post cataract surgery questions

[barb490]

I am post-op 1 week cataract surgery right eye-monofocal lens 13.00 mm length optic 6.00 mm power +15.5D model PC L161AO. I was nearsighted & cataract in both eyes-month ago had a visceral separation right eye-no retinal issue-left large, gauzey floater+black point floaters.
Currently going down steps is awkward and night driving with the lights and headlamps is horrific. the best night vision is with my old glasses, both lenses being used.
Anyhow, now I read and look into distance with both eyes open, but I guess my brain is separating the eye signals? Still on an antibiotic eye drop (acuvail) and predisone eye drops in the right eye.  Also still feel like there is something in the operated eye, and my vision vascillates to clear to cloudy.
I go back for another appt next week.  Have cataract in left eye also that Dr wants to operate on and set for nearsightedness so that I will read with that and see distance with that.  Supposedly as I am now, but without the cataract blurs.
My questions-Does the brain eventually compensate for the mixed signals and I will be able to do stairs etc OK?  Could my fluctuating clearness of vision be from the brain trying to decide which eye to listen to? or from the floaters?  Or is the eye still healing and night driving will get better and vision remain steady?
Are there any specific questions I should ask the dr about the second eye?  (He leaves one on both drops for a month).  

[Michael J Kutryb, MD]

Your brain cannot usually adapt to the type of difference between the eye that you now have.  Getting the other eye cataract done, will likely be the only thing that will balance you out.  Usually the  doctor will explain this to you before the first eye surgery especially people that are quite nearsighted like you.  I tell people like you that they will probably be very off balance and a little miserable until the second eye  is done to create the proper balance in the optical systems.  Again this is only for very nearsighted or farshighted people that get implants to reduce the nearsightedness or farsightedness with cataract surgery.  The imbalance is called anisometropia and that is what you now have until  the second surgery.

[barb490]

Thank you for your prior reply.  

Dr office told me my current vision with the IOL in my right eye is 20/15 at the 2 week post surgery check.  (Supposedly my dominent eye.)

My eyeglass prescriptionbefore surgery is:
right (surgery eye) -1.25 -1.00 88
left eye                 -1.75 -0.50 122

After surgery I had been told to knock right lens from glasses but I found seeing difficult, especially left eye peripheral-seemed to strong?
Also found looking at ground with right surgery eye only to be disconcerting-wanted to move head back

Yet I seem to be doing very well, especially at night, wearing my current glass prescription with both lenses in.

However, Dr told me to wear no glasses for one month and see how it goes.  (At night my halos have decreased but acuity is very poor, so I cheat for safety sake and wear the glasses.

Any idea why the prescription glasses with both lenses work well and yet not the ones with the right lens removed?  

I think I would like to get a second opinion before I go for the second cataract surgery as I can not decide what to do.  I have always been used to removing my glasses in the house and enjoy reading, computer etc without glasses.  I also never adapted to bifocals etc.

What type of eye doctor would be seen to determine the best cataract IOL for the second eye?  Thanks

[ValveJob]

If you have the lens of the glasses taken out for the eye that has had the surgery and keep in the lens for the eye that has not had the surgery, is the brain able to adjust to this?  I am wondering because I am very myopic and will probably need cataract surgery sometime in the near future.