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cataract surgery years after lasik

Posted , 11 users are following.

julielyn
julielyn

I've recently undergone cataract surgery. The first eye was done with a multifocal Toric lens 12/21/2017. The second eye was done with just a mutlfdocal lens 12/28/2017. So far it has been a rollercoaster ride of recovery. Horrible vision, no clarity at any distance, and when lowering the dose of prednisone drops, eye strain/pain and light sensitivity to the point it woke me up at 5am, only to wear sunglasses in the house to get to my drops and ibuprofen. 

Dr finally changed steroid drops to durezol after the third episode, and thankfully I have survived the transition this weekend.  To recap: My first follow up on first eye the day after surgery left me confused, and I was asked to return the next business day (Tuesday after xmas) where it was mentioned that the wrong power was installed and a swap might be in the future but dr wanted to "wait and see' and was confident that second procedure would be successful, so I went ahead. Second eye follow up the following day gave me much more clarity at a distance than the first eye, but then again, there was little to correct distance wise prior and I had no astigmatism in that eye.  No close up vision was clear. So, here I am a month out from first procedure, and there is little improvement in first eye. dr says, we may not need to replace that IOL after all. But now since the reduction of prednisone has caused a flare up, my vision that was better in second eye has gotten much worse. My next follow up is in two weeks, the new dose of durezol will end the night before this visit.The mention of a lasik enhancement has re-entered the conversation. From what I am understanding, Im a slow healer, this is new for me, and that any further procedure would have to wait at least 90 days. This is frustrating to say the least, everything being out of focus, readers do not help to define either. So this limbo stage is expected?? Anyone else experience this type of recovery? And if so, how did you cope?

1 like, 32 replies

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  • julielyn
    julielyn

    Posted

    90 day follow up completed Wednesday. We will be scheduling an iol exchange in right eye. The specifics are not solid yet, ORA will be used and also I will not be charged $$ for the exchange. What’s interesting is, the right eye was the first operation, it was underpowered. The left eye was done one week later and is now 1.00 over powered. No wonder I’ve been having problems with depth perception!! The dr is suggesting PRK following exchange to clear everything up, not lasik as PRK is less risky. Glad to be moving on
    • Sue.An
      Sue.An julielyn

      Posted

      Well it’s certainly welcome news to know you won’t be out of pocket.  Sounds like the doctor really erred on the calculation.  Does he know what went wrong so as not to make same mistake?  Sure hope so and you soon experience relief with better vision.   Best of luck to you.
    • julielyn
      julielyn Sue.An

      Posted

      When I went for my second opinion, the dr stated that original dr did the best he could. Remember I am a previous lasik patient. Even with all measurements and former medical paperwork, us lasik patients have a challenge ahead of us. That last measurement needed for ideal vision is basically a crap shoot. Lasik enhancement or PRK will be the follow up since I have shadowing/double vision per eye. And yes yag is also on the agenda. That second cataract formed almost instantly. 

      My best advice for those following this thread...please start using dry eye remedy ASAP!!! 

    • jantje32476
      jantje32476 julielyn

      Posted

      Thanks for posting your experience and valuable advice. Hope your vision is on the mend soon.

      I had my 2nd cataract surgery 6 months ago, and my husband had both his eyes done in 2016. We both are very pleased with our results, which bring us to the question if all the ophthalmologists not using the same measuring & calculation equipment? We paid out-of-pocket a "specific measurement and calculation fee" ($200/per eye for me and $950/per eye for him), and the operation is covered by MSP (BC, Canada). My husband mentioned that he is more than willing to pay for that fee, knowing that our eye/laser surgeon employs competent ophthalmic technologists and has advanced hi-tech machines.

    • Sue.An
      Sue.An julielyn

      Posted

      I may be wrong but I thought if you could provide your pre-lasik measurements the surgeon could do a much better job of calculating the lens power.  Thought I had read that someplace.   
    • julielyn
      julielyn Sue.An

      Posted

      Clearly not sue. Especially in my case. The dr said even with the measurements it still was not 100% accurate. 
    • jantje32476
      jantje32476

      Posted

      At my surgeon's clinic while he examining my eye(s), I noticed behind him a computer screen with corneal topography images that evaluate the optical zone. Earlier on  his technologist had examined my eyes using A-scan and IOL-Master.

      Read from another US forums, some of the eye surgeons still used old method cataract surgery that requires sutures and bandages. Just wondering how up-to-date are their medial equipment.

    • julielyn
      julielyn jantje32476

      Posted

      I would have no idea how up to date that medical equipment would be. My surgeon used the ORA, which is calculated during surgery. 
    • diane48177
      diane48177 julielyn

      Posted

      Hi Julie, I’m wondering how your making out?  Has the doctor ever talked to you about a piggyback lens? 
    • julielyn
      julielyn diane48177

      Posted

      Yesterday I underwent iol replacement surgery. My significant other forgot the paperwork at the surgery center so I’m not able to give specifics of the lens power exchanged. I’m headed back to dr for follow up this afternoon and will drop by the surgerical center to pick up paperwork. 

      Surgery was much more intense to do the replacement. More time on the table, I could actually see the tool used to cut out the first iol. That didn’t do well with my nerves!! Oh boy!! Things are red and hazy at the moment but I think the clarity is there for reading and distance. I’ll know more when swelling comes down. As for post op I’m experiencing the same effects. Colors are off ( orange instead of green) I have the rimming effect. But oddly enough my pupil went back to almost normal immediately. Might be a new drug added during procedure. And I have a blue dot on eye where I believe dr marked for astigmatism alignment. Thanks for checking in. I’ll do a more formal follow up in the next couple of days. 

    • Sue.An
      Sue.An julielyn

      Posted

      Best wishes for healing Julielyn.  Haven’t seen many post on IOL replacement surgery so I am sure other contemplating it will appreciate the feedback - my nerves were bad enough first time around.  I can only imagine how this might have felt.  Really hope results are good.
    • jantje32476
      jantje32476 julielyn

      Posted

      @julielyn ~ Hugs. You are a brave gal. My nerves were so bad that the eye surgeon shouted at me during the 1st cataract surgery.  7 years later when he did my 2nd eye, he knocked me out with anesthetic.

      After educating myself reading the contributions of the posters here, I am convinced that some surgeons are better than the others.

      @Su.An ~ Imagine our healthcare system rewarding all cataract surgeons with one single flat rate of C$400 per eye surgery.

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