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Cataract Surgery post op

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diane48177
diane48177

I had cataract surgery 4 days ago. At my post op visit later that day I had 20/20 vision which I’ve never had. The scheduled me the Same day because their office was closed on the Friday which was the following day. Since that day my distance vision is very blurry. I was just in a Walmart store and wanted to scream for how blurry my distance vision was. It Also feels as though there is a particle or a grain of sand in my eye. My one week follow up is in four days. I plan on discussing these issues with my ophthalmologist. But I also have a phone call into them to get some of these questions answered. Was wondering if any of you have ever experienced the same issues recently after cataract surgery. I know that I am not seeing 2020 out of this eye. Prior to cataract surgery I did not wear glasses to drive but now I do not feel comfortable driving. I’m considering canceling the cataract surgery for my left eye which is scheduled in two weeks. I’d appreciate any input any of you might have

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  • Queenee
    Queenee diane48177

    Posted

    Hi Diane,

    Did you have your eye done in London.

    I had both eyes done in January & Feb this year. However on my follow up appointment mentioned that my sight did not appear to be the 20/20 vision he said I would have plus the need to wearing reading glasses.  It appears I need EVERYTHING!  I am back where I started & worse - distance, tv & reading.  To my utter shock,  he said I wanted to stay near sighted. Say WHAT?  I instantly replied never!  What idiot would put themselves through all of this to stay near-sighted?  He then shoved a piece of paper under my face & said “read that!”  Quickly withdrew it & flung it back on his desk, closed my file & walked out muttering about seeing a opthamologist for glasses. I was totally numb, I felt run over by a bus.  I complained to the hospital but it went to a patient relationship counselling.   She did say that his notes said 20/20 vision to which I said, well I don’t have it.  Then she said well 20/20 is not perfect (prior she told me she was not an eye dr or anywhere close) so I said well, what does 20/20 mean?  She googled it & came back with I shoulder clearly within 20 feet.  I told her I am lucky to see 10 feet & our family picture on the wall was 12 feet away & I cannot make out the faces.  So I said what can I do now.  She said I should go see my family GP.  I said I am & that I would also complain to OHIP.  I am unable to drive, see tv properly & now also cannot read small print - even tho I am supposed to because he left my vision so I WOULDNT have to wear reading glasses.  What a load of ****

    • diane48177
      diane48177 Queenee

      Posted

      HI Queenee, no I used to live in Windsor Ontario but I now luv in Michigan. I have so many regrets. I regret getting Lasik all those years ago because if I hadn’t then I wouldn’t have the issue of them configuring the right power on my IOL. Although Lasik did give me wonderful vision for 16 years until the cataracts became bothersome. I also regret having cataract surgery because even though they were bothersome my vision was still better than it is now. I’m looking around my house and I can tell that in the last couple of days my distance vision has gotten worse yet. 

      How can your doctor say you are seeing 20/20? Did he do a refraction? How bizarre? This has truly put me in a depressed state of mind even though many are saying it takes more than a week. In your case it’s has been much longer

    • Sue.An
      Sue.An Queenee

      Posted

      Hi Queenee - just read your story and feel horrified.   even if a patient wanted near vision (and some do) the target is usually intermediate so that you have that and reading g vision and wear glasses for distance.   We’re both eyes done like this?

      if it’s been 6 weeks you may want to see your regular optometrist to get an exact prescription.

      I live in New Brunswick so understand the Canadian Medicare  system and NB is similar to OHIP.  My surgery was completely paid for by Medicare - I just paid for difference in cost for premium lens.  If these are totally unsatisfactory are you able to consult with another specialist to see about an exchange?

    • Queenee
      Queenee Sue.An

      Posted

      Hi Sue An,

      Yes, both eyes are like it.  I feel robbed, depressed & hurt.  I actually have a email of his notes sent to a patient counselling.

      His last being is that she ended up with 20/20 vision with a myopic that she asked for.

      To be honest my husband was in the room when we discussed everything.  I never said I wanted to stay nearsighted & I would have not minded wearing the occasional reading glasses.  I even bought a beautiful pair of sunglasses thinking I would be using them Ha!  

