Is this PCO?
Posted , 4 users are following.
I have been following this board for a long time. I had cataract surgery in May with no complications. I am in my fifties. About three weeks ago I noticed blurry vision in my right eye and made an appointment which is for next week. Over the weekend, my vision has become much worse in this eye. It is like a fog and everything is blurry. Could this be PCO? Does it get worse this quickly? Over the course of just days? Doctor is closed today and I will call in the morning but I am very anxious.
0 likes, 9 replies
RonAKA gary55715
Posted
In some individuals PCO can develop quite quickly after surgery. Not sure it can advance noticeably in just a matter of days though. My first cataract eye is nearly 3 years post surgery now and according to the optometrist I have no PCO. But, my second eye which is now about 18 month post surgery, is said to be developing PCO. I can't say I see it, but occasionally there do seem to be some more blurry spots that are not associated with my PVD which is much more obvious. I have an appointment coming up in October with a laser specialist to get a second opinion on the PCO and whether or not it is worth doing a YAG now.
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So I have no definitive experience with what PCO looks like. I have read that it is similar to getting a cataract again with blurry vision.
karin08666 gary55715
Posted
I got PCO in both eyes 2 1/2 weeks after my cataract surgery. I first noticed it when street signs weren't as clear as what they had been. I then noticed if I was sitting facing a window a certain way it looked like someone had taken a greasy finger and wiped it across my lens. I then started finding it hard to read a book because it wasn't as clear. This was over a couple of months. It wasn't what you describe "fog and everything is blurry". Mine was just not being able to see things as clearly as what I could previously, but it was getting worse and I couldn't drive at night. Is it blurry all over, or just the center of your vision? Have you had any flashing light arcs or floaters?
gary55715 karin08666
Posted
Thank you both for your responses It feels like a smudge on a contact lens. Like I got lotion on a contact and need to take it out and clean it with some solution, if that makes more sense. I do not have any floaters or streaks of light. I have multifocal iol, so naturally have starburts.
gary55715
Edited
I just wanted to update that this was indeed PCO and worse in one eye than the other. YAG for the solution. For me it developed very quickly and worsened in days.
RonAKA gary55715
Posted
Good that you got to the bottom of it. Be aware there are some issues with doing a YAG. One is that there is a very small (1 in 200) risk of a retina detachment as a result of the YAG process. The other is that it becomes very difficult to do a lens exchange after a YAG is done, as it is essentially cutting a hole in the front of the capsule that holds the lens. The hole complicates lens replacement surgery. This is not a concern of course unless there is a consideration of replacing the existing IOL.
RonAKA gary55715
Posted
Oops! I said front of the capsule for the hole. It is the rear or Posterior part of the capsule that has the opacification (PCO!), and needs the hole.
gary55715 RonAKA
Posted
Ron, you are well versed in all of this. I had YAG today. The dilation has worn off and I am seeing much better. I had great vision after initial cataract surgery and seem to be returning to that. The PCO became so bad I wasn't safe to drive. For now, I am glad to have vision back and hope for none of the complications. It is certainly a gamble for us all.
RonAKA gary55715
Posted
I have an appointment in October to get a second opinion on the need for YAG in one of my eyes. I am thinking I will likely end up getting it. However, to date I can't say PCO has had a significant impact on my vision. My optometrist says I have the beginning of it though, so I need to get it checked out.
gary55715 RonAKA
Posted
Ron, best of luck to you in your Oct appointment. I guess it was easier for me as the decision was pretty straightforward. Without YAG I just could not see. I am sitting here amazed at how much improvement I have in half a day. It makes me notice the PCO in my other eye more now.