Hello, I’m new to this community as I usually post on the NRAS as I have rheumatoid arthritis and the lovely souls there’s signposted me to you 😊 I’m hoping to find some shared experiences/ help please…
I had a multifocal lens replacement 4 weeks ago in my right eye. The left eye has the starts of a cataract but isn’t impairing my vision right now so the surgeon said that as I’m young for a cataract replacement, 53yrs, it increases the risk so recommended replacing just the right eye lens.
I went back to the optometrist for a check up 11 days post surgery and he referred me back to the consultant as I was experiencing issues. I got to see the consultant yesterday and explained to him that whilst my distance vision is good I feel disorientated and also my near vision isn’t very good (a multifocal lens should give you good all round vision and reduce the need for glasses rather than a mono focal will give you either near or distance vision). He checked my eye and it has healed well from the actual surgery. He asked me to describe the disorientation and I said it was a bit like vertigo, I feel almost like I need to hold onto something when I’m out, disassociated a bit like when you’ve had a bit too much to drink, which I’ve obviously never experienced 😜. He said I have a film at the back of my lens which may be affecting my near vision and he can remove this with laser surgery which may fix it. He said he could change the lens for a monofocal. However, if I had the laser surgery to remove the film, I then could not have the lens changed if it didn’t work. Also removing the film might not help. The only way I can currently see to read is put my old reading glasses on which blurs out the new lens 🤦♀️. I asked if changing the lens would sort out my disorientation and he said he didn’t know. He then said he didn’t really understand the ‘disorientation’ I was describing so couldn’t say which was the best option. I came out upset as I didn’t feel listened to or have my concerns taken seriously. Just because he says he’s never had a patient be disorientated doesn’t mean it can’t happen. I have found some references to it online. He said to go back in 6 weeks to discuss further, which is the only bit that makes sense as I do realise that it may take longer to settle.
What I’m struggling with is getting him to understand what I mean as I think he should be trying to find out why I’m experiencing the problems so that he can offer the best solution and he doesn’t seem to be doing this. So I thought I’d ask if anyone else has experienced anything similar. Or even if anyone has just had a single lens replacement and what their experiences are. Sorry for the long post and thank you, feeling really fed up
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Rosie_rabbit
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Hi Rosie, I’m not a medical person but I have a couple of ideas. Firstly could you have an ear problem? I hadLabyrinthitis and had a similar sensation. Secondly I had this with new glasses and optician said it was stigmatism (I think). Hopefully it will sort itself out quickly.🤞🏽
Hi eyecloud, thanks for your ideas, I think it does seem to be more related to my eyes and yes I definitely agree it’s similar to settling into new glasses or the prescription not being quite right. I hope I can get it sorted 🤞
No I don’t Rosalyn, this is the only eye related community on HU that I can see and so I wondered if anyone could help. I have RA and usually post on NRAS. I posted this on that community and they suggested to try posting here too.
Hi Rosie. I remember quite well when I got my first pair of transition glasses (multi-focal lenses some how graduated within the lenses seamlessly). I got slightly nauseas every time I put them on. This kept happening until one day I got angry about something else, and all my attention was taken up with the problem at hand. I forgot about the glasses, and I never felt that nausea from wearing them again. I relate this only because I think it might take more time than expected to adjust to viewing the world through multi-focus lenses of any kind. In any case, best of luck with your new lenses. I am trying to decide what lenses to ask for when I get my cataract surgeries. I also have macular degeneration to deal with. So everything is a bit tricky.
The link below is to a Moorfields eye hospital information sheet which talks about different cataract lenses, and the potential implications of each for vision:
Before I had my cataract surgery I did a lot of research and found that people who chose multifocal lenses or close distance lenses regretted their decision as the vision is not always great. I chose my lens for far distance only, still needing reading glasses which I have worn a while anyway. To make a long story short, I have the premium AcrySof lens for astigmatism and the vision is still not fantastic. I had a horrible outcome from the surgery itself. I am left with: atonic pupil, iris atrophy, ocular hypertension and posterior capsular opacification - all from the surgery! I also have constant flashing in that eye now. The surgeon also blew off my symptoms and said I should see a psychiatrist! I am sorry I ever chose to have the surgery, although needed. If I would have known I would end up with this many problems I am not sure I would have done it at all, or chosen a different surgeon perhaps. I still have to have the right eye done, but am terrified I will get similar results. Good luck with your problem and if I were choosing, I would have the lens changed out for a mono focal lens, no question.
The sad thing is, I have now seen a retina specialist, and two more highly regarded surgeons, and no one can offer me a remedy for al the damage that has been done to my eye. No one can fix it! It is extremely depressing to say the least.
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