"Tight" feeling in eye after Lens Exchange

[sanki77]

Hello,

I'm thirty-nine and had a refractory lens exchange in my left eye three weeks ago and in the right eye two weeks ago. I was pretty hyperoptic before, with a prescription of +6.50. It's not quite right yet in either eye, so we'll probably follow up with Lasik in both eyes.

They put a Toric lens in my good eye--my left eye--to correct my astigmatism, and a ReStor lens in the right eye, my weaker eye to try and give me some focusing ability. The ReStor is working and I don't have any complaints about halo effect or night sensitivity; but it's my weaker eye, so I still really heavily on reading glasses.  My main problem, however, seems to be with the right eye.

While I don't have pain, discomfort, flashes of light, cloudy or waxy vision like some people I've read about, my eyes, and I think it's primarily my left eye--feels generally unpleasant, or different than before. I have a very hard time putting it into words, but perhaps "tight" describes it best...maybe a pulling sensation, a little bit like when it's dilated, or when you're looking at a defunct fluorescent bulb and it makes your eyes wig out a little bit, or you're wearing  a pair of glasses that are a little too strong and you kind of go "whoa". And it twitches a bit at times, seems to be on the lower left side. In general, my eye does not feel like it relaxes as it should. No headaches, but a lot of times i just have the urge to close my eyes and relax. Some light sensitivity, but not bad; I don't really wear sunglasses any more now than I did before.

The prescription is not quite right yet, and maybe that is part of it - I am hoping things may be a little different after I have Lasik and the right reading glasses. They gave me some +75 soft lens to wear with it, but my eyes are drier now so it's a little uncomfortable with them in, so I'm not wearing them much.  I wonder if the toric lens has anything to do with it, or if it is possible that the lens doesn't quite "fit"? My surgeon/doctor says it's healing ok, and since I have a hard time describing it and I can see relatively well, I think they aren't particularly concerned about it. Initially they thought it was probably just my eyes needing to relearn to work together after seeing quite differently for a week. But, two weeks after the 2nd surgery, it hasn't improved.

Can I expect improvement? If I have to live with this, I will have to adjust; but, it is not what I expected, and it DOES affect my life. I guess I'm wondering if I should just accept things as they are, or I should be concerned and press things with my surgeon/doctor. Has anyone experienced something like this? I just haven't read about this anywhere; most of the testimonials I see give "glowing reports" --but I could not say the same. While it's nice to be glasses free, I'm not sure it is better than having very comfortable, relaxed eyes and good vision with glasses.

Can anyone offer any counsel?

Thanks.  
Sanki 77

[sanki77]

I think you are right in assessing that I might just be more sensitive to these changes, and that I may be straining because my refraction is not quite on yet. (Hence, that desire to always put on glasses.)

I have noticed too that if I am at my computer most of the day, by the end of the day when I'm talking to someone or driving, I'm having a little harder time allowing the two images seen by my eyes to come together--something that is usually no problem. (Those of you with an extremely lazy eye might know what I mean; you are easily able to see two images but usually they blend together giving you the depth perception that we all have/need).

Eyesight is a beautiful gift we so easily take for granted, isn't it? :-)

[sanki77]

Thanks for all of your comments. I do feel like my eyes have been getting more used to things over the past couple weeks, so I am more hopeful. I now feel that it's probably a matter of getting used to the new normal, and like someone mentioned here, getting to not having the focusing ability I had before. I am hopeful that after the lasik surgery when the refraction is further corrected, things will be better.

I've stopped trying to wear the soft lens contacts; my eyes are just too dry for that. Thank the Lord, dryness is not a problem when I'm not wearing contacts.

If things don't improve with the touch-up lasik surgery, I do think I will pursue mild progressive lenses; this throwing the reading glasses on and off continually all day is really a challenge, especially when shopping or working around the house.

My advise to those seeking IOL lens exchange (for correction of extreme farsightedness) might to be wait till your in your 40's or 50's. By then the eye's natural ability to focus has already started to wane; I would guess you would not have as hard a time getting used to the loss of this ability.

I will keep you posted on how things are after my lasik surgery, in a another couple months.

Thanks,

sanki77

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

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[2ndsight]

I think some people are a lot more sensitive to the visual and physical changes and sensations involved with cataract surgery. I would guess that right after surgery any contact lens might be uncomfortable. I would try glasses first, maybe you need mild progressive glasses. You might be straining a bit because your refraction is not quite accurate.

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

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[JodieJ]

You might try switiching to a different brand of contact made for dry eyes (maybe 1-Day Acuvue Moist or a silicone hydogel lens).

I'm not an eye care professional, but I'm wondering whether your eyes are having a problem working together, with a monofocal IOL in one and a multifocal in the other.  That might account for the "pulling sensation" and other symptoms you described.

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

It's not a common sensation that you describe. I would get a second opinion from a different eye surgeon. If they also find no problem then I would wait and anticipate it would get better with time. If not and its a big problem 6 months from now you can consider IOL exchange.
JCH MD