Cataracts

Question
My 4 year old Balinese cat has cataracts in both eyes.  We have seen the specialist and are looking at surgery.  There is a significant difference in the cost of doing one or both eyes.  I am considering doing just one but wondering if this is wise.  With the other eye deteriorating will he be able to have a good quality of life with just one eye repaired or should I just "bite the bullet" and have both done.  I am a little concerned about the what "ifs" of something going wrong and him losing sight in both eyes.  Any thoughts or ideas?  He is scheduled for surgery on April 7.

Answer
Hi Karen.  This is a tough one!  On one hand, I think your concerns about the possibility of something going wrong and his losing sight altogether are valid, and I certainly can understand where you're coming from as far as the cost difference.  On the other hand, there is a condition called lens-induced uveitis, which can be a complication of leaving cataracts untreated.  It's a very painful condition that must be treated with steroidal eye drops and lens removal.  The condition is common in dogs, less common in cats.  I mention it mainly because your kitty is still so young that I'm not sure if it could become a concern as she gets older.  It's something to ask the doctor about.

As far as vision goes, however, I have had cats who have lost vision in one eye both gradually and suddenly.  Cats who lost vision in one eye gradually did so because of medical conditions, and the one who lost it suddenly did so because her eye was removed for cancer.  Both adjusted fine, so I think your kitty would have a great quality of life with the use of just one eye.  The one thing my kitty who lost her eye did experience was some difficulty with depth perception for the first couple of weeks.  She was coming closer than she realized to some objects, and missing others completely.  I would imagine a kitty who suddenly regains sight in one eye after having it impaired for a while may have the same sort of reaction, but only if the cataracts have been advanced enough to seriously limit her vision.