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no improvement after cataract surgery

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nla
nla

My mother had her right eye operated 5 weeks ago in London on NHS. it was supposed to be straight forward operation without complications on an easy cataract.  Before she have wore glasses for ling distance save for the last two years when presumably vision deteriorated due to the cataract and a slight astigmatism (0.5) developed. We went for a check up a week ago i.e. 4 weeks after the operation. Her distant vision has not really improved. it is still blurry and doubles.  The revised prescription glasses do not really help. the optometrist said that she went from +0.5 to -0.75 i.e. he reading vision improved slightly but the long-distant one deteriorated. In addition, this eye started to produce tears non-stop. This is the first time after the operation at the check up last week both ophthalmologist and optometrist said that there is no infection. We do not understand as the ophthalmologist pre-operation stated that the long-distant one should become near perfect with astigmatism disappearing. At the one and only check-up at the hospital the doctor said to go get glasses adjusted and come in 2 month!!, and then they will list her for a left eye operation which has 2-3 months way anyway... 

What should we do right now? i am totally confuse which way we should be going in th respect of the operarted eye and my mum is super depressed...

0 likes, 13 replies

13 Replies

  • Sue.An
    Sue.An nla

    Posted

    Hi nla - your comment about eye producing tears non stop says to me your mom is likely experiencing extreme dry eye and that condition can produce blurry vision.  Has she been recommended artificial tears?  You can buy these over the counter.  I use Systane Ultra drops.  But there are several different brands out there.  Sometimes it is trial and error to find ones that work best.

    Did your mom also have prescription drops to use starting 2 days prior to surgery and continuing weeks after surgery?  I was on an antibiotic drop for 2 days prior and continuing for 2 weeks after surgery as well as a steroid drop which continued for 4 weeks after surgery.

  • Sue.An
    Sue.An nla

    Posted

    I should also say that everyone’s eye heals at a different pace and also reacts differently to the prescription drops.  Some see clearly right after surgery and others take weeks before stabilizing.  Tell your mom not to get discouraged.  
  • nla
    nla

    Posted

    Dear SueAn, first of all many thanks for responding so swiftly as we do not know whether to head to A&E or what to do in the short and medium term. Accidentally, when we saw optometrist last week she suggested lubricating over-the counter drops, we bought but mum hasn't used so far - I told her to start this. Let's see whether it helps. How long do you think the dry eye condition can last?

    Blurry visions has been before, she say for a day very well in week two after operation and then it became blurry again...again.

    She did use antibiotic/steroid drops 4x a day for 4 weeks after the operation, stopped last week. The tearing just only started 2 days ago.

    Any views on the reading vision improving while distance deteriorating? could it have been that the lense was incorrectly calibrated? Optometrist suggested that may be one eye is more calibrated for better reading visions while the other one will be done in the opposite way so that together they see better both for distance and reading? does this sound craze? we were never told of this possibility?

     

    • Sue.An
      Sue.An nla

      Posted

      Hi nla - I am 7 my maths after 2nd surgery and still use the over the counter artificial tears.   In thevearly months I used them often - 5 or 6 times a day.  Now I use them less often - more when eyes are tired from too much reading or screen time.

      at201’s response has some good questions to ask - it would be beneficial to know how much astigmatism your mom has now.  Your mom’s eyes will work better once 2nd surgery has taken place - my reading improved after 2nd surgery.  It is also good if there are several weeks between surgeries so that the surgeon can adjust the target once the 1st surgery has settled and healed.  Even though it is frustrating to wait and find a way to cope during that time.  I poked out the lens on my glasses and managed that wY - although not ideal.   As the eye heals that artificial lens does move and as at201 mentioned it’s not unusual to be .50 diopter off of target + or -.

      Have her try the lubricating drops - they do help with dry eye and dry eye itself can make vision blurry.  I also take a flaxseed oil capsule daily which I have found helpful in reducing dry eye.  Omega 3 capsules would accomplish same thing.

      Best wishes to your mom.

  • at201
    at201 nla

    Posted

    Sorry to learn that your mother's surgery did not go as well as expected.

    1. It is good that both the ophthalmologist and the optometrist have checked your mother's eye and confirmed that there is no infection. Did they give her an explanation for the teary eyes and make any related suggestions?

    2. Regarding the worse long distance vision than before, it is not as good as you expected, but it is not that unexpected in general. The main issue seems to be that your surgeon gave you unrealistic hope. The actual prescription value achieved after the cataract surgery is often off by +- 0.5D. Also, the cataract surgery itself can introduce a slight amount of astigmatism. What is her actual astigmatism right now? The cylindrical portion of the glasses prescription should have that information.

