Cataract surgery

Hi @metermaidman I want to welcome you to Mayo Clinic Connect. Opaque images that are not recognizable must be very concerning. I want to introduce you to @johnbishop and @zailey who recently had cataract surgery, as well as @norma1 who's husband recently had the surgery. I want you to be able to connect with members of the community who have been through the process so they can give you advice based on real life experience.

Did you have surgery in both eyes or just one? How long did you suffer from cataracts before being treated and how bad was your vision before surgery was done?

I had surgery only in my left eye and my vision was not bad, and I was hesitant about getting the surgery because my vision was ok. I wore glasses for reading and long distance that helped, but during the day I usually never needed glasses when driving.

Hi @metermaidman, I would like to add my welcome to Connect along with @amandaburnett and others. I had cataract surgery in both of my eyes last year but didn't have any issues with blurry vision. If I remember correctly, my surgeon told me it was normal for the vision to be a little blurry for a few days after the surgery while the eye is healing. Since your surgery was on July 29th, I'm wondering if your eyes may have some inflammation from the surgery. I think I had to take multiple medication eye drops 3 to 4 times a day for a month. Are you still using the eye drops given as a follow up to your cataract surgery?

The first week I was taking 2 different eyedrops 4 times a day and another eyedrop twice a day. now I`m supposed to take only one eyedrop twice a day until it`s gone. I went to another eye Dr. and he gave me an eye ointment(3 times daily) to take. He said this would cause me some eye pain for 15-20 minutes when I put it in my eye. But the first time I put it in I felt nothing and thought he had pulling my leg to make me feel better. Later when I told him that he was surprised because he said that is not normal ...not to feel the pain....so am I different or does that mean something about my eye?

If it were me, I would go back to my eye surgeon and have him take a close look at the eyes. I would also ask him about the eye ointment the second eye doctor gave you in case it may cause a reaction to eyedrops from the surgeon. There has to be a reason that your vision is blurry or opaque and the surgeon should really be able to explain or discuss it with you.

I went back and got examined and he didn`t seem to be concerned, but he wouldn`t guarantee that my eye would heal...he said wait.. It`s my eye and MY VISION I told him and it is easy for you to say wait. He didn`t try to explain anything. The 2nd Dr I went to I took all the meds and showed them what I was taking so I`m not concerned about any reactions because they knew what I was taking..

Really sorry to hear your eye surgeon didn't try to help or understand what the issue is. I'm not sure if this is helpful but this article discusses different complications that can occur during cataract surgery. You might want to glance through it and see if anything sounds similar.

What to Know About Cataract Surgery Complications: https://www.healthline.com/health/eye-health/cataract-surgery-complications

Thanks for info...I did go thru some of the info and have done some research on line and some u tube videos.. I have my own thoughts on what I`ve read, but without another exam that`s looks at the interior of my eye I think it`s guessing.. My feelings are the sooner the better because if this is permanent than I have lost....not just my ability to see but my independence.........thanks for the web page

Hello @metermaidman Sorry to hear of your complications after cataract surgery, I had some complications but not as bad as yours. I would go back to the surgeon and demand an answer, Even if its something beyond his doings, he should know what the problem is. Did they continue to check eye pressure after surgery. My eye pressure was to high and Dr had to take me off the drops, thinks it was because of my extremely dry eyes. Please let me know the outcome, wishing you the best. Sue

in reply to @metermaidman The second Dr you went to should not have given you any other meds because it was too early after your surgery. Lots of Patients gets a film over eye after about a week and the surgeon will use lazer to remove the film, but they usually wait a month before this is done. Did surgeon mention this to you?