Is an Allergy Test Performed by Eye Doctors Before Cataract Surgery?
MAR 07, 2014
Question:
My sister, who has been told she will need cataract surgery, was informed that she would need an allergy test first. Is this a required test that can be conducted by an eye doctor?
Answer:
Cataract surgery is a procedure in which a clouded lens is removed from the eye and replaced with an artificial intraocular lens to restore clear vision. I am not sure of the reason for the test unless she has shown possible allergies to some of the drugs or equipment used for the surgery. An allergist or an eye doctor should be able to perform these tests as long as they know what they are testing for. An allergist would need access to the drugs or items that the ophthalmologist will be using for the surgery and these would not be something that they would have access to for typical testing.