Terrible Experience

by Chris
(Boston, MA)

I had cataract surgery on my right eye seven months ago and have been in pain ever since. I have seen several specialists (dry eye, inflammation, retinal) and will be seeing an orbital specialist this month. In addition, I went to the ER twice during the past four months. One doctor cannot understand my anxiety, because no one can find anything wrong. He does not understand the level of discomfort I am having. Perhaps he should live with a feeling of something in his eye for seven months. Just because my vision is more than fine, and I am not seeing flashing lights or having waves of floaters, I am considered perfectly all right, I suppose. I have been treated for dry eye, which I have been told has been resolved. However, I still have aching in my eye and have the constant annoyance of feeling like there is either something in my eye or that a contact lens has slipped out of place, but I do not wear contact lenses. I feel like no one wants to admit that something may have gone wrong and that there may be some sort of unseen nerve damage. All I have been told is to use warm compresses and artificial tears (preservative free) and to take Advil. This is not an answer. One doctor also has me using AzaSite every night for a month. I've been told by a different doctor that it is to kill bacteria. The doctor who prescribed it never told me what it was for. All I want is for someone to look at the whole picture to see what is going on. I have had an eye scan and ultrasound. Nothing. I am terribly discouraged and wish that I had never had the surgery. I just want people to be very aware that you can end up much worse than having your night vision taken away by cataracts. What I wouldn't give to undo this horrible surgery and instead give up my night driving.

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May 01, 2017
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5 months post cataract
by: Anonymous

I had left cataract surgery five months ago. My eye has never been the same. At times it feels like there's something in my eye like an eyelash. This annoying feeling occurs when I lay down at night or when I touch or rub my left eyelid. Sometimes there's slight pain that goes along with it. I have given up on eye doctors. They do the usual eye exam and find nothing. I've been on eye drops for swelling, allergic conjunctivitis and Restasis for dry eyes. If anyone has any suggestions or similar experiences please let me know.

May 07, 2015
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Thank you
by: Anonymous

I can't believe that a surgery that is so "routine" can cause so many problems, and the patient is not advised of this. I understand that there are risks with all surgeries, but I am learning that there seem to be many more with cataract surgery than is ever admitted. I even had one doctor who I had e-mailed three times in 24 hours because of pain/discomfort write back to me and tell me "I need to know what you are truly concerned about – your level of anxiety seems extraordinary and you seem quite preoccupied with worries about your eye. Is there something else going on that may be contributing to your condition?" This is because none of the several doctors I have seen can find anything. I am concerned that I will never be the same. What's wrong with doctors these days? No concern for their patients.

May 07, 2015
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by: Anonymous

Physicians are very reluctant to admit that another physician may have made and error during surgery. I too have more vision problems now than prior to surgery and wish I had never had the surgery. In addition to glare and flashes from lights at night, even in the house, I suddenly have macular degeneration, which was not there prior to the surgery. One nurse slipped and said that it may have been the laser that the doctor used to clear the encapsulation, that may have damaged the retina, however I never had encapsulation which would have been indicated by blurry vision! In addition the physician that did the cataract surgery kept insisting that eyelashes were compromising my vision, and every visit he would pull at least 3 from each eye lid! When I found that he was doing this as he got $50 from Medicare for each eyelash he pulled (surgery) I put a stop to it as I had almost no eyelashes left! I think the laser treatment for encapsulation and the eyelash removal was done only for the medicare monetary reimbursement, and neither was really necessary as they did not help in the least. I still have extreme sensitivity to light and cannot read only for short periods of time. I see 5 to 7 moons when I look into the sky at night and cannot clearly see anything that is bright when the room is dark. And of course forget the night driving. My vision has worsened since the surgery and I now have macular degeneration, both wet and dry. I have dry eye which will not resolve, and that was never an issue prior to the surgery. I question either the skill and abilities of the surgeon, or the motivation for monetary gain. And yes, there is shooting pain in my left eye that will not go away....and of course all the specialists say I am just fine. My heart goes out to you. Please let me know if you find resolution to your problem as it may help others on this page.

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