Magnified Vision After Cataract Surgery

[Belle88888]

I have had a cataract surgery in year 2000 when I was like 40yo. The eye surgeon in Mountain View CA had implanted an Allergan monofocal IOL len in my right eye, Model No. SI40NB, diopter 13,0. My usual eyeglass before surgery and cataract is -2.75. Now it's a -2.5. I noticed that my vision had became a semi-giant, and things had appeared bigger about 25% more than what my usual right eye and left eye can see. I've been to different cataract surgeons and they can't really help me. One made my right eye worst by prescribing me B&L Pilocarpine to constrict my pupil, but then only after 3 drops, it made my right eye see gazillions of floaters!! Now I am thinking about the curvature of the len, maybe somehow it has something to do with the magnification of the image, just like with the concept of convex and concave mirrors. I am still researching, there's also an Allergan SI30NB SI55NB, what's the difference between these three model numbers I've mentioned. What could be the solution to my problem? Please help!

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

That's your decision but if the posterior capsule is cloudy its no wonder you're not happy with your vision. Removing the IOL or putting another IOL into your eye is much riskier than the yag capsulotomy. That is all I have to say on the subject.
JCH MD

[Belle88888]

Hi Doctor, would a piggyback IOL or an implantable contact lens will work on my case? Some doctors do not want to take out an IOL especially if it's been there for so long and also if a YAG laser had already been performed. Lots of doctors are recommending that I should have a YAG laser to clear out the opacification of my capsular bag. But I hesitated because I am still thinking maybe someday the technology will get better and I will have a chance for my IOL to be replaced? Or at least piggybacked?

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

Thhis is a a common problem. your eyes are no longer matched. the image size varies depending on the glasses, contact lens or IOL power. In general the more minus a lens the smaller things look and the more plus the greater the image size.

Usually, but not always the brain adjusts to the situation. Sometimes glasses, contacts on one eye or a second cataract surgery is necessary to restore balance.

JCH MD

[Belle88888]

Hi Doctor, Thanks for your question. I have only one eye, my right eye got the cataract surgery at that time. So when I open my left eye, the image is not the same with my right surgerized eye can see. But when I opened both my eyes, my brain is like blending the two images. I am usually nearsighted ever since I was young until the surgery. My usual eyeglass power is between -2.5 up to -3.00 for either eyes. And I ask the cataract surgeon to make me somewhat nearsighted with the intraocular len that he will put in my right eye. And which he did. I am  quite happy with the results except for the magnification 25% more that why my surgerized right eye can see, aside from the streak of light that I see on the edge of the IOL depending on lighting conditions. My question also is, maybe it's the curvicity of the IOL also matters, and I don't know if Allergan Model SI40NB is a standard monofocal len for everyone almost?

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

1. Have you only had one eye operated on?
2. What is your glasses prescription and what is your vision with and without glasses.

JCH MD