My post-cataract course was not a good one. I continued to have shadows around the margins of my vision. The doctors I saw pretty much just scratched their heads. One told me to see a psychiatrist. So I took it upon myself to find an answer. After hundreds of hours researching, I came across negative dysphotopsia in a forum discussion, and knew that's what my problem was. Interesting that I had to find out about it in a forum and not in medical articles. I found a doctor in California (I'm in Austin, Texas) who had worked with patients with this condition, mostly in Eurrope. I contacted him and he recommended a doctor in Houston. The Houston doctor said my case was pretty much classic, and that he would have to replace my intraocular lenses with a different kind. So I had surgery on one eye followed a month later by the other eye. I had to use a lot of steroid type medications, pre and post surgery. I had arranged for my final follow up to be done by an optometrist near where I lived. My eye pressure had skyrocketed. She kept me in her office several hours treating and watching my pressures. Turns out I'm a steroid reactor. Jeez, what else? It has been a few years now and my pressures are still not normal - I take prescription medication to keep it down. The second lens replacements resolved about 90% of my ND problems. My subsequent research has revealed that ND is not exactly an uncommon condition. Ophthalmologists were slow to get on the bandwagon, and many still aren't. There's plenty that can be found online now about this condition. Although most literature still describes it as a dark crescent-like shape in your temporal field, my experience, as well as many others in forums, is of shadows along your peripheral fields (like vignetting). Bottom line, be aware that this condition can arise after cataract surgery, and don't be intimidated about seeking treatment. Dealing with ND for more than four years after my initial surgeries had caused me to question my cognition, limit my driving, and affected my social interactions. Be aware.

Jump to this post