double vision after cataract surgery

To those of you that have had the double vision improve on its own, how long did it take?  And did it become better gradually or was it suddenly better?
Thanks in advance


This discussion is related to Double vision after cataract surgery.

[stewardrobbins]

I had cataract surgery on June 4.  I had double vision when I woke up every morning for 5 - 10 minutes.  It is now down to less than a minute.  My surgeon told me that the anesthetic injection into the muscle sometimes causes a bit of bleeding and that the double vision will disappear gradually. This has been my experience.

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

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[twochicklets]

I am sorry, I can not seem to see your response.  Thanks.

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

You asked for responses from people that have had double vision after surgery. I am not one of them. the line means I have read the question and/or response and do not need to comment.

I have published 4 research papers on double vision after cataract surgery. With your's improving and now less than one minute it almost always clears. The type of double vision that doesn't go away and is there all the time is the type the requires prism glasses or eye muscle surgery.

JCH MD

[twochicklets]

Thank you for your response!  Where can I read your research papers?  Unfortunatley I am the original poster and do have double vision 100% of the time, I wish I was the person only having it for a minute.  I saw a muscle specialist today and got the prism glasses.  He said to wait at least a month to see if anything stabilizes before having surgery.  My double vision is much stronger in the morning and lessens as the day goes on.  I am 23 days post op (refractive lensectomy).  They used a block and the muscle doctor thinks that is what is causing my case.  I was just wondering if it is possible that this will resolve on its own, or if I will most likely be having the surgery.  Again, thanks for responding, I am new to this forum and didn't realize what that - meant.

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

They are in medical journal. You might be able to get copies from the journal website. Likely they will charge you for the copy. A library might be able to get you a copy.

81. “Diplopia Cases After Peri-bulbar Anesthesia without Hyaluronidase”, Hagan III JC, Whittaker TJ, Byars SR Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery, 25:1560-61, 1999

82. “Diplopia and Ptosis Following Injection of local Anesthesia Without Hyaluronidase”, Jehan FS, Hagan III JC, Whittaker T, Subramanian M. Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery, 27:1876-1879, 2001

83. “Missouri Medicine: Continues to be a Valuable Asset for MSMA”, Missouri Medicine, 97:529, 2000

84. “Use of a Compounding Pharmacy Hyaluronidase for Ophthalmic Injection Anesthesia”, Hagan III JC, Hill WE. Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery, 27:1712-1714, 2001

90. “Permanent Diplopia Following Cataract Surgery”, Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery, 27: 341-342, 2001

103. “Persistent Vertical Binocular Diplopia After Cataract Surgery”, American Journal of Ophthalmology, 133:860-861, 2002 (correspondence)

JCH MD

[Bruny]

Hi, I had cataract surgery on my right eye April 28, 2008.  I notice that I have double vision when I lay on my right side to watch TV, if I lay on my left side I don't get the double vision.  I also feel like a heaviness of the right eye when I'm laying on my right side.  It has been 3 months since my surgery.  I asked my doctor about it and he asked me if I was ever hit on the head when I was kid.  I did get hit on the head with a bat when I was kid - I was too close to some kids playing ball.  I was knocked out for about 30 minutes.  At that time I was never taken to the hospital or the doctor.  I was around 8-10 years olds, I am now 65 years old.  Could this be the explanation, he didn't say what type of anesthetic I got for the surgery, all I know is that I was asleep through the whole procedure.

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

If your double vision is not causing any major problems and it sounds like it isn't then nothing need be done unless it gets worse. If you didn't have double vision before surgery and you did afterward then likely it is related to the surgery.'

JHaganMD

[JodieJ]

You might consider getting a second opinion about your double vision from another surgeon.  The type of anesthesia used during your surgery would be noted in your medical record.

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

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[Bruny]

Thank you for your prompt reply.  I will inquire about it or try to get a copy of the operative report.  

Last night I looked over my shoulder to the right and I noticed the double vision but this time I was standing up.  I forgot to say that I have glaucoma in both eyes, the left one is worse than the right one.  I'm on 2 types of drops, Lumigan 1X in left eye and the other is for both eyes - 2x a day for pressure too (sorry can't remember the name now, they do sting a little)

Again, thank you.

Bruny

[Bruny]

Thank you Jodie, I'm considering doing that.

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

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