Similar to many posts on this website, I've had terrible flickering after cataract surgeries, starting in my left eye and moving to the right. Fluorescent lights are the worst and cause nausea, but any light source can trigger it. Similar to others, when I cover one eye, it goes away. It has been four months for me and if anything, the problem is getting worse. I can't go in stores and am always turning off lights. I work with computers and that is now problematic. I went to multiple doctors who found nothing wrong, very frustrating. However, on a recent appointment the doctor diagnosed the issue in about 10 seconds as Pseuodophakodonesis, a dislocated lens. He did it with a penlight in a darkened setting with lights to the left and the doctor was certain the 'flickering' I was seeing was actually the lens moving. I have a few appointments coming up, one with a neuro-opthamologist to discuss what to do. Some of the posts are years old, I am wondering how people are doing now?
can u do a lens exchange? when type of iol d u have?
Those symptoms sound very hard to live with. How ling ago were your surgeries and what type of IOLs do you have.
Have you looked at getting an exchange? There ate a couple of people on the forums who’ve gone through IOL exchanges. It might be helpful for you to read julielyn’s posts.
Flickering can happen if the light is catching edge of IOL but sounds like the source of yours is more serious than that.
Those symptoms sound very hard to live with. How ling ago were your surgeries and what type of IOLs do you have.
Have you looked at getting an exchange? There ate a couple of people on the forums who’ve gone through IOL exchanges. It might be helpful for you to read julielyn’s posts.
Flickering can happen if the light is catching edge of IOL but sounds like the source of yours is more serious than that.
I have the Tecnis ZA9003 IOL. The doctor that made the diagnosis was not a fan of its three piece construction and he indicated a lens exchange or a piggyback lens might be options. Hopefully, I can find out the cause of the lens dislocation, then have the appropriate surgery to remedy the issue.
It can’t be a coincidence that so many others have posted the exact same symptoms. It must require the right lighting conditions to diagnose because I had at least four or five appointments with no luck, then one doctor nailed it immediately.
I’ve tried exposing myself to more light, but it only makes it worse. I think it has to do with changes in the light - that causes movement in the eye which causes the lens vibration and the perception of flickering.
Later near sunset there is no issue outside, also above timberline and in the forest I can actually go without sunglasses. Most other times I wear a cap and glacier goggles with full side and top protection.
The overall vision quality of the lenses is quite good, though there is a definite color shift to violet and I have a secondary cataract in one eye. I’ve read to hold off on the YAG procedure to clear that up as that will limit lens replacement options in the future.
The doctor that made the diagnosis was not a fan of its three piece construction
Not a fan of those wire things either!
I have been battling flicker/glare now for 2 years. It is difficult problem. Hope your discovery works out with lens re-centered. For me I still dread shopping at home depot or king soopers. the glare from florescence makes it difficult to find what I am looking for. Note I said glare. The flickering has pretty much gone. Glare remains unchanged. I also still have a weird issue that if I am looking at something, I might not register it like I use to. For example when I go to spray weeds in rocks I can walk right over them. Kinda a glare issue but more like a gooey eye thing. On plus side my vision post cataract/yag/prk, done in that order, is finally getting pretty sharp at distance. It did change over this long of time.
I hope your lens adjustment works.
Best,
Steve
Steve, what kind of IOL do you have?
I also have one additional factor - I’m ‘only’ 58 years old. About three years ago the cataracts formed as a result of a blow just above my left eye while playing basketball. I had vertigo for a few years, different that what is called ‘Flickering Vertigo’ on some web sites.
Hopefully now that there is a diagnosis it will be easier to find a cause. I think lens replacement is a last resort, but the doctor who did the diagnosis said that the three piece IOLs are easier to remove, you just snip the haptics, so at least there is that.
It is increasingly difficult to be indoors. Light from in back of me, light coming through windows, it’s all bad.
I have Tecnis (now J & J) z9002 silicon lenses +13 strength for my -4.5d glasses. I think surgeon had higher $ margin to implant these older technology lenses. I had no idea there was different quality lenses. I simply requested the best single vision lens. Never discussed options. Trust is a lost cause. I think most all surgeons use acrylic lenses.
From what I could see, the place where I had my surgery done does one about every 10 minutes, so maybe there are lots of dollars to be saved using the older technology lenses. Interesting that you mention the Z9002 lenses and I had the Z9003 lenses.
It’s worth noting that their doctors can find nothing wrong with my eyes, going on four months now and a doctor outside their clinic spotted the issue in less than a minute and confirmed it with a colleague, who saw the same thing.
I wonder what eventually happened to the other people on the patient.info site who have had the same symptoms? Has anyone else been diagnosed with Pseudophakodonesis and had a surgical resolution?
Whenever there is an issue and the clinic/surgeon who implanted the lenses keep saying all is fine one should get another outside opinion.
Hi Steve
Sorry you have this problem.
And very strange, because some people that have problems with acrylic lenses, wants to change into silicone iols, to get rid of their problems.
I guess it shows that there really are no rules in this game.
Funny, today I was looking for a large laundry basket that you couldn’t miss.
When you refer to glare, I am wondering if you have the same symptoms as me?: Fluorescent lights are much too bright to look at for more than a second. Just being around them causes severe eyestrain that almost feels like a burning sensation. Distance is key, close is bad.
Sound familiar? If so, two years sounds like a LOT of time.
I wonder if the diagram you posted is what happened to me. You know, I did do some research before the cataract surgery and had read that the three piece construction may not be ideal, but was told that was all they use and they have had no problems with it.
In retrospect, I should have done more research in advance. That would be my recommendation for anyone considering cataract surgery, even with the historically high rate of success.
hi mike, create a new thread with your diagnosis in the title. anyone doing a google search will have the option of reading/commenting on your thread. you might find those other sufferers you ate looking for. good luck
as far as an exchange, find a dr who does exchanges regularly
Yes I can look right at items on the shelf at a grocery store and the glare can be very distracting. (LED lights are no joy either.) Sunlight and incandescent lighting is no problem.
Also I also went to another ophthalmologist for all follow up even though it cost me more. Again trust was lost with the original Cat surgeon. Key learning is do a ton of research prior to surgery. I thought I did but not enough. I can live with this issue, as skiing without glasses and swimming with plano goggles is a joy.
One other thought, I do have some floaters that might also cause some distraction, but I don’t think they are main issue with glare.
If you get a solution be sure to share!
Steve and MikeMess - have either of you gone to someone completely independent of clinic that did your surgeries? Is it possible the iol has become decentralized or one of the haptics is outside the bag whether right from start or over time?
Sometimes docs and clinics don’t want to fully investigate or take responsibility. But if I were in your shoes I would want another full examination by someone else.
Hi, Sue. The doctors at the surgery clinic found nothing wrong, but an independent doctor made the diagnosis and verified it with a colleague in less than a minute. He gave me a referral and I also have an appointment with a neuro-opthamologist.
I have to wait six weeks as they are booked out and I’m a little concerned after reading an article:
At the end the author cites the risk of delay as much tougher surgery. Crap, it took the surgery clinic 10 days just to get a referral right and that was only because I kept calling.
I have a feeling you are correct and one of the haptics is outside the bag or something.
It’s just way too big of a coincidence for there to be so many posters with identical symptoms: Flickering starting in the left corner of the left eye, moving to the right and covering either eye eliminates the symptoms. Maybe I should just wear an eye patch.
Will do. Any recommendations? I live near Seattle, but will travel as necessary for care.