iol exchange pending

Since my cataract surgeries in /05 I have been experiencing intolerable light/glare/aberrations such that my life has changed dramatically since and have not been able to return to my job of 15 years. Finally, after seeking help for the past two years I believe I am in the hands of the right surgeon now ... his diagnosis after a  thorough exam and corneal topography  is dysphotopsia in my right eye and high aberrations in my left eye. He thinks the Technis will offer me some measure of comfort.  The iol's I currently have are Alcon SA60 and various lighting conditions make my eyeballs feel like they are contracting and moving back into the socket. He suspects there is something else bothering my left eye.
How accurate is the corneal topography test?
How resilient is the eye to more than one surgery?  Does the eye heal well?
Had it not been for the doctors opinion on Medhealth I doubt very much I would have pursued an iol exchange.  Everything I have read scares me.  I'm now have a lot more confidence after you confirmed that because my surgeon has completed hundreds of exchanges he is highly skillled in his field.  The down side is that in Toronto, Ontario there is a 6 - 8 month waiting list for the surgery.
Can you provide me with any questions I should be asking him that perhaps I wouldn't think of ... my consultation appointment is Dec. 4.
Once again, thanks for being there for me and all other posters.

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

1. Corneal topography is extremely accurate and creates a topographic map of the cornea that is three diminsional and much more accurate that standard keratometry readings. It is used as the basis of wave front custom refractive surgery of the cornea.
2. Many of the posters here have had retina surgery and need 4-5-6-7 procedures to try and restore vision. Modern cataract surgery is minimally invasive and you eye should tolerate a lens exchange quite nicely and heal as fast as the first procedure.
3. Questions? Will both eyes needs exchanged? If so can you put the second eye on the waiting list so that I don't have to wait 6-9 months between eyes? What if the lens exchange on the first eye is not especially helpful. What would you do then and/or differently on the other eye?
Would any form of lasik surgery help this without having to do an exchange?  Of the IOLs that you've exchanged for dyphotopsia how many have been the Alcon SA60.  Are either of the IOLs out of position in my eye now?

JCH III MD

[light show]

Thanks for your help....my consult appt. is on Tuesday.  I like to be prepared with notes/questions because, quite frankly, I feel a little in awe of eye surgeons...and become a little tongue tied ... a visual I have is of a surgeon operating on a grape ....also, Toronto Western is a teaching hospital, therefore, others are present as well.
Lasik surgery MAY help but the surgeon felt the iol exchange MAY offer a larger measure of comfort.The word "MAY' is important to me just to keep my expectations in check.
Apparently my post cataract surgery symptoms are quite rare with the SA60. He is also a little puzzled with other symptoms in my left eye .... it doesn't 'wake up' in the morning with my right eye,
by the end of the day the eye looks puffy and tired, long periods of eye twitching then periods of no twitching etc. etc.
Most recently my eyes have been constantly burning even during the night when I'm sleeping ... I suppose it's dry eye.  Tears and gels are only temporary and make my vision worse...the spray is better but very short term relief.
I had an ultrasound on my left eye about 1 year ago and the iol was reported as centered.
I don't care at all if I have to wear glasses afterwards ... I only hope for the light show to be toned down .... we had a heavy snowfall last night and what would normally be a beautiful sight to wake up to is quite uncomfortable for me to look at .... glowing white/gray is my foe.
I don't think I'll ever be able to express to you just how much I appreciate this site and doctors being available to me and countless others for guidance.  Thank you, thank you thank you.
.

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

You do sound as though you have dry eyes. Read the posts on this forum about dry eyes, use the search feature and the archives and the health topics. Talk to the Eye MD about trying a 3-4 month trial of restasis. Someone said its not available in Canada. Ask about buying it on your own, its generally worth it. The burning would not be related to the IOL focus problem.

JCH III MD

[sandy50]

A related discussion, IOL exchange after YAG was started.