Possible Blindness after Cataract Surgery

[Nanddi]

I HAD CATARACT SURGERY IN BOTH EYES, ALONG WITH LENS IMPLANTS.  ABOUT A MONTH AFTER THE LAST SURGERY (RIGHT EYE), I EXPERIENCED SUDDEN LOSS OF ALL PERIPHERAL VISION; THREE DAYS LATER, MY VISION RETURNED. A MONTH LATER, I LOST IT ALL AGAIN.  SINCE THEN, ABOUT TWO YEARS, I HAVE CONTINUED TO  LOSE VISION.  I HAVE LESS THAN 1% VISION IN MY LEFT EYE AND LESS THAN 10% IN MY RIGHT EYE, WHICH IS DIMINISHING QUICKLY, DEALING WITH A LOT OF BLURRINESS IN MY REMAINING EYE.  IS IT POSSIBLE THAT THE LENS REPLACEMENT COULD BE CAUSING THIS?  ANOTHER EYE DR WHO DID NOT PERFORM THE CATARACT SURGERIES, MY RETINA SPECIALIST SAID THAT THE OPTIC NERVE IN MY LEFT EYE IS ABNORMAL AND THAT THE LOSS COULD BE DUE TO A RETINOPATHY, POSSIBLY DISEASED CONES;  COULD THIS COME FROM THE REPLACED LENS?  I AM QUICKLY LOSING MY REMAINING SIGHT IN MY RIGHT EYE.  I CAN ACCEPT THE BLINDNESS; HOWEVER, IF IT IS DUE TO A FAULTY PRODUCT, I BELIEVE THAT LOSING ONE'S SIGHT CALLS FOR EXAMINATION BY A REVIEW BOARD.  THANKS.

[Roy S Rubinfeld, MD]

I'm sorry to hear you are having such trouble. What you are describing does not sound like a problem with a lens implant. I would suggest another opinion from a retina specialist or neuro-ophthalmologist at a major eye institute. You need to be sure you are getting the best possible care and have all your questions answered.    -RSR-MD

[Nanddi]

I HAVE  HAD MANY TESTS (VISUAL FIELD ACCUITIES, VEP, MULTI-FOCAL ERG, OPTIC NERVE, RETINA, ETC.).  YOU NAME IT, I'VE HAD IT. ALL TESTS WERE PERFORMED AT WILMER EYE INSTITUTE; ALL BUT THE VEP AND MULTI-FOCAL WERE DONE BY A NEURO- OPTHAMOLOGIST; THE VEP AND MULTI-FOCAL WERE ALSO DONE AT WILMER AT THE LOW-VISION REHABILITATION DEPT.  MY RETINA SPECIALIST AND I ARE STILL WAITING FOR THE RESULTS OF THE MULTI-FOCAL TEST, WHICH THEY PROMISED WOULD BE BACK TO HIM IN ABOUT TWO WEEKS; IT'S ALREADY BEEN A MONTH.  HE HAS TRIED TO CONTACT THE DR, TO NO AVAIL.  MEANWHILE, I AM BEING PREPPED FOR BECOMING BLIND SO THAT THE TRANSITION IS NOT SO TRAUMATIC; HOWEVER, HOW DOES ONE SAY THAT BECOMING BLIND IS NOT TRAUMATIC....AT ANY AGE?!  NO ONE HAS INDICATED THE POSSIBILITY OF A LENS PROBLEM; MY MIND JUST NEVER STOPS WORKING ON THE POSSIBILITY.  THANKS FOR YOUR REPLY.