Cataract surgery and sjogrens

[eye2dry]

Hello to all.
I had cataract surgery in my left eye in December and just this week had my right eye done. I am using eye drops 3 times a day for 3 weeks. It's a mix of pednisolone...bromelac....moxifloxin.
My eye Dr noticed on my right eye this week a " dry area " when he did the surgery, so afterwards he put a contact bandage on the eye with removal to be next day at post op check. So next day...he said it didn't heal enough so he wanted to leave it on 4 more days to heal. My eyes itch and sting some.
I now have 20/20 vision WITHOUT glasses since I was about 10 years old. Of course, readers for up close work.
Question...did anyone have slow healing of eyes after cataract surgery?

Shelly

[meirish]

You know, I think it is of importance that your doc noticed the dry spot when he did the surgery. He then treated it and it is healing. I doubt that you would be able to compare this to anyone else who has had something similar. Reason being: we are all different and the dryness in our eyes and effect of Sjogrens on our eyes are all very individual. There are so many things that could affect "healing". The severity of our Sjogrens, the possibility of other co-existing eye issues, the blood circulation in our eyes, our own personal ability to heal no matter what the surgery and probably other things doctors don't even mention to us.

It sounds like you have a good doctor who found the spot and is treating it. Also, good that he is not in a hurry to remove the contact bandage like you said. This means that he is really assessing this spot and waiting for it to heal before removing the bandage. Better than removing the bandage too soon.

I had both my cataracts done in January of 2021. My Sjogrens dryness isn't bad in my eyes so I didn't have your issues. It really sounds like your eye doc is being very vigilant in his care. . Isn't it great to have good vision again?  I had my good vision done in the far vision so I can drive without glasses and I have the nearsightedness up close so wear glasses for reading. It was so weird to be able to make a choice.

I found the surgery easy but the post op drove me nuts as I was always bending over and so afraid I would wreck the surgery. I finally carried my "pick up grabber" with me so the I would not always be bending over to pick something up. Take care. meirish

[eye2dry]

Thanks Irish.
Funny thing is... I never knew or felt a dry spot on my eye. I feel like my eyes ok...I rarely use eye drops to wet my eyes.
I feel lucky bc I hear in the " old days " after cataract surgery you laid in bed for a week with your head sand bagged in place. Also...they used to use sutures on your eye too.

[meirish]

When I was in nurses training in Rochester, Minnesota the cataract surgery patients had to lie in bed for 2 weeks with sand bags on both sides of their head to keep them from moving. Also, could not get up at all and used the bedpan. It really was a long, long, long 2 weeks for them and for the nurses. We had to massage a lot of bony areas without people getting up to prevent bed sores and that was hard. Take care. meirish


I will add that back in those days in the 1960s there were not many people having cataract surgery. Today I can't imagine how many people have the surgery every day all over the world. In and out surgery in a few hours. How blessed we are and we get to see much better in our remaining years.

[eye2dry]

it was not too traumatic of an experience but am glad not to have to do it again...lol
Well, I'm off to my recheck appt and possibly get some readers today


Shelly