Seeing Double???

[prettygreeneyes]

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I need some advice! My husband's 90 year old grandmother had cataract surgery in both eyes in July. The surgeries (each eye seperately) were done over the course of one month, and supposedly went very well with no complications. She had been seeing double before the surgeries, but this seemed to disappear with the surgery and didn't happen again for about a month or so. When it did start happening again, she went back to the doctor and he gave her a new eyeglass prescription. That again seemed to fix the problem. However, the past couple months the double vision is back and worse than ever. When she does not wear her glasses, the double vision is very bad. She will put on her glasses, and it will eventually improve. The last two weeks or so, she has said that it does not get better no matter how long she wears the glasses. She tells me that when she looks at something, there are two images. She can look away and then look back, and one will be gone, but it eventually comes back. I do know that she has some prism in her glasses, but I'm not sure if that matters or not. She says the images do not look like "ghost images" but that there is actually two TVs, two cups of coffee, etc. (They look so real, she sometimes tries to grab for the wrong cup of coffee!) This is making her increasingly depressed, and needless to say it is worrying the family a great deal. Sorry for such a long post, but I figure this is the best place to get some answers!

 

[xmattODx]

ummmm... take her back to her doc?

 

[prettygreeneyes]

ummmm... take her back to her doc?

OK... now I feel a little dumb... We are taking her back to the doctor. I was hoping to satisfy my intellectual curiosity and find out why this was happening.

 

[xmattODx]

It is hard to determine what could be causing it. It could be very benign to quite serious and I don't dare venture a guess without a complete history and the patient in front of me. Let us know when you do. My best to you and yours.

 

[r_salis]

She definitely needs to go back to see her doctor -- but one possibility is that one or both of the implant lenses (that replaced her natural lenses which had the cataracts) shifted out of position causing a prism effect, which would shift the images going back to her retina enough to give her double vision.

 

[xmattODx]

But she was seeing double before surgery!

 

[Opii]

Suggest for a CT scan.

 

[stompy]

All of the above...and as a temporary solution before your appointment...close one eye while grabbing for coffee...?

 

[xmattODx]

Suggest for a CT scan.

Do you really think that this is necessary with the brief history we have?

 

[prettygreeneyes]

Thanks for the posts everyone. We are taking her to the doctor next week. It is interesting that someone suggested a CT scan. She had one done due to a fainting spell which caused her to fall and bump her head two weeks ago. There were no abnormalities found, and she was just diagnosed with atrial fibrillation. (They aren't sure how long that has been going on.) So, she had a pacemaker put in and seems to be doing well, with the exception of the vision problem which is really bringing her down. (Despite the recent health issue, she is a VERY active 90 year old. She serves lunch for people 20 years younger than her!) I'll keep you guys updated when she goes back to the doctor.

 

[Opii]

Do you really think that this is necessary with the brief history we have?

Yes, I wouldn't like to get my b*** sued.
Obviousley a thinking doctor had aleady done it last week to rule out SOMETHING SERIOUS.
Why are you always on my case matt??
My suggestions are pretty ingenious if I may say so myself.

 

[xmattODx]

Man it was just a question. The CT scan was for something not in the history. The double vision has been waxing and waning. She has prism in her glasses. My bet decompensated vertical phoria, but one would want to actually see the patient and get a full history obviously. If you want a CT scan do it. I was just asking if you thought it was necessary, you do.

 

[Opii]

Man it was just a question. The CT scan was for something not in the history. The double vision has been waxing and waning. She has prism in her glasses. My bet decompensated vertical phoria, but one would want to actually see the patient and get a full history obviously. If you want a CT scan do it. I was just asking if you thought it was necessary, you do.

Sorry. It's been a tough week and KHE's thread is depressing me.

 

[xmattODx]

Don't worry about it and don't get depressed, you'll make it work.

 

[Opii]

Don't worry about it and don't get depressed, you'll make it work.

