Shadow Line after Cataract Surgery

Question: I had cataract surgery 2 days ago and now I am seeing a black shadow line in the outside corner of the eye they operated on. The line jumps back and forth making it impossible to read and I have trouble driving. A friend had the same surgery a year ago and he has the same problem. Can this be fixed?

Answer: In all likelihood you are seeing the outer edge of the lens implant used to correct your vision. Many patients experience this as they adapt to the new implant and vision. In almost all instances over time this will become completely unnoticeable. Please be patient and discuss this with your cataract surgeon at you next visit.

Important Note: The information presented on the About Cataract Surgery Blog or provided in response to a request for information in the Ask Cataract Surgeons section on aboutcataractsurgery.com is not intended to diagnose or treat eye problems, eye conditions or eye diseases including appropriateness of treatment, risks, complications or side effects as related to Cataracts, Cataract Surgery or Lens Implants. In particular a response to an inquiry made on the Ask Cataract Surgeons section of aboutcataractsurgery.com is not meant to take the place of the professional medical care provided by your eye doctor, ophthalmologist and Cataract Surgeon. Contacting us via e-mail or any other means is not a substitute for medical care.

Spider Web Vision after Cataract Surgery

Question: I had cataracts removed and toric lens implants in March. The left eye was done first. I had severe astigmatism and nearsightedness. I was told that I would only need glasses for working on the computer and reading. However, while I'm waiting on my glasses, I find that I have developed some massive spider web like floaters in my direct line of vision. My cataract surgeon even could see that is where they are. My distance is getting worse and prior to the surgery, I could see to read slightly without my glasses. Now, I cannot see to read anything without help (using readers for now). Everything is cloudy, out of focus and I feel like I have made a grave error in having this procedure done. I feel like I'm losing my mind. Any help you can give me would be greatly appreciated.

Answer: Without a careful examination it is impossible to say for sure but it does sound like you are describing a common occurrence after cataract surgery called a vitreous detachment. In fact some 50% or more of patients having cataract surgery experience a vitreous detachment-but not all instances cause vision problems. The vitreous gel is normally adhering to the surface of the retina. With age the gel liquefies and separates-especially after cataract surgery-from the retinal surface. If this happens on the visual axis it can cause exactly what you are noting. The good news is that over time this disturbance does go away by itself with no treatment necessary.

Important Note: The information presented on the About Cataract Surgery Blog or provided in response to a request for information in the Ask Cataract Surgeons section on aboutcataractsurgery.com is not intended to diagnose or treat eye problems, eye conditions or eye diseases including appropriateness of treatment, risks, complications or side effects as related to Cataracts, Cataract Surgery or Lens Implants. In particular a response to an inquiry made on the Ask Cataract Surgeons section of aboutcataractsurgery.com is not meant to take the place of the professional medical care provided by your eye doctor, ophthalmologist and Cataract Surgeon. Contacting us via e-mail or any other means is not a substitute for medical care.

Allergy to Lens Implant Acrylic Monomer?

Question: I work in a dental lab and am allergic to the monomer that is used to make dentures. This is an acrylic. Since the cataract lens is acrylic, will I be able to have a cataract lens? Or is this a totally different type of acrylic? This may seem like a silly question but I still want to ask.

Answer: First, not all lens implants are made from acrylic materials if you are very sensitive. Second, being allergic to raw unreacted monomer is much more likely than reacting to a miniscule trace of unpolymerized residual monomer that might be in a finished lens implant. The FDA holds IOL manufacturers to exceedingly strict tolerances and specifications regarding residual monomer-especially in implantable devices, thus the chance of an allergy are quite remote. However, discuss this with your cataract surgeon who can then choose a different lens implant material for you in order to avoid all risk if necessary.

Important Note: The information presented on the About Cataract Surgery Blog or provided in response to a request for information in the Ask Cataract Surgeons section on aboutcataractsurgery.com is not intended to diagnose or treat eye problems, eye conditions or eye diseases including appropriateness of treatment, risks, complications or side effects as related to Cataracts, Cataract Surgery or Lens Implants. In particular a response to an inquiry made on the Ask Cataract Surgeons section of aboutcataractsurgery.com is not meant to take the place of the professional medical care provided by your eye doctor, ophthalmologist and Cataract Surgeon. Contacting us via e-mail or any other means is not a substitute for medical care.

Lens Implant Edge &Tremors

Question: I had cataract surgery a month ago. I have clear vision but I can see a portion of my lens and it moves. It also has very quick tremors that don't affect my vision but scare me. Is this normal or should I worry and will it ever go away.

Answer: It is not uncommon for some people to actually see the edge of their lens implant after cataract surgery. Some patients do also experience a sort of tremoring as part of the adaptation to the lens implant. All of these visual occurrences seem to be self limiting over time.

Important Note: The information presented on the About Cataract Surgery Blog or provided in response to a request for information in the Ask Cataract Surgeons section on aboutcataractsurgery.com is not intended to diagnose or treat eye problems, eye conditions or eye diseases including appropriateness of treatment, risks, complications or side effects as related to Cataracts, Cataract Surgery or Lens Implants. In particular a response to an inquiry made on the Ask Cataract Surgeons section of aboutcataractsurgery.com is not meant to take the place of the professional medical care provided by your eye doctor, ophthalmologist and Cataract Surgeon. Contacting us via e-mail or any other means is not a substitute for medical care.

Flickering after Cataract Surgery

Question: It has been 3 months since I had cataract surgery andastigmatism correction, with a monofocal lens. I have terrible "flickering" when I am in an area with fluorescent lights. Will this ever go away?

Answer: Some patients having cataract surgery and lens implants do report seeing some flickering of light under certain conditions which are thought to be related to the adaptation to and reflections of light from the intraocular lens implant (IOL). For just about all patients this visual effect does subside after some period of time which varies patient to patient. Please be patient and feel free to discuss it with your cataract surgeon if it continues or gets worse.

Important Note: The information presented on the About Cataract Surgery Blog or provided in response to a request for information in the Ask Cataract Surgeons section on aboutcataractsurgery.com is not intended to diagnose or treat eye problems, eye conditions or eye diseases including appropriateness of treatment, risks, complications or side effects as related to Cataracts, Cataract Surgery or Lens Implants. In particular a response to an inquiry made on the Ask Cataract Surgeons section of aboutcataractsurgery.com is not meant to take the place of the professional medical care provided by your eye doctor, ophthalmologist and Cataract Surgeon. Contacting us via e-mail or any other means is not a substitute for medical care.