Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

Why am I seeing my iol after cataract surgery

I had cataract surgery on my left eye on November 18, 2009 which was 3 weeks ago. Immediately when I took off the eye patch 3 hours after the surgery I could see the left side and bottom of the new lens when putting in the eye drops they gave me.  It is like a dark shadow on the left side and bottom all the time when I am looking forward and to the right, the only time it is not visible is when I look to the left.  I feel like I am looking out of a bubble and my eye feels heavy.  I told the surgeon the next day and on my appointment with him 2 weeks later, he told me that I wasn't seeing the lens and it will go away and for me to come back and see him in a year.  But I know I am definitely seeing the lens (it is so annoying I just want to rip it out of my eye, it is obstructing my view).  It is like the lens is too small and doesn't go far enough to the left.  If it went further to the left I feel I wouldn't see it.  The past few days I am now seeing a light blue reflection coming off the end of the lens.  Do you think the lens is too small or defective or maybe it didn't unfold properly?  The lens is a Alcon Acrysof IQ IOL  Model: SN60WF, Length: 13.0mm, Optic: 6.0mm with a UV blue light filter.  I go to bed every night and pray that when I wake up my eye will be back to normal but every morning I wake up and it is still interfering with my view.  I am getting to the point that I don't want to open my eyes in the morning, this is ruining my life.  I have talked to a few people who have had this surgery and they say they have full vision with no obstructions just like before they had the surgery.  I don't understand why this is happening to me. Does anyone have any suggestions?  I cannot live the rest of my life with this problem, I will go crazy!!!

Thank you,
Yvonne


This discussion is related to Treating Negative Dysphotopsia .
19 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
Avatar universal
Unfortunately your surgeon implanted probably the worst intraocular lens on the market.  Sadly it's the most popular lens on the market.  Why is that ? Because it's in the surgeon's best interest to use it for a couple reasons.  First is that it's the easiest lens to implant. Alcon, the company that makes the IOL, is likely aware most surgeons will sacrifice optical design or quality for a lens that's easy for them to use. Second reason is Probably doc or surgery center/hospital had some kind of kickback/rebate deal with Alcon, where the center had strong financial incentive to use SN60WF and severe penalty if they didn't use it more than 75-90% of the time.  The FDA should make not this practice illegal as it will
Lead to many more patients suffering with these similar photopsia or dysphotopsia symptoms.   B&L and AMO make far superior lenses but don't have the market power of Alcon.
Helpful - 0
5 Comments
Very little of the above is correct.
I have an Alcon AcrySof IOL and have none of these issues.
I saw 7 patients yesterday with Alcon IOLs all very happy.
I had cataract surgery almost 5 months ago and I've been having the same problem - the curvature of the lens on my peripheral vision. My doctor has repeatedly told me not to worry, that it'll go away. But it hasn't. I had surgery on the other eye but haven't had that problem. Other than that, my long vision is great. I wonder if the lens on my problem eye isn't the right fit but the doctor says it's perfect.  ( I don't know what kind of lens he used). In my view, no doctor is going to admit that he/she made a mistake as this will open the door for a lawsuit that will hurt both his reputation and his pocket. At this point, I will continue to give this issue a little more time to see if in fact it will resolve itself.
A second opinion is not out of the question, though.
This was my comment in 2016 which is still valid:  That is not the IOL you're seeing its called Negative (if dark) or Positive (if light) dysphotopsia. Also known as temporal cresents.  More common with acrylic IOLs but can occur with any kind. Tends to get better in weeks and months after surgery and at 3 months post op most people no longer notice them

NEW COMMENT:  5 months is a long time and I would go ahead and get a second opinion.  The "dark" type is more likely to last than the light dysphotopsia. My wife had the latter and it lasted about 2 months.  
Avatar universal
I would take this doctor to court.  I had a cataract op a month ago and see now worse han before he operation and my doctor told me its because I experience things worse than other people.  He cant explain why I see worse now other than he said. Before the operation he said to me I will only need afterwards thin reading glasses bu now I must wear multi vocal lens glasses. Before I could see a bit out of focus without lasses now I cant make ou peoples faces my hands heair or do make uo in a mirror.  I seriously condidering taking him to court. And he also at first put in the wrong % lenses in and ad to redo the operation om his costs to rectify it. So how do I know now if its not stil he wrong lenses? Im sp upset with this doctor
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
I'm not a lawyer. For the medical problems your best bet is an independent consultation with a different cataract surgeon.
Avatar universal
OMG!  I have all that after IOLs 6 months ago plus:
double moons, stars, headlights;
unable to read any street signs or the huge red stop sign; unable to read license plate on car ahead of me at stop light; crescent shapes of silver color to left and right peripherally; blue sky is now turquoise; light outdoors way too bright and wear yellowish sunglasses; need sunglasses even in the house; eyes itch, feel heavy, give me headaches; brain works overtime trying to bring images together to focus.  I have absolutely NO ACUITY!  Nothing is in focus and all objects/words/letters have ghost images.  

