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Positive Dysphotopsia after Cataract Surgery
I’m 62 and had my left eye cataract done in December 2019 and still have significant peripheral light streaks and night glare and starbursts while driving (positive dysphotopsia). Makes me a little “white-knuckled” when night driving and is maddening overall. Local surgeons are not inclined to consider an IOL exchange and neither am I, at this point.
With that, has anyone:
- experienced dissipation of dysphotopsia symptoms as time passed?
- tried photochromic contacts or glasses and had success?
- other actions that helped you?
Thanks for any input!
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It's good to know the blurriness improved. 🙂
Hi Bobbyo,
Read back to sbvrd’s May 23rd entry and link reference...
See sbvrd’s doctor references too...
I tried accessing sbvrd's entry, links and doctor references by adding sbvrd to the search box without success. Could you let me know how to find these resources?
I did find Sbvrd's entry, links and resources. Thank you. I assume Sbvrd is no longer reading the forum but wonder how he/she is doing. Do you know which of the doctors he/she lists were helpful?
@tillymack, I believe you may be looking for this comment, where @sbdvrd included a PDF of a journal article titled "Surgical management of positive
dysphotopsia: U.S. perspective" See their comment here: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/positive-dysphotopsia-after-cataract-surgery/
Thank you Colleen!
Hi tillymack,
As I had said, Dr. Safran in NJ was helpful to me (via emails). Check out pertinent youtube surgeries on his website. I don’t know about the other doctors that sbvrd mentioned, but I’d say to search them and their practices online. And, of course, read all you can on Maddox rod effect and other prospective causes of long term dysphotopsias.
Since, as I understand it, you have a significant PCO that worsens your vision, you may not have any other choice than yag capsulotomy. I’m thinking that millions of people have had these with success. But, of course, not all surgeries are successful!
Ask your surgeon about the risks of the yag surgery causing additional dysphotopsias AND look for a second (or third) doctor’s opinion. Good luck!
My second opinion surgeon says that it's not possible to know in advance if a patient will be made worse following the yag procedure. My original surgeon says it will not as long as the opening is made large enough.
NdYAG laser surgery for PCO is very safe - and, many ophthamologists discuss these as almost common, and successful - and, the only procedure that will resolve the issue.
Did this work for you? I hope you get this.
Hi! I don't know if you are still responding to these messages. I had cataract surgery 5 weeks ago and have PD and I'm miserable. I went to the best hospital in Wisconsin and waited months for the best doctor. I did not proceed with my right eye. I have read all of the messages on this board so far and I'm encouraged to see that you aren't having problems with your right eye. I wrote down the lens they used on your right eye. I hope it has been going good for you and hope your left eye has improved, as your message is dated 2 years ago. My doctor has mentioned something about a simple procedure to lift the capsule over the lens to help the flickering. I don't know what it's called. He said if that didn't work I could do a lens exchange, but reading all the messages, that seem risky. I also don't want them digging around in my eye. I am going to the Cleveland Clinic in a month for a second opinion. They are well known for everything and I had no trouble getting an appointment without a referral. I called other clinics such as Mayo and University of Iowa and both wanted referrals, and the doctors would read the notes and decide if they would take me on as a patient. No thanks, I need an appointment now, not 6 months from now. Best of luck to everyone here. I'm relieved to know I'm not alone.