Post surgery

[jill53]

I had cataract surgery on my right eye (toric lens inserted) 5 days ago. One day post surgery I saw my doctor for check on the eye, she said pressure was good. I have another appointment to see her on day 10, post surgery. I am unable to wear my glasses with right lens removed because I have double vision. The vision with the right eye is not clear close up nor at a distance. My doctor seems unconcerned and is happy with my progress. So I have been functioning, if you can call it that, without glasses. I thought I would be able to see well (distance) with the corrected eye. Not the case. I am now very upset about the outcome and wondering about having the left eye done. What should I expect now, and what should be my outcome down the road.
Any help, insight, &/or advice will be greatly appreciated.

[2ndsight]

Whether you can see with your old glasses depends on the prescription of your new eye. I don't think you are supposed to be able to see out of one IOL using your glasses with one old lens for the unoperated eye IF your vision has been corrected with the IOL.

Most of the posts the doctors have left on these boards have explained to patients that the refractive difference between the two eyes after one has been corrected with an IOL would be too great to use glasses. Much of the cataract surgery literature at other sites says this also. I think most people need to have surgery in both eyes or else wear a contact lens (not glasses) for the unoperated eye. There are a lot of posts about this situation elsewhere on this board.

[jill53]

Thank you for your response. When I went to my doctor the day after surgery she noted no cornea swelling and I don't have macular degeneration. Things are still blurry in the eye that had the cataract removed. I go for a follow up visit in a few days. I thought I would be able to wear my glasses without the lens of the eye that had the surgery (what my doctor lead me to believe). But when I did this I saw double. I will tell her all of my concerns. Maybe seek a second opinion if things are not resolved? I am so upset and am starting to regret having had the surgery at all.

[Michael J Kutryb, MD]

Make sure the right eye is doing well before doing the left eye.  Please call your doctor and ask her why you are not seeing well in the right eye.  Common causes include cornea swelling, residual refractive error with or without astigmatism, macular degeneration.

MJK MD