Nine months post cataract surgery with possibly long term complications. Are there treatment options?
Posted , 5 users are following.
I had cataract surgery last April -9 months ago on my right eye and received a mono focal lens. I am unable to read in my surgery eye at reading distance with either no glasses or any of glasses perscriptions that I have been given. I also seem to be unable to drive with permanent problems with depth perception which is worse at night. I can only read on large screens, preferable black background white text, and not on paper due to eye distortions and flashing. I am 46 years old and had a rapid cataract in my right eye. I have an early cataract in my left eye not yet requiring surgery it is stable. Surgery could potentially help me with depth perception from lens replacement in one eye but then I may not be able to read at all at a reading distance if the same result occurs with cataract surgery in my left. I was cross-country skiing this weekend and it was ok in light area with sun. In the woods where the light was flat on the snow my sight was poor with glasses on. I am wondering how common this vision loss is post cataract surgery and if there are options to fix this. my quality of life and independence is poor being unable to drive and read books. It is manageable in isolation but post Covid it will be different. I have hyper-mobility and might have Ehlers Danlos.
0 likes, 4 replies
john20510 SmileaatSunrise
Posted
You should speak to the surgeon that did the surgery and ask him why you have these problems. Is the problem with the lens or is there a general problem with your eye, was your eye damaged during surgery ? you see to see a specialist and your surgeon
Sue.An2 SmileaatSunrise
Posted
Agree with John you should get a follow up appt with your surgeon or seek a 2nd opinion with another. With glasses you should be able to see well - or maybe balance out with a contact lens in the other eye. Have you seen an optometrist to get s refraction test done to see where your vision is?
RonAKA SmileaatSunrise
Posted
That does not sound like a good situation. Do you have a current eyeglass prescription for your eyes since the surgery? What is the prescription? How well do you see at distance with that prescription? 20/20 or 20/30 or ??
brooketastic SmileaatSunrise
Posted
This is not a normal response to cataract surgery. When you say that you can't see, can you describe that in more detail? Is it blurry? Distorted? If you google "amsler grid" and look at the grid with just the affected eye, are there wavy lines? Is your visual field affected by any missing areas, black patches, or shadows? Is there debris/floaty stuff/cobwebby stuff in your eye?
A lot of complications can arise after cataract surgery, and some of those are retinal problems. You mention "flashing" - flashing lights, in some cases, can be caused by traction of the vitreous tugging on the retina, which can be harmless, or an indication that a retinal tear could happen.
I would highly recommend getting a dilated eye exam ASAP - the surgeon who did your implant would be a good place to start. I've had a retinal detachment, and quick treatment is really important. Another possible complication of cataract surgery is inflammation in the eye, which can cause visual distortions, floaters, and some other things. I'm sure that there are other issues that can arise after cataract surgery, as well - I'm not a doctor, but I have had both inflammation and a retinal detachment (not caused by the surgery), and neither were so severe that I could not read or see at all.
In short, this is not normal, and there is probably something going on that needs treatment. A lot can be done for eyes nowadays - you might find great improvement after you get checked out.