Should macular pucker or cataract surgery be done first?
AUG 17, 2015
Question:
Should macular pucker or cataract surgery be done first?
Answer:
This is a complex question just like "which came first, the chicken or the egg." The retina surgeon must have a clear and unobstructed view of the retina in order to perform delicate retinal surgery like a membrane peel (also called macular pucker surgery). If significant cataract is present most retina specialists would ask that the cataract be removed prior to the membrane peel. If there is no visually significant cataract the retina specialist will likely perform the membrane peel without cataract surgery. However, the surgery to peel a retinal membrane is likely to cause the development of a cataract in the not too distant future. Most insurance companies will not pay for a cataract surgery until a visually significant cataract has developed. So as you can see, this situation leads to the common practice of two separate operations. Please discuss your specific case with your ophthalmologist to understand the visual significance of your cataract.