Cataract surgery

Macular degeneration - Cataract surgery Factor

Cataract surgery

Surgery to remove a cataract may be warranted once reduced vision can no longer be compensated by stronger lighting or eyeglasses.

To surgically treat a cataract a small incision is made where the cornea meets the sclera (white part of the eye) through which the lens is removed and replaced with an artificial lens (intraocular lens implant or IOL). Surgery is usually done under local anaesthetic.

There are three types of surgery:

• Extracapsular surgery: The lens is removed, leaving behind the back half of the lens capsule (the outer covering of the lens).
• Phacoemulsification: The lens is softened with sound waves and removed through a needle, leaving behind the back half of the lens capsule.
• Intracapsular surgery: Both the lens and capsule are moved.

Details of cataract surgery would usually be recorded in doctors' notes and/or hospital records. However, if these records cannot be obtained, the claimant's statement about cataract surgery will generally be accepted unless there is contradictory evidence. Seek medical advice if it is unclear whether the information provided by the veteran indicates a history of cataract surgery or treatment for some other eye condition.

Diagram of the eye

Last reviewed for CCPS 27 April 2010

Preliminary questions [33187]

22645 the veteran's condition under consideration is late age-related macular degeneration.

33189 the veteran has undergone cataract surgery at some time.

33190 the veteran has undergone cataract surgery of side and site of the body at some time.

33191 the veteran underwent cataract surgery involving side and site of the body for treatment of an illness or injury which is identifiable.

33192 the veteran has established the causal connection between the identified illness or injury for which the cataract surgery was undergone and VEA service for the condition under consideration.

33195   the veteran has established the causal connection between the identified illness or injury for which the cataract surgery was undergone and VEA service for the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

33194  the veteran has established the causal connection between the identified illness or injury for which the cataract surgery was undergone and eligible service for the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

or

33193  the veteran has established the causal connection between the identified illness or injury for which the cataract surgery was undergone and operational service for the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

or

7334     the clinical onset of the condition under consideration occurred after the end of the veteran's last period of VEA service.

7335     the condition under consideration permanently worsened.

33196  the veteran has established the causal connection between the identified illness or injury for which the cataract surgery was undergone and VEA service for the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration.

33198  the veteran has established the causal connection between the identified illness or injury for which the cataract surgery was undergone and eligible service for the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration.

or

33197  the veteran has established the causal connection between the identified illness or injury for which the cataract surgery was undergone and operational service for the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration.

Clinical onset and operational service [33193]

33199  for the identified illness or injury, the veteran underwent cataract surgery to side and site of the body within the five years before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

33200  the identified illness or injury for which the veteran underwent cataract surgery to side and site of the body is causally related to operational service.

Clinical onset and eligible service [33194]

33202  for the identified illness or injury, the veteran underwent cataract surgery to side and site of the body within the two years before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

33201  the identified illness or injury for which the veteran underwent cataract surgery to side and site of the body is causally related to eligible service.

Clinical worsening and operational service [33197]

33204  for the identified illness or injury, the veteran underwent cataract surgery within the five years before the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration.

33200  the identified illness or injury for which the veteran underwent cataract surgery to side and site of the body is causally related to operational service.

33203  the clinical onset of the condition under consideration occurred prior to that part of operational service to which the identified illness or injury for which the cataract surgery was undergone is causally related.

Clinical worsening and eligible service [33198]

33205  for the identified illness or injury, the veteran underwent cataract surgery within the two years before the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration.

33201  the identified illness or injury for which the veteran underwent cataract surgery to side and site of the body is causally related to eligible service.

33206  the clinical onset of the condition under consideration occurred prior to that part of eligible service to which the identified illness or injury for which the cataract surgery was undergone is causally related.