Cataract Surgery and The Opposite Eye Effect

Does the other eye really know?...

It appears unilateral cataract surgery has a noticeable impact with respect to aqueous humor cytokines as well as metabolic changes of the contralateral or non-operated eye. This curious phenomenon reflects both systemic and local inflammatory responses which likely occur as a direct result of surgical intervention performed on the first eye.

Findings have shown following surgery on one eye, there is a notable elevation in the levels of inflammatory markers, specifically IL-1β and IL-2, in the non-operated eye. This elevation suggests a cascade of immune activation is triggered by the surgical procedure itself, indicating the body is responding to the "trauma" of surgery even in the eye that has not been operated on. There are also substantial metabolic shifts, with a total of 354 metabolites exhibiting differential expression in the aqueous humor of the opposite eye. Among these, adenine and 2-aminopurine were found to be significantly downregulated, exemplifying the disruptions occurring in purine metabolism which can have implications for cellular function and health.

These interesting discoveries support the potential for altered intraocular stability of the contralateral eye following surgery, prompting us to carefully consider the timing and management of staged bilateral surgeries. And better understanding these metabolic and inflammatory mechanisms can matter for developing new strategies minimizing a contralateral response - ultimately leading to better recovery and visual outcomes for our patients undergoing cataract surgery.

- JRM

Go to the article in BMC Ophthalmology HERE.