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  • Will sodium chloride solution resolve corneal edema after cataract surgery?


    Question:

    Is applying sodium chloride solution only a temporary relief for cornea edema after cataract surgery or will it permanently resolve this problem?


    Answer:

    Sodium chloride drops and/or ointment help remove fluid from the cornea that causes the “edema” or swelling.  Topical steroids are also helpful.  Corneal edema after cataract surgery usually resolves completely with time and use of the medications. Rarely, removing a very large cataract with preexisting corneal diseases such as Fuchs’ dystrophy can prevent the edema from resolving.  In these cases, a procedure known as endothelial keratoplasty can be performed to cure the corneal edema.


    Answered By:

    Cataracts Surgery