How did you know you had PCO?

Posted , 5 users are following.

First eye (RE) done 10 weeks ago, second 4 weeks ago. My RE has a kind of translucent cloud that acts like a floater and moves around when I move my eye, although it's always in the same general area. I only really notice it against a bright background. When I asked the optometrist at a followup exam about PCO, his response was that doesn't happen for 5 years. (Yes, I'm going to find a new doctor.) Just wondering--how can you tell if you've got PCO?

0 likes, 10 replies

10 Replies

  • Edited

    For some reason most of your post is not showing up... My understanding is that it looks much like having a cataract. Fuzzy vision instead of crisp.

  • Edited

    PCO happened gradually for me in my right eye over almost 3 years after my cataract surgery in that eye.

    Vision gradually got more cloudy/foggy and accuity eventually dropping to worse than 20/40.

    At first it varied day to day but eventually vision stayed bad and thats when I had my eye doctor do a full dilated exam so he could look for it and he confirmed significant PCO.

    Then he setup the appointment for the YAG laser procedure and when he did it took only a few minutes.

    I had to wait for the dilation effect to wear off several hours later, but then my vision in that eye was finally clear and sharp again. It has lasted and still good vision for the past 6months too.

  • Posted

    I apparently have mild/moderate PCO in my left eye, but I only know so because my ophthalmologist has told me. I haven't noticed any change in my vision.

    Since your message is cut off I'm not quite sure what you're asking, but if your vision is not as clear it was, it could be due to dry eye and not necessarily PCO. At your next checkup your doctor can determine what it is.

  • Posted

    Well, I don't know what caused that text change, but thanks for the answers. I've got kind of a large translucent cloud that moves around with my eye like a floater, although it generally stays at the top of my eye. I only really notice it when I'm looking at a bright background. Probably just leftovers from getting the equivalent of a sharp pointed stick in the eye.

    • Posted

      Yes, that sounds like a floater. It will probably dissipate as time goes on and your eye continues to heal.

    • Edited

      It may be a posterior vitreous detachment, or PVD. I got one 10 months after surgery. If you look at something with a bright white background like a blank sheet on a computer screen, and move you eye vision back and forth sideways it moves just as fast as you move your eye. If you focus on one point it is fixed in your eye, not floating. Only the vision direction changing is what makes it look like it floats. I can happen right after surgery, or it can happen just due to age. I am 72, and it happened a couple of months ago now.

    • Posted

      Hi Ron 2 day after second eye surgery just noticed floaters like you described on white background. Is this common after cataract surgery? i had dropless surgery and i can see the black floaters like little dots and eyelash which is the dropless. Dr did test post op one day and said retina vitreous all look normal i just noticed the floaters coincedently as im typing now

    • Posted

      It is not uncommon to see floaters looking like little specs of dust which move even when you are not moving your eye -- so they look like they are floating. The usual advice given is that they should go away with time. I noticed them occasionally after surgery and they have now pretty much gone away.

      .

      PVD is quite different. The one I have is much bigger and fuzzier and kind of looks like an engagement ring or spider. It moves as fast as your eye moves and does not really float. Optometrist said they usually go away, but mine so far has not.

    • Posted

      so pvd moves with eye movement and floaters move even if eyes standing still? Does the PVD kind of block your line of vision and is it one or a few ?Dr Cool show me pic of vitreous and said it looks good. but when i was reading above post about white text and floaters i just coincedently noticed it

    • Posted

      My PVD obstruction is just to the right of the highway when I am driving. If I really focus at distance down the road, it kind of goes away. However if I look to the right shoulder of the road I see it. Then my eye tries to look at it, and that forces it further to the right. My eye "chases" it. I think it is really fixed and is alway just to the right of where I am looking. There is only one of them fortunately.

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.