cataract removal

[paint0]

Two years ago, I had retinal reattachment surgery (in office).  I have now developed a cataract.  Can the cataract be safely and successfully removed?

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS]

Cataract surgery in an eye that has had a RD is not very much different that in an eye with a nromal retina. If you have a buckle on your eye the risk of an RD after surgery is low. Nevertheless I would suggest you clear this with your RD Eye MD. I have my patients that have had RD or are at high risk for RD see our retina Eye MD before surgery, one week after cataract surgery and 6 weeks after surgery then 6 months later. This has proved very effective in identifying problems. The overwhelming number of these patients have done great and at this time I don't recall one that has had another RD in the eye that has been buckled.

JCH III MD

[Robt610]

That is the 64K question. Retinal surgery often brings on cataracts, and cataract surgery sometimes causes RT. The risk of RT after cataract surgery is much higher for people who are very nearsighted. There may be reason to believe RT is less of a risk in the eye already detached since it has probably already undergone a PVD (but still risky vs someone who is not nearsighted). All things being equal it is probably best to wait as long as possible. Also, get a good cataract surgeon who takes his time and is not in an assembly line approach. Have a Retinal surgeon examine the eye prior to cataract surgeon. Ask him for a recommendation of a cataract surgeon. They know who has the lowest rate of complications ... the best doctors are the ones refering the least number of patients to them

[paulm999]

Yesterday, Feb 29, I had cataract surgery. The lens in my right eye was replaced. Your worry was also mine. Last June the retina in that eye detached. My problem with retinas is heredity. Members of my family have thin retinas, aka, lattice degeneration. My opthamologist said that during that surgery, it looked as though the entire retina was about to become "unzipped." Silicone oil was filled into the eyeball. Three days after surgery, when the retina finally "flattened out", my doctor "double stiched" the retina with another round of lazer hits. In September, my second vitrectomy in that eye removed the silicone oil. The retina had no problem with the eye abuse during that operation. However, the silicone oil left me with a smudge on the lens. It was another few months before my opthamologist, a vitreo-retina specialist,  referrred me to a cataract surgeon. My report on Day One after cataract surgery, is that the retina is doing fine, and I have high confidence it will stay put. My vision, even tho normal-blurry after surgery, is still a big improvement over my smudged vision that I had yesterday. I expect my vision to improve gradually over the next week as my cataract surgeon says all looks excellant.

I would not have had cataract surgery without my vitreo-retina surgeon first signing off on the operation. My hope is that you find an eye surgeon that you trust, as that helps relieve at least 75% of the anxiety experienced in these circumstances.