Additionally, the right lens is 35-degrees off-axis.  I'm on my 4th ophthalmologist now for wrong type lens implanted--should not have been toric with my corneal astigmatism; now have keratonconus and had the years I wore rigid gas perm contacts, where I could see like an eagle, using readers with no problems ever!

The 4th ophthalmologist might do corneal cross-linking for  tightening the corneas and an lens exchange.

Has anyone ever heard of so many problems?  The ophthalmologist who did the implants said he was not removing these lenses and would correct with prism glasses.  I subsequently fired him.
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
That is a handful of problems Good luck with 4th ophthalmologist
177275 tn?1511755244
That is not the IOL you're seeing its called Negative (if dark) or Positive (if light) dysphotopsia. Also known as temporal cresents.  More common with acrylic IOLs but can occur with any kind. Tends to get better in weeks and months after surgery and at 3 months post op most people no longer notice them.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Just a follow up to my post...
I got my 2nd opinion, lens is perfectly centered. The Dr told me that 3 out of 10 complain about this issue with this iol and he suspects at least half have this issue.
I'm 3 months post op and have learned to "except it".  In bright conditions I barely notice, in low light it's "there". I'm still adapting to artificial light in stores (target,costco), it's now tolerable..
My vision is 100% improved with near 20/20.(mission accomplished)

I wish I would have found this thread before my surgery, it would have reduced a lot of stress.

So, anyone that finds this thread post op, hang in there and enjoy your new vision...
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
Having same problem seeing the crescent shape in corner, below and when I look to the side.  It's driving me nuts!  Seeing Dr. tmrow...hope he has some good ideas to cure this!  Signed, "Hopeful" :)
Avatar universal
Wow, I am 5 weeks post op and since I took the eye patch off day 1, I have the same issue with same lens as yvonnez. My Dr tells me to get used to it, WTF...It seem that, if the lens were just re-positioned it would be good.
Getting a second opinion in a few days. Knowing I'm not the only one with issue doesn't help. It sure seems that the Dr's are very aware of this issue with the AcrySof and they all have the same answers...Other than the edge issue, My vision is awesome.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
There are alot of things that happen to us after cataract surgery that they don't tell us before....I guess that since we are all different, we all get different occurances...I researched several people before my surg. and all said "piece of cake...I can see everything perfectly clear.....I was soooo excited...my vision was not that bad presurgery....just a little blurred in the distance...I wore 24/7 extended wear lenses for 30 years....never had 1 problem .....but decided to go ahead and have the iol placement.....It seems that I have a "Small Eye"....had never heard of such a thing.....means the anterior chamber of my eye has a small depth.....pre surger rt. eye, techs were unable to dilate my pupil...tried 3 times.....wheeled me into surgery and the surgeon STRETCHED my pupil with a tool so he could get the lens in....this left me with horrid corneal edema, cloudy vision, etc. for several days......I have had a problem with refraction ever since which causes slightly cloudy vision in the eye.....especially with light entering to the side of my eye......Then 2 years later, I went to Cincinnati Eye Institutte and had a remarkable eye surgeon...Dr. Michael Snyder.....read his credentials.....he was not concerned about the "small eye".....anterior eye surg. is one of his specialties....so he did a Toric lens implant and also did Limbal Relaxation Incision in my cornea to correct my astigmatism for better reading vision.....I had the flicker for a couple of months...he assured me it would go away, which it did......I still, at times , have the black arc to the outside of my eye....he said it sometimes takes up to a year to go away....it is getting less and less....now, the good part.....when the first surgeon stretched my pupil, without my approval I might say, he caused the loss of some it the cells in the iris, thinning out that part of the iris...causing light to enter through those areas and light is entering the retina where it is not supposed to...outside of the pupil....so that is the reason for the cloudy vision......they all tell you...that's normal, that will go away, I don't know what's causing that and just blow you off....not Dr. Snyder....he was quick, precise, teaching med students as he did my surgery...I was done in less than 10 minutes, no pain and having a cup of coffee......recommend him to ANYONE in this tristate area.......
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Here are some tips to get rid of swelling on the inner corner of the eye :

1.Wash your hands with soap and warm water before beginning any treatment for eye swelling. Dirt and bacteria present on your hands can enter your eye and cause further infection.

