In surgeries, there can be possible complications. The complications when it comes to cataract surgery are few because it is the most common and most successful procedure that is being performed today.
The safety profile of cataract surgery is high. The research that is published in ophthalmology stated that 99.5 percent of the 221,594 cataract surgery patients in the study showed no serious complications after the procedure. The risk of severe complications is decreased because of the advances in surgical tools and techniques being used in surgery.
These are the potential cataract surgery complications:
- Posterior capsule opacity (PCO)
- Dislocation of intraocular lens
- Inflammation of the eye
- Light sensitivity
- Photopsia or perceiving flashes of light
- Macular edema
- Ptosis or droopy eyelid
- Ocular hypertension
Treatment for most complications from cataract surgery can be treated medically or with additional surgery.
What Are the Common Cataract Surgery Complications?
The most common complication is called posterior capsule opacity which can occur within months or years after cataract surgery. Some people call it a “second cataract” but it is not a cataract because cataracts do not come back when they are removed.
Normally after surgery, your vision should be clear but there are cases where vision is blurred because the posterior portion of the lens capsule becomes hazy. Treatment is required if the condition progresses to restore clear vision.
The procedure is known to be a YAG laser capsulotomy to treat posterior capsule opacity. It is safe, effective, and painless. It can be performed in a cataract surgeon’s office because it only has simple steps.
- Dilating eye drops are used before the procedure to make the eye dilated.
- The laser removes the hazy posterior capsule without incision or touching the eye.
- Anti-inflammatory eye drops are recommended after the procedure.
Since the procedure does not cause you any discomfort, you can resume your normal activities. Be aware that you may experience floaters but expect that it will go away within a few weeks.
What Are the Side Effects of Cataract Surgery?
The potential complication can range from minor inflammation to vision loss. Severe vision loss is very rare but it can occur as a result of an infection inside the eye.
There are cataract surgery complications that occur later on. A detached retina can occur months or years later after a successful cataract procedure. It is important to report if you have experienced floaters, flashes of light, and curtain-like vision loss because it is a sign of retinal detachment.
Minor complications can be treated with medications and allowing it to heal over time.
