Should patients with pseudoexfoliation syndrome have laser cataract surgery?
AUG 14, 2017
Question:
Should patients with pseudoexfoliation syndrome have laser cataract surgery?
Answer:
Pseudoexfoliation of the lens capsule is when the eye’s natural lens and the supporting structures (zonules) which hold the lens in place are weakened. Modern cataract surgery and placement of the intraocular lens (or IOL, the artificial lens that replaces the cataract) are dependent on the strength of these structures. Pseudoexfoliation can vary in severity and impact on these structures.
Successful cataract surgery and IOL placement can be performed safely with pseudoexfoliation, but it is an added risk factor for a safe result. Laser-assisted cataract surgery can minimize the stress of these structures and some ophthalmologists feel it results in a safer operation. This is an area of disagreement among ophthalmologists.