Dry Eyes and Cataract

[anitajay]

I have dry eyes and my surgeon recommended a multifocal in one eye and a toric in other. He didnt mention the case of dry eyes and how it would affect the multifocal. Is it recommended to stay away from multifocals is you have dry eyes?

[anitajay]

Dr. Hagan,

Is it effective for people with dry eyes to get LASIK to treat it?

[JohnHaganMD]

No

[JohnHaganMD]

There are all kinds of dry eyes: mild, moderate and severe.  And also aqueous deficiency (eye dry as bone) and lipid deficiency (runs tears all the time).  If you have moderate or severe (drops 4 or more times/day) multifocal would not be a good choice for most people

[anitajay]

I've been using artificial tears (4+ drops a day). Today I was prescribed celluvisc for nightly use. I was told my dry eyes were like a condition where if people's drops/tears would last 10 secs mine would only last 3-4 seconds or so because of the dryness. However, the optometrist said dry eyes had no effect on cataract surgery and the IOL choice because dry eyes were in the back of the eyes and the glands wouldn't effect it. But this seems opposite to what I've read as many ophthalmologists say to stay away from premium IOLs if you have dry eyes. Could you clarify this matter Dr. Hagan? (I only found out because my current ophthalmologist told me that he didn't notice any dry eyes so I went back to my optometrist at my PCM hospital to clarify).

[JohnHaganMD]

An optometrist does not do cataract surgery. I've done over 14,000 cataract IOL and continue to follow several hundred each year post operatively.  Moderate or severe dry eyes often does complication cataract/IOL surgery.   Read this article carefully:  http://www.medhelp.org/user_journals/show/1648102/Consider-ALL-the-Options-Before-Your-Cataract-Surgery-Working-Through-Whats-Best-For-You