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Updated: May 6, 2026
Ultrasound Cyclo Plasty in Eyes with Glaucoma
Published on: January 26, 2018
[Internal medicine and cardiovascular evaluation of preoperative and perioperative patients undergoing ophthalmic
1Servizio Dipartimentale di Medicina Interna, DAI Testa Collo, Policlinico Umberto I, Dipartimento Organi di Senso, Università Sapienza Roma, Italia.
Insights
Ophthalmic surgery poses risks for elderly patients with heart disease. Comprehensive cardiac risk stratification is crucial for improving patient safety and reducing complications during eye surgery.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology and Ophthalmology
- Geriatric Medicine
- Surgical Risk Assessment
Context:
- Ophthalmic surgery, particularly cataract surgery, frequently involves elderly patients with pre-existing cardiovascular conditions.
- Aging is associated with degenerative changes that increase the complexity and potential risks of surgical interventions.
- While advancements have improved safety, patients with heart disease undergoing ophthalmic procedures remain at elevated risk.
Purpose:
- To emphasize the critical need for accurate clinical diagnosis and cardiovascular risk stratification in patients undergoing ophthalmic surgery.
- To identify and mitigate common cardiovascular sequelae such as congestive heart failure (ICC), arrhythmias, and hypertensive crises.
- To establish the role of an Internal Medicine service dedicated to ophthalmic patients for enhanced perioperative and postoperative care.
Summary:
- Ophthalmic surgery, while generally safe, presents increased risks in elderly patients with heart disease.
- Effective cardiovascular risk stratification is essential to prevent serious complications like heart failure, arrhythmias, and hypertension.
- A specialized Internal Medicine service can significantly improve patient safety and outcomes in ophthalmic surgery.
Impact:
- Enhances patient safety by proactively managing cardiovascular risks associated with ophthalmic surgery.
- Reduces perioperative and postoperative morbidity and mortality in a vulnerable patient population.
- Facilitates better collaboration between ophthalmologists, surgeons, anesthetists, and internal medicine specialists for comprehensive patient care.
Abstract:
Ophthalmic surgery would a surgical practice with fewer complications compared to other types of surgery. This is only true in part, because of the elderly population of reference. So, in cataract surgery we are faced with a patient with heart disease which carries the signs of aging and degenerative consequences linked to it. The interventions performed in patients with heart disease are still potentially have a greater risk, although site preparation and monitoring during and after surgery in recent years have allowed greater safety for patients and an overall reduction in morbidity and mortality. It is stressed so the importance of a correct clinical diagnosis of the general patient for a better stratification of cardiovascular risk for ophthalmic surgery. It must therefore avoid the most frequent sequelae, such as the ICC, arrhythmias and hypertensive crises. One purpose of a Service of Internal Medicine, like ours, totally dedicated to the functional requirements of the assistance of ophthalmologic patients, both during hospitalization, and in prehospitalization, and especially in Day Hospital and in Day Service, for the cardiac risk stratification in ophthalmic surgery, is to ensure firstly to the patient and then to colleagues ophthalmologist and surgeons and anesthetists the greater security on the plane predictive for reducing perioperative and postoperative morbidity and mortality.
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