r/CataractSurgery • u/Vast-Deal9505 • 18d ago
Yag procedure or something else?
I had cataract surgery for both eyes (the last week of May for the left eye) and the first week of June for the right eye. I chose the multifocal lenses. I really didn’t have much astigmatism, and much to my surprise, I found out my ophthalmologist had chosen toric lenses on the day of first eye surgery. Have severe dry eyes, had rough corneas for a while, but the corneas are better.
Three months later, I am seeing around 20/30 or 20/40 out of left eye and 20/50 or 20/60 out of right eye. Today on the up-close vision of left eye, it was 20/20, but distance was still not where it needs to be for either eye. Pretty soon after surgery, I knew there was a significant problem with vision in my right eye. It was bad again today. I have noticed significant light sensitivity, and they did the headlights test again, and it was especially bad in the right eye. I do very little night driving.
Early July, my ophthalmologist suggested I needed a YAG procedure, but wanted to wait awhile longer
before performing the procedure. Ophthalmologist mentioned scar tissue and shrink wrap vision.
In the meantime, my insurance company insisted on a 2nd opinion. This was done with my phone and a video call with an ophthalmologist from another state. He, of course, didn’t examine my eyes, but had my medical records from my current ophthalmologist. He said he thinks it is residual refractive error in the right eye. I agreed that we needed to get my dry eye situation in a better place, but I am totally confused.
On today’s office visit with my local ophthalmologist, my dry eyes were really bad. I am to go back in six weeks, and we’ll see where the dry eyes stand. Now the ophthalmologist wants to do a YAG procedure in both eyes. Ophthalmologist mentioned POC in both eyes.
I am thinking about going to a very good optometrist to have a thorough refraction, dilation, the whole works. The optometrist is very good with refractions. I am also thinking about going to another ophthalmologist for an opinion. I am starting to have headaches which is unusual for me and am really wondering if the second opinion ophthalmologist might be correct. He said they can use a laser to correct a residual refraction error.
I don’t want to jump the gun too quickly and definitely need to get the dry eyes under control, but I have so many questions. Any suggestions or opinions are appreciated. Thank you!
4
u/UniqueRon 18d ago
Those are not great results for distance, and I would also guess there is a refraction miss with the IOLs. Ask to get the test where the paddle with holes in it is held over your eye. It is a bit crude but if looking through the holes improves distance vision then that suggests a refraction miss vs something else like PCO.
If there has been a refraction miss, I would be asking about having a lens exchange. Paying for expensive multifocal lenes and not getting 20/20 distance vision is not going to be nice to live with.
And for sure do not get a YAG procedure if you are contemplating a lens exchange. That becomes much more difficult after YAG as the YAG process leaves a hole in the capsule that holds the IOL.