Cataract surgery post Vitrectomy

[homecrafter]

I am 6 months post Vitrectomy/ERM peel and now have a 3+Cataract.  Going in this week to have the Cataract looked at and discuss surgery with a Cataract/Cornea specialist.

QUESTION:  
1)  What are the additional complications usually associated with Cataract surgery on post Vitrectomy patients?
2)  What are the additional precautions the Cataract Surgeon must take ?

I am finding that all the Cataract Opht. I call say they do Vitrectomy patients...but I want to be sure if there is a "Houston we have a problem" situation during the Cataract surgery, that they are prepared to handle it and it seems like "everyone" does Cataract surgery.  

3)  Would you recommend a University teaching hospital to do the surgery?

I am hoping you are able to answer all 3 questions, as I'm sure it would be helpful to all forum followers.
Thank you in advance !!!!

[cathie77]

As regards having a general aneasthetic for my vitrectomy i was given the choice of that or a local aneasthetic,i decided that i would rather be asleep and not know what they were doing as i was very nervous.
When i have my cataract done i will have a local aneasthetic.

[SWBH]

My vitrectomy was done in Feb 2011. Went to my Optician on Monday 21/11/11, as my vision in Vitrectomy eye is very blurred and car headlights are blurred. She tells me I have a cataract that needs surgery. Im shocked that Its formed so quickly (8months).
Im also shocked that you had General Anaesthetic for your Vitrectomy, when it can be done .like mine with a local Anaesthetic. .

[SWBH]

My vitrectomy was done in Feb 2011. Went to my Optician on Monday 21/11/11, as my vision in Vitrectomy eye is very blurred and car headlights are blurred. She tells me I have a cataract that needs surgery. Im shocked that Its formed so quickly (8months).
Im also shocked that you had General Anaesthetic for your Vitrectomy, when it can be done .like mine with a local Anaesthetic. .

[cathie77]

My vitretomy was to repair a macular hole which iwas told was quite large,before surgery my vision appeared normal when looking through both eyes,but on covering my good eye everything looked distorted.I couldn't read any letters on the eye chart with the bad eye.
Since the vitrectomy i can read 3 lines in the eye chart with that eye and the distortion is gone.
When i had my last appoinment in September i myself never noticed any difficulty reading etc ,although this last few weeks i have noticed seeing a glare at night from street lights which i think is one of the signs of a cataract.
I do have a small blurry patch in that eye ,i was told that is where the hole was.
Over all i am very pleased with the outcome.
Although i am not lookig forward to having the cataract done, as it will be under a local aneasthetic,i was put to sleep for the vitrectomy.
I hope everything goes ok for you.

[homecrafter]

Dear Dr. O.
Thank you for your response, I value your posts and opinions !

Unfortunately my central macular swelling on OCT is still 371 at 6 months post surgery, but has been going down gradually.

#1) Wondering if I should wait for it to go down lower???  No one has told me a macular "swelling number" to shoot for.

#2) Also, what is it the surgeons can do if the posterior capsule is presently damaged, or is damaged during Cataract Surgery ???

It would be so great if you could PLEASE answer these two questions for me.  Thanks again Dr. O !

[Ray T Oyakawa, MD]

Cataract surgery after vitrectomy is more difficult because the vitreous support is missing and there is always a possibility of damage to the posterior capsule after the viterectomy.  Most experience cataract surgeons will know how to handle the surgery.  I would recommend surgery sooner than later since it is easier.  You are already 3+.

Dr. O.

[homecrafter]

Sounds like yours developed slower than mine.  Within 3 months post surgery my vision went down to 20/400 due to the Cataract (at least that is what the Retina Surgeon is blaming the reduced vision on at the moment).

Is your vision compromised from the Cataract?  Did you ever re-gain great vision after your Vitrectomy?

[cathie77]

I am in the same situation as you,it is almost a year ago that i had my vitrectomy and i now have a cataract,although iwas told at my last appoinment that it is not very dense yet.
My next appointment is in March 2012.
I had my vitrectomy at St pauls eye unit which is part of the royal liverpool university hospital,i did ask if i could have my cataract removed at my local hospital to save travelling so far,but i have to go back to St pauls which i do feel happy about as i know i will be in good hands.