      And at that time there was no discussion beyond the reading glasses.  Nothing!  It was pick your lenses whic like I said to protect my eyes I picked ones that had UVA coating, I signed for them & off to his secretary for the appointments booking.

      Do I feel unfairly treated, yes!  Am I doing something about it - yes - writing to OHIP To register complaint & seeing my family dr. For her to arrange for another consultation, but not with him.

    • diane48177
      diane48177 Queenee

      Posted

      You are doing the right thing getting a second opinion. The best thing he could have done even if he didn't want to admit an error took place (if indeed there was an error) is empathize with you and say "lets work this out to give you the best possible outcome"

      I understand that depressed feeling. 

      What I don't understand is how he can say you have 20/20 vision. Did they not do the refraction test?that would tell him exactly where your vision is. What is telling him that you have 20/20 vision?

    • Sue.An
      Sue.An Queenee

      Posted

      Feel your frustration and hope you are able to find a far more sympathetic specialist.

      Just a side note as I just read Diane ‘s reply.  20/20 for the opthamologists usually just means you can read same line of letters at 20 feet that a normal vision person can read. (Usually 4th line). So did he test that with you?  When I had my post op 24 hr check in with surgeon they had me sit in a chair 20 feet from eye chart and read out loud the letters.  I missed 2 on the 20/20 line but at 6 weeks got them all accurate and even 20/15 line.

      To get your exact prescription you need to return to the optometrist who will give you a written prescription (near and far and astigmatism if any).  takes usually 6 weeks to completely heal and settle so worth seeing your regular optometrist at that point to find out where you are.

      So sorry for this awful experience.  I hope someone from OHIP acknowledges you.

  • diane48177
    diane48177

    Posted

    I had my 1 week post op appointment on Friday. My surgeon spent a long time with me answering questions. He said I had a little bit of inflammation but everything is healing nicely. He also said because of the surgery the cornea is not a nice smooth surface and that this will take time to heal. My second surgery was scheduled for this coming Thursday but we are postponing that. He wants to see me again in 2 weeks to see where I’m at and said that once this eye stabilizes if I don’t have the distance vision I so wanted he can to something a little bit different with the left eye. Vision in the surgery eye was 20/40. 
    • Sue.An
      Sue.An diane48177

      Posted

      Think postponing the surgery is best course of action.  One week just not enough time for healing and to see where your vision settles and set targetbfor 2nd eye.  
  • Night-Hawk
    Night-Hawk diane48177

    Posted

    Good to hear you are postponing the surgery on the other eye.  It would be good to wait at least a month for the first eye to heal more.  My right eye took a little over a month for vision to improve from 20/40 to 20/25 or better, some of us are slower eye healers...
    • diane48177
      diane48177 Night-Hawk

      Posted

      NIght Hawk I’m curious, when your eye was 20/40 after the first week, where was your middle distance vision. The reason I ask is because my middle distance is very clear and I can’t help but think that if my eye is blurry due to healing then it would be blurry at ALL distances
    • Night-Hawk
      Night-Hawk diane48177

      Posted

      Yeah my right eye was blurry at all distances, excessive residual astigmatism that gradually reduced.

      Yours sounds like its a little nearsighted, but others have seen that improve after a month or so as well.

  • Queenee
    Queenee diane48177

    Posted

    Hi everyone, have been busy with moving & have on,y just got back on here.  My surgeon was very abrupt from the beginning.  And yes, he did tell me that I had 20/20vision - even before When I seen him in October, He told me that I would have 20/20 vision NO distance glasses but would have to wear reading glasses.  I have written a complaint with the College of Physcians & also seeing a new eye dr.  My family gp is supposed to see about getting me a second opinion.  I asked them this:  who would want to put the self through this again if, indeed this is what they’d wanted?  If he put my vision back to near sighted so as NOT to wear reading glasses, why do I now need them for distance, tv & READING!

    This is so frustrating & no he couldn’t be bothered with my concerns or try to reason with me.  NOTHING!

     

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