Is 95 too old to get cataract surgery?

Dear Dr. Roach: I’m 95 years old and wondering if it is advisable to have cataract surgery at my age. I had a cataract removed from my left eye, and it was very successful. My eye doctor said I have a condition known as pseudo ex foliation in my right eye, in addition to the cataract. — S.D.

Surgery shouldn’t be undertaken lightly at any age, and especially not for people who are among our oldest. However, cataract surgery is one that has a very good record, even among quite elderly people.

If your overall health is good for 95 and the cataract is significantly affecting you, it is reasonable to consider. Pseudo ex foliation, a condition of deposition of fibers on internal structures of the eye, does make cataract surgery more difficult, but only your surgeon can give you a personalized assessment of your potential for complications in surgery.

Dear Dr. Roach: Is viral meningitis deadly? — B.R.

Meningitis, infection of the lining of the brain, is feared because when it is caused by bacteria, in can be fatal, sometimes within hours. Vaccines help reduce mortality rates from bacterial meningitis.

Viral meningitis is much less worrisome and is usually not fatal. However, it often is not clear from the clinical presentation. Therefore, a rapid evaluation of cerebrospinal fluid, from a lumbar puncture (”spinal tap”) is done. Often, treatment for bacterial meningitis is begun immediately, and stopped after 48 hours if results show it is viral meningitis.

Common viruses to cause meningitis are enteroviruses, but herpesviruses, HIV and mumps also cause meningitis. When the virus (mainly Herpes simplex) infects the meninges, and the brain itself, it is called encephalitis or men in go encephalitis, and that is very dangerous. Herpes meningitis and men in go encephalitis are treated by antiviral drugs.