Vision Issues after Surgery
51M, and just had my third OHS on Sept. 28th. Congenital BAV, had a surgical repair at age 3, then the Ross Procedure in 2006. After monitoring a 5.4cm aneurysm of my aorta and gradual decline of my RV-PA conduit homograft, I underwent the Yakoub Procedure about 2 weeks ago and have been recovering at home since last Sunday.
Pain is well managed, things are healing well, and I am moving more and more each day. The only nagging side effect has been some visual floaters/spots that are really frustrating me.
They began in the ICU immediately after surgery. The best way I can describe them, as a lifelong migraine sufferer, is like the visual aura I get preceding a headache, only less severe. Small blurry spots interfering with the very center of my vision, and they move where I look. I can watch TV at a distance but reading or looking at my phone is difficult and frustrating.
I raised this with the nurses and doctors in hospital but the consensus was “it should pass” with no real explanation.
I’m assuming this is likely one of those random side effects of bypass, and that’s how the medical staff seem to be treating it, but I’ve booked an optometrist appointment for an evaluation anyway. It’s a very frustrating side effect as I had hoped to be able to catch up on some reading and some other projects that will require functional vision while I am recovering.
Looking for anyone who may have experienced this as well and any suggestions or experience on how I might help it go away, or how long I might expect it to last. Or if I should escalate this with my family doctor when I see her for follow up on Tuesday. I don’t want to overreact as all of the surgical/cardiac staff seemed unphased by what I was describing but honestly were I to be cleared for driving in a few weeks, and this issue persisted, I would not feel safe behind the wheel.
Thanks.