Refraction changes after cataract surgery?

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Salmon Egg - 04 Mar 2007 07:43 GMT

A little over two years ago, I had cataract surgery on my right (good) eye.
After a few months, presumably after my eye stabilized, I was rerefracted
for glasses. Since then, it appears that that ey has become more myopic.

Is that common? How much time is reasonable after the surgery before glasses
should be fitted? Can the eyeball shape change over a period of 18 months in
someone in his seventies? I have been perusing the recent posts on
defocusing.

Bill
-- Fermez le Bush--about two years to go.

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William Stacy, O.D. - 04 Mar 2007 19:36 GMT

> A little over two years ago, I had cataract surgery on my right (good) eye.
> After a few months, presumably after my eye stabilized, I was rerefracted
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> Bill
> -- Fermez le Bush--about two years to go.

It's common to have some change over time even for pseudophakes, but
ususally the changes are small. I'd guess you were "made" a bit myopic
on purpose, as most people are happier with a slight myopia than a
slight hyperopia when accommodation is zero. In fact, I reommend the
first eye to have cataract surgery should be targeted for mild myopia.
Then when the second eye is done, you can target closer to emmetropia if
that's what the patient wants.

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Salmon Egg - 04 Mar 2007 21:31 GMT

On 3/4/07 11:36 AM, in article
HcFGh.7059$re4.1047@newssvr12.news.prodigy.net, "William Stacy, O.D."
<wstacy@obase.net> wrote:

> It's common to have some change over time even for pseudophakes, but
> ususally the changes are small. I'd guess you were "made" a bit myopic
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> Then when the second eye is done, you can target closer to emmetropia if
> that's what the patient wants.

The first (left) eye got an implant to give about 3D of myopia. The second
one got 2D of myopia.

I am talking about changes over a period of bout 18 months. My vision has
become blurrier. As I look at my computer monitor with my "street" glasses,
I estimate that they are about 1D to positive for optimum distance viewing.

Using my computer glasses, I have to go closer to the screen for clearest
vision. That difference in distance also amounts to a 1D shortfall in the
power of my computer lens.

I think the change is real and can only come from a change in the optical
properties of my (good) eye. I am curious as to what could be happening. The
best conclusion I can reach is that the length of my eye ball has changed.
What else could it reasonably be?

Bill
-- Fermez le Bush--about two years to go.

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Dr Judy - 04 Mar 2007 22:47 GMT

> On 3/4/07 11:36 AM, in article
> HcFGh.7059$re4.1...@newssvr12.news.prodigy.net, "William Stacy, O.D."
[quoted text clipped - 23 lines]
> best conclusion I can reach is that the length of my eye ball has changed.
> What else could it reasonably be?

Opacification of the lens capsule, change in cornea (surgery involved
a small incision), shifting of implant forward ....

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