1. < Eye Conditions

Post cataract surgery/worried

Posted by cherriann @cherriann, Sep 4, 2017

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.....

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Eye Conditions Support Group.

surfing | @surfing | Jan 13, 2021
In reply to @erikas "@surfing Welcome back to Mayo Clinic Connect, a place to give and get support. Since your..." + (show)
@erikas

@surfing Welcome back to Mayo Clinic Connect, a place to give and get support. Since your husband's cataract surgery he has experienced extreme light sensitivity and he has seen 5 providers and he has still not found a resolution to the issue.

Above, @johnbishop linked a previous discussion you may find helpful related to extreme light sensitivity.

Everyone has different situations and/or resources available. Have you traveled for care? Below I have linked what has been named the best hospital systems for Ophthalmology.
- Best Hospitals for Ophthalmology https://health.usnews.com/best-hospitals/rankings/ophthalmology

I'm wondering if you and your husband have considered seeking out a particular provider that specializes in his issue?

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Thank you, we have sort out all we can, no provides really specialize in light or photophobia, it is something that is a time issue,
all i can hope for is steroid drops to help him along. He may consider going out of the country to find specialized care.
thank you

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1 reply
swwo98 | @swwo98 | Feb 2, 2021

U need to go to a retina specialist and maybe a Neuroopthamogist! After my cataract surgery i never vould see right again but was told i had an eye stroke by the neuroopthamologist! U need to seek advice from these eye specialists becsuse they have so many more tests to gind answers

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swwo98 | @swwo98 | Mar 6, 2021

You need to see a retina specialist ASAP and also a Neuro Opthamologist to check on optic nerve too!!

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bobbyo | @bobbyo | Mar 7, 2021
In reply to @surfing "Thank you, we have sort out all we can, no provides really specialize in light or..." + (show)
@surfing

Thank you, we have sort out all we can, no provides really specialize in light or photophobia, it is something that is a time issue,
all i can hope for is steroid drops to help him along. He may consider going out of the country to find specialized care.
thank you

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I’m really sorry to hear of your husband’s extended problems after cataract surgery. I had traditional cataract surgery on my left eye 15 months ago. I’ve had peripheral light streaks that are bothersome since. Time has not helped them improve much, if any. I was told by the original surgeon and a second surgeon that there was nothing they could do. I’ve read that this positive dysphotopsia may occur in a significant number of cataract surgeries because of the IOL being a square-edge acrylic lens. I believe the square-edged IOLs became popular because they are supposed to keep patients from getting PCOs. Despite this supposed benefit of that type of lens, I developed a PCO in just a couple months and then had to have the YAG posterior capsulotomy, as well as a vitrectomy this past December. So, I still have the light streaks. They are a bother when viewing car lights in rear view mirror or when sunlight is coming through windows. I guess that I just can hope it doesn’t worsen.

In the last couple of years, I’ve learned that that local ophthalmologists and retinal surgeons are not interested in educating me on my conditions or any post surgery problems unless I ask AND press them on it. They don’t use terms like PCO or dysphotopsia that seem crucial to a my true understanding of what happened and the long term implications to my sight. I read as much as I can find but I realize I should have even researched “simple” cataract surgery more before going forward. Unfortunately, there are plenty of stories of less than optimal surgical results. Discussion groups like this are helpful in finding people dealing with similar (never exactly the same) problems. My experience may not be the same as your husband’s, but I hope there’s something of help. I surely wish you and him well and hope you find answers!

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nla4625 | @nla4625 | Mar 9, 2021
In reply to @nla4625 "@cherriann and @johnbishop. Thanks for this information. It doesn't sound too awful if everything goes well..." + (show)
@nla4625

@cherriann and @johnbishop. Thanks for this information. It doesn't sound too awful if everything goes well when he corrects it. I hope tired eyes from too much screen time or this posterior capsulotomy is all this periodic blurriness is. I've been checking the grid chart for macular degeneration, which the ophthalmologist said I'm in the early stages of, regularly; and the lines are still straight. I guess I'd better start learning about that during my allotted screen time. Thanks again and thank goodness for 2 sunny days in western PA. Nancy

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@johnbishop @cherrian I visited my ophthalmologist yesterday to see if it was time to have these posterior capsulotomies done. It is. The first one is scheduled for the end of April. I had to laugh, because he used the term polish three times. He evidently thinks his older patients can't handle big medical terms. Not that it matters, but I wondered how I could have totally misunderstood him when both of you said you had never heard of that. I asked the receptionist on the way out, and she gave me the medical term.

