Cataract scar tissue possible for both eyes?

[clarkeyface]

My mother had to have scar tissue removed after her cataract operation. It has not healed well since and left her with distorted vision in that eye. She is afraid now to have the other cataract on her other eye removed for fear of scar tissue developing again which might then  leave her with dreadul distortions in both eyes
She is 87 and has been waiting for the day her sight is so bad she has nothing to lose by risking it. However it is really affecting the quality of her life ... what rae the chances she will scar again and not heal well?
(he has heart problems and arthritis if that is of any imprtance to why she has had these problems)
Thanks
Clarkeyface

[novie228]

Hi, My mom had that scarring after her cataract surgery as well. She was 83. After that she had very dim vision, and was scared to have the other one done. She ended up having a cornea transplant..it failed as well. She was insulin diabetic..I do know your pain, as I lost her in 2001. Now I'm having NTG..same as she had. Im 62.
Novie

[clarkeyface]

Thank you for your reply.
We were told the scar tissue was at the back of her eye and it was removed by surgery 6 months after the cataract operation. Sadly it did not resolve the situation. We just wonder if it was bad luck or because of her age. The docs say they just don't know if the second operation will be unsucessful in the same way. What we really need to know is the incidence of double failures in cataract surgery due to this scarring factor. Then we can work out how risky it is. Any stats/data would be very helpfu.
Thank you
Clarkeyface

[Sandy Feldman, MD, MS]

Dear clarkeyface,

Without knowing what scar tissue, you are describing, it is difficult to assess the probabilities of occurrence in the other eye.  I would recommend that your mother seek the care of an eye specialist to evaluate the cause of “scar” tissue. By becoming informed of her condition and her visual acuity, she might become more comfortable with proceeding with surgical intervention when it is affecting the quality of her life.

Dr. Feldman

Sandy T. Feldman, M.D., M.S.
ClearView Eye and Laser Medical Center
San Diego, California