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Eye Care Archive (Expert Forum)
Intense light sensitivity, 11 years post-op
Our Ask A Doctor Ophthalmology Forum is where you can post your question and receive a personal answer from physicians affiliated with the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
Intense light sensitivity, 11 years post-op
by TLS01, Jan 29, 2007 12:00AM
I had a detached retina in the left eye and 4 eye surgeries in 1995-1996. I came out with silicon oil and essentially no vision in the left eye. In summer of 2006 I began having light sensitivity in the right eye. My general practitioner thought the light sensitivity was a symptom of overactive production of histamine, which also gave me a hand rash. I took steroids for a few days and the rash went away. Light sensitivity became worse over time, now with irritation in the left eye, and I went to my retinal specialist in Sept. After many visits, retinal and corneal specialists cannot tell me what's wrong even as symptoms became severe. Corneal specialist doesn't even think that something irritating the nearly blind left eye (feels like something under my eyelid) would cause light sensitivity in right eye. I've had calcium buildup in left eye, which doctors say increased since Sept., but when I went to have it removed the corneal specialist said removing it would NOT ease light sensitivity in right eye and he did not think it was causing the irritation I described in the left eye.
Light sensitivity in now so severe it is a handicap. I can't drive in normal sunlight, overcast conditions are not so bad. Driving in darkness is excruciating because of the brightness of other headlights. Soon I won't be able to get to work. No doctor can tell me what is wrong, let alone what to do about it.
Any ideas?
Light sensitivity in now so severe it is a handicap. I can't drive in normal sunlight, overcast conditions are not so bad. Driving in darkness is excruciating because of the brightness of other headlights. Soon I won't be able to get to work. No doctor can tell me what is wrong, let alone what to do about it.
Any ideas?
Doctor's Answer
The first detachment was repaired by laser and a gas bubble; second was buckle and oil; third was cataract removal; fourth was scar tissue removal, removal of oil; fifth surgery was necessary after small hole in retina caused detachment again, retina was re-attached and oil was put back into the eye; the last three surgeries were within 2 weeks.
I had EXTREME light sensitivity after the last surgery on 12/15/06 AND even when I wore an eye patch over the bad left eye It seemed to cause light sensitivity in my good right eye. You're not crazy It was dibilitating! I walked around the house like a "mole" with eye patch, sunglasses, and the blinds drawn.
It seemed that the problem became worse after using the pred. drops that I use 4 x's a day in the left eye. I couldn't stand being in a room with Christmas tree lights on. It felt like I was looking directly into the sun.
I was told to hang in there by my surgeon and to continue the eye drops. I NEVER had the EXTREME light sensitivity with my prior surgeries even though the pupil in my left eye is perm. dialated. I asked if it was because the catract had been removed. (that was the only difference that I could think may have caused it) I told my surgeons that the light sensitivity was so severe that it seemed to make "wooshing noises" in my ears. They looked at me like I had three heads. (I do have excellent surgeons with great bed side manner)
It took aprox. 6 weeks for the sensitvity to subside. I am now sitting on my computer with the blinds open and the bright winter sun/snow reflection (Pgh PA area) coming through the window and I am not ducking for cover. I can not imagine going through that for 11 years. It appears that there are many things that the surgeons simply can not answer.
I too have some difficulty night driving. I actually bought a pair of ridiculous looking night driving glasses. I just began driving again and my last surgery was 12/15. My vision in my left eye is blurry (from the oil) and I have a light grey area that looks like a crescent moon in my central vision. It was "black" after surgery and continues to get lighter and lighter. Onc surgeon said it was an air bubble (takes longer to go away than even a gas bubble, expecially with the oil in the eye) The other surgeon said it could be displaced pigment. I think it is "air"
The ongoing mysteries of retina surgery....Hang in there!