Cataract surgery coming up, some slight changes in vision

[caudco]

A little over a year ago, I was diagnosed with bilateral cataracts, left eye worse than right. I'm having cataract surgery next week on my left eye (ReZoom lens being placed). A little over a month ago, I lost almost all vision in that eye; just see shadows. I went to bed on a Wednesday and on Thursday my vision was gone. About 3 weeks ago, I started seeing ghosting/double vision at night while driving. It was debilitating unless I closed my left eye while I drove. It seemed my vision in the right eye improved somewhat during this time (I'm very near-sighted). I did have headaches a lot during this time too. I'm assuming from my right eye straining to pick up the slack of the left eye. Anyway, I noticed in the last few days, I don't have the ghosting/double vision anymore and the vision in my right eye seems blurrier now. Could it be that my right eye is about to do what my left eye did and suddenly lose the vision?

[Forum-OD-MP]

um, did you have your vision loss in the left eye investigated?

not knowing what happened to cause the vision loss in your left eye, i'm going to say its going to be very difficult to assess/predict what will/wont happen in the right eye.  but for the most part your eyes are separate entities.  retinal problems especially almost never involve both eyes.

[Ag-i-doc]

dont know.  possible.

[caudco]

My loss of vision in the left eye was from the cataract. I've had that looked at and am having surgery for it next week. I can see the cataract in that eye. My doctor told me that this cataract progressed rapidly. Now that I've had these other symptoms with the right eye (which was also diagnosed with a cataract the same time the left eye was, just less of one), I'm worried that it's cataract might be getting much worse. When I had my left eye examined last month, the doctor said that the right eye will probably have to be done within the year.  My concern is that the ghosting/double vision was so bad that I couldn't drive at night without closing my left eye for about 3 weeks, and now I can keep my left eye open to drive and those symptoms are gone. I'm assuming that those images had something to do with my left eye. But the other concern is that the vision in my right eye seemed a bit clearer for that time and is now blurrier. With the rate that my left eye's cataract developed, I'm worried that the right eye is doing the same thing.

[sunni1]

Hi, there. Sounds like before my cataract surgery. I started having double vision very bad, with the worst cataract eye putting the lights in the lane next to me right in front. I struggled hard to get them out of the lane! Then suddenly, within 2 weeks the cataract was total! No more double vision. Couldn't see anything but light and dark (but not the car lights anymore), and maybe barely could see movement 2-3 inches infront of eye. Actually that was a relief.
The doctor said he couldn't tell the state of the retina because he couldn't see it. But now I had the surgery (monofocal on the recommendation of my optometrist for the best functional vision for me-I can't use contacts, too windy/dusty here and not ready for surgery on the other eye yet, can still see good with it) and I can see again! What a wonderful thing. Now I won't knock the side view mirror off when I pull in the garage - did it twice, very expensive! I had flashes after the surgery (see forum last month) and still do but not as often or maybe I'm just getting used to them! anyway it's been 1 month and I'm getting fitted for permanent glasses tomorrow to fit my new prescription! Thank God for this surgery!  But don't forget to see your doctor, like the forum doc says just in case.

[Eagle eyes]

You should get into your eye doctor for a dilated retinal exam ASAP. Call them and tell them these symptoms. Did you do this with the first symptoms a few weeks back? Especially being very near-sighted, you are more prone to retinal problems, like detachment, holes or tears. Better to be safe than sorry.