Cataract Surgery Risks/Side Effects – What to Know

There are two types of cataract surgery: phacoemulsification and extracapsular surgery. Phaco uses a small incision on the side of the cornea, and a small probe is placed in the eye and lets out ultrasound waves that break up the lens for suction removal. Extracapsular surgery uses a long incision on the side of the cornea so that the entire lens is taken out at once by suction. Both surgeries pose risks and have side effects; one is much higher than the other.

Risks and Side Effects

Infection and bleeding are common risks with any refractive surgery on the eye. The phaco surgery has much less chance of infection due to the smaller incision. Certain medications such as blood thinners are prohibited prior to and during surgery, therefore consulting your surgeon prior to surgery is imperative to keep the risks of infection and bleeding to a minimum. As with any surgery, there are bound to be a few cases, 0.04% of all patients seen bleeding.

With both types of surgery, retinal detachment has been seen in as much as 0.07% of all patients, and can be repaired with surgical intervention. If left untreated, retinal detachment can cause permanent vision loss. Antibiotics and eye drops given after surgery may sometimes cause allergic reactions in some patients, as many as 0.01% that undergoes the procedure.

Side effects of these surgeries also include blurring or hazing of vision during the recovery period, which can vary based on the healing time your body requires. If these effects last longer than a few weeks, it is best to contact the surgeon for medication to help, or possible surgical intervention. Full vision can return to normal after the recovery period, which lasts about 7 days but can take as long as 6 weeks. The restored vision can last for years, but has been known to revert to the same cataracts within only a few months. Cataracts are a natural occurrence in those over 65 years of age, and if the surgery is completed after this time, will return and the surgery will need to be repeated.