Answer: Having any type of
eye surgery, including LASIK, can make the calculation of the lens implant
powers more challenging. That said, today, in the right surgeon’s hands using
the sophisticated instrumentation, imaging methods and measurement systems and
calculations it is possible to reduce the margin of error considerably.
Further, having access to your LASIK preoperative measurements also can help
mitigate error. By using multiple measurements and calculations to recheck the
lens implant calculation it is possible to really manage this to a great
extent. That said, the word “fail” doesn’t really apply as what would happen is
that the optical power of the lens implant would be slightly or moderately
miscalculated. You would do one eye first, check the results carefully and then
in the worst case if the power were VERY far off, would need to have a lens
exchange. Thus, “failure” is harsh but there is a reasonable likelihood of
being slightly off power. Your best bet is to seek a consultation from a LASIK Surgeon who is also a Refractive Cataract Surgeon and is thus very familiar and
has access to the most advanced measurement, imaging and
calculation systems and formulae.
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.
Question: I have had cataract surgery and my astigmatism corrected on my right eye 4 days ago. I went to the store and
everything seems distorted. For example, I went to my optometrist's office and
when I looked out, the floor looked like it was leaning to the right. I went
down the hall and the floor looked like it was going uphill. Went to a fast
food restaurant and the table I was sitting at looked like it was slanted
uphill. Could it just be my brain trying to adjust to the new lens and no astigmatism?
Answer: What you are describing sounds like an
artifact of the astigmatism correction however we are not clear whether the
astigmatism was corrected with a toric lens implant or in an eyeglass
prescription of using Limbal Relaxing Incisions (LRI) as part of your cataract
surgery. Slanting can occur if the method or the amount of correction is
considerably different than your preoperative astigmatism, but should
nonetheless become unnoticeable after a short period of time. if it does not,
or if it is accompanied by floaters, flashing lights or other distortions of
your vision see your cataract surgeon for follow up in short order.
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.
Question: I am very nearsighted with. -12.5D
contact lens prescription and I have a cataract in my left eye. I want to have a
lens implant to correct my vision when I have the cataract surgery but I am
really worried that I will have severe problems if the other eye is not
corrected also for the vision. I have heard that the brain will have a hard
time processing this drastic change. What could happen?
Answer: In order to avoid the imbalance caused
by a huge difference in optical correction between the two eyes you will need
to wear a contact lens in the right eye after having the cataract surgery and
lens implant on the left eye. If you wear the contact on the right eye there
should not be an optical balance problem. If you have even the beginning of a
cataract in the right eye, the sooner you opt to have it removed, the better as
this will allow for a perfect match of optical images when lens implants are in
both eyes.
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.
Question: Can I been having an allergic
reaction to the silicone lens implant material of the cataract lenses? A Bausch
& Lomb Model LI61A0 (SofPort AO) lens implant was implanted and is made of
silicone and PMMA. I had cataract surgery with the lens implants on
9/23/14 and 10/14/14. Ever since then I have had excruciating eye
pain. My eyelids hurt, pain at the crease of the eyelid, there is pain
behind the eye. It feels like something is always underneath the
eyelid. The pain radiates to my temples and across my forehead. It
hurts to move my eyes and eyelids. I am in pain constantly and am not getting
any relief. Every specialist has dismissed me since they can't figure it out
even after extensive blood work, a CT, MRI and Gallium Scan.
Answer: Although it is remotely possible, it is
highly unlikely that you are having an allergic reaction to the silicone-PMMA
combination of the lens implant material. These materials, along with the
acrylic lens materials and collagen lens materials are highly biocompatible and
have withstood the test of time for many millions of patients. That said, your
complaints and intensity are not really within the realm of any typical
cataract surgery post operative symptoms. As you did not specify the type of
specialists you have seen, it is probably worthwhile to consider seeing an
allergist to do some testing if you have not already done so as well as a
neuro-ophthalmologist.
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.
Question: I had cataract surgery and a toric lens implant inserted for correction of my astigmatism on December 11, 2014.
Since then my vision is not any better for distance and is very blurry for
intermediate, even worse than before my cataract and I still need readers for
close up, which I was told I would still need. I feel like the wrong lens was
inserted. The technicians measured my eye for the toric lens implant 4
different times! What should I do?
Answer: By now it would be expected that your
vision should be stable and give you more or less the final vision correction
your cataract surgery and toric lens implant will provide. However there are
several considerations to note. First, you are correct that you will still need
readers as toric lens implants do not correct near vision at this time-unless
they are accommodating toric lens implants, and they do not correct
intermediate vision either.
But, your distance vision should be corrected quite
well if your eye health is otherwise normal, the cataract surgery uneventful
and the lens implant in the proper position and of the proper prescription. So,
while your near and distance vision blur is not acceptable, it is the distance
vision complaint that is more troubling. There are many reasons this could be
occurring that may or may not be related to the lens implant itself and might
be related to other factors that can only be determined by a thorough clinical
exam. You should first discuss the blurry vision with your cataract surgeon and
express your dissatisfaction, and give him/her a chance to examine you, explain
and offer some suggestions on how to improve the vision. If the answers and
course of action are acceptable then proceed. If not you may want to seek a
second opinion from a cataract surgeon who is also a refractive surgeon and
might have a different perspective on whether this is a refractive prescription
or surgery issue to be resolved.
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.
Question: My 68 year old wife
has undergone her second cataract surgery in the same eye. She has had a
premium lens implant exchanged for a lens implant for distance vision only but the
second surgery has not relieved the holes and cloudiness in her vision.
She is nervous and fears she is losing her sight. We have decided not to
progress with surgery in her other eye until she shows some improvement in the
operated eye. She is going through extreme stress and trauma. Please help us.
Answer: It is impossible to say what exactly is
causing the symptoms of “holes and cloudiness” after the cataract surgery and
lens implant procedure. However, these are NOT normal post operative symptoms
and should be investigated. You do not say and may not know whether the first
cataract surgery and lens implant procedure was unremarkable or if there were
any complications such as a torn lens capsule or any retinal swelling. Thus, if
you cannot get a clear and easy to understand explanation from your cataract
surgeon you should seek a second opinion or even a third opinion with another
cataract surgeon as well as perhaps a retinal specialist. Once the cause is
ascertained you can them consider whether to and when to proceed with the
second eye surgery.
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.
