bilateral cataracts
Last reviewed 01/2018
- usually patients with bilateral cataracts are offered surgery for the second eye within 3 months of the first cataract operation
- in general, bilateral simultaneous cataract extraction is not performed - this is because of the small risk of severe delayed complications e.g. bilateral endophthalmitis and consequent small risk of blindness
- benefits of simultaneous bilateral cataract Extraction (SBCE) include - faster visual rehabilitation, fewer hospital visits, lower cost for the patient and for society
- relative clinical indications for bilateral cataract surgery include:
- when general anaesthesia (GA) is required to perform the cataract surgery safely and repeated GAs are contraindicated
- people with bilateral cataract who cannot be assessed fully pre-operatively (due to disability) and who require a general anaesthetic for the procedure (1)
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