Is it possible?

[henry4375]

A female friend, 75 years old, recently had cataract surgery. The surgery on her right eye went wonderfully. She returned one week later to get the same surgery on her left eye. Something went terribly wrong but can it possibly be connected to the surgery?

The night of the surgery she experienced sever eye pain and watering.  Two days later, blood started pouring from her nose and mouth. She went to the emergency room where they witnessed this. They admitted her to the hospital for one week and could find nothing despite several more episodes of the bleeding. She was discharged with a referral to return next Monday to see a pulmonary specialist.

She took the following medications after the catarcat surgery: zymar, pred forte, and ciprofloxicillin opthalmic, all prescribed by the opthamologist. He insists there is no connection between the cataract surgery and these incidents of bleeding. Can it reall just be a coincidence----two days later----especially in somebody who was completely healthy and active?

It might also be worth mentioning, she smokes a pack of cigarettes a day?

Thanks for any help and/or advice!      Best regards,   Henry

[henry4375]

Thank you very much for taking the time to answer. I will call her tonight to let her know. I had even offered to call the opthamologist on her behalf (I'm a retired teacher) but she begged me not to do so. In the meantime she has the appointment with the pulmonologist this Monday (7/26/10).   Thank you,    Joe    ("Henry4375")   NYC

[Sandy Feldman, MD, MS]

Dear henry4375,

I would recommend that she speak further with her eyeMD.  This is not a usual complication of eyedrops and surgery; however, one cannot rule out that there is some connection.

Dr. Feldman

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