Has anyone else had issues with eyes or eyesight post esophagectomy?

Yes. My accommodation (near vision) in my left eye was virtually destroyed. Although 86, I'd never needed reading glasses, I will now have to be fitted (no bifocals, thank goodness). My near vision was damaged also, but it was not nearly to the degree as near. Nevertheless, I will have to have a totally new script, even for distance. I'm grateful I didn't have the problems you had. My treatment was proton at MD Anderson, although I've been to Mayo, Rochester, for another condition...

@earle Thanks for your reply Earle! Was your vision damaged by the radiation? The only reason I could figure out that my vision was affected was some possible damage of nerves or lymph nodes during my surgery (a 12 hour operation at UCLA). Don’t know, but would like to hear from anyone on this blog that may have had similar issues.

Linda, I didn't have the surgery, largely because my cancer was confined to the interior of my esophagus and my regional and distant lymph nodes were clear. Also, my age indicated that my chances were about the same, with or without surgery. I've always felt that the chemoradiation cause my near vision loss in my left eye because it happened progressively as the treatments continued. I mean to ask them the next chance I get if I received more radiation on that side. (I do remember that my tumor was not symmetrical.)
On Thursday, July 9, 2026 at 07:00:50 PM CDT, Mayo Clinic Connect wrote:

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@earle Thanks for your reply Earle! Was your vision damaged by the radiation? The only reason I could figure out that my vision was affected was some possible damage of nerves or lymph nodes during my surgery (a 12 hour operation at UCLA). Don’t know, but would like to hear from anyone on this blog that may have had similar issues.
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I must say I noticed eye problems, blurry vision, junk in my eyes, even floaters, before I was diagnosed with cancer.

@larryhoaglund So you do not think treatment affected yours?

My eye site was becoming an issue before I got diagnosed with the cancer. But then mine is in my aorta and in the bone in my back too.

My husband has daily eye vision issues. He alternates between his regular prescription glasses, prescription reading glasses and over the counter reading glasses. Some days he does better not using anything at all! In addition to the chemo & radiation he had for his esophageal cancer he also had radiation and hormone deprivation therapy for prostate cancer. He read that low to no testosterone can affect vision so we're not sure where his vision problems stem from but it's frustrating to say the least.

@jaym47 Thanks for your reply! I first noticed vision problems about a month post esophagectomy. My eyes were puffy, red, and I noticed that my far vision wasn’t good even with my newer prescriptions glasses on. But my surgeon said she didn’t think the degradation of vision was related to the surgery. Did your husband have an esophagectomy?

Yes, he did. He had cataract surgery during the middle of everything as well. The past 5 years have been an interesting journey.

@jaym47 Wow, wow, wow. Your husband is one heck-of-a-guy! (And I’ll bet you’re right up there with him.) I was lucky that I was not diagnosed with EC, but had dysplastic cells there that were treated with cryo- and radioablation over five years, where they were trying to dilate my throat so I could swallow easier. Instead the opposite happened—I ended up having so much scar tissue in my throat that I couldn’t swallow anything, even water. So…esophagectomy for me after that. Interestingly, I had cataract surgery as well six weeks ago! All I can say is that sometimes life sucks, but here we are…still among the living, and doing the best we can. All the best to you and your husband in your continuing journey.