Managing Cataract Surgery with Concurrent Eye Conditions

Managing cataract surgery with other eye conditions adds additional challenges for surgeons—but it’s very common. As we age, the likelihood of being diagnosed with an eye-related disease, such as glaucoma or age-related macular degeneration (AMD) increases.  

Diabetes must also be taken into consideration—and with 11.6% of Americans estimated to be living with the disease, diabetic cataract surgery is something surgeons regularly contend with.

Cataract Surgery with Other Eye Conditions

• Management is key for cataract surgery with other eye conditions 
• Diabetic cataract surgery
• Cataract with glaucoma surgery

Management is key for cataract surgery with other eye conditions

By far the most important aspect to understand about having cataract surgery when you have other eye issues is that the condition must be well-controlled. Your surgeon will also consider your individual circumstances, disease progression, and any physiological anomalies that need to be accounted for.

Some examples of how your eye doctor will do this include:

• Diabetes: Blood sugar must be stable, and, in the case of diabetic retinopathy, any eye structure changes will be assessed, monitored, and treated before surgery if necessary.
• AMD: Pre-operative checks and monitoring will be necessary to ensure no blood or fluid is actively leaking from the retina. If it is, this will be addressed and treated prior to cataract surgery taking place.
• Corneal disease: Again, the pre-operative assessment will look at this in detail, ensuring that necessary steps are taken to understand and plan a surgical cataract procedure tailored to your unique needs.
• Dry eye: A common condition that is often treated in advance of cataract surgery with a 1–2-week course of applying artificial tears. This is essential, as the condition can make it more difficult to get the precise pre-surgical measurements needed for the operation.
• Glaucoma: The condition is often treated concurrently with cataract surgery. One such process, known as micro-invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) is performed at the same time as your cataract removal. It’s often very successful for those with mild to moderate symptoms.
• Fuchs dystrophy: This genetic eye disease is one of the most challenging to treat alongside cataracts. However, ever-advancing procedures mean that cataract surgery can be performed by surgeons who’ve specialized and can take specific steps to lower the associated risks.

Diabetic cataract surgery

Those with diabetes will be asked to closely monitor their blood sugar and share these results with the surgeon. For those with active diabetic eye disease, it will be necessary for this to be addressed before cataract removal can take place. The aim of this is to reduce or—preferably—stop any leakage from blood vessels within the eye, as well as lowering any associated intraocular pressure.

Cataract with glaucoma surgery

In addition to the MIGS surgery already discussed, it’s also worth mentioning other cataract-glaucoma scenarios.

• In some cases, cataract surgery can improve glaucoma. This is because it opens the drainage channels with the eye, thus reducing intraorbital pressure.
• Inserting a stent during surgery. Again, this dilates the drainage channels and lowers eye pressure. This is more likely to be considered for those with a higher degree of glaucoma symptoms.

However, it’s important to understand that glaucoma is a complex condition, with many sub-types. How your surgeon approaches treating cataracts if you also have glaucoma will depend on your individual situation.

Contact the Modern Cataract Surgery Clinic for the Ultimate Complex Cataract Treatment

Cataract care and removal in those with concurrent eye conditions is a specialty at the Modern Cataract Surgery Clinic. Whether you have diabetes, glaucoma, dry eye, AMD, or any other eye condition alongside evolving cataracts, we offer one of—if not the best—level of expertise and advanced facilities in the country. 

Find out more at https://www.moderncataractsurgery.com and call today to book a consultation.