Complication after pterygium surgery

A year and a half ago I had the pterygiums in my eyes removed. During the surgery of the second eye, the anesthesia wore off and the remaining time of the surgery way extremely painful. I was crying and screaming from the pain and discomfort. A few weks later, I developed double vision. Over the next few months it got much worse. I wear glasses with a prism, but the double vision is very exhausting. By the end of the day, my glasses don't even help. When I'm in snowy weather with low visibility, I get dizzy and have nausea. I've even fallen. Also, drinking a glass of wine will make my vision worse. The doctor said the diplopia was not caused by the surgery, but I never had a problem with double vision before. The strabismus / pediatric ophth specialist says that I probably always has double vision and just didn't know it. I disagree. I've looked back at pictures of myself and I don't see it at all. The specialist in encouraging me to have surgery to adjust my eye muscles, but I'm afraid to have anymore surgery. This website says that diplopia can occur after pt. removal http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1192527-followup. Has anyone had this happen to them? What is the success rate of the surgery to repair double vision? Any advice?

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

It is quite likely that your double vision is related to your pterygium surgery. I've see it happen and it is listed as a complication.

If the double vision is severe and troubling then you likely will need surgery.

JCH MD