Flashing Lights after Cataract Surgery

Question: My wife, age 89 had cataract surgery and since that time she sees motion similar to the old fashioned kaleidoscope with various colors and objects flashing before her. What is this and is there anything that can help her?


Answer: Hopefully you have discussed this with her Cataract Surgeon and she has had a thorough examination indicating that her Retina and Vitreous are normal and healthy. If that is the case then you might want to see her Cataract Surgeon and discuss the possibility of a phenomenon called dysphotopsia that can occur in some patients who have had Cataract Surgery and Lens Implants. Dysphotopsia is generally thought to occur as a result of the Lens Implant and it optical characteristics that are quite different from the natural crystalline lens. In a limited number of instances if it is extremely disturbing it may necessitate the removal and exchange of the Lens Implant with a different type-but this is for extreme cases only as in most patients it just becomes unnoticeable over time.

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