Anti Biotics and Double Vision

[Pourquoipas]

I am blind in my right eye and although I suffer from a slipped cataract lens in my left eye which causes some problems with light catching the top of the lens, the vision in that eye nevertheless is 20/20. Recently I was prescribed an ear drop ofloxacin which I understand is a fluoroquinolone antibiotic which can cause double vision. After using the drug for 10 days I have developed double vision in my good eye which is very worrying. My understanding of this kind of double vision is that it usually disappears once one stops taking the drug. My question is how long can one normally expect the double vision to last before it goes away? I stopped taking ofloxacin 24 hours ago.  

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

Best of luck
JCH MD

[Pourquoipas]

Thank you. I have made an appointment  with a reputable eye clinic here in France on 30th June. I will have the opportunity to discuss the procedures necessary to correct my particular problem and who might  undertake the surgery. If I feel doubt as to the professional ability of the recommended surgeon I will as you suggest consult Moorfields Eye Hospital.  

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

I would get a second and even third opinion. This is more complex surgery than the original operation. Moreover it is something many eye surgeons have little experience doing. Be sure to ask your present surgeon how many of these he/she has done. In every community are one or two surgeons who specialize in post cataract surgery complications and do lots of this type of surgery.   You might also want to consult with Moorfields Eye in London.

JCH MD

[Pourquoipas]

Thank you for your response. I saw an opthalmic doctor here in France this morning who found that the slipped replacement lens was certainly a contributing factor to my current vision problem. However, with excellent overall vision in the eye, I have lived with this for many years without any 'ghosting' or double vision occurring. This happened quite suddenly 10 days or so ago and interestingly enough followed the prescription of the anti-bacterial ear drop I mentioned in my first post and  which, I understand can cause double vision in some people although on a temporary basis.
Nevertheless, I have been recommended to undertake corrective surgery to reposition the lens. I am naturally concerned that if this should go wrong then I am effectively totally blind. I am heartened however to read that there are procedures these days that do not entail the removal of the original lens replacement and are fairly routine. Is this fair comment?
My original replacement lenses were implanted in the early-70s at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London.    

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

So you have monocular diplopia which might come from the lens changing position. Only time will tell if this is permanent or not.

JCH MD