Cataract surgery post-op: shadow at edge of visual field

[mazarin]

I had cataract surgery on my left eye a week ago. The day after the surgery, I noticed a dark area at the extreme left edge of my visual field. It looked as though there was an object obstructing the light hovering to the left of my eye. Naturally, the "wall" moves when I look around. I also experienced disturbing bright flashes of light that seemed to coincide with eye movement. I reported both phenomena to my surgeon at that time. She said the flashing is "normal", and that the "shadow" was probably the incision she had made to insert the IOL. The IOL is a "toroidal" lens; I don't know the exact type.

The flashes have almost gone away; however the "wall" is still there. This is really little more than an annoyance--the amount of my visual field that's occluded is trifling. Distance vision with my left eye is pretty good, though far from perfect. Close vision is excellent with reading glasses, though I'm not quite happy with my ability to see what's on my computer monitor (a big concern, because I work with a computer all day...and play with one most of the night).

As I said, I'd probably be willing to accept the "wall", but I'm concerned that this might be more than just a trivial and temporary phenomenon--I'm not convinced I'm seeing the incision. I'm thinking the IOL may not be placed correctly, or that something else has gone wrong. Has anyone else experienced this, or heard of it?

Thanks!

[Felix1650]

A related discussion, Shadow after cataract surgery was started.

[aimee37]

You might be helped by going to the comments posted by myself and some other readers earlier this year. Go to the BROWSE ARCHIVES to the EYE FORUM 2007 comments and click "Is Posterior Capsule Wrinkle After Cataract Surgery Unusal." Hope it helps.

[aimee37]

I had cataract surgery several days ago standard IOL lens.  I am experiencing a half star effect when looking at bright light sources.  If you can emagine what the star effect photographers use for effect.  What I am getting is just half of a star.  It is a stream of light emitting in both diresstions form the light source at a 45 degree angle to lower left and to upper right.  I also am getting double vision.  What I see is a ghost image just slightly below the real image.  When looking at 12 point Arial back far enough to be as clearas possible the Ghost image is like the bottom half the image under the actual image.  The brightness and color improvement is great.  But the streaky light and double image is driving me crazy.  Any suggestions whould be greately appreciated.

[aimee37]

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[aimee37]

I'm really worried about my eye after the cataract op. "They" don't inform one as to the accidents that happened to one's own eye. I don't know how to find out any helpful info. This forum is good, but I'd like something proffessional - does it exist??
One is obviosly put off by mailings from people who can't write grammatically, however well intentioned they may be.

[aimee37]

Thanks for the feedback!

One reason I'm a bit anxious is that I need to have the right eye done pretty soon. I'm going to see the opthalmologist/surgeon tomorrow, and I'm trying to decide if I want to go ahead and have her do the other eye. Overall, I'm feeling pretty positive about her competence, so I guess I'll just tell her I'm still having some symptoms, and ask her what she things.

[aimee37]

I had cataract surgery and IOLs implanted in mid 2005. I experienced the "wall" just as you described. After a couple of weeks it became intermittent until it went away completely - after maybe a month or six weeks. I also had some flashing and that also cleared up after a few months. Many others posting here have reported similar problems.

[aimee37]

Just to add a few more things that you have been experiencing: I have had surgery one day ago. Six hours after the surgery I woke up from a nap and found that I couldn't see from that eye at all. It was like a white fog had decendet over the eye and blocked almost all vision. In a panic I called the surgeon (11.00 PM). He said this happens sometimes due a slight ultrasound abrasion and to call him in the morning (like all good doctors do). I see the same flasches in the periphery of my vision just as you do. The other problem, I guess they call it "negative dysphotopsia" I don't have, but one day after the surgery, I went to the John  and now can see my pulse in that eye (no joke). Well, they tell you: "no heavy lifting" and the two are, obviously related in some fasion. This manifests itself as a bunch of string like lines across the field of vision flashing on and off with the rhythem of my heart beat and look much like a humungous floater. The ophthasmologist checked out an said, that he couldn't find  anything (retinal detachment etc.) In the meantime the "fog" has somewhat lifted and for the rest of it I am going to wait it out and you should probably do the same.

[Forum-OD-MP]

well if your surgeon has evaluated the problem/symptom you are describing, then its a little unlikely that this is some serious/emergent problem.  

post-eye surgery patients have all kinds of strange, hard to describe and sometimes un-explainable symptoms.  if your doctor knows about the problem and has evaluated your eye after you complained of the problem, then the problem is likely to be both difficult to fix and not very dangerous.  

a second opinion is almost never a bad idea.  maybe you should consider going to another surgeon just for their ideas?