Connect
Post cataract surgery/worried
I had cataract surgery w/corrective lens August 21, and after two weeks my eye is still blurry, scratchy and uncomfortable. Skin under my eye turned dark black to the middle of my cheek, and that also is still very dark and not back to normal. Visited surgeon twice and he says the surgery went well and my symptoms are not abnormal, but I am concerned because my vision is so poor and reading ability worse than before surgery. Doctor tells me it will improve in time, but I am getting scared because I still can't see clear enough to drive my car. Last night I noticed that when I cover my other eye, I now see shooting bright light around street lights! Is all this normal after this type of surgery? Several others I've spoken to that have had this surgery tell me they see well within days, and none of them had ever heard of getting a black eye. If it truly takes months to see well and adjust to this new lens in my eye as doctor tells me, I can accept that, but I am getting worried. Also, there is a small spot of white at the bottom of my eyeball where there is longer color - doctor says color will return and white spot is medicine he put in the eye and will eventually disappear. I would appreciate hearing from anyone else who might have experienced any of these things after cataract surgery. Thanks for any information you can give me.....
Like
Helpful
HugInterested in more discussions like this? Go to the Eye Conditions Support Group.
Connect
Hi, im marianne, and my husband had cataract surgery june 29th, the surgeon did a great job, but he STILL HAS LIGHT MAJOR SENSITIVITY!! He used all the drops he was supposed to do, steroid, gel drops, doctor said stop drops 1 more month, and he weened off them, he cannot look at tv, or go in the
sunlight, he is a surfer and fisherman, he started getting better, after 2 months then went surfing , and took a backward step. He is so frustrated, he thinks the expensive lens they put in is not adjusting to his eye! ( a pan optic lens ) which i think he should have never been talked into. His eyesight is great, but the right eye is not adjusting. Everything is bright ! hes ready to see someone at mayo clinic, or in palm beach eye center in florida !!! ANYONE ??
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 Reaction@sunny1971 We have spoken before and I offered all I can. I think the only think left is for him to be seen for 2nd, 3rd opinions like you mention. I'm sorry to hear he is still suffering with extreme photophobia. I'd get moving asap on seeking professional help at a high level institution. Best of luck to him.
Rachel
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
3 Reactionsthanks rachel, he got better and went to the surgeon, of course the doc put him back on the gel drops, 1 time a day, doc said he has had people who are much older and severe. and are on drops 4 times a day, i think when he weaned off, might have set him back a bit, but now if gel drops work 1 time a day, im banking on this is what it is with a cataract, and light sensitivity! very upsetting but i
believe it is all about time, thank you for responding !!
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsHi @jackbonnie, are you experiencing these symptoms only since cataract surgery or did you have dry eyes before surgery too?
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 Reactions@sunny1971 You're welcome! I hope time is on his side and the drops help. 🤞🏻 I know how horrible extreme light sensitivity is.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsI had cataract surgery in September of this year. My vision after 3 weeks was still blurry and a bit distorted. Looked like heat waves coming off of pavement when driving in summer. Dr. took a photo of retina (OCT?) and I have CME, which is now being treated with nsaid and steroid eye drops. Dr. Said this should improve over a few months time. Maybe get a second opinion with OCT and maybe treatment?
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 Reaction@cheryle, I'm sorry to hear that your cataract surgery is proving to remain problematic and not giving you the results you'd hoped for.
Did the opthamologist say that the photo of the retina was a optical coherence tomography (OCT)?
Cystoid macular edema (CME) from my understanding does take time to improve. Treatment depends on the cause. Was the CME caused by the cataract surgery itself or did you have this before the surgery? Was this cataract surgery for your first or second eye?
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionThanks for the reply, did not see it until now ( Nov. 18th). I had my follow up after one month of the drop therapy and the CME is gone! I am weaning off of the steroids over 6 weeks. This came about after the surgery. I also have a macular pucker in my left eye that drops will not help. This was also after surgery. It isn’t distorting my vision badly and Dr. said it may remain the same and not worsen. I hope he is right!
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionI had cataract surgery on my left eye a month ago yesterday. Vision is worse now than before surgery. I see double in that eye. I paid for a Toric lens. Doctor cannot tell me what has gone wrong. Anyone who thinks cataract surgery is an easy operation or has positive outcomes, should think twice. Doctor is now talking about doing another operation on that eye.
Hello @bmy, Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I'm sorry to hear that your cataract surgery had complications. I just had cataract surgery on both of my eyes within the past few months and it went well for me although I can relate to your feeling. I was nervous going into both surgeries and the doctor did go over all of the common risks for the surgery. I think that was the reason they did the eyes one at a time for me and started with my best eye of the two. This is an older article that explains double vision after cataract surgery and why/how it can happen - Double trouble: Diplopia following cataract or refractive surgery: https://www.eyeworld.org/article-double-trouble--diplopia
I know this can't be easy for you. Has the doctor scheduled another cataract surgery for you or do you have to wait a certain amount of time?
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 Reaction