Cataract Surgery and Blood Thinners

Question: I have severe heart disease with A-fib and have a cataract-what is the policy for coumadin and cataract surgery?


Answer: Coumadin or Warfarin is used to prevent blood clots from forming or growing larger in your blood and blood vessels. It is prescribed for people with certain types of irregular heartbeat, people with prosthetic (replacement or mechanical) heart valves, and people who have suffered a heart attack. Warfarin may also used to treat or prevent certain types of strokes by thinning the blood. Top Cataract Surgeons can use a technique called "small incision clear cornea phacoemulsification" in which there is no bleeding or trauma to blood vessels. It is performed in completely in vascular-or blood vessel free tissue. By using this procedure for Cataract removal it is not necessary to discontinue taking Coumadin prior to Cataract Surgery. The key here is to find the best Cataract Surgeon you can and have an examination so he or she can tell you if it is possible for you to have this type of Cataract Surgery procedure.

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