My mother had cataract surgery one year ago. So far, she felt that the surgery was not too bad, but didn’t match her expectation. I did some research about the complications of Cataract Surgery.
Glaucoma or a buildup of pressure within the eye (intraocular pressure) also occurs sometimes after cataract surgery. If your eye pressure remains high, you may need additional treatment such as eye drops, a laser procedure, pills or additional surgery.
Phacoemulsification in cataract surgery involves insertion of a tiny, hollowed tip that uses high frequency (ultrasonic) vibrations to “break up” the eye’s cloudy lens (cataract). The same tip is used to suction out the lens.
After the eye’s natural lens is removed during cataract surgery, an artificial or intraocular lens is implanted to take its place.
Far more rarely, you might experience problems such as a decentered intraocular lens that might need to be repositioned or replaced in a second surgery.
Various complications, ranging from minor to serious, also can take place as a direct result of the surgical procedure, including tearing of the posterior capsule holding the intraocular lens in place.
Detached retinas also are possible in a small percentage of people who have undergone cataract surgery, particularly if they have unusually long eyes associated with higher degrees of nearsightedness.*
Some eye surgeons dispute this direct association with cataract surgery, because highly nearsighted people already are at risk of getting a detached retina with or without cataract surgery. Cumulative rates of detached retinas occurring in highly myopic general populations who underwent cataract surgery or refractive lens exchange are roughly 1 percent in some studies, which is about the same risk if you never underwent a procedure.
However, a common complication that creates a “secondary cataract” may require a YAG laser capsulotomy procedure. A high myope who undergoes both cataract surgery and a subsequent YAG laser capsulotomy may have a significantly greater risk of developing a detached retina.**
Endophthalmitis causing widespread inflammation or infection of the eye can be a serious side effect of cataract surgery that can lead to permanent vision loss and even blindness. Various studies indicate that endophthalmitis occurs in about one out of every thousand cataract surgeries. Endophthalmitis also is more likely to be seen in people with compromised immune systems associated with conditions such as diabetes.
However, even serious cataract surgery complications often can be resolved with appropriate follow-up treatments.
