Cataract Surgery Complications:
Late Complications after Surgery

Print Friendly and PDF

Cataract surgery complications is not something that many people talk about. Due to the advances in technology and surgical techniques, the success rate of cataract surgery (or cataract extraction) is now very high in many centers. That means that nothing can go wrong, can it? So many people now have had successful cataract operations, and some are now talking about cataract surgery as being only a 'minor' procedure. Doesn't this mean that cataract surgery complications are a thing of the past?

No, it does not. Cataract surgery complications still can, and do, happen even in the most experienced of surgical hands!

(Image adapted from the internet)

Cataract surgery is the removal of the cataract and its replacement with a lens implant.


But don't worry. It is common to have some discomfort, grittiness, sensation of something in the eye, and blood on the surface of the eye after surgery. More serious complications are uncommon and occur in only around 3% of cases. The great majority of problems are mild and will clear up over a few days to a few weeks without treatment, or are easily treated without long term consequences. Occasionally, a second operation will be needed to fix problems from the cataract operation. Severe cataract surgery complications resulting in blindness are very rare (less than 0.1%).

Cataract surgery complications can occur during surgery itself, within a few days/weeks of surgery, or months after surgery. Often, these complications occur not because of anything you have or have not done. If at any point, you are concerned that you may have developed any cataract surgery complications, consult your ophthalmologist without delay. It is better to be safe and get your eye examined. Your ophthalmologist would also prefer the reassurance that your eye has not run into any problems, so please do not worry about 'wasting' your ophthalmologist's time.




LATE CATARACT SURGERY COMPLICATIONS

Cloudy lens capsule (posterior capsular opacification): The capsule is the thin membrane that forms a bag that supports the lens inside your eye. During surgery, your cataract is removed from the capsule, and a synthetic intraocular lens implant is inserted into the capsule in place of the cataract. Posterior capsular opacification occurs when this thin membrane becomes cloudy. Approximately 20% experience this, although newer intraocular lens implants may be able to reduce its occurrence.

(Image adapted from the internet)

Posterior capsular opacification causes the thin capsule membrane behind the intraocular lens implant to become cloudy. This affects the passage of light rays through the lens implant, and results in mistiness and blurriness of the vision.

How do you know when you have posterior capsular opacification? Simple. You find that your vision gradually becomes misty again, almost similar to what it was previously before your cataract operation. Posterior capsular opacification does not go away by itself. However, it is easily treated with laser capsulotomy and takes no more than 5 minutes. Laser capsulotomy effectively 'punches' a hole through the cloudy capsule; this allows light to pass freely into your eye and thus enables you to see clearly again. This laser procedure is quick, safe. effective, and can be done in the consulting rooms.

(Image adapted from the internet)

Fortunately, posterior capsular opacification is easily treated with YAG laser posterior capsulotomy. The laser creates a central opening in the middle of the cloudy membrane.


Intraocular lens dislocation: Usually, the stability of the implanted intraocular lens in the eye is lifelong. There is no requirement to remove or to replace the intraocular lens unless specifically indicated. However, in rare occasions, the capsular bag stability may weaken, resulting in intraocular lens subluxation (part of the lens is still in the correct location) or dislocation (entire intraocular lens is no longer in the correct position). The risk of this happening is higher in eyes with complicated surgery, prior eye trauma and preexisting eye conditions such as pseudoexfoliation. Treatment depends on how much the intraocular lens has moved, how much vision is affected and whether there is damage to other ocular tissues. If there is mild subluxation and you are still able to see reasonably clearly, then there is no need to intervene. If the entire intraocular lens is dislocated, you will generally need surgery to remove the displaced lens and to replace it with a new one.


Retinal detachment: The retina is the innermost layer of the eye, and it functions to convert light into biochemical signals which are then transmitted to the brain. Retinal detachment occurs when the retina peels away from the wall of the eye. 0.5% of patients experience this after cataract extraction. It is more common in cataract operations that have experienced complications during surgery. Retinal detachment will cause blindness if the retina is not put back in place in a timely manner.

(Image adapted from the internet)

In this patient, the upper part of the retina is detached, resulting in the appearance of a shadow or curtain effect at the bottom half of visual field.

How do you know you have a retinal detachment? There are 3 main symptoms to look for: flashing lights, floaters, and a shadow or curtain obscuring your field of vision. If you notice any of these, please consult your ophthalmologist without delay. Retinal detachments can only be treated with retinal detachment surgery. In the case of retinal detachment following cataract surgery, the surgery will most likely be a vitrectomy combined with laser and oil or gas injection.


Learn more about complications during cataract surgery here

Learn more about early cataract surgery complications here




Have A Story About Your Eye Surgery?

Have you recently had eye surgery? Was it how you thought it would be, or was it totally not what you expected? Why not share your experience of surgery with other readers?

[ ? ]

Author Information (optional)

To receive credit as the author, enter your information below.

(first or full name)

(e.g., City, State, Country)

Submit Your Contribution

 submission guidelines.


(You can preview and edit on the next page)

What Other Readers Have Shared

Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...

