Anasastrole and cataract surgery

Options
msbail
msbail Member Posts: 4
edited October 2020 in Hormonal Therapy - Before, During, and After

I may be a candidate for cataract surgery. I have dry eyes and am using artificial tears. I just started taking anazastrole recently. I did not tell my ophthalmologist about the fact that I am taking it for fear it will be a deal-breaker for surgery. I go back to him in four weeks. Has anyone had cataract surgery while taking an A.I.? I think I should tell him but am I worrying over nothing? I am so tired of eyeglasses costing a fortune that I am ready to stop. They are a pain. Thanks for understanding

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • MinusTwo
    MinusTwo Member Posts: 16,634
    edited October 2020

    You should definitely tell your ophthalmologist about ANY drugs that you are taking. I don't know if an A.I. would contraindicate cataract surgery, but it would be dangerous to go into anesthesia w/o your doc knowing EVERYTHING.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • BevJen
    BevJen Member Posts: 2,523
    edited October 2020

    Msball,

    I was on letrozole when I had my cataract surgeries. It was all fine -- no impact. I did tell my doc bc he's a medical doc if he's doing cataract surgery, and should know about all of your meds.

    Also, fyi, both my husband and I ended up getting glasses after our cataract surgery, just to sharpen our vision a bit. I even had the super duper cataract surgery (can't remember what it's called) and one eye came out 20/20 and the other came out 20/25. That's legally sufficient, but it still bothered me and as my eyes got more tired towards the end of the day, I actually was grateful for the glasses.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • flashlight
    flashlight Member Posts: 698
    edited October 2020

    I agree your doctor needs to know. They consider cataract surgery a surgery and you will now have to list it on all medical forms. I wasn't on Tamoxifen at the time, but my cataract surgery gave me 20/20 vision and I only wear over the counter reading glasses now. I love it!! I did pay for one astigmatism lens. My other eye, to make it balanced, corrects my vision. I did both eyes 6 weeks a part. Good luck to you!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • LeesaD
    LeesaD Member Posts: 383
    edited October 2020

    I was just scrolling and can't believe I saw a thread with this title and am so glad I did. I'm actually having cataract surgery this coming Friday and went for my pre surgical clearance today. I am on anastrozole for three years now and my eye surgeon and my GP both are aware and didn't mention it as a concern at all. I have to stop another medication for a week until after surgery but they said to continue the anastrozole. I personally was wondering if the anastrozole could have accelerated my need for the cataract surgery. I never had issues with my eyes until recently. I'm 52 and my doctor said that was on the fairly young side for as bad as my left eye is. I know the anastrozole stops all the estrogen and I have aged 10 years it feels like since I started taking it so thought maybe it effected my eyes. Told my GP today when he was doing the clearance after all the crap I've been through with BC, why is this eye surgery freaking me out the most?? Was very glad to have read these comments about others experiences.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • BevJen
    BevJen Member Posts: 2,523
    edited October 2020

    LeesaD,

    Good luck with your surgery. When I had my cataract surgery, I was 62, I think, and my eye doc said that was early in reality. But, by that time I had been on letrozole (femara) for I don't know how many years. I also suspected it was because of the letrozole, but of course, nothing to back that up.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • ShetlandPony
    ShetlandPony Member Posts: 4,924
    edited October 2020

    Yes, the hormonal therapies offer an accelerated aging process, eyes included. I will look for the paper...

    Here is an article:

    https://www.aao.org/eyenet/article/watch-ocular-effects-of-breast-cancer-drugs

    I found the paper I remembered:

    Eisner A, Luoh SW. Breast cancer medications and vision: effects of treatments for early-stage disease. Curr Eye Res. 2011;36(10):867–885. doi:10.3109/02713683.2011.594202

    https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/3205820

    "...a prolonged period of sustained estrogen deprivation has the potential to increase the risk or severity of several age-related eye diseases or conditions..."

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • LeesaD
    LeesaD Member Posts: 383
    edited October 2020
    Thank You for the well wishes BevJen.

    Thanks for the article ShetlandPony. Interesting read. Makes sense and does not surprise me that the anastrozole could be and probably is the cause. Not even worth discussing with my doctors I guess as there’s really nothing that can be done. I can’t stop the AI’s at this point. I guess they are doing their job and preventing all that estrogen and just hope that it’s preventing a recurrence 🙏.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • BevJen
    BevJen Member Posts: 2,523
    edited October 2020

    SP,

    Once again -- the gift that keeps on giving....

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • ShetlandPony
    ShetlandPony Member Posts: 4,924
    edited October 2020

    Bev — Don’t we know it. (Eye roll, knowing nod, heavy sigh...)

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories