Disabling glare 5 months after cataract surgery
Posted , 4 users are following.
I had cataract surgery in both eyes in September of 2019 my lenses are single vision set for distance in one eye and reading in the other . I have had disabling glare at night that prevents me from driving . I feel like a shut in . My doctor said that i have the best lens to prevent glare and halos and that there is not a lens that would be better to exchange to . Positive Disphotopsia is what its called .
I've tried Pilocarpne Hydrochloride drops but this has not really helped, Dr said Yag might help but no guarentees. I dont want to have the Yag because it might limit any future lens exchange. I wonder if its possible to exchange a lense if a new one was available years away? Is there a doc in the US or even in another country that specializes in correcting this?
0 likes, 8 replies
RonAKA Tramontj
Posted
I am considering doing the same, but will not do it for another 6 months (waiting system in Canada). Your report of glare concerns me. Do you get the glare with both eyes? Or just the one for closer vision? How much of a reduction from full distance correction was left in the close eye? 1-2 diopters is typical.
RonAKA Tramontj
Posted
Oh, and one other thought. Have you considered eyeglasses to correct your close vision eye at night, as well as any residual spherical and cylindrical error in the distance eye?
Tramontj RonAKA
Posted
I have glare in both eyes and I have glasses to correct the close vision for night driving and it has'nt helped .
RonAKA Tramontj
Posted
I am curious as to what specific lens design you have, and how old you are? I found one article, with the title below if you want to do a search, that suggests lens design is the problem, with square edged lenses and those with higher refractive index, and lower profile front contour, being the worst. Not sure about front lens profile, but Alcon lenses have the highest refractive index and use square edges (but most modern lenses do). The problem seems to be worse with a larger pupil size, so a younger person may be more susceptible to it.
Dysphotopsia: Not Just Black and White - Michelle Stephenson
RonAKA Tramontj
Posted
Oh, and you asked about a different lens and who could do it. The article says:
"If that fails, the best thing to do is offer the patient a lens exchange and choose a lens that has a lower index of refraction, or one that has less surface reflectivity. In our practice, we find that the STAAR Surgical three-piece copolymer lens (Collamer) offers us the best opportunity. Additionally, a silicone intraocular lens, typically the Bausch + Lomb LI61, will improve 80 to 90 percent of patients,” Dr. Masket says."
Tramontj RonAKA
Posted
I am 68 and have Tecnis Z9002.
RonAKA Tramontj
Posted
I ask because I understand there tends to be fewer issues when you are older and have a smaller pupil size. At 68 it is getting down there for size. I am 70, and am hoping I get some benefit from a smaller pupil size with a monovision solution.
tamarinda Tramontj
Posted
So sorry to hear that you aren't driving at night. Totally no acceptable so I hope you find a solution. A lot of us have starbursts (too strong, way bright, and much larger rays) from headlights so you're not alone.
Some folks here use very light "sunglasses" at night and they've said they help.
On this forum I have seen a doc in New Jersey mentioned. My opthalmologist in Massachusetts said if I were to have YAG capsulotomy and then want a lens exchange, he would refer me to someone in California (but he didn't say who because we're not at that point yet). And, Salt Lake City is very well known for the cataract people there.
I also have some hazy halos around stoplights and tail lights with a very good monofocal...the Bausch & Lomb LI61AO. It's what was put in my second eye since the multifocal was causing terrible positive dysphotopsias. What I've ended up with is much better than with only the multifocal, but not totally resolved, alas. Again, you are not alone. This forum is filled with folks like us, supporting each other in being in the minority of patients who have side effects from what are otherwise a very miraculous treatment for cataracts.
The most specialized ophtho here said "your retinas are young."
What are your lenses, and what is your age?