Dr. Mark F. Pyfer, M.D.

It is very difficult to comment on the details of the surgery without seeing you in person and reviewing all the information including testing, surgical notes and reports. I am sorry that you had a difficult surgical experience. I recommend that you get a second opinion from an experienced surgeon at an academic teaching hospital such as Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia PA USA.
I hope this is helpful to you.

Sincerely,

Mark F. Pyfer, MD

Only in an emergency if nothing else is available, such as if you accidentally splash a chemical or irritating substance into your eye. If it is not an emergency, it is best to use a balanced saline eye wash or lubricating drops made for the eye, such as artificial tears if needed. Tap water will irritate your eyes and rinse away the important protective mucus and oil layers on the surface of the eye. You also risk infection by using anything that is not sterile in a closed container.

Mark F. Pyfer, MD, MS, FACS

Age 45 is a bit young for cataract surgery, but if you have a visually significant cataract and an ophthalmologist has recommended surgery, they will tell you which eye they recommend to be done first. Usually it is the worse seeing eye, or if both are similar then the dominant eye should usually be done first. Often we proceed with the other eye in 1-4 weeks after the first eye is done, so order of surgery is not that significant in the long run. Remember that whenever surgery is recommended, you have a choice and should have your questions answered to your satisfaction by the surgeon or their staff before the procedure.

Sincerely,

Mark F. Pyfer, MD, MS, FACS

That is called nystagmus and there are many causes, all related to brain function involving control of eye movements. Some are benign, others a sign of a serious condition. Brain injury, medications, neurological disease like MS, and even brain tumors can cause nystagmus. If you never had it before, you should see an ophthalmologist or neurologist ASAP. If you have
any associated neurologic symptoms, like dizziness, headache, weakness, or numbness, then go to an ER right away.

Mark F. Pyfer, MD

It is important to have an individual evaluation, but if eyes are normal and healthy and your correction is in range, at your age LASIK is usually the best vision correction procedure for nearsightedness, also called myopia.

Mark F. Pyfer, MD, MS, FACS

Not usually. Cataract is a clouding of the natural lens of the eye, which is located behind the iris and pupil. If the cataract is very dense it may look like a cloudy grey, brown or even white pupil instead of a clear black space.

Since only one eye is operated at a time, you can usually drive 24 hours after surgery once the sedative has worn off, as long as you have good legal driving vision in the other eye. Vision in the operated eye may take a few days to completely clear, and you will likely need new glasses. If you do not feel comfortable driving, then of course do not! Ask your surgeon for specific advice in your situation.

Sincerely,

Mark F. Pyfer, MD, MS, FACS

Simply put, no. Excess tearing is the root cause of what people refer to as "watery eyes." This can be from a variety of factors, but most common are:

1. oil-deficient dry eye from plugging of the oil glands on the eyelids, called blepharitis, and
2. allergies

Allergy usually has itching and eye redness as another symptom, and blepharitis usually eye burning with redness and swelling of the rim of the eyelids along with frequent stye formation. Many people have a combination of these 2 conditions. It is best to visit an eye doctor for an exam if the tearing is causing discomfort or blurry vision.
I hope this is helpful to you.

Sincerely,

Mark F. Pyfer, MD, MS, FACS

Yes, most of the time we can. It requires dilation of the pupil with eye drops. Floaters are usually opacities in the vitreous cavity behind the lens and in front of the retina. Like the dust in the air visible in a dark movie theater in the bright projector light. If you have new visual floaters you should have a dilated full eye exam as soon as possible, since this may indicate a retinal problem.

Mark F. Pyfer, MD

I assume you are speaking about cataract surgery? If so, the decision to have surgery is made when it is safe to do so, since it is not an urgent need. If the anesthesiologist feels your high blood pressure or blood sugar make it riskier to undergo surgery with IV sedation, then they will recommend postponing surgery until your medications can be adjusted to bring your BP into a more normal range.

Mark F. Pyfer, MD, MS, FACS

This is a potentially serious condition called Horner’s syndrome of the left eye. You need to have imaging done urgently of the head, neck, and chest to look for a structural lesion interfering with the sympathetic nerve pathway on the left side. It has a complex course from the brain stem down the spinal cord to the upper chest level, then up along the carotid artery to the orbit and eye. See an ophthalmologist immediately or go to the ER, especially if you are having neck pain or a headache.

