any procedure to eliminate halos?

[jwangsness]

I had cataract surgery on my left eye just over a year ago. The outcome wasn't great, most likely from miscalculation for the IOL. My vision was improved, and I can see well enough to avoid walking into the broad side of a barn. With eyeglasses I can see just fine, though. About 5 months ago I had the right eye done with great results--probably close to 20/20, but the eyeglasses I finally got after having both eyes done have a slight correction, the left has more correction. I wish both eyes had the same outcome, but it didn't happen that way.

I have a halo at night in the left eye. It's only when there is total darkness and my eyes are very dilated that I notice the halo. This happens most nights when I crawl through the darkness to the bathroom and the neighbor's backyard security light shines into my room. The odd thing is, there is no halo in the other eye. It's annoying, and I fixate on it once in a while, but I'm coping. I don't seem to notice it when I'm out peddling my bike home in the dark, most likely because there is still quite a bit of ambient light and the pupil of the left eye isn't dilated much.

My question is, what procedures are available to correct this halo? Also, what procedures are available to improve vision in the eye that didn't come out so well. Lasik? Remove the IOL and put in another one? As I mentioned above, I'd really hugely enjoy having the clarity of vision I have in the left eye as I have in the right eye.  

Thanks for any input.


This discussion is related to Halo/Glare present after IOL procedure..

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

You're welcome.

JCH MD

[jwangsness]

I believe my vision is 20/20 with the glasses. It's just that I'd like to be able to see distance without them, as I can with the right eye.

As you suggested, I'll talk to my eye doctor when I see her for the 6 month check up. Incidentally, another doctor did the first eye. I didn't care for him, so I asked for Dr. Nobe whom I really liked. She also used topical rather than the injected behind the eyeball anesthesia. There was virtually no recovery pain. I had some post-op pain with the first operation, but there was also discomfort when I moved the eye for quite a few days after.

Thanks so much for offering your advice, and being patient with these questions you probably answer over and over again! :)  

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

I have said before that the success of cataract surgery is judged by the vision WITH regular glasses not without. You have had a good result if you see 20/20 with glasses.

There are many causes of your problem from something as simple as needing glasses, to irregular astigmatism to IOL decentered to secondary cataract to a completely new problem.

Get a second opinion about your situation. Find an Eye MD at www.aao.org

JCH MD