post cataract

On July 14th, I had cataract surgery on my right eye. As of today, August 12th, my vision is very blurry. At about 3 feet, it is clear but the rest is a blur. the  doctor has me taking Pred Forte, which the literature says delays healing in cataract surgery and that my eye pressure should be monitored. I have yet to see my doctor post op. All my questions to his office have been answered with "it takes time." Does it? he wants to do my left eye on the 25th and I am very apprehensive about it. What if both of them just blur out, how will I drive or work?

[ladytalking]

Postpone the second eye surgery and get another opinion, I can not believe that your Dr has not seen you since your surgery. Find another doctor soon.
I wish I had switched to Mayo Clinic(that is who I am using now) before I had the second cataract surgery done.

[JodieJ]

Call your surgeon's office RIGHT NOW, express your concerns about Pred Forte, and demand to be seen for a followup appointment TODAY (either by your surgeon, an associate, or a colleague.)  You may need to be very assertive, but your vision is vision terribly important.  

If you have clear uncorrected vision within 3 feet but then it becomes blurry, you are nearsighted.  This can be corrected with glasses or contacts, giving you clear vision at all distances.

Cancel the surgery on your second eye. You will need to find another doctor for this.   If you live in the USA, you can use the directory at www.aao.org to find a board-certified cataract/refractive surgeon.  You can have all your medical/surgical records transferred to your new doctor.

Keep us posted on how you're doing.                

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

It is almost universal to use Pred Forte after cataract surgery, its a steroid and the risks are well known. Most side effects occur with long term use many months.

HOWEVER you should be seeing your surgeon EVERY visit. If you aren't then you are not getting what you paid for (unless you reside in a country with socalized medicine where I'm informed that it happens all the time)

I would not do the second eye until you are totally happy with the results of the first operation and the surgeons behavior.

I would personally get a second opinion NOW

JCH MD

[mike2475]

thanks for your input on my problem. I finally saw my doctor yesterday, he claims all is well and my vision problem is due to astigmatism and I will need glasses for distance as well as reading. Exactly where I was the day before surgery. It seems to me that the astigmatism would have been considered prior to surgery. Bottom line, I have an appointment with a different doctor next week. Thanks again for all your input.

Mike

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

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[mike2475]

As stated in my last post, the doctor, who is board certifed, says I have astigmatism in both eyes and that is why the right eye is blurred. I feel that this should have been addressed pre-surgery, since he knew this then, instead of telling me I would have 20/20 and would not need glasses for distance. I went to the Alcon site. I was given a AcrySof IQ, power 15.5D. Their site says the AcrySof Toric is designed for patients w/ astigmatism. Am I misreading this or did I get the wrong lens? If I did, can it be replaced w/ the Toric and, if so, when? Again, i am seeing another doctor next Tuesday and intend to ask this question but I would like some other input as well. Thanks for all the help, hope I am not abusing this site.

Mike

[JodieJ]

Astigmatism can be reduced/eliminated post cataract surgery with limbal relaxing incisions (which can be done in the office) or with laser vision correction (LASIK, etc.).  This would be so much safer than explanting and replacing the IOL.  I'm SO glad that you're seeing a different surgeon next week.  It's unbelievable to me that your first surgeon hadn't seen you once during the 3+ weeks following cataract surgery, (and his staff seemed terribly unhelpful, too).  Do you live in the US?

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

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[mike2475]

Saw 2nd Surgeon today. He said the only thing wrong is that the first surgeon should never had told me it would be 20/20 - throw the glasses away. He says the astigmatism is not that great. He says he would not recommend the Toric lens because the astigmatism was not that bad and the cost. He says to go ahead with the left eye on the 25th. He also prescribed glasses for the right eye. Got that done and now see double when I look to the side. Gotta love those South Texas doctors. I feel like I have stepped into a pool of quicksand and I just hope it isn't that deep. Thanks for all your help.

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

Good luck

JCH MD