Cataract Surgery With Glaucoma: Is It Safe?

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If you have cataracts and glaucoma, you may be wondering if it is safe to have cataract surgery. The short answer is yes, it is safe. In fact, cataract surgery can actually improve your vision and help to control your glaucoma. Here's a closer look at why cataract surgery is safe for people with glaucoma and what you can expect during and after the procedure.

What is Cataract?

We all know that our eyes' naturally clean lens aids in focusing light so we can see clearly. Also, you should be aware that the lens gets foggy as we age. Things appear fuzzy, drab, or less vibrant. The term we use for such situations is cataract.

Many of us are further aware that a cataract can only be removed surgically. In other words, your doctor replaces the eye's clouded natural lens with an artificial intraocular lens after removing the original lens (IOL).

What is Glaucoma?

Now, let's see what is Glaucoma. So, Aqueous humour, the eye's natural fluid, does not drain from the eye as easily when you have Glaucoma. The drainage angle, where fluid exits the eye, is blocked. The accumulation of fluid raises ocular pressure. This pressure damages your optic nerve.

If you also have glaucoma, you may be wondering if it is safe to have cataract surgery. The short answer is yes, it is safe. Cataract surgery can actually improve your vision and help to control your glaucoma.

During cataract surgery, your surgeon will make a small incision in your eye and then insert a tiny instrument called an intraocular lens (IOL) into the space behind your natural lens. Once the IOL is in place, your surgeon will remove your natural lens.

After cataract surgery, you will likely need to use eye drops to help prevent infection and inflammation. You may also need to take oral medications for a brief period of time. Your surgeon will also probably recommend that you see an ophthalmologist or optometrist regularly for follow-up appointments.

It is important to note that while cataract surgery can improve your vision, it will not cure glaucoma. However, the procedure can help to lower intraocular pressure (IOP), which is often a major concern for people with glaucoma.

In some cases, people with mild glaucoma may be able to have IOLs implanted during cataract surgery that are specifically designed to help lower IOP. These types of IOLs are called "aqueous shunt" or "trabecular meshwork-inhibitory" IOLs.

Aqueous shunt IOLs work by redirecting fluid drainage from the eye through a tiny tube that drains into a tiny reservoir within the IOL itself. Trabecular meshwork-inhibitory IOLs work by decreasing fluid production within the eye while also increasing outflow through the trabecular meshwork - the Drainage system of the eye - thereby reducing IOP.

If you have glaucoma, be sure to discuss all of your options with your surgeon before having cataract surgery so that you can decide together if an aqueous shunt or trabecular meshwork-inhibitory IOL is right for you.

Why Vedanta Netralya?

Many of you may still be having trouble deciding if combination surgery is the best course of action for you. Of course, scheduling a consultation with a knowledgeable ophthalmic physician at Vedanta Netralya is the only way to be sure if this is the best course of action for you. We have a group of skilled and knowledgeable medical professionals who can offer you the best combined therapy for cataracts and Glaucoma