Glaucoma Meds verses -Cataracts

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\( TN Artist, trish,tn \) - 06 May 2004 23:43 GMT

I went to my Opthamalogist --for the follow -up on cataract surgery . He
is very pleased with my sight and said that I likely would not need to
use glaucoma meds after my 2nd eye is done on the 17th !! I was
really surprised to hear this -and asked if the cataract surgery cures ;
) glaucoma lol I can't describe his answer very well but he said the
cataract was squshing something and now it would drain better ??? (
yes, he said squshing ) obviously I didn't hear all of his explination .
Has anyone else been taken off meds after cataract surgery -?-kinda
spooks me after so many years of being on them -It also makes me real
pleased ; )

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Steve - 07 May 2004 08:57 GMT

( TN Artist, trish,tn ) wrote:

> I went to my Opthamalogist --for the follow -up on cataract surgery . He
> is very pleased with my sight and said that I likely would not need to
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> spooks me after so many years of being on them -It also makes me real
> pleased ; )

My pressures went down slightly after my cataract operation - I managed
to come off one of my drops. I don't remember the explanation but the
result was an unexpected bonus!

They are doing my other cataract next month, that eye has a drainage
tube so I am just after a 'no complications' outcome.

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Rick Cohn, M.D. - 10 May 2004 03:29 GMT

> ( TN Artist, trish,tn ) wrote:
>
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
> They are doing my other cataract next month, that eye has a drainage
> tube so I am just after a 'no complications' outcome.

The answer is simple, but you need to know something about the anatomy
of the eye: The cornea (front window on the eye) meets the iris
(colored part of the eye) at the drainage angle, where fluid is
drained out of the eye. In most with primary open angle glaucoma,
this angle is about 40 degrees. Some have slight narrowing of the
angle (20-30 degrees) or narrow angles (10 degrees or less). Behind
the iris is the lens, which becomes a thick and yellow cataract as we
get older. As the lens thickens somewhat, it may gradually push the
iris forward, narrowing the angle a little. A lens implant which is
placed behind the iris in the outer membrane of the natural lens, is
thinner than the natural lens. This allows the iris to fall backward
slightly after cataract surgery, opening the angle a little. I find
that roughly 40% of my patients on one or two glaucoma meds can be
reduced to one or none after cataract surgery. So that's the
deal...the lens implant is thinner than your own lens, allowing the
drain to open up a little...got it?
--Rick Cohn, MD
Glaucoma Specialist
Winter Park, FL

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\( TN Artist, trish,tn \) - 14 May 2004 23:29 GMT

I think I GOT IT ; ) Dr. Cohn -Then does this mean the Glaucoma is CURED
; ) --??? I haven't used any meds in the surgery eye for a month -
the IOP was 13 after surgery , so will the Dr. keep a check on the IOP
after he does the other eye ? It's a bit scary after so many years of
using the meds

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Rick Cohn, M.D. - 15 May 2004 13:52 GMT

> I think I GOT IT ; ) Dr. Cohn -Then does this mean the Glaucoma is CURED
> ; ) --??? I haven't used any meds in the surgery eye for a month -
> the IOP was 13 after surgery , so will the Dr. keep a check on the IOP
> after he does the other eye ? It's a bit scary after so many years of
> using the meds

Absolutely not...glaucoma is never cured. If my patients get off
drops after cataract surgery (which is fairly common, again, due to
the fact that a thin implant allows the iris to fall back and the
drainage angle to open somewhat), I still see them every six months
for the duration. Why? because their pressure may start to rise
several years after surgery and I don't want to miss it when that
happens. As in most cases with glaucoma, patients usually cannot feel
their own pressure start to rise if this is a gradual process. Better
to let your doc catch it before it does.
--Dr. Cohn

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