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Medical Forum / General / Vision / February 2005Cataract surgery recovery--glare
I had cataract surgery several days ago. For the most part, I'm seeing much better. I'm trying to get used to the brightness of everything, but I'm thankful that I can see so clearly. I'm having a problem, though, which I'm hoping is just part of the healing process. At night especially, if I look at anything that radiates light, I see a beam of light going through it. My husband and I went to town last night, and it was very difficult to keep my eyes open, as there was a beam of light eminating through everything---street lights, headlights, stop lights, etc. I noticed this morning that the same thing applies if I look at any shiny object--faucets, for one thing. Is this the way it's going to be from now on? If so, I'll have a terrible time at night. I'm thankful for any information. Diane M > I had cataract surgery several days ago. For the most part, I'm seeing > much better. I'm trying to get used to the brightness of everything, but [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > be from now on? If so, I'll have a terrible time at night. I'm > thankful for any information. Are you speaking of halos? I had them after my second cataract surgery, but not the first. Either they went away, or I just don't notice them anymore (it's over two years since the surgery). I asked my doctor, but I don't remember exactly what she said, but I think she admitted that they are an occasional side effect of the surgery.  SignatureDan Abel Sonoma State University AIS dabel@sonic.net >>I had cataract surgery several days ago. For the most part, I'm seeing >>much better. I'm trying to get used to the brightness of everything, but [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > don't remember exactly what she said, but I think she admitted that they > are an occasional side effect of the surgery. Nope, no halos--just a light beam eminating from the light source. A red stop light has a long red ray coming out either side. I'm hoping it's part of the healing process that some people have. Thanks for answering. Diane > >>I had cataract surgery several days ago. For the most part, I'm seeing > >>much better. I'm trying to get used to the brightness of everything, but [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > >>be from now on? If so, I'll have a terrible time at night. I'm > >>thankful for any information. Hi Diane, Had same problem after my cataract surgery a few years ago. Complained to my doc about it. After enough complaining from me he said it was probably a small crease in IOL due to folding. He said that unless I was in serious difficulty he would not recommend replacing it. He said (and I agree) that removal is much more risky and should only be done in emergency. Replacing an IOL is not as easy as putting it in. Some on this news group will disagree but IMHO eye surgery is risky and should be avoided as much as possible. In my case, as time passed the problem lessened. After a few weeks it grew to be only a nuisance. Now, several years later, I hardly notice it in daylight. Only a little worse at night. I can drive and only a little glare problem now. My theory is that the crease gradually flattened out. I have 20/20 in that eye now. It's good to be concerned. I suggest you keep you Doc informed. If it doesn't begin to subside in a reasonable time, then consider your options. But first give it some time. George I had cataract surgery 07/03 and 08/04. I have photo sensitive to it seems everything. I have gone to 35 doctors with no help. It has caused headaches in back of eyes and forehead. I have had MRI & MRA. They say my eyes look good. No dry eyes. They can not find anything. I feel like I am 100% disabled. I am still not giving up. Please let me know what you found. I am 59. Athletic but spend 10 hours a day on a computer. I am a CPA. Diane, I am very interested in your progress. I started out with dizzy spells. I thought it was inter ear. then I thought it was my brain. Its a good life. I realized it was my cataract surgery. I am photo sensitive to fluorescent light, tv, movies, glare, computer monitors, bright lights, reflections. I am not dizzy anymore. it progressed into headaches 24/7 (it feels like eye strain) from the lights. this started 02/15/04 and I still have the problem. If you would like to correspond. I am going to Jules Stein 2/17 to see about the problem. You are the only person I have found that I think has my problem. I have always been in top shape. And now this. Does the affect you on the computer? talk to you later, Richard rfarmer_98@yahoo.com I thank all of you for your responses. The glare I had was temporary in my right eye, and all is okay now. Today I had the other eye done, so don't know what to expect this time. Diane It never ceases to amaze me how soon some surgeons will operate on the second eye (in this case about 1 week between). No chance for the patient to really recover, as some complications such as macular edema may not show up for 4-8 weeks. If the same thing happens both eyes, ... There is rarely a need for such close surgery. Also, the patient may be comfortable having operated only 1 eye, once they have glasses later on. Tin this case, there is no chance to see whether surgery is indicated based on symptoms. Myself, my earliest