Apixiban and cataract surgery

[RoyM]

Good evening. I am in persistent AF and take 1x twice daily Apixaban. I am due cataract surgery on the 14th June. Just wondering if anyone else been in a similar situation and been advised to stop or continue with the Apixaban before surgery. Cheers Roy

[BobD Volunteer]

You need to discuss with the team who will perform the surgery. People have differing ideas form stopping two days before to the night before so best to check. This is normally discussed at the pre op assessment meeting a few days before but if you are worried why not write to the consultant and ask now.

Bob

[RoyM in reply to BobD]

Thanks Bob. Makes sense.

[Hidden]

Bob is right I have had caterac surgery few months ago but I'm on warfrin as long as I had test done and it was in range they went ahead with op

[seasider18]

Is there any bleeding with cataract surgery? I don't remember any with mine. With my first one I had a pad over my eye overnight. The second one was done slightly differently and just a plastic guard that I could see through that I only had to wear until bedtime. It's pain free and no big deal and each time I went home by bus.

One thing that they don't warn you about is the 20/30% chance of developing posterior capsule opacity (PCO) where the eye basically tries to create a new lens. This is about two years after the operation. I had a very brief laser procedure to correct it in my right eye on Thursday.

[RoyM in reply to seasider18]

Thank you. I have already had cataract surgery on my left eye before I started on Apixaban...so i do understand the procedure. I am a little more concerned about the procedure on my right eye...mainly due to having little sight in my left eye due to Glaucoma..so the stakes for success are a lot higher.

Thanks for replying

[rjr681]

I had both eyes done last year and new lenses fitted. Really great now, though I could only have the distance ones fitted under the NHS so I do need reading glasses. A friend in USA had one distance lenses and one reading lens and says the brain sorts it out within a month.

I was taking Dabigatan at the time (am still taking it) and was told to leave the morning one until after the operation. There was no problem, in fact it was really interesting as you are awake through it just holding someone's hand to squeeze if there is a problem. Just wish I had had it done years ago

[RoyM in reply to rjr681]

Thanks rjr681 interesting post.

[meadfoot]

I had to stop before an EP study, was a little concerned but all was well in that respect.

[shsronmbu]

I am on apixaban as well. Had cataract surgery 3 and 4 weeks ago. No blood vessels are cut so no bleeding involved. Stayed on the same schedule of apixaban. No problem. Was very nervous with the first eye and had had a short episode of AF three days before. I practiced deep, slow breathing while waiting on the procedure to calm myself and was fine. Second eye, I was much more relaxed. No problems. Good luck. It is great to see clearly again!

[RoyM in reply to shsronmbu]

I suppose the sight deteration is so gradual you don't know how bad your sight as become. It's only when a new lens is fitted you do realise how poor your eyesight as become. When you only have one eye that's much good it's doubly important that eye is restored to near normal as possible. Hence my concerns....not about the procedure itself but the ultimate outcome. Cheers Roy

[Goldfish_]

You will be at low risk of bleeding. The local anaesthetic is usually just applied topically, but occasionally an injection may be required, which may result in bruising.

The unit will have a routine, but the evidence is a little uncertain; one of these papers says warfarin is OK to continue, the other raises some minor doubts

scielo.br/pdf/abo/v78n3/000...

crd.york.ac.uk/CRDWeb/ShowR...

[RoyM]

Hi Goldfish. Thanks for your post.....interesting!!