post operative floater

[sarah1962]

My mother had a thick cataract removed and a multifocal lens inserted 48 hours ago.  Her vision was vastly improved until this morning when it became very blurred again. She noticed what she described as a dark shadow moving around in her vision and then she watched this shadow break into hundreds of small dots which remain  accompanied by very blurred vision.  I imagine this is a fragment of the old lens that was not removed...is further surgery likely to be needed or will it break up and flush itself out??

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

An infection after cataract surgery (endophthalmitis) is a potential diasaster.  A "swab" is not helpful in diagnosis as the eye requires aqueous and vitreous taps for cultrure and sensitivity.

the eye does not "reject" ReZoom or other IOLs. They are quite inert in the eye. BUT they can cause inflammation and visual problems.

I would suggest you see the surgeon daily if there is ANY question about an infection.

CME develops later (week to 6 weeks) and does not cause severe vision loss.

JCH MD

[Mayalu]

I hope one of the docs can answer your question. I am surprised that your mom's dic is waiting until Monday to take a swab of the eye - hopefully he does not think it is an infection. One potential complication of cataract surgery is something called cystoid macular edema - the steroid drops are supposed to prevent it. I am not sure how quickly it develops after surgery. Did the doc say something about CME?

Good luck...

[sarah1962]

HELP!! please, getting really worried as mum has no sight in the eye now...Mum has been on the steroid drops (maxidex) for 36 hours now, we have seen the opthalmologist again and it is no worse, but no improvement and the eye is getting sore now too.  We are returning to him tomorrow for another check.  He says he will take a swab of the eye on monday.. should i try to speed this up; are there any incidents of the eye rejecting this specific lens - Rezoom.  Is the next step to remove the lens, what are the pros and cons of this...

[sarah1962]

HELP!! please, getting really worried as mum has no sight in the eye now...Mum has been on the steroid drops (maxidex) for 36 hours now, we have seen the opthalmologist again and it is no worse, but no improvement and the eye is getting sore now too.  We are returning to him tomorrow for another check.  He says he will take a swab of the eye on monday.. should i try to speed this up; are there any incidents of the eye rejecting this specific lens - Rezoom.  Is the next step to remove the lens, what are the pros and cons of this...

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

-

[Mayalu]

*sigh of relief* -thank God - I was thinking of your mom today and hoping for the best. I am having cataract surgery in 12 days in my only eye, at increased risk for RD and what you describe in your original post would scare the **** out of me - so happy to see it was no big deal after all.

[sarah1962]

Thank you both: we did return to the hospital shortly after I posted.  It is an inflamation not infection or detached retina thank goodness. Mum is on a steroid eye drop every 15 mins plus antibiotic and dilator every 4 hours until we return to the consultant tomorrow morning.....

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

RETURN TO YOUR SURGEON'S OFFICE FOR AN EXAM TODAY.

jch md

[Mayalu]

She should see an ophthalmologist immediately - this could be symptoms of a detached retina. Hopefully not, but it can happen after cataract surgery and needs to be treated quickly.