What is a cataract?
Risks and benefits
Cataract surgery is the most commonly performed type of eye surgery. Due to the advances in technology and techniques of cataract surgery, complications are rare. I have been performing cataract surgery since 1988 and has given me both knowledge and experience in the prevention and treatment of complications.
The most significant risks and complications are:
1. Infection:
Great efforts are made at the time of surgery to reduce the possibility
of infection. Patients receive antibiotic drops 3 days prior to surgery and at the
time of the operation. The surface of the eye and the skin around the eye is disinfected
and the patient's face, other than the affected eye, is covered with sterile drapes.
All the instruments are sterilised and after the surgery antibiotic drops are prescribed.
Even with all of these precautions, infections occur in approximately 1 out of every
3000 cases. Symptoms are excessive redness, pain, light sensitivity and worsening
vision.
2. Bleeding:
This is very uncommon since the location of the incision is through the
cornea.
3. Retinal Detachment:
Patients who are near-
4. Glaucoma (High pressure in the eye):
Occasionally after surgery the fluid that
is used during the operation does not drain from the eye and this causes the pressure
inside the eye to increase. If this happens, patients will experience headaches
or sharp pain in the eye. Medication is given to lower the raised pressure.
5. Corneal Swelling:
This is caused by the cornea responding to the insertion of the
surgical instruments during the operation. It can develop a few hours after surgery
and the patient may notice that objects look somewhat distorted. The condition usually
settles down on its own but eye drops can be prescribed to assist this.