Pressure in the both eyes after cataract surgery

[PK196805]

My mom went through cataract surgery six weeks ago. After a week, Doctor told her that fluid has formed in her eyes. She was given several eye drops and medicines to take. Still she has blurried vision and she says some times when she closes or opens her eyes, she only see waves. She is not able to see persons face or watch TV or read books.

Now the fluid has gone, but she has developed pressure in both her eyes. She does not have glucoma prior to operation. However she has very mild diabetic and was taking some regular medications.Her blood sugar level is absolutely normal before and after the surgery.

Can you please advise if this is a complicated situation, and she needs different treatments.Will she get her normal eye vision back?

Thanks

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

Best of luck. JCH MD

[PK196805]

Thank you very much doctor. I will certainly let my mother to get the second opinion.
Regards

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

No one can answer these questions without examining your mother. Fluid sometimes collects in the reading part of the eye (macula) after cataract surgery (cystoid macular edema or CME) but usually goes away time steroid drops, non-steroidal drops (like Bromday) and time.  Cataract surgery generally lowers intraocular pressure (IOP) long term. Short term the pressure can be raised due to  reaction to the surgery, inflammation or from the steroids used post operatively.

I suggest you have your mother get a second opinion from an ophthalmologist (eye MD) that specializes in retina/macula. The surgeon will likely welcome another opinion and help with the referral. She needs a macular OCT test.

JCH MD