Nightmare

I notice that others in this forum are struggling with the nefarious halo/arc/starburst problem. I had 2 AMO AR40e IOLs implanted in Feb and April of 2007 which are reputed to be 'state of the art' in minimizing this serious problem. If that is so I shudder to think what people go thru with other brands of implants. The 'glare & starbursts' during night driving is horrific, in fact, it's so bad I wish I had my cataracts back.

Some have told me to try anti-reflective coated glasses but I can't order glasses yet because I still have the silicone oil in my right eye as a result of the third operation in dealing with the twice detached retina and PVR caused by the combination of cataract surgery and lattice degeneration. (The cataract surgeon didn't tell me my risk of retinal detachment was going sky high.) So they say cataract surgery is the most successfully done surgery in modern times - Hmm, my cataracts were not that bad so I should have left them alone and when they got so bad I couldn't see - then done them. Cataract surgery for me has been a life changing catastrophe (I'm only 56) and I still have to have another operation to get the silicone oil out. So how do I deal with the night glare so I can drive at night with my one good eye?

I curse the day I decided to get my cataracts done. This is a lesson I would like others with cataracts to learn.

[Michael J Kutryb, MD]

I'm sorry about your problems.  Your complaints are indeed very unusual.  To me it sounds like your biggest problem is the detached retina and subsequent surgeries for it.  If you have silicone in eye - you are going to have some pretty troublesome vision.  Glare and halo problems that you are describing are actually very rare with typical cataract lens implants.  The glare/halos could easily be reduced with a miotic drop to make your pupils smaller - so in the future you may be able to try that.  ALSO - you just said you don't even have your new glasses yet - so that could easily be the cause of glare and halos.  You need to get new glasses and then night vision should be much better.  I predict that much of the problems you notice with improve after you get silicone out of eye and finally get new glasses.  Good Luck.  I hope you didn't scare too many people about cataract surgery. You have a very non-typical case.  In 12 years of doing cataract surgery - I've seen about 5 retinal detachments occuring weeks to months after surgery, but none required silicone.  My sympathies go out to you - but stay strong and don't give up.  Stay positive.

MJK MD

[BDS007]

Thanks for the words of encouragement - they are appreciated. Granted my vision is compromised by the silicone oil and providing PVR doesn't come back (taking Prednisolone til the end of the year) it will improve significantly after the oil is out. I had a lot of bad luck on this one and wouldn't wish it on anyone else. Cataract surgery has improved quality of life for millions I know, however when things go wrong it's not a pretty sight. I will try the anti-glare lenses shortly and thanks again.