🙂

 

[Opii]

Man it was just a question. The CT scan was for something not in the history. The double vision has been waxing and waning. She has prism in her glasses. My bet decompensated vertical phoria, but one would want to actually see the patient and get a full history obviously. If you want a CT scan do it. I was just asking if you thought it was necessary, you do.

Yep. Decompensated Vertical Phoria.

 

[rpie]

Sorry. It's been a tough week and KHE's thread is depressing me.

OPii, Relax and have a beer! 😎 If you work hard and have a good knowledge of Optometry you will be fine! 👍 Yes Ken’s impression is that of doom and gloom and people like “Dr. Dude” feels that OD’s are Quacks are disturbing, but don’t let that get you down. (I found that comment hilarious) If you want to have a say in what happens with Optometry, get active in your State Optometric association, and the AOSA.

 

[Opii]

OPii, Relax and have a beer! 😎 If you work hard and have a good knowledge of Optometry you will be fine! 👍 Yes Ken’s impression is that of doom and gloom and people like “Dr. Dude” feels that OD’s are Quacks are disturbing, but don’t let that get you down. (I found that comment hilarious) If you want to have a say in what happens with Optometry, get active in your State Optometric association, and the AOSA.

Thanks Rpie, This one's for you.

 

[prettygreeneyes]

Well, my husband's grandmother went to the doctor today. He did change her glasses prescription, although what he changed I'm not exactly sure. (I didn't go to the appointment and the people who did don't have an interest in the why's and how's... they just want it fixed.) So... thank you for your posts and opinions. As far as a beer and KHE's posts goes... count me in! After being lectured today by a "far superior to me" OMD and reading KHE's posts... I just feel...sad.

 

[rpie]

Well, my husband's grandmother went to the doctor today. He did change her glasses prescription, although what he changed I'm not exactly sure. (I didn't go to the appointment and the people who did don't have an interest in the why's and how's... they just want it fixed.) So... thank you for your posts and opinions. As far as a beer and KHE's posts goes... count me in! After being lectured today by a "far superior to me" OMD and reading KHE's posts... I just feel...sad.

Keep Smiling Green eyes! 🙂 ..…The verbal lashing by the OMD suggests he might be getting defensive of his work. If he were really astute, he would welcome your questions and even try to explain what he is doing especially since your going to be an OD. By being nice I think the OMD can look forward to having your referrals in the future.

 

[Opii]

Well, my husband's grandmother went to the doctor today. He did change her glasses prescription, although what he changed I'm not exactly sure. (I didn't go to the appointment and the people who did don't have an interest in the why's and how's... they just want it fixed.) So... thank you for your posts and opinions. As far as a beer and KHE's posts goes... count me in! After being lectured today by a "far superior to me" OMD and reading KHE's posts... I just feel...sad.

Hi PGE, don't get sad. I agree with rpie, that the "lecture" from the OMG sounds like a defensive move. Think about it, she was seeing double before the Sx and continued to see double after the Cat Sx. Sounds like he just wanted to do surgery. Then again your grandmother is 90 yrs so she probably did need cataract surgery anyway. I wonder if he checked for monocular or binocular diplopia. CT is another expensive procedure. Maybe if her vertical phorias would have been checked, single vision would have been found with glasses (prism Rx). Anyway, maybe these new glasses will fix the problem. I wish her the best. Let us know how she feels with her new specs.

Well I better change my avatar soon I don't want people thinking I'm a complete boozer.

 

[prettygreeneyes]

Thanks rpie and opii for the kind words. The OMD who lectured me was not the same doctor treating my husband's grandmother. I was finishing up some observation hours at the VA for my Pacific application. The OMD who had just finished surgery stopped by to talk to the OD I was following, and then took it upon himself to "open my eyes" to reality in the world of OMD's and OD's. He said some comments that I myself would never say to anyone who is there to observe and learn from you... so I was just surprised. I don't want to get into the whole OMD vs. OD thing... again, so I'll leave it at that. Then, I come home and read KHE's posts and I wonder if I am making a mistake! I just want to help people see... forget the drama! I've just decided to focus on what my hopes and dreams are... and take everyone's advice with a grain of salt. All is well now... so thanks again!