second eye surgery, except in cases where the eye REALLY bothers a lot, is at least 3 months later, getting past the hump of the typical cystoid macular edema risk. Of course, I am assuming they operated on the more symptomatic eye first. Many are not aware of the decreased vision in the unoperated eye unless they cover the other eye, in which case no particular reason to operate until there are symptoms. Some are bothered by the second eye when both are open, leading to needing surgery. This is my opinion, and is shared by many conservative surgeons. David Robins, MD Board certified Ophthalmologist Pediatric and strabismus subspecialty Member of AAPOS (American Academy of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus) On 1/25/05 6:52 PM, in article XBDJd.5937$r27.5491@newsread1.news.pas.earthlink.net, "Diane M" <dianem37@earthlink.net> wrote: > I thank all of you for your responses. The glare I had was temporary in > my right eye, and all is okay now. Today I had the other eye done, so > don't know what to expect this time. > > Diane My surgeon is very conservative and advised me to wait at least a year or until there are symptoms. Note that cataract progression may not be the same in both eyes. I totally agree with him. He laughingly remarks about the Florida surgeons that perform cataract surgery on that older group of people down there at the drop of a hat... whether they need it or not. George ............................................................................................................................................................. > It never ceases to amaze me how soon some surgeons will operate on the > second eye (in this case about 1 week between). [quoted text clipped - 24 lines] > Member of AAPOS > (American Academy of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus) .............................................................................................................................................................. .............................................................................................................................................................. . . . > It never ceases to amaze me how soon some surgeons will operate on the > second eye (in this case about 1 week between). [quoted text clipped - 25 lines] > Member of AAPOS > (American Academy of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus) Dr. Robins, I have no doubt you are a fine surgeon. However, I would have gone ballistic if my doctor had suggested I wait 3 months for the second surgery. It was very distracting having one eye with a new lens and the other with a lens that made me think I was looking through smog. My family doctor, an internist, said that I needed to get my cataracts taken care of, as he had difficulty seeing to the back of the eye during my yearly physical. He suggested I see the ophthamologist who is considered the best eye surgeon in town. Right now the first eye that was operated on is just fine after nearly two weeks. The glare cleared up shortly after I posted here. The other eye was operated on four days ago. I have some glare, but I'm not concerned about it. I haven't seen this clearly since I was a young woman. I knew several years ago that my congenital cataracts were starting to change, and I'm sure that I had them removed at the right time. I know several people who have had theirs removed, and only one person has had problems. Diane M Actually, most people do fine while waiting for their second eye, if they are given the chance to adapt, which takes a few weeks. However, there are some who cannot adapt, and do need surgery sooner. My point is that it in my experience, it is the EXCEPTION that one NEEDS surgery soon, and that most are operated on the second eye as a matter of fact, just to do it. Yours may not have been that. That is what makes medicine interesting. -David Robins, MD On 1/29/05 4:17 PM, in article WIVKd.1115$Nn1.88@newsread1.news.pas.earthlink.net, "Diane M" <dianem37@earthlink.net> wrote: >> It never ceases to amaze me how soon some surgeons will operate on the >> second eye (in this case about 1 week between). [quoted text clipped - 46 lines] > > Diane M are you saying that after one eye is operated on, your eyes adapt to the vision? I have a cataract in my second eye that I do not want removed now (very small not affecting vision yet). The only difference I see between the 2 eyes is the slight yellow tint in the second eye - will I get used to this difference? it's been about 4 weeks. If you dwell on the difference, and keep comparing one eye to the opther by covering 1 eye and checking, no you will never get used to it. Under normal circumstnaces, most (but not all) people can adapt to the eye-to-eye difference if it is not too much. However, if the blurry vision is is one's dominant eye, brain does not like to get used to paying more attention to the other (nondominant) eye. The slight yellowish tint is the easiest symptom to get used to, in most cases. However, some people, engineers in particular, are so constantly observant that nothing lets them get used to anything. On 1/31/05 4:21 AM, in article 1107174106.930657.177500@c13g2000cwb.googlegroups.com, "kemccx@gmail.com" > are you saying that after one eye is operated on, your eyes adapt to > the vision? I have a cataract in my second eye that I do not want > removed now (very small not affecting vision yet). The only difference > I see between the 2 eyes is the slight yellow tint in the second eye - > will I get used to this difference? it's been about 4 weeks. > If you dwell on the difference, and keep comparing one eye to the opther by > covering 1 eye and checking, no you will never get used to it. Under normal [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > However, some people, engineers in particular, are so constantly observant > that nothing lets them get used to anything. My OD feels the same way. He says engineers, scientists, and professors are the worst patients because they are constantly looking at fine detail, comparing things, and so on, with their eyes. Damn! I'm all three <grin>... But knowing I would not give up asking him about it, he admitted that there was a slight crease in my IOL that might be causing glare. Fortunately it seemed to diminish over time. Now I have another problem...a worsening case of vitreous detachment that is clouding my vision... much like a floater. Sure wish there was a remedy for that!! George > > It never ceases to amaze me how soon some surgeons will operate on the > > second eye (in this case about 1 week between). > > > > No chance for the patient to really recover, as some complications such as > > macular edema may not show up for 4-8 weeks. If the same thing happens both > > eyes, ... > Dr. Robins, I have no doubt you are a fine surgeon. However, I would > have gone ballistic if my doctor had suggested I wait 3 months for the > second surgery. It was very distracting having one eye with a new lens > and the other with a lens that made me think I was looking through smog. No way would I want it done much sooner than 3 months. "Very distracting" is no competition for blind in both eyes. I wouldn't put my second eye to any risk until I knew that the first one was OK. It wasn't an issue for me, though. It was five long years after the first surgery before my doctor OKed the second. SignatureDan Abel Sonoma State University AIS dabel@sonic.net my mother [85] had cataract surgery on one eye[ 1 1/2 yrs ago], then months later was convinced to do the 2nd. she has since had terrible unremitting problems with glare. she had had thyroid problems previously, and does have a dry eye it seems; both can be contributing. nothing helps, and she has always taken a lot of refuge in typing letters, reading, crosswords, scrabble etc.; much harder now. she's started to use a cane, because she can't tell where the curb is. here i just read that there can be macular edema after surgery.. is this due to the surgery? she has since been diagnosed with age related slow mac. deg.; i had thought maybe this was because of the change in diet due to coumadin [and thus decrease in anti-oxidants] as well as previous tx for the hyperthyroid. now i'm wondering if mac. deg. can proceed from mac. edema. she thinks everyone thinks she's a crazy person, because she feels she 'can't see', yet her eye tests don't say her vision is failing until the recently diag. mac/ deg.; she was in seeing her cataract doc almost monthly with complaints. she went to a 'top notch' tufts related doc, who never said anything about mac. deg. as to why she was having such trouble. a local non surgical opthamologist has just diag. mac. deg. this fall. who and where is Jules stein? > who and where is Jules stein? a) Would it be possible for you to quote (include the text to which you're replying) in your posts? I'm having difficulty when hearing only 'one side of the conversation.' b) Jules Stein is University of California at Los Angeles's Eye Institute. Excellent reputation: http://www.jsei.org/ Best, Neil where is jules stein, and what does he do. we are in MA. > where is jules stein, and what does he do. we are in MA. a) Would it be possible for you to quote (include the text to which you're replying) in your posts? I'm having difficulty when hearing only 'one side of the conversation.' b) Jules Stein is University of California at Los Angeles's Eye Institute. Excellent reputation: http://www.jsei.org/ Best, Neil Dan - aren't you the person who wore a contact lens in your second eye until that eye required surgery? Are you saying you did this for 5 years? I've only done it now for 2 months, and it's driving me crazy! I realize now how much easier a pair of glasses can be. > Dan - aren't you the person who wore a contact lens in your second eye > until that eye required surgery? Are you saying you did this for 5 > years? I've only done it now for 2 months, and it's driving me crazy! > I realize now how much easier a pair of glasses can be. Sort of. My doctor prescribed contacts well before my first surgery. He said that it would be better to know before hand whether I could wear contacts. He also said that it was possible that once I got used to contacts, I would prefer them. That turned out to be true, and so I wore contacts for several years before the first surgery. After the first surgery, I still had astigmatism, and so wore a -10D contact in one eye and a plano contact with 1.75D of cylinder in the other. And yes, it was five years until the second surgery, and as promised, I saw double when I wore glasses, so I wore the contacts 7 days a week, 14 hours a day. SignatureDan Abel Sonoma State University AIS dabel@sonic.net |
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