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2 replies
Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Mar 10, 2021
In reply to @nla4625 "@johnbishop @cherrian I visited my ophthalmologist yesterday to see if it was time to have these..." + (show)
@nla4625

@johnbishop @cherrian I visited my ophthalmologist yesterday to see if it was time to have these posterior capsulotomies done. It is. The first one is scheduled for the end of April. I had to laugh, because he used the term polish three times. He evidently thinks his older patients can't handle big medical terms. Not that it matters, but I wondered how I could have totally misunderstood him when both of you said you had never heard of that. I asked the receptionist on the way out, and she gave me the medical term.

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@nla4625, I'm happy to hear you have the procedure scheduled for the end of April. I hope you can come back and give us an update on how it went and how you are doing. Maybe even start a new discussion on Posterior Capsulotomy?

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1 reply
cherriann | @cherriann | Mar 10, 2021
In reply to @nla4625 "@johnbishop @cherrian I visited my ophthalmologist yesterday to see if it was time to have these..." + (show)
@nla4625

@johnbishop @cherrian I visited my ophthalmologist yesterday to see if it was time to have these posterior capsulotomies done. It is. The first one is scheduled for the end of April. I had to laugh, because he used the term polish three times. He evidently thinks his older patients can't handle big medical terms. Not that it matters, but I wondered how I could have totally misunderstood him when both of you said you had never heard of that. I asked the receptionist on the way out, and she gave me the medical term.

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Glad to hear you saw your ophthalmologist and despite the medical term used, you will be be getting the procedure done! Take care and keep us posted on how things go.

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nla4625 | @nla4625 | May 10, 2021
In reply to @johnbishop "@nla4625, I'm happy to hear you have the procedure scheduled for the end of April. I..." + (show)
@johnbishop

@nla4625, I'm happy to hear you have the procedure scheduled for the end of April. I hope you can come back and give us an update on how it went and how you are doing. Maybe even start a new discussion on Posterior Capsulotomy?

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@cherrian @johnbishop. I had posterior capsulotomies done on both eyes several months after cataract surgery and am thrilled how much better I can see. Floaters weren't a problem after the first one, and I hope they won't be a problem after the YAG procedure I had today. As others said, it was a really simple painless procedure, so I didn't worry about it. It's so nice when things go well, and I feel fortunate both cataract removals and these followup procedures went well! I loved looking at the trees in bloom on the way home and being able to see them clearly.

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1 reply
Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | May 10, 2021
In reply to @nla4625 "@cherrian @johnbishop. I had posterior capsulotomies done on both eyes several months after cataract surgery and..." + (show)
@nla4625

@cherrian @johnbishop. I had posterior capsulotomies done on both eyes several months after cataract surgery and am thrilled how much better I can see. Floaters weren't a problem after the first one, and I hope they won't be a problem after the YAG procedure I had today. As others said, it was a really simple painless procedure, so I didn't worry about it. It's so nice when things go well, and I feel fortunate both cataract removals and these followup procedures went well! I loved looking at the trees in bloom on the way home and being able to see them clearly.

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@nla4625, That is great news that the YAG procedure went well. Thank you for sharing the update with us. I can imagine how relieved you must feel and especially the view of trees in bloom on your way home.

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2021mymayoclinic2021 | @2021mymayoclinic2021 | Jun 25, 2021

I have extremely dry eyes and have used all available remedies, including Restasis and XIIDRA. Finally , my eyes Doc suggested 2 remedies. Prokera and Autogolous Serum (this is made from your own blood). Have been on this for just 2 days (Serum) and am noticing less discomfort. My husband was freaked out about this.
Anyone else who has tried this method? I’m still having to use XIIDRA 2,times day.
M Rudolph

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