Post Cataract : posterior capsular opacification - speed

elliott
As one who has had cataract surgery at age 37 and then several detachments and then the onset of glaucoma, I would recommend you find an optomologist who will see you in the next day or two. I would not wait two weeks. The other alternative is to go to an emergency room where they can check for anything obvious and refer you immediately to an optimologist who will see you sooner. Eye problems can occur quickly and deserve attention by medically trained physicians. Let me know how it goes.
Don

Thank you Don for your reply. Since my opthalmologist is on vacation, I had an appointment with an optometrist this morning. I can't say that I was that impressed with her but I did pay extra for some high-tech scans of my retina and all was fine. She really couldn't tell me if the issue I was experiencing was due to PCO but I did have some relief that retinal mapping showed no issue with my retina, macula, or anything else and she was an experienced optometrist, close to retirement. Thanks again
Elliott

Hi Elliott,
I developed PCO within weeks of cataract surgery (more quickly than 16 weeks). From my reading, I have come across others who developed PCO quickly. By the way, I too have the maddox rod effect.

Nice to know I'm not alone. I have an appointment with my surgeon tomorrow and, assuming my issue isn't anything else, I guess I will be getting that Yag laser - something that I was hoping to avoid for at least awhile longer as I understand the risk of complications from the laser decrease the more time that has elapsed from the initial cataract surgery but it has been 4 months so hopefully I am more in the 'safe' zone

Thanks for the update! I hope the surgeon can address any concerns and reassure you before the procedure. My surgeon strongly suggested yag at my 6 week appointment but I didn't feel confident at that time. Best wishes, I think you'll do fine 🙂

Hi Elliott, Just thought I'd check today to see how you're doing. How all went well with the yag.

Hi Tillymack, thanks for asking.

It has been about 12 hours since the Yag. As I mentioned, I was only doing it because I had lost vision in the right eye thinking it was due to pco as opposed to going forward with the yag just because of the long linear light streak and the maddox rod effect I was experiencing in the right eye.

The surgeon confirmed that it was pco that was affecting my vision in the right eye. While I wasn't aware of it, he noted a similar opacification in the left eye (which was under-corrected for mini-monovision) and, given his recommendation, decided to the Yag on that eye also.

So far, no problems with the Yag. The vision in the right eye is back to 20/20.

While that long linear maddox rod line is gone, I do have some new rotating less bright streaks and shimmering on some lights. A bit disappointed about that but, having checked it out last night with car and traffic lights, I do find it much less bothersome than the maddox rod issue. Maybe it will go away in time but, if not, I don't think I will have a problem in fast adopting to it.

The one negative news I received yesterday was that after the Yag on a diagnostic test I was told I have a epiretinal membrance (macular pucker) in my left eye. I am not experiencing any visual problems from it and there's nothing to do about it at this time other than monitoring it. Apparently, it's not that uncommon for those of us in their 70s, particularly those who have had retinal issues and laser repair in the past due to high myopia and lettice degeneration. I'm not overly worried about it at this point.

I'm so happy your yag treatment was successful! Congratulations!
I've been especially interested in the practice of some doctors using an eye piece during yag and others not. The eye piece lightly touches your eye during yag if it is used. Could you let me know if your doctor used an eye piece?
Good that you've now had both eyes successfully yagged! Do you notice that your vision has improved in terms of clarity? From my reading, I think you're in the clear with regard to post yag complications.
I've been thinking about the various light phenomena I've experienced since I began this journey. Certainly the maddox rod effect has been the most troublesome. Prior to to this last surgery, I noticed starbursts before and after cataract surgery which my surgeon attributed to dry eyes. I don't actually remember not having starbursts...
From my reading, it seems that many people are not free of all light phenomena after yag. I could certainly be mistaken, but I wonder if people like us who developed the maddox rod effect are more likely to be left with some light phenomena after yag since we (for whatever reason) developed the maddox rod as well as more rapidly progressing PCO than many others.
Sorry to hear about the macular pucker. I don't know much about this yet, but my impression is that it's often a matter of monitoring rather than additional surgery. I wonder if it would have even been discovered without the added attention to the condition of your eyes as a result of cataract surgery. At least my surgeon has told me that I'll need a vicrectomy due to floaters when I thought the little I noticed was normal.

My surgeon did not use an eye piece. I would have felt better if he had since even with my eyes dilated my pupils are on the small size. It was about a minute or two per eye. No discomfort during or afterwards.

As mentioned, I am disappointed about the rotating starbursts which I didn't have before but the long thicker maddox rod line is gone, and I think I will adapt to these starbursts if they are in fact permanent which I anticipate.

Regarding the macula pucker, I get relatively frequent retina checks because of my history with tears and had never been told I had a macular pucker before so whether the cataract surgery contributed to its development or its so mild that it was overlooked, I will never know. It's rather irrelevant and certainly age, past retinal issues, laser surgery etc can all be factors in its development. I read that about 20% of people 75 and older have a macular pucker and for most it won't require a significant visual consequence leading to surgery so I hope I fall in that camp.

I forgot to add to my note above and to answer your question. Yes, the Yag on my right eye did get my vision back to where it should be. I assume it's back to 20/20. Also, I think you may be correct in that people like us that do develop maddox rod and, who like me, were quite myopic, may be more prone to having some of these residual light streaming effects. Despite how good cataract surgery has become, it's hard to duplicate G-d's handiwork. I also understand that the implanted lens is smaller than the natural lens that was removed at least that's what I was told in my case....so I think a perfect result may be an ideal but not achievable for many