Cataract Surgery & Outcome
Surgery
My eye was first cleaned with a very cold reddish liquid and then with another liquid that stung so bad I wanted to cry because I couldn't blink or rub my eye, which was probably the most uncomfortable part of the experience. At some point, after being severely traumatized from the eye cleaning, I drifted off to sleep and the only other thing I remember was hearing the doctor say to me that the lens was being inserted.
In no time surgery was over, a clear eye shield was placed over my eye and I was wheeled into the recovery area where my husband was waiting and surprised at how quickly I returned. Before I was discharged from the hospital I was given instructions and three bottles of eyedrops; Prednisolone, Ofloxacin and Ketorolac drops. I had to use the drops 4 times a day for a week, then three times a day for the next week, then 2 times etc., until once a week then stop, except for the Ketorolac drops which I had to use until the bottle was empty. I was really concerned about using the prednisolone drops again after my last experience but I used all the eye drops as instructed.
Recovery
When I left the hospital the vision in my left eye was crystal clear as everything appeared to be so much brighter than before, even brighter than the vision in my right eye. I really didn't have much pain other than light sensitivity and slight itching. In fact my eye wasn't even red and there was no detectable scar. When I returned to the clinic the next morning to see the cornea specialist he said that my eye looked really good, so good that it was hard to tell that I had even had surgery because there was barely any swelling.
Healing went very well and quickly. The only issue I experienced was seeing a shower of tiny black floaters in my eye a few days after surgery. I had an upcoming appointment for later that week but I didn't want to risk waiting if it was something serious so I went to the emergency room.
The Residents in the E.R. examined my eye also thought there might have been a tear in my retina because of the floaters and possibly because of some other abnormalities within my eye. When the E.R. ophthalmologist arrived and examined my eye he informed me that there was no tear. He said the floaters I was seeing had probably already been there before the cataract surgery and that they were more noticeable because I could see out of my eye again.
I was happy to hear there was no tear but I know I hadn't seen those type of floaters before. Not even after my first eye surgery or even before the cataract developed, but two weeks after my visit to the E.R. the shower of floaters went away completely.
When I stopped taking the the prednisolone acetate drops there were no side effects, such as the ones I experienced last time - the pain, swelling and redness. This was probably due to continued use of the ketorolac drops which are used to reduce eye irritation after surgery but whatever the reason I'm glad there was no withdrawal.
It has been almost six months since cataract surgery and my vision has been very stable with no issues at all.
