Intense pain after cataract surgery

by John Kavlock
(Clinton, IL)

My wife had cataract surgery last year June 20 left eye, and July 10, right eye. Been in terrible pain from grit, foreign object sensation, tooth pick in the eye feeling which she has 90% time. Surgeon and eye doctor both said problem was dry eyes. Went to Bailey Eye Clinic, Bloomington, IL for 2nd opinion. They said dry eyes and plugged her lower tear drains. I asked about corneal nerve damage (as per Dr Hamrah of Boston's Tuft Med Center). They were not able to diagnose that and referred us to Washington University, St Louis. They said dry eyes was not the issue and even said plugs could be removed (we left them in). For 3rd time told the initial surgery was fine and everything healed fine, no bad bacteria, but no diagnosis of nerve damage, and only hope was go to pain management. In the meantime, every day starts with her wincing from eye pain, at times followed by an outburst because of a toothpick in the eye sensation. This brings her to tears several times a day. Don't want her to be another Jessica Starr. Medical marijuana got rid of the toothpicks for a couple weeks this past May, but then didn't seem to do anything. Lyrica reviews are pretty scary - twice as many negative as positive reviews. Looking for solutions and open to suggestions.