Question

A patient calls the office giving the history that they had cataract surgery two years ago. For the past two days, he has noticed flashes of light in the operated eye. Which of the following is the proper action?

1) Patient should call back to see an ophthalmologist if the symptoms persist.
2) Patient should be assured that "flashes of light" is a normal occurrence in aphakic surgery.
3) Patient should see an ophthalmologist within 24 hours.
4) Patient should see an ophthalmologist within one month.

Answer 1

The patient should see an ophthalmologist within 24 hours due to the risk of serious eye conditions like posterior vitreous detachment, retinal tear, or detachment after cataract surgery. A cataract diffuses light, affecting vision, and lasers used in eye procedures require parallel light rays for precision.Hence, the correct answer is option 3.

Step-by-step explanation:

If a patient who had cataract surgery two years ago reports seeing flashes of light in the operated eye, the proper action would be for the patient to see an ophthalmologist within 24 hours. The occurrence of flashes of light could be an indication of a posterior vitreous detachment, retinal tear, or retinal detachment, especially in an eye that has undergone surgery. These conditions require prompt medical attention to prevent potentially serious complications, including permanent vision loss.

A cataract causes cloudiness in the lens of the eye, which can disperse or diffuse light entering the eye, thereby impairing vision. When performing a laser procedure to repair a tear in the retina, it is essential that the light rays entering the eye are parallel to precisely focus the energy on a specific spot on the retina and ensure effective treatment, avoiding damage to surrounding tissues.