DOUBLE VISION after cataract surgery

[Philsy]

I have had traditional single-focus lenses implanted in both eyes. Right eye went okay. Two weeks later, had left eye done and immediately noticed double vision. The duplicate image was ABOVE the main image. Another two weeks and the surgeon repositioned the left lens. Now I still have double vision, but in the OTHER DIRECTION --- that is, the ghost image is now BELOW the main image. I do not have double vision in one eye alone, only when seeing with both eyes. I'm no doctor, but this seems to me clearly to indicate that the axis of the left lens is not quite parallel to that of the right lens. I have seen three docs: the original surgeon, a retina specialist (whom I see regularly for a macular probl;em) and a neuro-ophthalmologist. I can't seem to get my point across that it seems to me the two lenses are not aligned in parallel.
If I tug down slightly on the left lower eyelid (thus, I assume, slightly rotating the left eye) double image goes away.
Rotating the eyeball downward  of course rotates the lens downward, thus (in my layman's opinion) aligning the axes of the two lenses. Am I missing something?


This discussion is related to Double vision after cataract surgery.

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

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[JodieJ]

It seems most likely to me that your problem involves an injury to an eye muscle which aligns the eye, especially if your surgery included injectable local anesthesia.  Dr. Hagan has published papers about this problem.  Try searching the archives for more information.

[roboy99]

I have had lens replacement over a year ago and se double vision and the doctor says it is a weak eye muscle has nothing to do with lens replacement is he right?

[JohnHaganMD]

While there are many different causes of double vision, including after cataract surgery, the surgery itself along with injection of anesthesia can be the cause. This is a review article. Notice reference 14 which is my research paper:  https://www.hindawi.com/journals/joph/2016/2728712/      You should probably see an eye muscle specialist (Strabismus) sometime called pediatric ophthalmologist but most treat adults.