Has a Cataract Operation Made Dry Macular Degeneration Become Wet?
Question by kel: Has a cataract operation made dry macular degeneration become wet?
Best answer:
Answer by Leslie D, RN, BSN
There are some anecdotal incidences of the progression of wet macular degeneration after cataract surgery – however, it has not been proven.
Cataracts cause the clouding of the lens on the front of your eyes. This “cloudiness” prevents images and light from entering the eye. Also with advanced cataracts the doctor is unable to detect AMD because he can’t see through the cloudy lens.
What used to be a simple decision to have the cataracts removed, becomes more complicated when a person has macular degeneration. Sometimes doctors will recommend that the AMD patient with cataracts wait until the vision loss is more severe before they will do surgery.
If the blurry vision is from a cataract it will be clearer once the cataract is removed. But if the blurred vision is from macular degeneration, the blurred vision will still be present after the cataract surgery.
According to Dr. Lylas Mogk, Visual Rehabilitation and Research
Center of Henry Ford Health System Eye Care Services:
“Some studies and anecdotal evidence suggest that cataract surgery aggravates wet macular degeneration and may cause it to get worse, although this hasn’t been definitively proven.”
What do you think? Answer below!
Rehabilitation Services at Springfield Shriners Hospital For Children – Learn how Shriners Hospitals for Children physical and occupational therapists engage patients in individualized programs and group activities to improve bod…
Find More Rehabilitation Services Information…