Ibrutinib and Cataract surgery

[ANA4]

I have been on Ibrutinib for 4 years and need to do cataract surgery for both eyes . I am worried about the bleeding because of Ibrutinib.

Anyone else experience this? Appreciate any advice.

[Ellieoak]

I was on Imbruvica and had several surgeries but I had no bleeding problems. You will need to take a few days off the drug before surgery but you need to ask your doctor what is recommended.

[ANA4 in reply to Ellieoak]

Thanks for your response.

[MovingForward4423]

Speak to your consultant. Ibrutinib needs to be stopped 14 days prior to major surgery.

[Nucleusman]

I am on Acalabrutinab. was advised to stop treatment a week before then after cataract surgery

[PaulaS Volunteer]

I am on Ibrutinib and was advised to stop it for 5 days before cataract surgery till 5 days after. Some people say no need to stop it at all for cataracts, as the surgery doesn't involve blood vessels.

However, even though I stopped Ibrutinib as advised, I had extensive bruising all round my eye after the surgery. I looked like I'd been in a fight! The eye itself was OK though. No permanent damage done.

As you've been on Ibrutinib for 4 years, I presume your CLL is controlled now, so stopping the drug for a short time shouldn't cause problems. Hopefully your haematologist will be able to advise you about that.

Wishing you all the best for your cataract surgery. I was so glad I had mine done, as I could see so much better afterwards. Colours became brighter, and driving much safer!

Paula

[ANA4 in reply to PaulaS]

Thank you very much PaulaS. That's useful.

[WinJ3 in reply to PaulaS]

What type IoL lens did you get, Paula?

[PaulaS Volunteer in reply to WinJ3]

It was a standard NHS lens, not a varifocal one.

[WinJ3 in reply to PaulaS]

Thanks, glad you had a good outcome.

[Cunard]

Hi I’ve been on ibrutinib for three and a half years I have had cataract removed from both eyes with no problem stopped ibrutinib for 3 days before and 4 days after no problem good luck the difference is amazing

[clladytime in reply to Cunard]

Same for me.

[lankisterguy Volunteer]

Hi ANA4,

-

When I had my cataract surgery my CLL expert and the ophthalmologist had an interesting discussion. They agreed that where the incision is made in the cornea, there are no blood vessels.

However the ultrasonic tool that is used to dissolve the old natural lens can cause blood vessels to rupture nearby. Some of those blood vessels are in the retina, where it might cause some permanent damage. So out of an abundance of caution, they had me pause ibrutinib 3 days before the surgery.

For me the surgery took less than 5 minutes, but it took 5 days for the swelling to subside enough for me to read fine text - and of course I no longer needed my glasses for distance vision correction, but I did need reading glasses for fine text, so I switched to some OTC readers from the pharmacy / grocery store.

-

Len

[ANA4 in reply to lankisterguy]

Thank you very much. That's extremely useful.

[WinJ3 in reply to lankisterguy]

That’s great! What type IoL lens did you get?

[Nanno77]

I have been on Ibrutinib for 3 years, am in remission and have had the cataract operation twice with no problems.