Cataract Surgery Complications

Intraocular pressure -- Excess pressure may occur to the vitreous body of the eye, when there is an imbalance in the eye fluid. The eye specialist gives an eye pressure test as part of the examination, so will detect an imbalance of pressure. Medication may then be prescribed. Eye pressure imbalance is also associated with glaucoma.

Eye infection -- This condition can be treated with antibiotics.

Ptosis -- Also known as droopy eyelids, which can be mild, or so severe it covers almost the entire pupil. This is more common with aging. My friend’s father experienced a droopy eyelid and visited a doctor who specialized only in eyelid surgery. He underwent a simple in-office surgery procedure that corrected it.

Swelling and inflammation in the eye -- This may occur in the cornea or retina after surgical treatment for cataracts. Depending on the specifics, the eye specialist will recommend appropriate treatment.

Retinal detachment -- This is one of the more serious cataract surgery complications and could occur months or years later. It is uncommon. If you experience flashes of light, a lot of floaters, or very cloudy vision, let your doctor know right away. Retinal detachment may happen in conjunction with other vision problems during treatment for cataracts.

Toxic Anterior Segment Syndrome (TASS) -- This is an inflammation that could occur after surgical treatment for cataracts, and is treated by administering eye medications.

An “after-cataract” -- The medical term is posterior capsule opacity (PCO), which is a cloudiness in the membrane or capsule that lies behind the newly implanted artificial lens. This haziness was already in the capsule, and this is not really a cataract. A special laser treatment can be performed in the doctor’s office, which is safe and painless with no later discomfort. The eye is numbed and is not cut or touched. There is only a slight chance of retinal detachment from this procedure, and it is one of the successful after treatments for cataract surgery complications.

Dislocated Intraocular Lens -- The new artificial lens implanted after cataract removal may dislocate after surgery, and you have double vision or may actually see its edges. When the IOL is positioned in the capsule within the eye, there is a possibility is can rupture because it is very thin. A weakened capsule itself could also move and dislocate. If a lens dislocates, your doctor may perform a second surgery to correct it before it develops scarring that keeps it in place. This second procedure usually is very successful.

Intraoperative floppy iris syndrome (IFIS) -- This is a complication men may experience if taking certain prostate medications called alpha-blockers to relax muscles and improve urination, such as Flomax. These drugs can also affect muscles in the iris, causing complications during surgery. Women may also take alpha-blocker drugs for urinary problems, as well as for blood pressure and kidney stones. It is very important to let your eye surgeon know before surgical treatment for cataracts if you are taking these drugs so adjustments can be made to avoid cataract surgery complications.

There is a high possibility you or a loved one may develop cataracts. With an annual exam with dilation, your eye doctor will be able to detect these early for you, and monitor them.

See our other articles on cataracts:
Cataract Symptoms – An overview of how to recognize cataract symptoms and causes.
Treatment For Cataracts – What are the options, and what you can expect.
Cataract Surgery Recovery – A time line of what typically happens during recovery. This should alleviate many of your concerns.

Read our articles, and you will find that although it sounds scary, cataract surgery is one of the most simple procedures, and frequently performed. And cataract surgery complications are few and far between. In the meantime, if your doctor detects cataracts, he/she will offer interim visions aids to help until cataract surgery is actually necessary -- if it is.

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