So I am 45 years old and yes had two cataracs. So me being so active decided I had to get them fixed immediately. Went to doctor had a symphony lens for distance in right eye. Then realized how bad my left eye was and had done 4 weeks later with a multifocal symphony lens. Had problems at first with halos and glares etc. My brain was having a hard time adjusting. Then both of them started to get cloudy again. Dr said I needed to do yag. So obviously had this done on both eyes. This is all been done in a total of just 4 months. I now have all this debris in my eyes like oil smudge type feeling. When I look side to side or up and down I see it. My vision now is awful. I have such strain on my eyes it makes the base of my neck hurt and eyes are sooo strained. Going for a second opinion because surgeon says that everything is fine. Well I can promise you that it is so far from fine. This is the worst nightmare ever. I should have just dealt with the cataracs as they were much less debilitating than this now. I'm saying all of this I did have 20/20 vision just developed cataracs. Any advice please help.
Thanks
Very sorry to hear about the bad result, George.
Your decision to seek a second medical opinion definitely is the right one.
Every good wish to you.
Ed
Hi George I am so sorry to read what you are going through, on this site you will read others who also have had bad experience. The only consolation I have, and its not much in consideration, if you hadnt had it done there would be a strong possibility that you would go blind, well thats what I was told. I too had a bad time, my site is quite good but I have heavy gritty eyes, they itch a bit too and im frightened to rub them in case I disturb the lens, oh George at 45 you are so young im a lot older. You say you are going for a second opinion that is a brilliant idea, please let us know how you get on
Kindest Regards
Agnes
So sorry to hear of your experience George. It must be very frustrating and worrisome to you. Did you learn you had cataracts from your optometrist at a regular visit? Mine developed fast - but they impeded my vision at 53. Couldn’t make out road signs anymore. Had 20/60 vision in right eye and 20/50 in left. I wasn’t going to be able to drive anymore without having cataract surgery. That is the benchmark here in Canada for having surgeries covered by our Medicare system.
It’s unfortunate your optometrist or surgeon who you went to for consultation didn’t dissuade you from having surgery till the cataracts got worse. Most people who have cataract surgery have eyesight that has deteriorated prior to surgery so are quite happy with the result afterwards.
Prior to having YAG done did you visit your optometrist to get an exact prescription? Were you able to see well? I too have Symfony lenses and experience the night vision issue of concentric circles around certain light sources but I am able to see well otherwise.
likely the YAG produced floaters- these likely will settle out of your field of vision. However your plan of getting a 2nd opinion is a good one. Wishing you all the best.
Sue, thanks for the response. Yes I really wish he would have told me to hold off until they got a little worse, but he was like your young let's get it done and you'll be super glad. So of course I was like yeah your right. We live in a world of instant gratification and I'm not very patient which of course is not helping. Unfortunately I did not see what my prescription was before yag. My surgeon tells me I don't need one🙄. I said buddy your not looking through these eyes everyday.
Do you know of anything else that I should do or have done? Can I do lasik surgery? Also could I wear contacts to help with my vision? My main issue with vision is around arms length till about 10 feet. This is where everything is just blurry.
On a side note you don't realize how much your vision affects everything. Like concentration, balance, and just well being. I will be thankful when I do find a resolve. Thanks so much to all.
If you have a regular optometrist that you see I really think you should schedule a visit. They can be very helpful in advising whether contacts or glasses would help. At the very least you will have a baseline of where your vision is. I wasn’t going to see one either until someone on the forums said that it’s a good idea to get a baseline of my vision after cataract surgery. It takes about 6 weeks for eyes to heal and IOL to settle after uncomplicated cataract surgery. The recommendation is to see an optometrist after that 6 week mark. did you have the Symfony lenses targeted for distance on both eyes? If so and target achieved (and you don’t have significant astigmatism) you should have good vision from 16 inches and beyond, needing readers for only fine print.
If it were me I would wait (even if hard to) before having any more surgery done.
Young males are at risk of retina tear or detachment after cataract surgery.
When it does happen they do vitrectomy which removes the fluid in the eye. That also eliminates the floaters.
I am not sure that they will do it unless there are retinal issues.
