Q: I am 82 and in good health. I can even do some running. In 1980, I had a myelogram done on my spine. My body rejected it and I became sick, sweating profusely. The specialist said that I was only the third patient in 27 years that had had this problem.
In 1980 I had exploratory surgery on my spine done by a neurosurgeon. Afterward he said that I kicked like a mule throughout the surgery.
My present problem is that I now need cataract surgery, although I can still read a little. What are the chances of my body rejecting the new lenses? The doctor said there was a two percent chance of this happening. I said, “I am the one.”
Read Also
Well-being improvement can pay off for farms
Investing in wellness programs in a tight labour market can help farms recruit and retain employees
A: This is an interesting question. I think the simple answer is that you have an allergy to iodine.
A myelogram is an X-ray of the spinal cord and surrounding nerves using a special dye that is injected into the fluid surrounding the spinal column. This substance is related to iodine. Allergic reactions can be quite severe and even lead to cardiac arrest in rare instances.
Your kicks during the surgery in 1980 may not have been related, but it is possible that some iodine solution was used to clean the skin before the operation, or perhaps something similar to a myelogram was performed at the same time.
Check if you are allergic by placing a small, diluted amount of iodine solution on your skin and covering it with a piece of tape or Band-Aid overnight. In the morning see if the area has become red and irritated.
As far as I know, there is no iodine used in cataract surgery, so you should be fine. Just make sure the new plastic lenses are not kept in any type of sterilizing solution that contains iodine or related substances, and that the surgeon does not use it to sterilize any instruments or his hands. Betadine is another name for iodine solution. Since the new lenses are made of plastic, they are not rejected in the same way that kidneys and hearts are after organ transplantation.
Surgery risks low
The risks of cataract surgery are not as great as you suggest. There is a two percent chance of any type of complication. These include the usual risks of surgery such as infection, hemorrhage or scarring of the cornea.
Most of these situations can be remedied. Actual rejection of the lens is extremely rare and even if this happens, the procedure can be repeated. I suggest that you have only one eye done at a time, beginning with the worst eye, just in case there are any problems. You will then still have one relatively good eye.
Clare Rowson is a medical doctor with a practice near Belleville, Ont. Her columns are intended for general information only. Individuals are encouraged to also seek the advice of their own doctor regarding medical questions and treatments.
