Posted , 26 users are following.
I have seen a few discussions about this, but I was wondering...of those who saw this subside, how long did it take? Days, weeks, months? I have had surgery on both eyes, but only see the flickering in the left. It's been 4 weeks, and it is slightly better, but only slightly. Just wondering how long I should give myself to adjust? Thanks
0 likes, 109 replies
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marina16224 andrew85502
Posted
Thank you Andrew, I am very nervous about having the right eye done especially with the wrinkle in the eye. I'm having the same lense as the left eye (installed). I'll call my doctor and ask him about a different lense because if it is a lense issue causing the flashing it would make sense to use a different one. I'm scheduled for surgery this coming Thursday. Why was a different lense recommended for one eye
andrew85502 marina16224
Posted
I have amblyopia in the left eye. The vision can't really be corrected all that much other than just keeping it clear so he with with a monofocal lens. The right eye is the work horse so to speak so he wanted to try to get a better multifocal experience. For the most part, that did work. If it were not for this flickering issue, I would be extremely happy with the results.
Sue.An andrew85502
Posted
andrew85502 Sue.An
Posted
The Symfony is in the right eye and fortunately I have no flickering from that lens. The monofocal one in the left is the problem one. Because I have amblyopia in the left, I really can't tell that I have 2 different type lenses. My left eye has always had clear vision, but it is like using peripheral vision. So when I close my right eye and look straight at something with my left eye, I can see maybe a little better than what a person with excellent vision sees with their peripheral vision if that makes sense? So it would be like trying to read a sign while using your peripheral vision (not looking straight at it). The Symfony provides excellent close and intermediate vision for me. It is OK at distance. I am only 2 weeks out with it though so I assume there may be some changes to that.
marina16224 andrew85502
Posted
Happy to report the flashing light has diminished significantly 5 days out. Have slight fluttering or twitching, hard to describe and discomfort inside lower lid. I decided it would be worth the copay to have the doctor check it again before surgery. Eye doesn't feel normal but I plan to go forward with second eye surgery this Thursday. May as well get it over with, cataract isn't going to improve on its own.
Sue.An marina16224
Posted
anne91418 andrew85502
Posted
Hi. My experiences:
I had cataract surgery on my right eye in November 2018. It was fine for 2 weeks, then I started to get jagged edge flickering (briefly) on the RHS of my operated eye. After 3 weeks I also sometimes got what looked like a slightly broken brown circle (clear in the middle) appear (like the mark a coke bottle might leave on a glass table) I also sometimes saw a couple of ants walking across the table, but there were no ants there in reality. I went to the optician and explained these things and the optician said they are "visual migraines" and nothing whatsoever to do with the cataract surgery. I said 'yeah right; that's why I've never had them before the surgery but only afterwards and I don't get any headaches'. He insisted they were visual migraines and nothing whatsoever to worry about. He said the "ants" were also nothing to worry about unless they increased in numbers...a couple here and there is fine, he said.
Now, I get these "visual migraines" maybe only 10 times a week (it was previously several times most days). I have learned to 'screen them out' so they may actually be occurring more frequently, but they are only noticeable and annoying perhaps 10 times a week (on about 2 days of the week, several times each day). The "ants" I tend to see maybe once a week, and it is usually when I am particularly tired. So, yes, it has improved over time (gradually) and I have learned not to worry and to live with it.
I hope those experiences help.
john96574 andrew85502
Posted
seeherenow49806 john96574
Posted
Hi JOhn,
I'm almost 5 weeks out from surgery. For me, the light flickering sensation diminished a lot after the first week. No problem in stores with fluorescent lights anymore. Now, I see the flicker every once in a while, usually if moving my head from one side to the other. But it's very fleeting and unobtrusive. I think some of it is " attitude of gratitude". So grateful to have so much better eyesight than I did with the cataract.
Sue.An seeherenow49806
Posted
john96574 seeherenow49806
Posted
Dear Seeherenow,
You don't know how much you have helped me by saying this. Thank you. I too am grateful for my restored vision. It is a world of difference, even at this early stage. Thanks.
seeherenow49806 Sue.An
Posted
Hi SueAn
I was waiting to reply on this till I knew the answer. Unfortunately, I still don't know the exact answer as to where my eye settles. The distance is still fluctuating, but the near and intermediate are fantastic - 20/16 for intermediate (desktop computer screen and beyond) and 20/20 for near (10 inches and beyond). No problem reading my phone or books, etc. Tiniest print on vitamin bottles is out of focus sometimes, other times no problem.
Like you, I take falx seed oil , 1 tablespoon daily. This has almost completely resolved any dry eye issues. Once the 4 weeks of eye drops were over, everything relaxed a lot more.
Because my surgeon seems a bit cavalier abouut the final result in my left (dominant) eye, I plan to go to the first surgeon I consulted about the Symfony and monovision for the Symfony implant in my right eye. The first surgeon was onboard with the dominant eye being set for better distance. The surgeon for my left eye was insisting that I should have the monofocal lens in the non-dominant right eye, and made me sign a paper that I was going against his recommendation. (Strange, hunh?)
I plan to wait about another month before the right eye, till I know better where the left eye distance settles.
Sue.An seeherenow49806
Posted
I think your plan to wait to see if that eye settles a bit more is a good one. Yes very odd your surgeon wanted you to sign a doc stating you went against his recommendation. Perhaps it’s a safeguard for him in case patients come back unsatisfied with result.
Sounds like the monofocal lens is providing good near and intermediate vision. Hope all goes well!
marina16224 andrew85502
Posted
I'm four weeks out. I had bright white flashes for the first five days and then it subsided to a flickering. However, 3 weeks out the flashing started again even when my eyes are closed. When I'm in fluorescent lighting it feels like a strobe light until I put my sunglasses on which helps a lot. I cancelled my second surgery and not planning to reschedule until this issue clears up. The cataract in my right eye isn't that bad yet and I do have to say that even with the flashing my vision in the left is better than it was.
freeman62151 marina16224
Posted
I am 3 months into surgery,the flashing light as not changing only worst at times.When I'm at a store with bright florescent,everything is blurry/hazy ,very annoying.The doctor tells me it will improve with time,not much improvement has of yet.