2.Apply a clean, warm compress to the inner corner of your eye. A chalazion is a bump in your eyelid caused by blockage of a gland that produces lubricating fluid.

3.Apply prescription antibiotic ointments to the inner corner of your eye--and other inflamed, affected areas--to clear a stye infection.

4.Take oral antibiotics to eliminate the inflammation associated with a tear duct infection, also called dacrocystitis.

5.Undergo a surgical procedure that opens up clogged tear ducts to get rid of chronic swelling that accompanies recurring infections.

Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Boy you guy's. Yvonnez, just like the others, you have perfectly described my delima! I have the same exact IOL as you!!! SN60WF Length 13.00 !!
Folk's, they ought to take this model off the freaking market!! This thing sux!
I got my IOL Feb 2013. I just hope it hasn't caused any scare tissue in my eye. And my Dr? She wont admit anything's wrong. She wont answer any of my question's about it. See's me for 1 minute, and run's a way! She's tells me to relax, and breath, and not to worry! Well, I would have done allot less worrying if she'd have told me what was wrong in the first place!! I went to the emergency room after my IOL surgery, thinking this was a symptom of a detached retina! A big expensive bill. Good thing I have insurance. Really, I wish I could freaking SUE! And she has the GAUL to set me up for YAG surgery!!?? It's set up for September. I'm canceling! Thank you Jesus, for letting me find you all.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I hate to mention this as I have posted other Q's but but have to ask as I face the other eye lens replacement now. It has been 3 yrs since my lens was replaced with the Alcon SN60wF length 13.0 optic  6.0. I had asked not to have crisp vision and said I hate enhanced anything but this is the les I have and I do have perfect vision and am trying to adjust to enhanced vision but that is another situation. I am concerned that it took 2.5 yrs for a pain that not dry eyes to subside that was between the iris and the tear duct. It is back and I wonder if this could be a reflection issue as it seems affected by light. My surg. is excellent and my vision is clear so I am now wondering can this be a reaction to the way the eye sees - a fatigue of sorts? Also if i am in a light room on occasion if I enter a dark one I can't quickly adjust to the darker room it is like a film over my eye and it is worsened by seeing my own shadow  darker  with that eye as the contrast is greater and shadows appear darker. This is on occasion I am in my late 60's small pupils and have a concern if both eyes are like this when I have the 2nd one done or is this just an odd thing. the surg says all looks well.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
What are you doing now about it.  I have had surgery in the left eye and after 3 months have the problem, but my surgeon talked me into doing it to the right eye anyhow and that it probably wouldn't be the same thing, however, I had it yesterday and the right eye has the same problem.  I may go crazy!!!!!!
Helpful - 0
2 Comments
Are your eyes any better now?  
=
Avatar universal
I had cataract surgery on my right eye 15 days ago.  Like you, I am experiencing negative dysphotopsia.  I was not prepared for this outcome and, naturally, became upset.  In doing the research I should have done before I allowed surgery in the first place, I have learned that negative dysphotopsia is quite common.  I suggest you read an article written by Randall J. Olson, MD, Salt Lake City titled "Demystifying Dysphotopsia."  One of the key things mentioned in his article is "turning down the gain," i.e. allowing your brain to relax and adjust to the new lens.  By doing so, the majority of people overcome the distraction.  By focusing or obsessing, we don't give the brain the opportunity to filter out an image that is not supposed to be there.  I'm trying to do this at this point in time.  If the dark curved line does not disappear I will then decide whether to have a lens replacement, piggyback another lens on my existing IOL, or simply accept and adjust to the distraction.   Good luck in your path forward.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
For those of you who have been diagnosed with "negative dysphotopsia", recent clinical experience has shown piggyback IOL placement to be a very effective treatment.  This involves placing a second IOL in front of the original IOL in an attempt to catch unwanted light rays diverging onto the peripheral retina. The theory is that too much space exists between the iris and IOL surface, and therefore too many obliquely-oriented light rays fall onto the peripheral retina, producing the unwanted peripheral "dark crescent".    

