Cataract Surgery with permanent AF

[ktf2022]

New to the community. Have permanent AF, only meds Metoprolol to control heart rate and Aspirin. Saw some posts regarding cataract surgery. Anyone have similar AF "experience" that had cataract surgery? I'm a "timid" patient due to AF, but my cataract in one eye really needs attention. The community's feedback and experiences would be greatly appreciated. My ophthalmologist prefers a light general anesthetic.

[Bagrat]

My husband has permanent AF and had both cataracts done while on warfarin with no problems. It is not necessary to stop aspirin either.I am wondering how old you are and if there is a reason you are not taking warfarin or one of the "new" anticoagulants to protect you from possible stroke. Aspirin is not usually recommended these days as protection in AF. I have paroxysmal AF and also had cataracts done on apixaban with great success.

[ktf2022 in reply to Bagrat]

I'm 60; probably should be on blood thinner since getting older. Thank you for the reply. Did your husband have general anesthetic (sleep) Or just local? I'm nervous about the anesthetic.

[Bagrat in reply to ktf2022]

We both had just anaesthetic drops. It's strange but not painful. A toss up between the dentist for an extraction and cataract. Prob prefer cataract tbh. If you go on main AFAssociation website you'll find a link to check your Chads2vasc score which gives you an idea if anticoagulants are advised.

preventaf-strokecrisis.org/...

[bantam12]

My brother in law has had both eyes done and had no issues. I have had one eye but need the other doing, again no problems. I really wouldn’t think you need a general anaesthetic as it’s such a quick painless procedure hardly worth the hassle.

[BobD Volunteer]

Aspirin rings lots of alarm bells. It has almost no benefit for stroke prevention in AF whilst having great potential for harm. People think that becasue you can buy them across the counter they are safe to use. Yes they have a place in heart matters , for example if you have a stent etc but please think long and hard about this.

[John67]

I am 73 and been in permanent AF for six years. Recently had my right eye done with no problems left one in two weeks. Try not to worry it only takes about fifteen minutes and all you feel is a little pressure around the eye.

[lovetogarden]

Hi, I just had both eyes done a month or so ago. I asked for “all the drugs”! I don’t remember a thing. I was so nervous before the first one that my heart flipped into tachycardia for a few minutes while I was in the prep area. I’m not in permanent afib, just atrial tachycardia. Asked my cardiologist about the procedure, he said that here wouldn’t be a problem with the procedure or all the eye drops afterwards.

I wish someone had told me ahead of time that I wouldn’t remember a thing! In the end it was far less stressful than getting my teeth cleaned! 😂 Best of luck!

[Thomas45]

Prior to having my cataracts sorted I watched the procedure on YouTube. That allayed by fears. No sedation is necessary. Nurses give you eye drops and then you're given an anaesthetic. Didn't hurt. During the procedure I saw muted bright colours on both occasions. I had at that time, and still have Permenant AF. The vastly improved sight cataract surgery gives is amazing.