Blurry Distance in New Lens

[1voice46]

I had cataract surgery 8 weeks ago.  The day after surgery my eye was not clear, 20/40.  Doctor said surgery went well and my vision will be getting better.  One week after surgery my eye was 20/40 again. I tried to read one line lower but couldn't.  My 6 week exam my eye was still 20/40.  Thus needing glasses.  I had a monofocal lens put in for distance.  It was 21.0 D.  I can see better close up (went from 250 to 225) but shopping and distance is blurry.  Lights at stores also cause glare.  My lens prescription before surgery was -.25 sph, +l.50 cyl and 17axis.  My new prescription is -1.50sph, +1.00 cyl and 40axis.  My sight is brighter and the starbursts around lights while driving are getting less but I definitely feel my vision in this eye is less than before.  The doctor didn't tell me why I didn't get better vision.  Should I see another doctor or should I wait and see it this resolves itself.  I chose the surgery so I wouldn't have to wear glasses.  My non -surgical eye has a small cataract and my vision in that is 0.00 sph, +0.50cyl and 170 axis.  This was done by one of the best doctors in the city.

[1voice46]

Can I wear a contact lens in my right eye or get some kind of laser surgery rather than wear glasses.  Was not expecting to wear glasses after surgery.

[1voice46]

Thanks.  Would I be a candidate for any kind of laser surgery so I wouldn't have to wear glasses?  Also, when I have the cataract removed from my left eye would I expect the same result?  My physician said he would not put any lens in except for the monofocal.  He said he has too many people that are unhappy with the multifocal and others. Was my physician just wishful thinking on my vision being better after surgery?  What is an LRI?

[Ray T Oyakawa, MD]

You have an excellent result for cataract surgery with glasses.  You are myopic and have astigmatism.  The astigmatism would not have been corrected  unless you paid for a toric or had an LRI.   It is common practice to target about a -0.50 for standard IOLs.  You are a spherical equivalent (sphere + astigmatism) of  -1.00.

The vision without glasses will not improve.

Dr. O.