Question:
I am 61 and have had Type II for 20 years. Though sugars are
controlled reasonably with Actos 45 and glyburide I still have
blurriness in my eyes when sugar is high...e.g. after meals. I am
contemplating removal of cataracts and introcular lens implant. Does
anyone know whether or not with the synthetic lens implant I will
continue to have the blurriness? If it is my natural lens that is
changing with high sugar would it seem reasonable that the synthetic
lens would not change?
Answer:
I had the cataract surgery in both eyes before getting diabetes and you can
still get blurry vision because of the diabetes even with the synthetic
lenses.
My surgeries were three years apart, one in a small rural hospital and one
in a big city. I don't know whether it was improvements in technology or
the location that made the difference, but the second result was far better
than the first. The first used a rigid lens implant requiring a larger
incision and stitches in the eye. The second used a foldable implant that
requires a smaller incision and no stitches in the eye. The first eye has
80/20 uncorrected vision, whereas the second has 15/20. Be sure to get the
foldable implant if given the choice. It cost me an extra uninsured $200
but is well worth it.
You will have a black eye for a few days. Also, the sutures that were
used to sew up your eyeball will be dissolving over the next week or
so. Again, very annoying, but not really painful. You will also have
to sleep with a shield over the affected eye for a week or two.
year shades in all seasons, not just the summer. Also, it is
essential that you have regular check ups with the opthalmologist,
especially when you are a diabetic. So far, and it has been almost
13 years since the last operation, the worst part of seeing the eye
doctor is the damn light he shines in my eyes (after medicating them
for 30 minutes so that they dilate.) Knock on wood, there is no
diabetic retinopathy, nor is there increased intraocular pressure
which would indicate glaucoma. However, I am developing scar tissue
on one of my implants. This is the so called "second cataract" and if
it gets to the point where it interferes with my vision, I will have
them punch a hole in it with the laser.
