cataract removal from only good eye

[GailGail]

Another question. Has anyone with one blind eye from wet amd had a cataract removed from their good eye? What where the results?

[middlejoel]

Recently had a cataract removed from an eye that has macular degeneration and I have been taking shots every 7 weeks. Vision much improved, should have done earlier.

[GailGail in reply to middlejoel]

Do you have two working eyes or one?

[middlejoel in reply to GailGail]

I have 2, one is wet macular degeneration, the other is dry . I had cataracts removed from both

[Magsofkent in reply to middlejoel]

Had two cataracts removed this year fine no problem have wet AMD limited sight in other eye and dry amd results were excellent clearer still injections every four weeks but worth doing

[Penelopeflower]

I have had cataracts removed from both eyes, one with wet and one with dry. Greatly improved vision.

[Rosalyn-helpline Partner]

Hello GailGail,

Ophthalmologists can be more cautious about removing a cataract from your second, good eye, when you have already lost your central vision in your first eye.

It is up to your ophthalmologist to weigh up the potential risks and benefits of any surgery.

The following article may be of interest:

Macular Society Summer Sideview 2018, pp.36 - 37

Cataracts and AMD

Ramesh Sivaraj, Consultant Ophthalmologist at Good Hope Hospital, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, explains:

Cataracts form when the clear lens at the front of the eye becomes cloudy or opaque. They exist in several different forms: congenital cataracts affect babies from birth, and they can also develop as a result of poorly controlled diabetes or long-term steroid use, but most are age-related.

The effects of mild cataracts can often be overcome with glasses, but as the lens becomes cloudier over time, they won’t be able to help and surgery becomes the only treatment option.

Because they’re both related to the effects of age, we often see both age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and cataracts in the same person. However, there’s no evidence that having one condition will make you any more likely to develop the other.

A few years ago, people with both conditions were often told that treating their cataracts wasn’t a priority, but that school of thought has changed. Now we’re much more likely to recommend cataract surgery, even if you are having injections to treat wet AMD, for a couple of reasons. First, the treatments for wet AMD can keep vision stable for many years, so you’ll get plenty of use out of your new lenses. And second, removing the cataract makes it easier to get clearer images of the back of the eye and monitor any changes there.

It was believed that inflammation associated with cataract surgery could make dry AMD more likely to turn wet, even if the surgery itself goes to plan. However there is no clinical evidence to support this. If you have a type of dry AMD that is more likely to turn wet, your ophthalmologist will probably still recommend cataract surgery, but they should also make sure that you know how to monitor your vision, and what to do if you notice any changes.

The amount of sight that you are likely to regain after cataract surgery will vary depending on how cloudy the lens has become, and how much of the retina has been damaged by AMD. Your optician or ophthalmologist should be able to give you a good idea of what to expect after any surgery.

Kind regards,

Rosalyn

Macular Society Advice and Information Service

[weatherwatcher in reply to Rosalyn-helpline]

Good morning Rosalyn, Thank you for letting us read very this article again.Did not read article as no cataracts until late 2019, very interesting.

Take care.

😀

[fed13]

Hello GailGail. Yes I had a cataract op. on my good eye, BUT the surgeon left it until I just couldn't see at all. He's been saying "I'll get that eye fixed", whenever I saw him in clinic, for review for wet AMD on blind eye. Blind eye had op. (cataract) years ago, long before AMD set in.

It was the best thing I'd had happen for a long time. The cataract op. gave me a road to Damascus experience, (nothing religious; I just could see whereas before I was blind!) Spec Savers seemed to clinch the deal, as they rang him because I was beating on their door begging for more/better glasses.

It worked for me! let us know how you get on.

FED xx

[GailGail in reply to fed13]

Can you drive?

[StokeySue]

I had cataract ops on both eyes, I have only peripheral vision in my "bad" eye, but still have some central vision in my "good" eye, Surgery was done fairly early as I was developing very high intraocular pressures, and needed glaucoma surgery which was done at the same time, I was quite surprised how much of my sight loss turned out to be due to cataract and was restored, I am/was very myopic and having the implanted lenses is a real bonus for me personally, but of course you need ot discuss with the ophthalmologist how much improvement you can expect

[fed13]

Yes! I can drive, What a mercy. I was told by Spec Saver in January 2020 I was on the very limit of being able to drive. My consultant Surgeon had been whinnying on for ages how my good eye needed cataract surgery, To give him his due my cataract surgery on my good eye was supposed to be done in March/April 2020, and was probably then delayed by Lockdown. It was done eventually in August 2020 thanks to Specsavers intervening on my behalf. I was driving between Jan and August, but only infrequent short distances to chemists: we were locked-down anyway. After August 2020 I could see a thousand times better. I am sure my cataract surgery should have been done earlier, but I didn't make the fuss, and insist I received treatment, the way I should.

[ANetliner]

GailGail, Would it be possible for your retinal consultant to recommend a cataract surgeon with expertise in working with patients with retinal problems? I’m a retinal patient in the U.S. and was referred to such a specialist here. My cataract surgery went well— no problems.