ghost image

I am 74 years. approximately 20 years ago I began seeing ghost images at night.  However, glasses took care of it.  It has gotten worse over the years and I have been to several Opthalmologists and Optomitrists and have had cataract surgery which was supposed to correct it but didn't, although there have been other benefits.  The ghost images are worse at night with tail lights, headlights, reflective signs etc.  In addition I have strong starburst at night.  The ghosting also becomes very pronounced after working on the computer or reading for several minutes or more. Often I do not recover for several hous. I find I am squinting much of the time, forcing the images to minimize.  I have been told to live with it, it is my age, it is astigmatism, it is dry eye, eye strain, etc.  and have been told to use liquid tears and to use AlphaganP at night (which does provide some relief from the star bursts).  Glasses do not seem to help much when reading after a few minutes.  Prior to reading, computer use, etc.  my medium and distant vision is not affected, but after that I see the ghost images on tv, signs, etc.  I wonder if you have any ideas as to what I might do or who I might see.

Thank you

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

Your problem could be due to improper glasses, corneal disease, IOL generated dysphotopsia, an opaque posterior capsule,  IOL out of position or macular disease.

I would suggest a corneal disease specialist, suggest your tests include a corneal topography measurement.  If the eye is healthy then a very meticulous refraction and maybe using one of the very new wave front glasses such as the Zeiss i-scription might be of help.

JCH MD