after cataract operation in one eye only

[ham1]

I have had 3 eye ops over the last 2 years in my left eye- Detached Retina, Vitrectomy (with a Cryo Buckle fitted) and most recently a cataract lens implant. This has left the left eye a different shape to the right eye plus the cataract lens has created different focussing areas for each eye. I have spent hundreds of GBP trying to find a spectacle solution, currently, i have a prism lens in the left eye to balance vision with that of the right eye. The right eye has a -3.25 measurement with 50 axis of stigmatism. 6 weeks or so post the cataract operation and i am still not able to wear the prescribed specs without massive eye strain/headaches/nausea. My left eye now comes out at -2.00 with an axis of 180. Would life in monovision with say a single toric contact lens in the unoperated eye be worth considering ?

[Joan M Pernoud, MD]

Your eyeglass prescriptions, if correct, are not that far apart according to what you have written.

You need for someone to take a fair amount of time with you to determine your exact eyeglass prescription on each side very carefully, check your pupillary distance in your glasses, and the base curve.

You also need someone to very carefully check your eye muscle balance. Sometimes it takes a while for eyes to resume alignment after cataract surgery and sometimes it takes them awhile to learn to work together again especially if the more dominant eye now has the worse vision.

Also, it is often useful to try the lenses you are being prescribed in a trial frame in the office before you actually order the lenses.

I think this can be figured out and your eye surgeon is the right one to do it but you might need an extra long appointment.

[JodieJ]

Anything that might work would be worth considering.  Disposable contacts are great for situations like this--you don't have to invest mega bucks on something that might not work.  You've omitted some numbers from your prescription.  If you post your full script, maybe one of the forum doctors will have some suggestions.  Try to find an eye care provider (probably an optometrist) who stocks a range of contacts you can try out in the office.