Bad post-op reactions to cataract surgery

[librarian1988]

I am 61 years old. I had trouble with distance (seeing road signs, shopping signs), middle (computer use), and near (could not read & utilized large magnifying glasses). I complained at my yearly eye exam. I was told my prescription had not changed and was sent home. The last staw was when I had 4 eye exams by 3 doctors within a few months at my eye clinic. I even had a special cataract exam and the phenylephrine drops caused a severe allergic reaction. My opthalmologist came in after a tech did most of the testing and putting in the phenylephrine drops. I told her my eyelids were swollen, I was very dizzy, flushed, felt "detached" from myself, and my blood pressure was elevated. The doctor snapped, "Your eyelids are not swollen!" She did a few tests and told me I couldn't see because my eyes were dry and she had sent a prescription for Restasis to my pharmacy. We knew I had cataracts for about 8 years and a macular pucker in one eye for about 2 years. I had never been told by the doctor and her other doctors that I had dry eye. I ordered my previous reports and a past eye doctor of mine examined them. He consulted with me and showed me that my glare tests were very bad. The doctors reported my dry eye condition at every exam but nobody ever told me about it. Can dry eye cause bad vision? I refused the Restasis and began using  an OTC eye drop 2 to 4 times a day, and still do because my eyes feel better.
The opthalmologist even reported that my cataracts should be extracted by a specialist because of the dry eye. She did not tell me this. My eye doctor who received the reports told me she wrote that. He recommended a local specialist. I had a brief exam by the specialist. I asked him if I had dry eye. He said no. But he did not test for it. A tech told me a little about the implants: mono,toric, restor (not sure of exact term), . Since I am a disabled person with limited funds I chose mono. The tech said the special implants had to be paid for as insurance doesn't cover them. He told me I had astigmatism, which I knew. I assumed it was in both eyes. I couldn't afford 2 lenses, so chose mono. It wasn't until after both eyes had been operated on that the eye surgeon told me just my right eye had astigmatism. I am upset because I could have afforded the one lens. Now my vision is off.
I get seen in 5 days by the eye doctor and his partner. I had side efects on the post-op presription eye drops Besivance, Econopred, and Prolensa, like pain, dizziness, and some upper eyelid swelling. Now, 2 and 1 months after the surgery I am very dizzy and my upper eyelids are very swollen. I am losing my vision too. A person named "agility 128" wrote to you on Aug. 1, 2009, about feeling "off their feet". They seem to have this dizziness, vertigo that I have. I have not seen a response from you. Please help me. This doctor's office would not even see me on an emergency basis. Review: After cataract surgery can one feel dizzy and wobbly? I cannot read or see the computer. I am still using a magnifying glass to read everything and I get bad eyestrain. Normal? I am losing whatever corrected vision I had after 1 to 2 months of surgery. Why?  Could dry eye cause a problem during or after cataract surgery?  Why are my upper eyelids swollen and getting more swollen every day? I am still using a popular OTC lubricating eye drops in single-use containers. Could they be causing the swollen lids? I have refrained from using eye make-up. I thank you for this valuable service that you offer. Not every doctor explains things to their patients.


This discussion is related to cataract surgery redo.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

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[librarian1988]

Thank you Donnamarelle. I am about to research Fuchs Corneal Dystrophy.

I'll look on Dr. Hagan's blog, too.

I looked and looked on his list of questions about this light-headedness and found no answers. In case I don't find "Fuchs", would you send the symptoms to me? I have Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, which is a genetic disease in which the collagen is compromised. My joints are hypermobile and they sublux and dislocate easily. I am in pain 24/7. I informed my eye doctor but , like I said, this was the swiftest eye ecam I ever had, and this was before SURGERY! Thanks a lot for caring.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

Fuchs Corneal Dystrophy is not rare, not difficult to diagnose and I have written an article about in on my blog and answered many questions about it.

JCH MD

[donnamarelle]

There is an inherited disease out there which is very rate, and it causes some of your symptoms. Because it is so rate many doctors do not recognize it.  I suggest you look up  FUCHS CORNEAL DYSTROPHY.
and see what you think.  You can ask your doctor whether you have any
guttee  (can't remember the exact spelling) at the back of your cornea.  That is a sure sign.  of Fuchs