bad cataract lens?

[deana65]

I have had  surgery on both right and left eye.  I am 66 years old.  After the first (right) surgery, my vision was unbelievable. I could see better than I can ever remember seeing.  So a month later (jan 2011), I had the left eye done.
The very first thing I said when I came to is what happened? It seemed like someone had dimmed the lights.  The Dr checked my eye and said everything was OK.  I said I can't see very well and he said that would clear up.  Now here it is almost a year later and several exams and Drs later I still have the same problems.  I am a seamstress and have not been able to work because of this.  I have up down double vision.  Especially bad in bright lights.  I have my circle of vision that is from about 2.5 feet to about 10 feet.  Before or after that, it is a blur.  My new glasses almost make it worse. We have a 32 " TV that sits about 15 feet from my chair and I cannot see faces or read anything on the screen.  I called about 2 weeks after the left surgery and complained  about my vision.  The had me see the optomitrist in the clinic who pretty much told me I didn't know what I was talking about.  I called probably 3 months later and saw the surgeon. He said there is absolutely nothing wrong with the lens.  I went to another Dr and she can't seem to find anything either.  She did say there is a little scaring that she can take care of with the lazer, but didn't know if it would help my other problems.  I think these people think I am just making things up or something.  This is so frustrating that no one listens.  Any ideas?  I live in the Midwest.

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

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

Discuss with your surgeon but if glasses in the form of progressive no lines lens give you good vision then it's not a complication or defective lens and you will need to wear the glasses for your best possible vision.

JCH MD

[Luvtoski]

I am no expert, but perhaps you are "barking up the wrong tree" with concentrating on a "defective IOL", (of which is unlikely).

What might be more likely is that the IOL "missed the target".  To my understanding, the further from Plano you get, the smaller the clear focused filed of vision.  Sounds like you have a short field of focused vision now with the IOL lens, 2.5 - 10 feet.  

Dr. Hagan can correct me, but I am guessing that you ended up post surgery somewhere up in the negative diopter range and perhaps you may have wanted to end up closer to Plano. ???  Just a guess.  The error, if it was one, could have been due to the Surgeon targeting the wrong number, or the wrong lens may even have been put in.

I would love for you to maybe explore this line of questioning instead of just the unlikely "defective lens" thought, which is probably a dead end and I know you want more answers than that.
Just my thoughts, and again I am no expert.

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

In the USA in 2010 there were like 3.35 million intra ocular lens put in human eyes. The quality control is surperb and any problems with quality control or manufacturer are broadcast across the country. There were no problems like most years.

It is extremely unlikely that your problem is a defective IOL. You live in the midwest I suggest you go to a tertiary medical school ophthalmology department. Most state and private universities in the midwest medical school ophthalmology departments are very good to some world class. Get to the best one you can get to.

JCH MD

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