Corneal Swelling (Edema) after Cataract Surgery (1 week Post Op)

Posted , 4 users are following.

Hi everyone, I finally got my second eye (RE) done a week ago Tuesday. I went into the surgery pretty confident but unfortunately got some cornea swelling . My vision was in a complete white haze, 20/200, pretty much for 4 days. It wasn't until Sunday I noticed big improvement. By Monday fog lifted, I had an appointment that afternoon and eye doc found most of the edema gone, just specs of guttae left. However my vision is still blurry, like 20/30 at best, worse far. I can't seem to find my best focus, as I was targeted to be -0.5 (little myopic). Interim eye doc I saw says to give it a couple weeks, she was not my main doc/surgeon as he is out for a week.I'm no better than pre-op, probably worse because I have negative dysphotopsia like my first eye (LE) .

Just wondering if any of you have gone through this? TIA

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6 Replies

  • Posted

    Anyone? I was told that this was uncommon, yet I can't find much about any details on recovery.

    I am now 10 days post op, 5 days after the "haziness" went gone. But my vision still hasn't improved one bit it terms of bluriness...

    • Posted

      oops I meant, "not uncommon"

    • Posted

      Hi

      Sorry, I don´t remember what lens you have chosen?

      Are your vision blurry at all distances?

      If the lens is targeted for -0.5, and maybe hit slightly under, like -0.6/-0.8 then 20/30 vision is very likely the outcome at far vision. But then you should have clear vision somewhere in midrange.

      I had no swelling, so I have no experience with that part.

      Dry eyes can have a big impact, the eye drops can also give worse vision for some, and healing takes about 6 weeks, so many things can still change, 10 days is still early days.

    • Posted

      Hi Danish,

      Thank you for your response. I got Alcon Acrysof IQ Toric lenses in both eyes. Will have to check the power and cylinders on my card when I get home. My first eye(LE) was done in late July, and vision sharp within 2-3 days. Doc targeted -0.18 but ended up being like -0.5/-0.6, which I actually liked so asked for the same for my Right Eye.

      Yes vision is blurry at all distances for RE. It is worse far distances, like probably "near-far"feels 20/70. When I'm driving it's hard for me to see license plates and stoplights kind of double and look like a big glob. My LE is definitely sharper at all distances. It seems to fluctuate throughout the day, so I'll take better notes about my vision. I was just trying not to think about it too much and measure myself, trying not to worry...

      I tried to put dry eye lubrication drops just now, when I keep blinking there are flashes of it looking better and worse, but ultimately just ends up being the same after a minute.

    • Posted

      Well, I am no more expert than you are, but I think with the swelling and stuff, 10 days is really not a lot, even if most of the swelling have gone.

      I have heard of others, when there are complications, it can take weeks before vision clears up.

      And the first month the vision do fluctuate a lot, my did too.

      If you see a short improvement with the drops, I think you should use these a lot, you probably have really dry eyes.

      When I was at my 1 day checkup with the second eye, I was ordered to use artificial tears at least 1 time each hour I was awake for at least 3 days, because I had dry eye. They said that I could not use too much of the artificial tears, as long as I waited 5 minutes after the other prescription drops. And I had no complications.

      I think the importance of these lubricating drops are even more important when you have had this complication.

      In any case I hope it clears up, I really don´t think 10 days is a lot, when there have been this complication, I have heard people can have blurry vision for weeks, and then it clears up and is perfect.

    • Posted

      Thank you. I see you post a lot, you certainly are more knowledgeable than I am. 😃

      I tried to add artificial tears again while looking at an eye chart, it doesn't seem to help. I am not sure if I do have dry eye, I was told I would really be able to tell and feel it but I don't. I put them in anyway occasionally.

      So I observed my vision a little more this weekend. It seems to fluctuate a little between morning and late afternoon, even with both eyes. In general, my right eye has intermediate distance focus, at best of 20-30/40'ish. Computer monitor distance/arms length distance, so about 24 inches (2 feet). But the focus range seems really small. It's tough to read my phone at arm's distance.

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