Do ophthalmologists avoid cataract surgery on highly myopic patients?
NOV 23, 2014
Question:
If you're severely myopic (nearsighted), do many ophthalmologists routinely decline to perform cataract surgery claiming the risk to the retina is too great? Mine did and I wonder about a second opinion.
Answer:
Being highly myopic does not make you ineligible for cataract surgery. However, the risk of retinal detachment is higher in severely myopic patients. Cataract surgery can also be more challenging because myopes tend to have longer eyes and the increased depth of the anterior chamber may make the surgery technically more difficult. As with any procedure, one must carefully assess the risks and benefits of the surgery before proceeding. I’d ask your ophthalmologist to clarify their decision making, and I never think it is unreasonable to pursue a second opinion.