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Post cataract surgery symptoms (dry eyes & driving at night)

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maria04040418
maria04040418

A week ago I had cataract surgery on my second eye.  Both eyes have a Symfony multifocal lens. Over the past few days even with using the drops prescribed, I have awakened in the morning with little fogginess then it goes away, and by the evening my eyes feel burning as if I was slicing onions and feel tired.  My doctor says it could be drying in the eyes and to try Systane eye drops.  1) Has anyone else experienced this? 

Also, 2) night driving I have only done once as I was a little apprehensive seeing halos and concentric circles especially with LEDs.  During my post op visit yesterday my doc tells me my brain needs to adjust. How is everyone else doing?

0 likes, 15 replies

15 Replies

  • Sue.An
    Sue.An maria04040418

    Posted

    Hi Maria

    I too had the Symfony lenses - it has been 7 months since my 2nd surgery.  With only being a week from your surgery you are likely on post op driops (NSAID or steriod and antibiotic drops). I took the antibiotic drops for 2 weeks following surgery and a steriod drop for 4 weeks.   Those drops can cause some to see blurry and they also sting a bit.  It’s perfectly normal reaction to those drops.  If you find your eye(s) dry yes Systane artificial year drops do help (I used Systane Ultra and still do on occasion.  First few months I used the Systane several times a day now I use them may 2 times a week - mainly when I have been staring at a screen too much.  I also take a flaxseed oil capsule daily (or omega 3 supplements) - both help with dry eye as well.

    As for driving - I had a hard time adjusting for about 6 weeks at night.  Strong glare and starbursts from oncoming headlights.  Those diminished a lot with time.   But I am still left with the concentric circles - much like a spider web effect around certain light sources like red stoplights or when a car brakes.  These are lighter and less bothersome to me than the strong glare and starbursts.  I drive regularly at night without issue.   But in those early days when I had to drive at night I planned my route around roads with overhead lighting and even kept the interior dome light on in the car - seemed to help a bit.

    But yes in time does get better.

    How is your vision otherwise?  Is distance good? Computer distance and reading?   I am amazed how all that is seemless (especially in good lighting).  I read from 11 inches away and do t need glasses at all.

    Good luck to you Maria.

    • maria04040418
      maria04040418 Sue.An

      Posted

      Do you think it gets better in time because of the eye healing, or because your brain adjusts differently to the light?  I can't see it changing other than my brain adjusting to it but I could be wrong.  Hard to say I guess.  Vision is much better, up close is fabulous during the day light.  Although I'm told 20/20, a tad blur still at distance so I'm hoping that will improve.  Computer distance and reading is very good and only need reading glasses if something is extremely small.  Same with you?

    • Sue.An
      Sue.An maria04040418

      Posted

      Yes same results for me.  I have been to the optometrist (10 weeks after 2nd surgery) and distance confirmed at plano (0D) and slight astigmatism (.50 in left eye and .25 in the right).  Got a pair of prescription sunglasses just for the astigmatism.  I have always needed sunglasses outside even in winter so I keep those in the car.  And everything is so bright now without cataracts giving everything a brown tint. Optometrist gave me a reading prescription of +1.75 which I have used twice to read something in tiny print of a package of sauce mix and a pill bottle. 

      With night vision perhaps it is s bit of both healing and brain adapting.  But I do know those prescription drops do impact vision and you can experience times where things blur.    Give it some time - you should see improvement with the glare and starbursts over coming weeks. At 6 weeks it is well worth seeing an optometrist as they can provide you with an exact prescription and provides you a baseline for any future visits.

      Your distance could improve as the IOL will move back and forth slightly in next 4 weeks before settling so you could see some changes.   

      Good luck - sounds like your results are good.

    • maria04040418
      maria04040418 Sue.An

      Posted

      Did you get multifocal lenses?  Mine are both Symfony IOLs (Toric) so they fixed the astigmatism while in there already.  Let's hope it improves! 

    • Sue.An
      Sue.An maria04040418

      Posted

      Yes I have regular Symfony lenses - I had and still have minimal astigmatism.  I really didn’t need the glasses to correct but I was unimpressed with my insurance company not paying up to what they would have paid for glasses for my IOLs (they said they were cosmetic) but funnily enough they cover lasik up to cost of glasses.   So I went out and got some designer frames for sunglasses and readers and made them pay for those (my little kick at them).  

      My astigmatism didn’t need correction of toric IOLs.

    • maria04040418
      maria04040418 Sue.An

      Posted

      Sue, are you in the U.S.?  I'm from the east coast and here they consider lasik cosmetic and they do not pay for it.  And not to mention you have to be a "candidate" in order to receive lasik.  This is what I am told from several people.  It's crazy how we pay all this money into insurance companies and still have thousands and thousands to put out in the end anyways.  My lenses including the medical facility totaled over 6k and that is all out of pocket.  All in all, maybe they didn't feel the need to put the toric lens in for you but they did for me.  Therefore, it corrected the astigmatism in one shot.  Congrats on your designer frames smile

    • Sue.An
      Sue.An maria04040418

      Posted

      Maria - I live in Canada.  Insurance I spoke with is through my employer.  Yes they cover $500 per year on glasses contacts and lasik but would not cover me $500 last year on Symfony lenses!  But living in Canada with our Medicare system the cataract surgery was completely covered.  Although long wait time - 7 months to first eye’s surgery.  So pros and cons to living with our system.  I need to see an ENT and told 18 month wait!!!!!  
  • jantje32476
    jantje32476 maria04040418

    Posted

    @Maria, My husband had the same Symphony IOLs and did not have dry eyes or any discomforts. 

    Six months ago, I had monovision lens implanted on my 2nd cataract surgery. I did experience burning sensation the following weeks, and at some point it was so bad that I had to rest my eyes and let my brain go to sleep. During the post-operation examinations by my eye surgeon, I already knew that I healed slower.

    Since your cataract operation was only a week ago, you may want to take it easy. I read that the average healing time is ONE to THREE months.

    I have just started using Systane Bion Tears.

    • maria04040418
      maria04040418 jantje32476

      Posted

      Thanks for your reply.  Last night I did purchase the Systane Ultra drops and they worked wonders!  Doc just said to wait about an hr. before the drops.  Good news.
    • Sue.An
      Sue.An maria04040418

      Posted

      Yes - those are same drops I use.  Found them to be better than others on the market for me.   Glad they help.  Try taking a flaxseed or omega 3 supplement daily.  after a while of taking one I noticed I didn’t need the drops much at all.
  • evelyn80922
    evelyn80922 maria04040418

    Posted

    I had cataract surgery three months ago and did not have any of the problems that you mentioned.  I did have a slight retinal tear that was healed with laser surgery.  Also, I had Retinal Vein Branch Occlusion in my left eye and had two injections already to correct it.  Then I had two Chalazions that I am still trying to get rid of.  
    • maria04040418
      maria04040418 evelyn80922

      Posted

      Sorry to hear that Evelyn!  Did you have any symptoms with any of these complications?
    • evelyn80922
      evelyn80922 maria04040418

      Posted

      Maria, I didn't have any symptoms with the Retinal Tear.  The Retinal Specialist saw it on the pictures that he took.  I am the one that discovered that I had a Retinal Vein Branch Occlusion.  My central vision was so cloudy that I couldn't read with that eye (I still can't).  Ophthalmologist sent me to the Retina Specialist, 

  • evelyn80922
    evelyn80922 maria04040418

    Posted

    My husband and I had cataract surgery months and did not experience any of this.  However, we seldom go out at night and don't do the driving then.  

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