Basic guidelines are to follow your ophthalmologist or optometrist instructions carefully. I am assuming you are talking about modern daily wear soft contact lenses. These are high technology products which are oxygen permeable and comfortable for wearing up to 12-16 hours per day if you have healthy eyes. Replace the lenses as recommended, do not sleep in
contact lenses, and use a good disinfecting solution overnight, preferably a peroxide based system. If one or both eyes are red, irritated or vision becomes blurred while wearing contact lenses, this is a sign of trouble. Remove the lenses right away with these symptoms and dispose of them. If the problem does not resolve completely within an hour or so, call your eye
doctor. Use eye protection while wearing lenses, such as sunglasses outdoors, and safety goggles for any hazardous duties, power tool use, or rough sports. Also, do not swim or shower in contact lenses. Make sure to see your eye doctor annually to check for any problems before renewing your prescriptions. And always keep a backup pair of glasses with you so you can still function if you have to stay out of your lenses for a time due to infection or irritation, especially while traveling or on vacation.

Mark F. Pyfer, MD, MS, FACS

You should contact the surgeon who performed the procedure asap. If there is an infection, you must be evaluated immediately.

You cannot remove a soft contact lens without touching your eye. Just wash your hands well and practice good lens hygiene. Your ophthalmologist or optometrist who fits your lenses can answer specific questions regarding wearing habits and instructions on proper insertion and removal techniques.

Mark F. Pyfer, MD

Yes, as long as they are properly fit and you follow wearing and cleaning instructions carefully, contact lenses are generally safe. There is always some small risk of infection from contact lens wear. Symptoms of redness, pain or blurred vision could indicate infection, so contact lenses should be removed immediately if these occur, and you should contact your eye doctor if it does not resolve within 2-3 hours after removal.

Mark F. Pyfer, MD, MS, FACS

Yes, a burning sensation in the eyes during a fever is very common and not harmful. You can use a cool compress and some artificial tear drops to soothe your eyes. Try Tylenol 650mg to reduce the fever if you are uncomfortable. More importantly, please get evaluated for the cause of the fever. One concern is viral infection with COVID-19. Please contact your primary care doctor or go to an urgent care center or hospital emergency room if the fever lasts for more than 24 hours or is accompanied by cough and shortness of breath.

Mark F. Pyfer, MD, MS, FACS

Only a detailed exam can determine if you are suitable for laser vision correction. Special measurements of your eye will be taken along with a detailed exam. Most LASIK evaluations are at no charge.

Sincerely

Mark F. Pyfer, MD

No. Salt water rinses for your nose and gargle for your throat can help when you have a cold with nasal congestion. Conjunctivitis often occurs with these infections. It is mostly viral, so there is no antibiotic treatment that is effective. For viral conjunctivitis (pink-eye) you can use an over-the-counter vasoconstrictor - antihistamine combination such as Naphcon-A to relieve itching and redness temporarily. No more than twice a day for 3 days. Artificial tears are balanced salt drops that are sterile that you can also get OTC. Use those up to 4x a day for comfort. Also, cool compresses may help with eyelid swelling. If you have abundant mucus discharge and crusting around the eyelids, it may be a bacterial infection so you should see an eye doctor. If redness lasts more than 3-4 days or you have significant blurry vision or pain, see an eye doctor asap.

Mark F. Pyfer, MD, MS, FACS

Yes, mainly due to dry eyes. You need some time with eyes closed daily for optimal eye health. Excess drying due to chronic exposure can cause discomfort. Try using lubricating artificial tears and avoid extended wear contact lenses if you are temporarily short on sleep.

Mark F. Pyfer, MD

It is uncommon to have dry eyes at age 17, so you should be evaluated for autoimmune conditions. It can also be caused by certain medications such as diuretics, accutane, anti-depressants, and antihistamines. There is no specific vitamin treatment that has been proven to work, but fish oil supplements help some people. Also take a daily multivitamin to make sure you get enough vitamin A. Make sure you see an ophthalmologist for a full evaluation.

Mark F. Pyfer, MD