To Dr. John

[Texheart]

I had C. surgery 5 weeks ago.  I have suffered since with a Big Glob of something in my eye, quivering so much that seeing is painful.  Light sensitivity, tearing and smarting pain in the upper and lower lids and heaviness.  If this is the price one has to pay for cataract surgery, I want no part of it.  You have mentioned to other posters suffering similar to get another opinion.  I tried to get another opinion but was told it is the good ole buddy system and no one will see me. This came from the office of the cataract surgeon and also the offices of their competition. I was also told that I am seeing 20/20 with the new lens so how much more do I want.  I was told that my side effects have nothing to do with the lens implant so basically live with it.
  How sad is this.  I was told I would have to leave the area to get help with competent eye doctors.  
Doctors!   I want no part of them.  

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

There is no "buddy" system in medicine. There are some small and middle size towns where Eye MDs will not see a patient from another near-by practice especially in the post operative period (90 days).

You may need to go to a larger near-by town. You can find one at www.aao.org

By the way the reason this is often done is NOT a buddy system but a fear of being dragged into a lawsuit because of all the frivilous lawsuits filed in the country.

JCH III MD

[Eyedoc8]

Explain the big glob.....mucous discharge?  Does it just build up in the corner of your eye?  How painful is your eye?  Serious pain that long after cataract surgery is not a good sign.  

I don't believe in the buddy system you are talking about....any eye doctor should NEVER turn you away when you complain of pain after cataract surgery.  It is true that certain offices will only do your exams after a post operative period, since they "co-manage" with your ophthalmologist, but no optometrist should ever turn you away.

If it is purely mucous, it could be due to your eyelids and the glands that produce your tears.  This can create an imbalance in your tear film, causing dry eyes and this can often be painful (but maybe a 3-4 on a scale of 1-10....not serious pain).  so, if this is the case, try cleaning your eyelids really well morning and night with a warm washcloth.   could be a "pink eye" too.....don't give up..someone needs to examine it!