"Darkness"

[patient165]

So my mum had a successful 'shunt' insertion last year which has reduced the pressure and kept it stable. However she's always complained of a darkness like she's sitting in candlelight. This was attributed to a cataract. This was removed last month however while her overall vision has improved she still complains of the darkness.Anyone had anything similar? She's very upset.

[muddledme]

Hello patient165,

It is fairly common to have opacities of the lens after cataract surgery, if this has happened to your Mum then there may be a laser proceedure to correct it. Well worth reporting the problem.

[Mangobrain in reply to muddledme]

I have had the same ops as your mum and also have a shadow, hospital has checked pressure all ok. Also noticed that my eye sometimes is covered by the bleb, and it waters a lot. I have regular check ups as pressure is boarderline too low. Is mums next appt due if not maybe try to bring forward.

[Helen_GlaucomaUK Administrator]

It would be good for your mum to be seen by her eye specialist to get an answer, to the cause of the darkness in her vision. It can take up to six weeks following a cataract operation, to sometimes settle down. It may be that the darkness she is experiencing is from the damage to her optic nerve, due to glaucoma. I know it was attributed to the cataract, which has improved her overall vision but sometimes it is not known by how much.

I am not suggesting this is the case with your mum but I think an explanation and understanding of the cause is always helpful.

[Peg99]

I am always switching lights on because of the dim light I exist in. For me it is simply the effect of my glaucoma and the resultant loss of peripheral vision. I gree with others though, your Mum should get it checked out to be sure.

[Mangobrain]

Hi, commented earlier but might be of interest. My optician pointed out the shaded area of left eye to corner with me is to do with the cataract op. Sometimes over time leaves little bits from the lenses replacement, suggests and has referred me to have lazered off, said quite comment. My be your mum has same .