If my doctor can't get a pressure reading, can I have cataract surgery?
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Dr. James Salz of American Academy of Ophthalmology answered:This is very unusual but when they go to remove the cataract they can immobilize your eye and check your pressure before removing the cataract.This is very unusual but when they go to remove the cataract they can immobilize your eye and check your pressure before removing the cataract. More -
Dr. David Demartini answered:Some patients have a real phobia for anything coming near their eyes. As a result, they cannot tolerate any of the common methods of measuring eye pressure. I can imagine in this instance that their ophthalmologist could schedule cataract surgery with the plan of measuring eye pressure while the patient is under anesthesia. While most cataract surgery is done with minimal anesthesia, in this case general anesthesia may be necessary to safely perform this delicate surgery. Unfortunately, anesthesia can affect the result of the measurement (usually lowering it).
If a high intraocular pressure is found, the surgery might have to be cancelled until the pressure can be lowered, often by the patient using eye drops. Most patients can learn to have manipulations done around their eyes if they work to gradually overcome their fears.
Some patients have a real phobia for anything coming near their eyes. As a result, they cannot tolerate any of the common methods of measuring eye pressure. I can imagine in this instance that their ophthalmologist could schedule cataract... More
