IOL & Pain

[WaTeR]

In July i did 2 surgeries. Lasik to the Left eye and IOL to the right eye. The left eye is ok, but the eye with the implant hurts like hell when i leave the drops for 2 days. Doctor says that there's nothing wrong with the eye and he doesnt know what could be the problem. I use ELIPA (1 drop per day) for the pain. May this be normal? May we consider a long recovery? Please say yes...

[LasikExpert]

Pain after implantation of a intraocular lens (IOL) is not at all normal. Pain usually resolves within a few days. I recommend asking your current doctor for referral to a specialist for a second opinion. If you seek a second opinion doctor yourself, I recommend the ophthalmology department of the nearest major teaching hospital affiliated with a university.

[WaTeR]

yes...even the doctor was surprised when i said i was feeling pain. the problem is that i live very far from the place i done the surgery (there's an ocean between us) although its the same nation (Portugal) . so i cant go to him everytime i need. But i guess ill have to ask that second opinion to my ophtalmologist in the city. By the way, do you have an opinion about why it hurts? Please dont tell me it is rejecting the len...

[LasikExpert]

Lens rejection is almost impossible. IOLs are made materials that the eye does not commonly reject. I hazard to guess, but I suspect that it is an issue of IOL placement. Somehow it is irritating the eye.

Your local ophthalmologist would be a good place to start. This will be a mystery investigation and if you can find knowledgeable surgeon nearby. Someone in Spain is Jorge Alio, MD. You may want to contact his office and ask for a local referral. We do not certify doctors outside the US, so Dr. Alio is not affiliated with our organization, however he has had many studies published and is well respected in ophthalmic circles. Your surgeon will undoubtedly know of him.

[WaTeR]

I hazard to guess, but I suspect that it is an issue of IOL placement. Somehow it is irritating the eye.

I already went to him(surgean) for a chek-up/routine about a month ago and he said something like: "everything that has to do with the surgery/len is has it should be. it appears to be something outside the eye and not inside the eye..."
I dont give much credit to the second part of what he said, but if he says that everything is ok with the len (he saw it twice 1 day after the other) well...So a regular ophtalmologist should notice the problem right? I'm thinking in getting in touch not with my regular one, but with a doctour who has a great name among the people. byt the way, let me explain this pain. It happens when i leave the eyedrops for about 2 days...it start to hurt when i blink hard..or touch with a finger...and it gets worst with the time (hours) until some point.... And it only get better if i use eyedrops again, Specially ELIPA.

[LasikExpert]

I am not familiar with ELIPA. If these are artificial tears, then it sounds like you have a case of dry eye. We have a detailed article about dry eye treatment that may be helpful. Dry eye is something that is normally easy and obvious to diagnose.

[WaTeR]

ELIPA is for inflammation and pain control ( that is what is writted in the therapy indications). If (for any chance) the problem was dry eye, wouldnt be only red and a bit irritaded? After this type of surgery, what do you usually give to the pacients to prevent pain and inflammation?
Oh, my surgean also said it could be dry eye and he gave me some artificial tears that i didnt used for much time (only used it for about 24 - 30 hours) and seen/felt no effect (it was red and painful at the time)

[LasikExpert]

Dry eye can cause many symptoms including poor vision quality, poor vision acuity, redness, itchy feeling, pain, damage to the epithelium (outermost layer of corneal cells), etc.

Does the pain dissapate if you use a preservative-free artificial tear and keep your eyes closed?

[WaTeR]

what do you mean with preservative-free?

[LasikExpert]

Most artificial tears that you purchase at a pharmacy have a preservative in them to keep them from spoiling. This preservative can cause an allergic reaction and even exacerbate existing dry eye.

It is easy to know a preservative-free artificial tear from one with preservatives. Truly preservative-free artificial tears will come in individual single-use vials, whereas the artificial tears with preservatives will come in larger multiple-use bottles. And preservative-free artificial tears are more expensive.

You should normally not use artificial tears with preservatives after surgery or when experiencing any eye problems.

[WaTeR]

yes, i did use those small and thin bottles of artificial tears (very limited drops). i used them right after the surgery for days and i used them again when i went to the check-up...only for about 24 hours because there wasnt doing any good for this (it kept the same/worst without the ELIPA). Beside those artificial tears, io used a gel to keep the eyes wet (he told me in the beginning to use it only on the left eye...and after i told him about the pain, he said to use it on the Right eye to) but seems like thats not it. I'm starting to think that this situation will have much more to tell

[LasikExpert]

I'm starting to think that this situation will have much more to tell

I absolutely agree and the earlier you get to a knowledgeable doctor, the better for you eyes.

[WaTeR]

Ill start monday morning to ge int contact the doctor from this area. From whati've been searching about this situation throw the internet, i am really starting to get worried... Because i saw forbidden words in these research es like Blind...Irreversible...Damage...Anyway, ill keep updating this thread with the information ill obtain in the next days

[LasikExpert]

It is much better to rely on the opinions of a competent doctor who has actually examined your eyes than on Internet research, although Internet research can help provide a better understanding of what your doctor determines.

[WaTeR]

For cases like this one, i use the internet just to know that im not the only one with the problem and some further informartion. But in this case, believe it or not, i haven't found no one with it beside me. Ill contact my regular ophtalmologist and i will contact one other that, as i already referred, seems to have a good reputation. Although, only through the phone contacts i will decide wich one i will go to.
In the last few hours, i have been feeling somekind of a pressure that seems to start on the eye and it goes for all the right side of the head (the eye's side). No need to say its not normal, because i know..