Patient Suffers Complete Vision Loss Following Cataract Surgery
This case involves a 68-year-old patient who suffered permanent vision loss following an eye cataract surgery with lens implant. Before the surgery in question, the intraocular pressure in her eye was found to be elevated. She was started on medicated drops, but the pressure remained high at the time of surgery. She was told not to worry and that the pressure would return to normal after the procedure. No imaging or measurements were done at that time. A week after the surgery, the patient returned with a painful, red eye and complained of blurry vision. There were a series of delays in getting the patient to surgery, and she went several months without medical treatment. During the months without medical treatment, the patient suffered complete and permanent vision loss in her eye.
Questions to the Ophthalmology expert and their responses
How often do you perform cataract surgery with lens implant?
I have performed approximately 800-1000 cataract surgeries every year since then, and I perform lens implants as well. This case sounds interesting and unfortunate. Most cataract surgeries are done under normal intraocular pressure conditions because when you make the incision, the pressure can rapidly drop from high to low which can cause a number of complications. The most concerning complication would be an explosive retinal hemorrhage. The red, painful eye that the patient came back with could have been due to a secondary glaucoma, retained lens fragment, or other complication.
About the expert
I am a professor of ophthalmology at an academic medical center and I've been performing cataract surgeries for the last 25 years since I finished my residency.
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About the author
Wendy Ketner, M.D.
Dr. Wendy Ketner is a distinguished medical professional with a comprehensive background in surgery and medical research. Currently serving as the Senior Vice President of Medical Affairs at the Expert Institute, she plays a pivotal role in overseeing the organization's most important client relationships. Dr. Ketner's extensive surgical training was completed at Mount Sinai Beth Israel, where she gained hands-on experience in various general surgery procedures, including hernia repairs, cholecystectomies, appendectomies, mastectomies for breast cancer, breast reconstruction, surgical oncology, vascular surgery, and colorectal surgery. She also provided care in the surgical intensive care unit.
Her research interests have focused on post-mastectomy reconstruction and the surgical treatment of gastric cancer, including co-authoring a textbook chapter on the subject. Additionally, she has contributed to research on the percutaneous delivery of stem cells following myocardial infarction.
Dr. Ketner's educational background includes a Bachelor's degree from Yale University in Latin American Studies and a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) from SUNY Downstate College of Medicine. Moreover, she is a member of the Board of Advisors for Opollo Technologies, a fintech healthcare AI company, contributing her medical expertise to enhance healthcare technology solutions. Her role at Expert Institute involves leveraging her medical knowledge to provide insights into legal cases, underscoring her unique blend of medical and legal acumen.
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