Intraocular Lens Shifting After Cataract Surgery

Phoenix
Phoenix, I represented physicians for over 10 years in the 1980s. I ran across a lot of doctors, physicians and dentists, who run "mills" and I had very little professional respect for them. Their mill-style practices harm patients to a much higher degree than is acceptable.

Your eyes are too precious to risk them with a mill-operator. Mill-operators must be scrutinized much more strenuously than others because they will cut corners to accomodate their high volume, low cost practices.

Oh, the stories I could tell you.

BBB

BBB- I can just imagine. I had my original surgeries two years ago. This particular doctor was used by many in my community, so at the time I thought that he had lots of cataract experience. He was a general ophthalmologist, who specialized in cataract surgery, in a retirement town, no less!

It was only afterwards that I picked up on certain things that he was doing of which I questioned.

The retinal specialist who will do the procedure next week, is absolutely top drawer.

P.S. My original ophthalmologist reccommended one of his "buddies". I told him straight out that I wanted to see someone else. No way was I going to go to someone with whom the original doctor was connected!

Phoenix
Phoenix, that referral is based on the little-known (by the public) referral customs of physicians to add to their income. The doctors involved will protect their referral sources to the extent possible to keep their referral network in tact for, guess what?, money!

BBB

BBB- Aw, and I always thought that it was a "one hand washes the other" deal!

Anyhow, since you are familiar with these sorts of things, do you have any sense of whether an IOL slipping is just "one of those things", or does it happen at a statistically higher rate with doctors who are, shall we say, slipshod?

I have been searching the net for some information. I see references to lenses slipping, but nothing as to why.

phoenix
phoenix, there are several information sources you can check. The First, The American Journal of Medicine provide information to members, but you might click on the editor's e-mail address to request information. These would all be peer reviewed articles.

http://www.amjmed.org/

Same thing to request articles from the ophthalmology journal

http://www.optvissci.com/

BBB

BBB- Thanks for the links!

Had the operation today. The doc put in another, larger lens, and also went into the vitrious. Explained to me a few times why he had to do that, but I was so discombobbulated that it didn't sink in.

I probably won't be on A2K much for the next few days. I have a patch on my operated eye, and looking at my computer is giving me a headache!

Phoenix
Phoenix, I forgot to give the best info source, the New England Journal of Medicine:
http://content.nejm.org/

You certainly worked fast to get the correction made so soon - good for you. I hope you recover quickly and with excellent results.

BBB

Phoenix--

Done is done and now the healing can start.

I'm not an expert on vitreous humor (the jellylike fluid in the eye) but my husband had a small blood vessel break behind his eye. Since the blood is not disappearing naturally, the vitreous humor (and the blood as well) will be withdrawn and replaced with saline solution.

Within 48 hours the saline solution will be naturally replaced by clean vitreous humor--no more floaters or dark spots or other debris.

Isn't there a vitreous membrane under the cornea? Perhaps this was slightly damaged by your sliding lens or by the inept stitches your original surgeon set in.

In any case, heal quickly. We'll miss you during your down time.

Hold your dominion.

Thanks for the update, Phoenix. Rest, heal, be well.

Hi all!

I am back...Actually I am not in much pain. I think that the problem is that because of the patch, my glasses don't sit exactly right on my "good eye", so it is causing me some strain when I look at the computer. But it will take more than that to keep me away from this place!!!!

I see a difference even from yesterday. Don't have much sight in the operated eye yet, but this morning the bandage under the patch was clean, which I think is a good sign.

I think that I lucked out with the docs that I picked!

That's awesome news Phoenix :-D

Phoenix--

The wise woman makes her own luck. You did your research and you reaped your rewards.

A clean bandage is a reliable sign of healing--and eyes heal fast!

If you have a teeny-tiny screwdriver you can temporarily remove the lens of your glasses to give your patch room to bulge. Then your "good" eye can be in focus.

Hold your dominion.

glad to hear the worst is over and hope you heal fast

Phoenix, you made your own "luck". Thinking of you. Happy healing!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks, guys!

Hello,
I am experiencing some of the same issues you speak of and I am contemplating getting a corrective procedure as well. Would love to chat with you about your recovery.

Ah, serendipity! This is very strange. I wrote the original thread in 2003, and had not seen it in almost a decade. Today, for some reason, I accessed it again, and found your post, written two days ago.

It has been quite a while, but if there is anything that I can do to help, just ask.

BTW, welcome to A2K!

My lens has shifted too, either forward or backwards - the surgeon can't be sure. He said this occurs from time to time in about 10% of patients. He can do one of two things: (1) remove it and try again, but might run into scar tissue that would make extraction difficult, or (2) fix it with Lasik surgery later on. I too have what I call double vision in that eye, but the surgeon calls it a "ghost image." We are going ahead with the right eye, and will then reassess the need for a repeat op in the left eye. I had asked for a 2-foot correction in the left eye, but wound up with about a 10-inch correction. That's what suggested to him that the lens had shifted. So I am hoping the right eye will have a better outcome. In any case, glasses will be necessary for driving, which I don't mind, as long as I can sit at the computer or read a book comfortably without glasses.

Barbara in Canada