Piggyback IOL placement still involves the risks of all surgeries within the eye, but is safer overall compared with IOL exchange, and may be more effective in this setting.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I could have written your post. I had my surgery on June 7th 2010 and I have the same make/model and size of lens you have. I am so disappointed in the result that I feel it is worse than before surgery. I had a legally blind eye due to non use. My right eye is the dominant eye. I can see the edge of the lens which is very irritating. I could live with the dominant eye just fine. Now I get startled daily, sometimes more often, that someone is standing right beside me or sneaking up on me from behind because the edge of the lens is either shimmering or a moving dark line. Your description of the "I just want to rip it out" is right on and I feel the same.
I was told at first week follow up that I was seeing the incision. At my 1 month follow up I was told it is the edge of the lens and it won't go away. My brain will learn to ignore it. I wonder how long that takes on average. I really wish something to be done about it. I can't imagine living with it for the next half of my life.
My dr did more than 10.000 IOL surgeries so I consider him to be experienced with a good track record. Unfortunately where I got the procedure done, I do not see him at follow ups. There are trained staff doing the follow up and I feel cheated when they tell me it is perfect - not sure if they mean my eye or the surgery - while I feel more disabled than I was before and irritable all the time due to this artifact of the surgery. It is everything but not perfect. If I had known it was going to end up like this, I would have refused the sx. This was not listed on the side effects/complications list so I didn't know it could happen. I will follow the conversation and hope to find out more about this condition. I will also try to talk to my surgeon if I can get to him somehow.
Thanks for reading.
Helpful - 0
1325897 tn?1276786459
Thank you Yvonne and cindy556 for all the help that you have given me. Cindy, I have YAG surgery scheduled in two weeks. I AM RUNNING TO THE DOCTOR TOMORROW TO CANCEL IT! THANK YOU!    Charlie
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
correction to sentence .. it should read "I was told it would go away, it has been two years of misery. "
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
It is like I wrote this, all symptoms, except my lens is a SN60AT. They told me the SN60WF has a  thinner edge.  I see this in my eye all the time, and I know it is the edge of the lens. Like you, I feel if it was more the the right in case I would not see it.  I had a macular hole in my eye, and this caused the cataract.  I was told it would go away, it has been two eyes of misery.  I had two surgeries on the eye, and was told the hole that  was made to  put it  into was small in the capsule.  I was told it is negataive dysphotopsia, which means a reflection off the lens, I see the lens.  Again it is from the same manufacturer, same type of lens square edged.  I am afraid to have this taken out, but also cannot accept it.  It is very disturbing.  I am contemplating a decision on this matter. I fell as though we are not the only ones experiencing this, and anyone who reads this so really post a comment.  Do not let them do YAG surgery on the eye, as this creates more scar tissue and makes it even more difficult to get this lens out. The lens has scarred down in my eye already. If you can reply to me please do so.
Helpful - 0
711220 tn?1251891127
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
This is negative dysphotopsia.  If it does not improve the IOL needs to be exchanged.

Dr. O.
Helpful - 0
2 Comments
I had cataract surg on my right eye, monofocal z9002 6mm. I have a dark curved shadow in the inner, left corner of my eye. I can see light around the rim at night in a dark room. under indoor lighting it looks like a clear bubble im looking through. Everyone that complains of this, says its on the outer side. yet mine is inner lower close to my nose and is seen more when i look up and to the right. would this still be negative dysphotopsia?
Answered elsewhere on your other post
Avatar universal
There's a lot of information about dysphotopsia, both in the archives of this forum and online.  Learn as much as you can about this condition.

I'll refrain from expressing my opinion about your surgeon based on his advice to return in a year.  Sometimes the problem does diminish with time, especially if you don't focus on it.  In addition, exchanging the IOL for a lens from a different manufacturer made of a different material will sometimes resolve the problem.  You'd want to see a surgeon who specializes in treating difficult cases like yours.  You might try calling your original surgeon and requesting a referral.  If this doesn't work, try calling a major medical medical center that has an opthalmology department and requesting an appointment with the senior staff member specializing in cataract surgery/IOL explants.
Helpful - 0
2 Comments
I had an IOL implant and immediately after, was also able see my lens. The light would bother bother me as it caused a prismatic effect and colorful flickering. It had stumped doctors for a couple of years. I then was sent to see a Dr Feldman at Strong Memorial in Rochester, NY for the problem. He put me on an eye drop called Pilocarpine. I use it twice a day. It constricts my pupil to pin size, and as a result I do not see my lens. I have been on this medicine for years and it has been a Godsend. As long as I use it the problem is solved.
=
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Eye Care Community

Top General Health Answerers
177275 tn?1511755244
Kansas City, MO
Avatar universal
Grand Prairie, TX
Avatar universal
San Diego, CA
Learn About Top Answerers
Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
Discharge often isn't normal, and could mean an infection or an STD.
In this unique and fascinating report from Missouri Medicine, world-renowned expert Dr. Raymond Moody examines what really happens when we almost die.
Think a loved one may be experiencing hearing loss? Here are five warning signs to watch for.
When it comes to your health, timing is everything
We’ve got a crash course on metabolism basics.
Learn what you can do to avoid ski injury and other common winter sports injury.