Strange cataract history

[Anali]

I actually have a very strange history of cataract development.  Up to about 2004 I have been moderately myopic, somewhere between -4.75 and -7, I don't remember which for sure but it could have been close to the first one.  My eyes started changing very suddenly such that my examining doctor recommended I get a diabetes exam.  As I figured, I had no diabetes.  I had to change glasses about every three or four months -- no exaggeration, and even one of my prescriptions had to be redone because I was one month late picking up my glasses.

Here is the strangest part:  Through most of those three years or so when the rapid changes were recurring, no matter how bothersome my cataracts -- the doctors kept telling me it was "beginning cataracts".  I kept feeling they were lying to me so as to postpone any surgery.

I waited quite awhile to get the glasses I currently have -- which are now -10.50.  EVEN STILL -- the optometrist who tested me for these glasses -- when I stated they did not fully correct my vision -- he retorted my eyes were "one in a million" -- BUT he barely acknowledged I had any significant cataracts!  I even asked how bad these were and he showed me a model eye with a few light streaks around the edges saying, "they are only like about that."  How in the world does he figure my cataracts were not significant given my eyes may have changed at least up to half a dozen diopters between the onset of cataracts and my getting those glasses?

Given this history, do I face a kind of surgery wherein the doctors are somewhat clueless as to my premorbid vision -- why is this, and is it essential I get my former eye records from the HMO I used to go to in order to affirm my premorbid vision before cataracts?

Snsli

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

You are welcome. JCH MD

[Anali]

Still wish I could or had said a thing or two to that doctor who stated my eyes were "one in a million" without knowing what he was talking about! Grrrr!!!

Still, if knowledge is power which it indeed is, you have given me much information to take a load off my mind!  No more need to obsess about quite so much!  (Though knowing me, I always will at least a little.)

Thanks again, Dr. Hagan!

Liana

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

Some of your care was given by non-MD, non-physician, limited training optometrists. They often lack the training to make many medical diagnosis (just like comparing the nurse with a MD).

The EYe MD will not need your old records or glasses. The IOL is chosen using a computer formula based on cornea shape, length of eye, type of IOL and sometime depth of anterior chamber.

JCH MD

[Anali]

At this time in my life it has now been noted by at least one or two doctors that my cataracts are significant.  Here is what puzzles me:  Why when I was experiencing such significant changes the doctors at that time were not able to discern the magnitude of this?  Also if this is the case, will the doctors be confused about my refraction needs without the eyeglass prescription records (from my previous HMO) existing before my cataracts were diagnosed?  When I see the diagnosing surgeon, will it be enough just for him to measure the length of my eyeballs?

Anali

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

If you don't have diabetes and a rare cornea condition K-conus then its likely that ll the changes in your glasses of increasing myopia (actually called pseudomyopia since not due to eye getting longer) is due to the cataract.

If possible I suggest you get a second opinion by a cataract/IOL surgeon outside your present system. Also emphasize that you are bother by blurred vision and what ever that causes (trouble reading, driving at night, recognizing faces, televsion, etc).

Likely  you are at the stage you need cataract/IOL surgery.
JCH MD