cataract surgery

[Normandie]

Hi Dr. Kutryb,

I had cataract surgery July 2012 with monofocal lens in right eye.  I had good distance vision, but it was determined in post-op visit that I would need Yag for PCO.  The 20/20 vision I started out with began to deteriorate until I was about 20/30.  I thought this was because the Yag was needed, but after the Yag was done, my vision has now got a ghost image.  If I put my chin down on my chest and look up out of the eye, vision becomes clear.  My doctor said I am "pinholing".  I do have bilateral posterior vitreous separation, horseshoe tear in this eye, with mild epritenal membrane and a hard druse at the fovea.  Can these issues be the reason I lost that wonderful vision I had in the beginning, or did the Yag create my problem?  Neither the cornea or retinal specialist have given my any answers to this problem.  Is there anything that can be done, other than the progressive glasses I have now, but find hard to read with them?

Thanks for you input.

[Doreen Fazio, M.D.]

Without an exam, I don't know if this is the case, but I wonder if the YAG capsulotomy might be small, and need to be enlarged.  Also, if not already done, you need an OCT of the macula to look for macular edema (CME) and an epiretinal membrane, both of which could be affecting the vision.

[Normandie]

A related discussion, Yag after cataract surgery was started.