ghost and double images after cataract surgery

In early september I had cataract surgery in the left eye.  There has, always been a long, diagonal glare that passes through light sources, etc.  this glare, or ray of light has, steadily worsened.  The right eye is fine after cataract removal in august.  Last night I noticed the diagonal glare was worse and now I see stop lights, especially, the green lights, completely double.  This was the symptom I had before cataract removal.  It is obvious the situation is progressing or worsening.  The techs at the opthalmoligist's office said the glare was "nothing to be alarmed about" and to wait for my follow-up apointment is January. The double vision of lights is a new symptom that they have yet to hear.  What could be the causes?.  I, also, have an enormous veil like floater in that eye.

[Lerbea]

Do you have the Multifocal lens?  If so do a search for them. There is a great archive on them here.

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

It depends a lot on what kind of IOL you have in your eye. If it is a monofocal IOL of high quality (tecnis, Alcon, B&L) then it could be uncorrected refrective error or clouding of the membrane behind the IOL. Glasses or yag laser treatment take care of these.

If you have a so called "Premium" multifocal IOL then it could be the above plus dysphotopsia.  Use the search feature and read about multifocal IOLs (ReZoom by far the worse,  then ReStor and Crystalens).

I would suggest an earlier visit to your surgeon and a firm declaration of your concern or a second opinion with another ophthalologist.

JCH MD

[Flame123]

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENT.  MY LENS IS ALCON SOFT IQ, 13.O mm
otic 6.0 mm
I don't think it is multi-focal. Can this type produce my symptoms of a diagonal glare, and, recently, double vision with stop lights, etc.?
Mary

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

Yes that 's a good IOL with a strong track record. My comments still stand.  

JCH MD

[Flame123]

WHY IS THE GHOST IMAGE ( WHICH BEGAN 6 WEEKS AFTER CATARACT SURGERY) MOSTLY EVIDENT WITH GREEN LIGHTS? ALL OTHERS SEEM TO HAVE MINIMAL, OR NO, GHOSTING.

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

Its due to the wave length of green light.

JCH MD