Cataract Surgery: What to expect after surgery

Are you trying gel drops? They last longer than regular tear drops.

Had cataract surgery 12 days ago. My vision before cataract surgery was almost 20/20 but the cataract had become large and very blurry.I could see great without glasses except for reading. After surgery my vision was completely milky for 3 days, slowing started clearing. I have a sense that I have a very poor fitting contact lens in my eye, then the feeling that contact lens is stuck in corner of eye. Had good vision (I thought) after 5 days then constantly (with every blink of the eye) vision changes, very blurry , awful blue white light that it still going on as is the blurriness. Before surgery I had -.5 degree to astigmatism which has never caused me a problem. Surgeon put in toric lens with 1.25 correction. I also don't feel like the lens power that they put in is strong enough and that astigmatism is overcorrected. I know that the light is a huge issue, I need it to see but the light is too harsh, I see clearer if am looking at shaded area. Lens is set to distance, but I see best inside the house, blinds closed, at a distance of 6-10 feet. When on computer or reading, something looks and feels like it is traveling blob across my line of vision. It does not block vision but I can see it. I can see the vision chart at almost 20/30. I can see tree trunks, leaves with no detail, flowers are a watercolor blob. Can read banners bottom of screen fine, but they are blurred ,letters are either double or overlapping. I have probably gone into too much detail, but, believe me, the list goes on. Surgeon says "you just had surgery" won't discuss. Says I see fine and points to vision results on the wall. I find that print is easier to read bIut I cannot see details. I had surgery on other eye and it wasn't like this? Anyone have these issues?

Hi @halla1001 and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Sorry to hear you are having such extreme issues after your surgery. You will see that I moved your post to a long standing conversation about cataract surgery so that you could connect with other members.

I do agree that it is a little early since they say it normally will take four to six weeks for your eye to fully heal, but you know your body better than anyone so I would say go with your gut. Have you considered seeking a second opinion? I know that some facilities will not accept patients 2 weeks post surgery, but it may be worth a phone call.

Thank you for your response. Yes, I am seriously considering trying to find someone who will give me a second opinion.....I know its early but there have been so many things, one right after the other. Where did you move my post so that I can check for responses. Thank you.

Hi @halla1001 - I thought I would jump in for @amandaa and let you know you post was moved to this discussion so that you can connect with others with similar questions -- Cataract Surgery: What to expect after surgery: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/comment/718988/

I had cataract surgery for both eyes and wanted to get a Toric lens to help with some astigmatism I have in the one eye but my surgeon talked me out of it. From what I understood the Toric lens is a little more difficult to fit. I did have some blurry vision for a bit when I was using the eye drop regimen they sent home with me after surgery but it cleared up within a week or so.

Thanks. I have a toric in the left eye and it is fine.....of course, it up in the air about this one. I had contact lenses and had to have toric in one eye and they were never satisfactory so I didn't want toric IOL but I am glad I have the first one. I hope this clears up but so completely different than first and this eye barely needs correction at all and supposed to be the "easy one".

At 70 had cataracts removed and lens added, they were very expensive, but results were as the Doctor said. At 75 have vision that I thought would be impossible at my age, have 20/20 vision in left eye with lens, slightly less in right eye due to stigmatism.
I was told I would need to wear sunglasses due to bright sunlight, I have always worn sunglasses so was not an issue, my glasses are only slightly tinned yellow which addresses the bright light in my case. I have excellent night vision, at first I was told that there would be star tracks from oncoming car head lights, this only lasted about six months. Was never an issue.
The Doctor explained before the surgery the variations that I may experience, saying each person has slightly different results.

Hi, yes! It will be blurry for a bit, then it’s amazing! Be sure to do all the eye medications so it will heal properly. Good luck!

@scadams27 Have been told cataract procedure needs to be done but am very scared and concerned about out of pocket cost for only Medicare. Can you share personal positive experience to hopefully alleviate some of my anxiety?

I had a detached retina and had a sclera buckle and a gas bubble. The outcome to such a severe detachment is generally needing a new lens aka cataract surgery. It was impossible to drive at night as lights were blinding. I had the the surgery. You are given a dissociative medication so you don’t even remember it. You wear a patch with little holes to semi see thru for a day or two. There are several eye drops (medications) to put in your eye over the course of several weeks. But the vision gets better quickly and there was no more pain or pressure. It’s a bit discouraging the first few days but it does improve quickly!