For Dr Cohn

I - like many,  many others have been grateful for your helpful and
reassuring advice over the past years and you recently counselled me
regarding a second operation to correct a cataract operation that had not
gone as expected.  It transpired that the wrong size lens had been used and
it had been mis-aligned in the eye.

A second operation was performed two weeks ago on the eye,  the left, and an
examination on the following day said that it was successful.  I was to
continue with the Alphagan,  Betagan and Xalatan drops ( the former twice a
day and the latter in the evening ) and,  in addition to use chloroamphticol
and Maxidex four times a day in the eye. Pressure in the eye was down to 12.
The Registrar expressed no concern over this.

I started to experience discomfort three days later and this increased to
severe pain in,  it felt,  the socket.  I returned to the clinic on Friday
and was told to increase the Chloro. and Maxi. drops to eight times a day.

The pain decreased as did the suppuration.  However my vision became
increasingly blurred.  At this point I would rate my vision in the left eye
as,  say,  10 before the first operation,  5 afterwards and now down to 2!!!

I returned to the Clinic yesterday,  22 February 0 the operation was on 8
February and in tests I could no longer read the top letter on the chart - I
could barely see it - whilst on the day after the operation I could read
down to the third line without spectacles.

More alarmingly the pressure in the eye had dropped to 6 (six ) and it was
flaccid and painful to the touch.  I was told to stop all drops in that eye
with the exception of Maxidel at four times a day.

Today the eye is less painful and I think that the vision has improved if
only slightly.

A web search has revealed that Xalatan can cause acute pressure drop after
surgery.  I also take Warfarin ( 2.4mg)  Enalapril ( 5.0mg ) and Digoxin 250
(micgms).

You will gather that my confidence in the surgical team is somewhat
attenuated.

I know that it is difficult to opine at long range across the Atlantic and
without physical contact and examination but I would be grateful for any
advice/prognosis you can offer.  Will such a drastic drop in pressure cause
any long term damage bearing in mind that it occurred in three days between
examinations.

Many thanks and warm regards.

PeterP

PS My short sight commenced shortly after I was bombed and buried for three
days in 1940 when I was eight.  PP

I returned