Edge glare after cataract surgery

[confusedbob11]

I had my surgery to remove my Restor lens on 1/6/11. I was supposed to get the Acrysoft Alcon monofocus clear lens put in (not the yellow tinted one). My doctor came in the room before surgery and said they don't make the clear one anymore and instead gave me a lens made by Abbot instead? I take it they make the Rezoom as well. The surgery went good and my vision seemed to be much more clear than with the Yellowish Restor. I of course lost my near vision but I can live with that. My problem is however below. Please advise if I can do anything to change this. I plan to do the other eye in a few weeks.

1. I have quite a bit of edge glare from lights all around the edge of the lens. Will this actually go away, or will my brain just eventually not pay attention to it? Will it not go away until I get the other eye done? Is there anything to do about this? Could it be the lens isn't big enough for my eye, or would it have been better if I would have used a Alcon lens?

2. At night or in dark rooms I get a lot of glare and rings (like fireworks). It seems to get better once I am in the dark for about 10 or 15 minutes. Is this because of moisture from the cold weather? Does it go away once my pupil gets used to the dark? Will this go back and forth all the time when I go from light to dark areas? Will these symptoms go away? Because they seem to get worse each week? Is it because I am not using drops anymore? I went off my Durezol the other day and will be on Bromday for another two weeks.

3. It seems after two weeks that my distance vision has decreased a little. Will laser help this? or does this just happen to all patients once your brain adjust to the lens? If I get laser will my near vision get farther away as well?

Thanks, Bobby

[JandSeye]

Bobby, if you are still having problems with the edge glare, there are a couple of "workarounds" that I've found that can help. Yes, it looks weird, but this helps enormously.

1. Make a "barrier" to block the side-ways peripheral light.

if you wear glasses (e.g. for reading), or if not then get a pair of sunglasses and take the lenses out. Then, find a piece of flexible foam and cut a piece about 3.5inches wide x 2.5inches high. Cut two vertical slits about 3/4 inch  from the top and about 1.25 inches between them, centered horizontally. Thread the glasses arm through the slits, positioning the piece so that the bulk of the piece is on the outside of the glasses arm and the front edge extends somewhat forward of the arm hinge.

The kind of foam I use is for non-skid shelf liners, it's on a roll of about 18" wide, comes in multiple colors, and is sold in many housewares departments such as Target.

2. Make a barrier to block light from the top. Using the same foam, cut a strip about 1/2 inch wide and 3 to 4 inches long. You'll have to experiment as to how to shape the edge of the foam to suit your needs, but you basically are making a half-barrel shape which extends from the top of the eyeglass rim back toward your eyebrow to block light from the top.

Attach it to the nose piece and the arm hinge using thread and needle.

There may be professional doodads that an optician can suggest, but this at least will help in the short term.

[jaysta36]

No sure mate i havent gone down that road yet of drops give it the 12 months the maximum they say for this to go away then see im learning to live without now,dont want a reposition on eye alot of risk and trauma which might not have any outcome but more floaters,debris,from surgery which can give you more reflections etc,i no it can send you crazy sometimes thinking over time about it,and we just want a simple yes or no nothing can be done, just ride it out with the time of healing and brain adaptation,please keep in touch we can help each other with outcomes..p.s i read alot about FLAXSEED OIL and benefits for eyes recovery,i take a tea spoon in morning and tea spoon before bed now,this stuff it great if you suffer with dry eye and eye headaches,pressure,it makes my eyes feel more relaxed through out the day,it makes the glares and starburst alot less on night time for me when watching tv extra,i think because my eyes are not as dry,better than any moist drops,try it,its work after a few days you get it from healthshop,make sure its prop her flaxseed oil let me no if this has any change on you regards

[confusedbob11]

Thanks for response,

I hope I do not have dysphotospia? But maybe I do?

it's my right eye I am talking about. I do not see a black arc like some people talk about. But I do have like a void or a little bit of an issue more on the right side. The glare from lights above and on the right side are what's causing me the problems. I hope this goes away? Or my brain gets used to it? I have notice more and more glare while watching TV and it does seem that the lights around me influence my pupil and make the glare worse.

How long can you take the drop for? Seems most Dr's will keep saying it will go away and then eventually I guess if you keep arguing about it they will say it's something you have to live with.

I wonder if repositioning the lens up and to the right will make a difference. It seems that this would be done anyway because there is not much glare issues from the floor up and from the side that your nose is blocking.

[jaysta36]

Hi not been funny JCH you keep saying dysphotospia or get a second opoin or  search it up but it doesn't give any treatments for it his asking you for any answers,its because these problems are ignored by doctors and surgeons,and are not told to patients before they see these glossy magazines saying great results,
Its a problem as big a bad vision,which can make you crazy,these lens solve one problem,and cause another which i found alot people suffer from it more than 10% as statics say im surprised more companies who do this procedure are not  sued

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

2   same as #1
3.can't tell

Your problems are not unique and have been discussed at length. you can pull them up with the archives and search feature.  You can search "ReStor " or "Dysphotopsia"

JCH MD

[jaysta36]

Hi ive have the same im 6 months out cant see it going away,its pupil bleeding over the edge of the lens which causes the flickering light,like you can see the edge of lens,i think whenyou done your 6 months to 9 months stretch,which doctors say it may go away,it does or doesnt,and they tell you it wount go away,i think you will except it,and appreciate the vision that what I will do if it doesnt go after 9 months to 12 months,one thing i notice tho when you get up in the morning and its dark go to the same lights in house whats causing the problems and you will find that the glare edge of lens is not there or very hard to see for about 10mins,this is due to pupil being very tiny after  sleep,if it comes to hard to except you can get drops to shrink your pupil on the evenings to stop the bleeding of light on your pupil due to oversized to lens,i no we want evrything to be perfect,but I  wasnt born with perfect vision,now I have manmade vision thro lens so im lucky p.s  I find wearing caps help block it out hope it goes for you and me,
Also do u really want another operation on eyes to change lens again go through it all again,the risks a very high,even tho what the doctors say

[confusedbob11]

What about question 2 and 3? Please help...

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

The answers range from yes they will go away completely to they will be there forever. I suggest you get a second opinion from a respected cataract/refractive eye surgeon.

JCH MD