Cataract Surgery Complication & Outcome Concern

Question: I am in need of cataract surgery and am concerned about possible complications as a result of several pre-existing conditions that could impact the outcome of a cataract operation. These concerns include that I am a well controlled Type 2 diabetic for more than 10 years, I have chronic idiopathic neutropenia and I have been diagnosed with a posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) within the last year. Will this impact the outcome of cataract surgery?

Answer: Assuming that the diabetes has not resulted in diabetic retinopathy-including diabetic macular edema-and the retina and retinal vasculature are otherwise healthy, the Type 2 diabetes should NOT be of concern. If there is some baseline retinopathy or macular edema, your Cataract Surgeon or a Retina Specialist might want you to have one or more intravitreal Lucentis® Injections to prevent and reverse the vascular effects and edema from the diabetes. This is quite manageable. Chronic idiopathic neutropenia only comes into the picture if there is an acute infection to fight-not a typical occurrence with all the intense antibiotic eye drop prophylaxis used today. As long as there is no evidence of retinal traction or operulated retinal tears or holes present, a posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) is not of any real concern. Some 50% or more of patients having Cataract Surgery experience a PVD anyway. Just be sensitive to any increase in flashes, floaters, the presence of “curtains” or “veils’ or “bowing”, distortion” or “bending” of the  vision as this could indicate a retinal problem after surgery.

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