Cataracts develop as a natural part of aging. And with aging often comes the possibility of other eye conditions as well as the likelihood of various health problems. Common age-related eye problems include presbyopia, temporal arteritis, dry eye syndrome, macular degeneration and cataracts. These eye conditions can lead to serious vision problems the longer you have them. These can worsen when you experience more than one serious condition at a time. Cataract surgery is inevitable once they have developed and will result in removal depending on how the cataract progresses. Is cataract surgery safe for patients with other eye problems like macular degeneration or glaucoma?
The short answer is yes, cataract surgery is generally safe and effective in correcting vision problems related to both macular degeneration and glaucoma. Coexisting conditions can make cataract surgery more complex, so it is important to choose a surgeon with a wealth of expertise in this field to accommodate changes in surgical technique, requiring extra precautions and being extra vigilant and careful during surgery especially if the patient has had previous eye surgeries that include vitrectomy, a glaucoma shunt implant or scleral buckling. For many patients struggling with double vision brought on by age-related macular degeneration and cataracts, cataract surgery can improve vision. For patients affected by the intraocular pressure brought on by glaucoma, glaucoma and cataract surgeries can be combined for full effectiveness as well to steady increased eye pressure that can result from cataract surgery alone.
While every patient is different, for the most part, cataract surgery is necessary to preserve vision and will not affect the symptoms nor will it cause further damage of macular degeneration or glaucoma. An experienced surgeon will monitor the status of the patient’s eye health and vision for the most optimal outcome.
For an evaluation of your eye health, contact Pendleton Eye at 760-758-2008 or WEBSITE.
