Cataract Surgery and Coumadin

Marty · Mar 19, 2003

I saw a new opthamologist yesterday for a comprehensive eye exam. I have a cataract in one eye thats a year or two away from surgery. I asked how he handled cataract surgery in folks on Coumadin and he said "very carefully". However he does not stop anticoagulants if they are in therapeutic range. He has never had any trouble.
Interesting, Eh?

Ross · Mar 19, 2003

That sounds great to me Marty. I don't know too much about cataract surgery, but it isn't a very bloody procedure is it? From what I remember of my dads, it wasn't, but I was just a little tike when he had his done.

Nancy · Mar 19, 2003

Hi Marty-

Joe went on in-hospital Heparin drip for his cataract removal. Short stay prior, but a long stay afterwards. The opthalmologist was amazed at the length of the stay. Joe's card handled the anticoagulation.

LUVMyBirman · Mar 19, 2003

Marty, how about Lasik? Wonder if that may correct it? Heck in two years it will may be non-invasive. Keep us posted.
Take care

Blanche · Mar 19, 2003

Marty:
In l994 Al was told that he would need cataract surgery when his cataracts "bloomed." His eye dr also said that he would have to discontinue coumadin for 5 days before and 5 days after surgery. This scared him, so he did nothing until April of l996. We were returning from a play at night and he almost drove up the back of a dump truck because he couldn't see it. We found an eye surgeon who operated on the first eye 6 days later. This eye doctor has already completed 10,000 cataract surgeries, many with elderly people on coumadin. He said he would not operate on someone who discountined coumadin because he did not want a patient to have a stroke on his operating table.

Al had both eyes done and had no trouble whatever. What he did get was a new look on life. He said that he had forgotten how vivid colors were. To this day, he says he wishes he had the procedure sooner. Hope this helps.
\Blanche

Marty · Mar 20, 2003

Thank you, Blanche!

Thank you, Blanche!

Blanche, I really appreciate your post. It is the type of info I was looking for. I will forward it verbatim to my new young opthamologist who I commend for still trying to be a real doctor and not just an eyeball specialist with tunnel vision. (All my doctors are "young" now as my peers have mostly retired or gone to that Big HMO in the SKY). I'll be looking for guru Al to ring in on this one soon. May both you and Al prosper.P.S. Thanks also to Ross and Gina and Nancy for the good words.