Is it safe for diabetics to have cataract surgery?

Is it safe for diabetics to have cataract surgery?- Diabetes falls under the types of systemic diseases. It is not unsafe to pursue cataract surgery for a diabetic person if followed by preventive measures and preoperative analysis. There are various factors a diabetic patient should take into consideration when going for cataract surgery.

Cataract surgery in diabetic patients

India faces a significant number of diabetic patients. Cataract surgery corrects impaired vision and eye diseases such as myopia (near-sightedness), hyperopia (far-sightedness), and astigmatism. However, people having coexisting diabetes are prone to developing macular edema, active retinopathy, vitreous hemorrhage, and loss of vision.

Preoperative examination-

Diabetic patients develop cataracts faster than nondiabetic patients. The evaluation of diabetic patients pre-surgery is the same as nondiabetic patients but requires more diagnosis of the eye changes. Type 1 diabetics most frequently experience a type of cataract called Snowflake cataract. Diabetics commonly develop a cataract that is known as the senile type. These patients can also suffer a posterior subcapsular cataract, nuclear and cortical cataract depending upon the duration of diabetes, and increased glycated hemoglobin levels.

Diabetic retinopathy which is further divided into background diabetic retinopathy and proliferative diabetic retinopathy damages the retina and is the main factor for patients developing macular edema or visual loss after surgery. The surgeons should run detailed tests to reveal the extent of these diseases in the patient. This condition must be treated before the surgery to avoid harmful circumstances post-surgery.

The patients are further advised to get ahold of systemic blood glucose levels. The anterior segment can also be affected due to uncontrolled diabetes. Treatment of neovascularization that often leads to neovascular glaucoma should be prioritized over cataract surgery.

Once the patients have controlled diabetes and well-examined reports of the conditions, surgeons can proceed with Cataract surgery.

Postoperative examination-

Diabetic patients can be more prone to Endophthalmitis (a serious eye infection), diabetic macular edema, posterior capsular opacification, and worsening diabetic retinopathy. Maintaining your blood sugar levels post-surgery can help with a faster and safer recovery. Non-steroidal and anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are prescribed by your surgeon to treat the side effects of cataract treatment. Having your eyes monitored and following all appointments regardless of any specific concerns may also help restore your vision. You should see your ophthalmologist if you experience worsening eye vision or eye pain, new flashes, or changes in your vision.

Monofocal intraocular lenses are preferred for diabetic patients as monofocal lenses provide better vision at one focal point and are a better-performing choice than multifocal lenses.

Surgical measures that should be considered pre-, during, and post-surgery-

A diabetic patient with a blood glucose level of 140 to 200mg/dL is considered as maximum when opting for cataract surgery. Surgeons can relax on the phaco energy, running of fluid through the eyes. Poor pupillary dilation and careless procedure can cause damage to the intraocular lens. Surgeons may recommend performing cataract surgery earlier due to the worsening of retinopathy with cataract treatment. Your ophthalmologist will advise you to stop wearing contact lenses for a week and inform you about avoiding certain medications. You may also be instructed to avoid your diabetes medicine like insulin before surgery. Make sure to follow all the instructions given by your ophthalmologist before going for your surgery to avoid any complications later.

Conclusion

Cataracts develop at an earlier age if you have diabetes. Cataract surgery is recommended for all patients. Diabetic patients are proceeded for the same with more emphasis on preventing any harmful causes after surgery. Essential pre-operation and post-operation analyses can result in better vision and faster recovery for patients with diabetes.

Schedule a safe and well-analyzed cataract surgery with the professionals at Garg Eye Hospital, the best hospital in Punjab for eye surgery.