    3. Hopefully, the surgeon will use the experience / information from her right eye to achieve better target vision for her left eye. If she does achieve plano (0 D) for distance for that eye, she may actually end up being overall happier than if she had 0D for both eyes (because of good focus over a larger distance range using both eyes)

  • mlcoopa
    mlcoopa nla

    Posted

    Hello nla. I am in the USA and not familiar with the NHS. Is that the National Health Service? In any case you should surely seek a second opinion.  Your Mom may have some other underlying issues that are affecting her vision. Your Doctors' sound particularly insensitive and harsh or there is a serious communication issue. I would surely not have the other eye done until issues are resolved with right eye. I suggest you take someone with you who can communicate more effectively with your Moms doctors. It seems like they are not receiving or understanding the gravity of your Moms condition. You should probably schedule a visit sooner than later. Wishing all the best to your Mom. 

  • freeman62151
    freeman62151 nla

    Posted

    I had both my eyes done in the past 7 weeks,in my opinion I would not have had them done if I would have known what I know now.Before the surgery I did have a little cloudiness which the ophthalmologists and optometrist agreed too and suggested I have the lens  implants.

    My eyes are worst now than prior to the surgery.The right eye is very cloudy on the back of the lens and I'm scheduled to have the laser treatment to clear it up in a month from now.However the left eye turned out worst than the right eye.It has a black shadow/rim in the corner of my eye,plus I get light flashes ,similar to turning of a switch when I turn my head from right to left.This eye is cloudy also.I am very disappointed I was,I was lead to believe that cataract surgery was a simple procedure with great expectations.I was to a point thought I was the only one that could have a bad occurrence ,but after reading some of the issues posted here I am not alone.

    I don't want to give you advise,it's a big decision to make and to come to grips with.Good luck ,I hope it works out successful for your mom.

    • Sue.An
      Sue.An freeman62151

      Posted

      Hi freeman62151

      Unfortunately once a cataract affects your vision so that it can no longer be corrected with glasses or contact lenses there really is no solution other than cataract surgery and waiting too long the cataract b comes dense and a more complicated surgery.  If your eyes can be corrected still with glasses one should hold off on the surgery.  Take that time perhaps to experiment with monovision with contact lenses.  Maybe even try multifocal contact lenses to get an idea of which lenses you’d prefer.

    • diane48177
      diane48177 freeman62151

      Posted

      I agree with you. Before cataract surgery, yes I was having more difficulty driving and it was affecting my lifestyle, but I still think my eyesight was better than what I'm dealing with now. Its crazy, how many of us are experiencing difficulty or disappointment. My guess is that the vast majority that have cataract surgery are happy with their results but still surprised at how many experience difficulty.

    • freeman62151
      freeman62151 diane48177

      Posted

      Hi Diane

      Yes I defiantly agree with you ,I thought it was a simple procedure.I had issues with bright car lights etc. but now it worst and with the cloudiness/black rim in the corner of my eye makes it more irritating.From what I have read online(researching) it indicated tat 98% were successful and only 2% had problems ,but it indicated that in those cases people was diabetic ,which I could understand.

      I am not a diabetic and not any prescriptions etc.So I thought I could go through this in a breeze,without complications.Not so,and it as left me questioning why I didn't seek a second opinion from another eye specialists before I proceeded with the surgery.(Lens Implants).Live and learn the hard way I guess.I like you, never expected to see so many people like my self experiencing those problems.  

  • maria04040418
    maria04040418 nla

    Posted

    nla - I'm sorry to hear of this with your mother. It is quiet frustrating for sure.  It was two weeks apart when I had my second eye done and in those two weeks it was upsetting as everything was distorted and still blurred.  Once the second eye is done, hopefully things will greatly improve.  Did they say why they wanted to wait 2-3 months to do the second eye?  That sounds like an awful amount of time in between.  Definitely ask her to try the Systane Ultra drops.  My doctor recommended them and they work great!  Just make sure she takes the prescription drops as needed and of course check with her doctor before mixing those Systane with any prescription drops first.  Good luck!

  • evelyn80922
    evelyn80922 nla

    Posted

    Hi nla,

    I can understand your mother confusion and being depressed.  Everyone I knew that had Cataract surgery had great results.  The first two weeks after the surgeries were fine but then I had a Retinal Vein Branch Occlusion (bleeding behind he eye).  I need to get injections in my eye to try to stop the bleeding.  Also, I had two Chalazions (huge styes).  My eyes are always watery and I am using Artificial Tears which aren't helping much yet.  However, my husband had cataract surgery by the same doctor and did not have any problems at all!!  I guess there is no way of knowing if someone will have a problem.  So far, I am not happy that I had the surgery.  I hope and pray that your mom gets some answers and some help with her problems.

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