“Because there is a common risk factor for both cataracts and age related macular degeneration patients wonder about their cataract surgery results if they have macular degeneration,” noted Fairfield County Cataract Surgeon & Corneal Specialist Leslie Doctor, M.D. “The development of a cataract and the need for cataract surgery as well as the frequency and incidence of macular degeneration increase with age. So-it’s pretty common to have one, the other or both as we head through our 50’s, 60’s and 70’s,” she further explained. “The real question that challenges patients is whether to have cataract surgery-what their results might be-if they have macular degeneration.”
The general consensus among cataract surgeons is that with proper preoperative diagnostic testing, examination and consultation patients who have age related macular degeneration and who develop a cataract should be able to have cataract surgery after being counseled on what to expect with regard to overall vision improvements and lifestyle benefits. While macular degeneration is not a reason to completely avoid cataract surgery, realistic expectations must be established by and between you and your cataract surgeon. Further, the most current and widely accepted studies on AMD progression after cataract surgery found that there was no difference in the frequency of the disease among patients who had Cataract Surgery as compared to those who did not.
If you have any questions or concerns about cataracts, cataract surgery and macular degeneration please call Doctor & Associates-203-227-4113, visit Doctor & Associates in Fairfield County or facebook.com/doctorandassociates to schedule an appointment.
Doctor & Associates is a leading Fairfield County Connecticut eye care practice providing eye examinations for adults and children, cataract surgery and intraocular lens implants (IOL), laser vision correction such as LASIK, diagnosis and treatment of cornea disease including cornea transplants, diagnosis and management of diseases of the retina including diabetes and age related macular degeneration and diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma as well as contact lenses, eyeglasses and optical services. For those patients in need of eye surgery, as a founding member of the Wilton Surgery Center, Doctor & Associates eye surgeons are able to provide eye surgery in a convenient, close to home and cost effective ambulatory surgery center.
Whatever your eye care, eye health or vision correction needs might be-Doctor & Associates can serve as a Connecticut ophthalmic consultant and will be conveniently located for patients from Fairfield County and southern Connecticut including Danbury, Stamford, Greenwich, Westport, Weston, Wilton, New Canaan, Norwalk, Fairfield, Bridgeport, Cannondale, Aspetuck, Redding, Trumbull, Shelton, Monroe, Darien, Glenbrook and Ridgefield Connecticut.
