optometrist tomorrow.
RonAKA HappyHunter
Posted
The other option would be to replace the current lens with the correct power lens.
HappyHunter RonAKA
Posted
Yes, I think I could do that but i would be afraid of something else going wrong, and i no longer trust this surgeon.
RonAKA HappyHunter
Posted
Best to take it one step at a time. Find out what the issue is with the lens that was put in first, and then get help from your optometrist on the best next steps.
HappyHunter RonAKA
Posted
Good news from my optometrist today. After a very thorough exam she told me that the problem was the uncorrected astigmatism in my operated eye. Viewing the chart through
an astigmatism-correction lens, everything was sharp and clear. That was a big relief! All I need now is glasses with lenses to correct the astigmatism.
Thanks to everyone who posted with help and advice.
Maggie
RonAKA HappyHunter
Posted
Yes, eyeglasses can correct astigmatism very well. There are alternatives if you have any desire to be at least partly glasses free. Limbal Relaxation Incisions (LRI) can correct low to moderate astigmatism. Try googling this article for an explanation of what they are about.
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CRSToday LRI Basics March 2019
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It is a bit late now, but there are also toric IOL lenses which may have been able to correct the astigmatism when the cataract surgery is done. Where I am in Canada they cost an extra $1000 per lens. The basic lens is covered by our healthcare, but the toric lens has an extra cost associated with it.
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This would be an option on your second eye IOL but unless you have the LRI done to your first eye you are kind of stuck with needing glasses to correct the astigmatism in it, so it would make no sense to correct it in one eye and not the other.
HappyHunter RonAKA
Posted
Thanks for the info RonAKA
i'm quite happy with wearing glasses, to correct the astigmatism, in fact I prefer to wear glasses, but now i see another dilemma.
My optometrist told me that i should wait four weeks after surgery to get glasses. Assuming that the upcoming surgery in my left eye leaves me with the same increased astigmatism, which i expect it will, I won't be able to get glasses for three weeks after that. Right now i can see okay to get around because the left eye is fine with my glasses. But what happens when it's blurry too? I wouln't be able to see well enough to go out, to watch TV, or do much of anything.
Suggestions most welcome.
Maggie
RonAKA HappyHunter
Edited
There is always a bit of an issue when doing one eye, and then the other. Mine in a way was simpler as I am unlikely to get the second eye done for about 2 years or more. My optometrist told me to wait 6 weeks before getting an eye exam for an eyeglass prescription in the IOL eye. So I managed with some existing contacts that I had on hand (they were not perfect, but good enough), and I could see really well out of the IOL eye with nothing. I also took one lens out of some older eyeglasses that I had. Of the two options I had, I liked the single contact lens the best. Once I got my 6 week eye exam I got a pair of progressive lens glasses from Costco. Both Costco frames and lenses, so not too expensive. I also used the prescription to get a contact lens for my non operated eye that left me at -1.25 D. While I occasionally wear the progressives to get a break from the contact, 95% of the time I just wear a contact in the non IOL eye. I probably started to wear contacts around 1975 or so, but discontinued them after "my arms got too short". When I tried them again more recently I had a lot of trouble putting them in. This time I got some Costco Kirkland ones and I really like them. Comfortable and easy to put in. Looks like I will go a year or two with the contact lens and simulated monovision solution. Then I hope to replicate it with the IOL permanent solution using -1.25 D monovision. Oh, and I also bought some +1.25 OTC readers. I use them occasionally when I have my contact in, to see very close detail.
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I don't think there is one magic way. Everyone comes up with what works for them...
HappyHunter RonAKA
Edited
An update....and found a solution!
I had the second cataract surgery on the left eye last week. This time my vision was better, but, due to my astigmatism, I still couldn't see well enough to do much of anything,
Then i got an idea...my son had ordered glasses online and was quite happy with them. so I looked up my most recent glasses prescription, took note of the astigmatism correction number (cylinder) and ordered $50 glasses.
When they arrived, less than two days later, I just thrilled at how sharp and clearly i could see, especially in the right eye. Text on TV was perfectly clear, and i could see the individual leaves on the trees. i was truly amazed and i wish i had chosen to have the surgery years ago.
So the cheap, mail order glasses were so worth it. Of course when I can, in three weeks, I'll go to my optometrist, get a prescription and order new frames and progressive lenses (worn them for many years). But in the meantime I have a life, thanks to EyeBuyDirect.
And thanks to RonAKA and the others who posted comments here.
Maggie
RonAKA HappyHunter
Posted
Sounds good. Once you get an updated prescription you should see even better. It would be best to wait 6 weeks after the second eye surgery to get a stable prescription number. My optometrist told me that 3 weeks after surgery is a good indication, but if you can wait until 6 weeks the prescription is likely to be more accurate and stable.
HappyHunter RonAKA
Posted
I'll take your advice and wait six weeks. i can see okay with my cheap glasses, for now, and my optometrist did say at least four weeks.
in the meantime I'm very happy being able to see well again, and feeling grateful for the technology. and the skill of my doctor.
Thanks again for your help!
Maggie