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Terrible problems after catarac surgery

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george05887
george05887

So I am 45 years old and yes had two cataracs. So me being so active decided I had to get them fixed immediately. Went to doctor had a symphony lens for distance in right eye. Then realized how bad my left eye was and had done 4 weeks later with a multifocal symphony lens. Had problems at first with halos and glares etc.  My brain was having a  hard time adjusting. Then both of them started to get cloudy again. Dr said I needed to do yag. So obviously had this done on both eyes. This is all been done in a total of just 4 months. I now have all this debris in my eyes like oil smudge type feeling. When I look side to side or up and down I see it. My vision now is awful. I have such strain on my eyes it makes the base of my neck hurt and eyes are sooo strained. Going for a second opinion because surgeon says that everything is fine. Well I can promise you that it is so far from fine. This is the worst nightmare ever. I should have just dealt with the cataracs as they were much less debilitating than this now. I'm saying all of this I did have 20/20 vision just developed cataracs. Any advice please help.

Thanks

1 like, 19 replies

19 Replies

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  • ed72320
    ed72320 george05887

    Posted

    Very sorry to hear about the bad result, George.

    Your decision to seek a second medical opinion definitely is the right one.

    Every good wish to you.

    Ed

  • agnes90839
    agnes90839 george05887

    Posted

    Hi George I am so sorry to read what you are going through, on this site you will read others who also have had bad experience.  The only consolation I have, and its not much in consideration, if you hadnt had it done there would be a strong possibility that you would go blind, well thats what I was told.  I too had a bad time, my site is quite good but I have heavy gritty eyes, they itch a bit too and im frightened to rub them in case I disturb the lens, oh George at 45 you are so young im a lot older.  You say you are going for a second opinion that is a brilliant idea, please let us know how you get on

    Kindest Regards

    Agnes

  • Sue.An
    Sue.An george05887

    Posted

    So sorry to hear of your experience George.  It must be very frustrating and worrisome to you. Did you learn you had cataracts from your optometrist at a regular visit?   Mine developed fast - but they impeded my vision at 53.  Couldn’t make out road signs anymore.  Had 20/60 vision in right eye and 20/50 in left.   I wasn’t going to be able to drive anymore without having cataract surgery.  That is the benchmark here in Canada for having surgeries covered by our Medicare system.

    It’s unfortunate your optometrist or surgeon who you went to for consultation didn’t dissuade you from having surgery till the cataracts got worse.   Most people who have cataract surgery have eyesight that has deteriorated prior to surgery so are quite happy with the result afterwards.

    Prior to having YAG done did you visit your optometrist to get an exact prescription?  Were you able to see well?  I too have Symfony lenses and experience the night vision issue of concentric circles around certain light sources but I am able to see well otherwise.

    likely the YAG produced floaters- these likely will settle out of your field of vision.  However your plan of getting a 2nd opinion is a good one.  Wishing you all the best.

    • george05887
      george05887 Sue.An

      Posted

      Sue, thanks for the response. Yes I really wish he would have told me to hold off until they got a little worse, but he was like your young let's get it done and you'll be super glad. So of course I was like yeah your right. We live in a world of instant gratification and I'm not very patient which of course is not helping. Unfortunately I did not see what my prescription was before yag. My surgeon tells me I don't need one🙄. I said buddy your not looking through these eyes everyday. 

      Do you know of anything else that I should do or have done?  Can I do lasik surgery? Also could I wear contacts to help with my vision? My main issue with vision is around  arms length till about 10 feet. This is where everything is just blurry.  

      On a side note you don't realize how much your vision affects everything. Like concentration, balance, and just well being. I will be thankful when I do find a resolve. Thanks so much to all.

    • Sue.An
      Sue.An george05887

      Posted

      If you have a regular optometrist that you see I really think you should schedule a visit.  They can be very helpful in advising whether contacts or glasses would help.  At the very least you will have a baseline of where your vision is.  I wasn’t going to see one either until someone on the forums said that it’s a good idea to get a baseline of my vision after cataract surgery.   It takes about 6 weeks for eyes to heal and IOL to settle after uncomplicated cataract surgery.  The recommendation is to see an optometrist after that 6 week mark.   did you have the Symfony lenses targeted for distance on both eyes?   If so and target achieved (and you don’t have significant astigmatism) you should have good vision from 16 inches and beyond, needing readers for only fine print.

      If it were me I would wait (even if hard to) before having any more surgery done.   

    • agnes90839
      agnes90839 Sue.An

      Posted

      Hi Sue, please can you tell me what YAG stands for

      Many thanks if you can help

      Regards

      Agnes

    • Sue.An
      Sue.An agnes90839

      Posted

      Hi Agnes

      Yag Laser Capsulotomy.

      This is a non-invasive laser procedure which eliminates the cloudiness that occasionally interferes with a patient's vision after cataract / lens replacement surgery. During cataract/lens surgery the lens is removed and a thin membrane (capsule) that held the lens is left in place to hold the implanted artificial lens.

      Leaving the capsule in place during surgery allows the vision after surgery to be more stable and ensures fewer surgical complications.

      However, sometimes the posterior or back portion of the capsule becomes cloudy over time. This can be resolved with a quick painless laser procedure performed in the outpatient clinic.

    • agnes90839
      agnes90839 Sue.An

      Posted

      Hi Sue thank you for explaining Im a bit old and stupid but does the YAG initials actually stand for three words if you know what I mean

      Regards

      Agnes

    • Sue.An
      Sue.An agnes90839

      Posted

      As one of my professors once said there are no stupid questions except the ones not asked.  

      From my reasearch on the Internet YAG stands Laser posterior capsulotomy, or YAG laser capsulotomy - basically name of the laser used to treat PCO (sometimes called secondary cataract).   Doctors vary in their estimates of who develops OCO in cataract surgery.  My own surgeon said 50% of people and I have read here on forums that some were told by their surgeons almost everyone gets it - some experience it some after and some years later.   Not recommended until it affects your eyesight.  

    • Sue.An
      Sue.An agnes90839

      Posted

      Agnes finally found what that acronym stands for :

      Medical Definition of YAG laser surgery. YAG laser surgery: The use of a YAG (yttrium-aluminum-garnet) laser

  • soks
    soks george05887

    Posted

    Young males are at risk of retina tear or detachment after cataract surgery. 

    When it does happen they do vitrectomy which removes the fluid in the eye. That also eliminates the floaters. 

    I am not sure that they will do it unless there are retinal issues. 

    • me87015
      me87015 soks

      Posted

      When they do the YAG they can zap floaters as well.  My dr did it and it worked fabulous on my right eye.  Now i'm hoping for PCO on my left so I can get the floaters zapped there as well!

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