Hi George so sorry to hear about your problems and issues with cataract surgery. I too even 8 months later, but slowly getting better. Right eye was June 14 and all seem to have went fine and several days later I started seeing like a cloud or scales over my eyes and not seeing clearly. So Dr said I had scar tissue on cornea and needed to have YAG laser surgery. slowly very slowly seem to be improving, but not what I still expected. So on Aug 16 had my left eye done. (was told my brain was seeing 2 different lens and eyes weren't working together, so maybe time to have left done and will do better) so left eye was done and again all went well, but then Sept 27 needed Laser Yag surgery because of scar tissue again. Nothing was improving and had to even call twice the emergency after hour number to get help because of vision issues. Floaters got so bad one time I thought I was being attacked by a swarm of wasp ---they were huge and many. So by middle of Oct and things were seeming worse trying 11 different types of eye drops (costly also) still no improvement and taking up to 18 drops a day. He decided I should probably see a cornea specialist. So was told Nov22 and I told them NO--I am not waiting that long. So how about Nov 8--well that is a lot closer than the 22nd. I was diagnosed with very dry eyes. Map Dot Fingerprinting Dystrophy. Extreme Dry eyes. again more drops. First attempt of Right eye with amniotic membrane (bandaid eye) which after 3 weeks no improvement. So now Dec 13 trying left eye with Amniotic membrane and WOW in 2days later I could see distance in my left eye. Now is only my right eye could. Maybe a later date will try the right again. So on Jan 5 the specialist saying my tear ducts were too dry and he will try putting plugs into my tear ducts. Well 7 hours later they FELL out. too small. went back on Jan 8 after calling and said they had fallen out. He reinserted some a little larger which are still in as of today, which on Feb 2 said my eyes were improving and not as dry. But since my Right eye still not seeing distance he decided to try to have me use a contact and leave it in and if it should fall out call and leave out. Still in also. down to just 2 different types of drops twice daily. I can actually out of both eyes make things out in distance,but not able to read much without some cheater on and not able to read my phone either. So I go back Feb 21 and see what next step is....maybe just get some prescription readers since the cheaters are not easy to clean and keep clean. Just not giving up. you would think after 8 months I could see better. I have gotten very frustrated at times, but not giving up. Everyone does heal different. I am 69 years of age, I have been wearing glasses since I was in my early 30's and it took about 5 years before my cataracts were ready to be done. I am also ready just to think this is what my vision is today, but surely not what I had expected. I know at least a dozen friends and relative in the pass year having cataract surgery and NO PROBLEMS> I tell them they are truly blessed to see as they expected. So stay in touch. Get another opinion never hurts. Pray for healing in your eyes. Hope things improve for you more quickly than I have been through. Good Luck George,
Charlene
Charlene, thanks so much for your response. I'm waiting on new Dr and just getting a second opinion. I know patience is key but I have 0. Not a good person for surgery🙄 Anyway thanks again. Also I would love to hear any responses let's keep the thread going. We can all help each other and may have the hidden answer to each other's problems.
Hi Sue, please can you tell me what YAG stands for
Many thanks if you can help
Regards
Agnes
George, so very true. This site has helped me so much especially knowing I am not ALONE and others have had issues also; because all the recent people I've known this pass year that all has went well of the dozen that I know. I told them they were truly blessed with everything going so well. BUT not everyone does! Some were thinking I was making it up and wanting pity and others were trying to blame my eye dr. We all have different bodies and not everything goes perfect for everyone. I do have many issues with medicine and now also with eye drops (the reason I was on so many) currently just using 2 thank goodness. They are very expensive.
I just felt so relieved knowing I was not alone. Not everyone on here has the same issue but some very similar.
I've had the cloudy vision and not seeing anything over 3-4 feet away. I didn't drive for 54 days because I couldn't not judge correctly. I've had the floaters, I've had to end up having laser surgery to remove some scar tissue. It has just been an on-going for FAR too many months. I have to admit I am slowly now beginning to see some help and my distance has improved. I go back on Feb 21 and I will go from there. I've paid a lot of money out of my own pocket for the surgery, the hospital (out-patient) and so many prescriptions for eye drops. I had NO IDEA I would be paying this much. I wished I could have stayed with my glasses which usually ran about $450.00 but I know eventually you can go blind if you don't have the cataracts corrected. So I am praying and believing all will be better soon one day. I will have a great testimony to give when I can see again. Good luck George. Give an update when you have one. I will after the 21st.
Charlene
Hi Agnes
Yag Laser Capsulotomy.
This is a non-invasive laser procedure which eliminates the cloudiness that occasionally interferes with a patient's vision after cataract / lens replacement surgery. During cataract/lens surgery the lens is removed and a thin membrane (capsule) that held the lens is left in place to hold the implanted artificial lens.
Leaving the capsule in place during surgery allows the vision after surgery to be more stable and ensures fewer surgical complications.
However, sometimes the posterior or back portion of the capsule becomes cloudy over time. This can be resolved with a quick painless laser procedure performed in the outpatient clinic.
Hi Sue thank you for explaining Im a bit old and stupid but does the YAG initials actually stand for three words if you know what I mean
Regards
Agnes
As one of my professors once said there are no stupid questions except the ones not asked.
From my reasearch on the Internet YAG stands Laser posterior capsulotomy, or YAG laser capsulotomy - basically name of the laser used to treat PCO (sometimes called secondary cataract). Doctors vary in their estimates of who develops OCO in cataract surgery. My own surgeon said 50% of people and I have read here on forums that some were told by their surgeons almost everyone gets it - some experience it some after and some years later. Not recommended until it affects your eyesight.
Agnes finally found what that acronym stands for :
Medical Definition of YAG laser surgery. YAG laser surgery: The use of a YAG (yttrium-aluminum-garnet) laser
When they do the YAG they can zap floaters as well. My dr did it and it worked fabulous on my right eye. Now i'm hoping for PCO on my left so I can get the floaters zapped there as well!
Glad you are going for a second opinion, good luck to you.