Recent Multifocal Toric implants 
Had a very bad cataract removed from right eye and not so bad one from left eye a month apart. My astigmatism was greater than 99% of the people on this …

Cataract surgery headaches 
About six months ago I had surgery in both eyes two weeks apart. After the first and second visit my vision was 20/30 and I could see very well without …

Tiny permanent droplets in field of vision following cataract surgery 
I had cataract surgery with implantation of a Symfony lens. Following surgery, I noticed a large number of very small, grey dots in the upper left quadrant …

Cataract surgery 
After my cataract surgery my eyes have not been the same. My doc says they are fine. Says it's chronic dry eye. My eyes hurt and are blurry. I do all they …

My mum 90y ears old  
She had the cataract removed, had to go further in the retina. 3 stitches. Got infection 7 weeks ago. She now has her bottom eyelash growing inwards, which …

Cataract surgery a year ago 
I thought that, generally, cataract surgery was "no biggy." I knew my Mom had problems with glasses after hers, but I didn't expect any complications. …

Lens implants/cataract surgery and sticky eyes  
I had lens implant surgery about 5 yrs ago. Almost the very next day I started experiencing, slight, sticky eyes. It's gotten worse. I've tried many …

My torn retina 
In January the vision in my right eye went blurred literally overnight, for 5 months I was going to the eye clinic at the hospital and had tests, scans …

Feels like baby oil in my eye after Cataract Surgery and feels strained or weak. 
I had Cataract Surgery on 11/6/17. I have been back to the Cataract Specialist numerous times. I was hoping my case would be one of those stories you hear …

Disappointed even though sight is perfect  
My eyes are so watery that I feel my daily life is impaired. I had Toric lenses 3 years ago and at the rate I am going I will go crazy! All I get for …

Christine 
I had cataract surgery 4 weeks ago on my right eye. When discussed with the surgeon he said he would put a Distance lens in my eye. The day after I woke …

Cataract surgery that failed 
Had cataract surgery in my left eye done 3 years ago and it got worst - had a vitrectomy done as well but that did not help. My doctor now tells me that …

My recent sight restoring surgery 
I had both eyes done +/- 5years ago, have had endless problems with getting the correct glasses, first had double vision in right eye, had lenses with …

Light at the end of the tunnel 
Yes I'm a big sissy when it comes to doctors. Of course one of my biggest fears came true, I needed cataract surgery. Having much anxiety I forced myself …

My recent cataract surgery  
At first after cataract removal in my left eye (the right eye was done 10 years ago) my vision was greatly improved. Distance especially: clear and sharp. …

Ron in Nampa 
in January 2017 i had a single cataract removed from my right eye. When it healed, I had a perception disorder that caused my perception on the right side …

My recent cataract surgery 
Had cataract surgery approximately 8 weeks ago in my left eye. Right eye was done first and all went well. Left eye has what looks like a black spider …

Very depressed 
I must have gotten the Dollar Store version of lenses. I had cataract surgery over a year ago, because I could no longer drive at night due to the glare …

Cataract surgery success criteria 
My impression from the pre-op consultation was that if the procedure went without complications and you healed successfully, then you would forever have …

Ellen 
Cataract surgery was a trip to hell! There's a history of migraines which was discussed with my medical Dr and eye Dr. Both assured me there was a SMALL …

Post-cataract nightmare 
I had my left eye done 5 weeks ago and my right 4 days ago. The lens was for 'distance'. Not much was discussed with me by the surgeon, nor were my options. …

Really scared !! 
Had cataract surgery about four years ago on both eyes. My general doctor told me yesterday I had a black bacteria growing on both lens. I noticed that …

Cataract surgery  
The surgeon broke the lens as he put it into my eye, then had problems removing it. My eye suffered significant bruising & fluid behind the eye which resulted …

Winmore73 
The operation went fine and there were no complications afterwards. Any discomfort was minimal. However I am very disappointed in the lack of sight …

Click here to write your own.

Bad day at the VAMC 
I had cataract surgery at the VAMC. The doctor that performed the surgery dropped lens fragments back onto my retina. This required a second surgery to …

Carl vins ant  
I had cataract surgery 7 months ago and keep feeling like something is sticking in my eye and I can't see good out of it even with my glasses I don't …

Mr John Toth 
I had cataract surgery in both eyes about 8 months ago, have developed in the last several weeks flashes and obscured vision in the left eye, went to doctor …

debra 
It has been 2 years and still see halos at night. Right eye does not focus on signs like the left one does. Do not feel comfortable driving any more at …

Lens implant nightmare 
Born with cataracts. I had them removed in early childhood. In my twenties, I had implants. By my thirties both were only partially attached - "swinging …

Cloudy vision 
I had intraocular implants put in both eyes, not because of cataracts but to have 100% vision. All went well, I have perfect vision except that everything …

Bad surgery and I am going to fight back. 
I had cataract surgery on May 21st 2014. The very next day when I went back to the doctor for a check up he took off the bandage and said: "Wow, your cornea …

My recent cataract surgery 
Right after my surgery, which was a breeze, I had 20/20 vision in both eyes. After a couple of weeks, vision was down to 20/30 in the left eye, 20/35 …

Cataract Surgery Chaos 
My wife's Ophthalmologist recommended Cataract removal and performed the operation in a local Hospital. Following the recommended initial recovery time, …

My dad's cataract surgery went wrong 
My father had cataract surgery 2 weeks ago. The evening of his surgery he received a phone call from a nurse checking on him and then a few hours later …

Recent surgery - Cataract surgery/toric implants 
4 days now since my operation on right eye and no improvement whatsoever. Saw the specialist today and he blames the macular degeneration and will prescrible …

Eyesight Gone Wrong 
Had cataract surgery and was told I was the perfect candidate because I was already in mono vision contacts. Had never had an astigmatic correction …

Cataract surgery that resulted in an operation for complicated cataract surgery 
Prior to NHS cataract surgery, there is a reference to the fact that sometimes, 1 in a 1000 for example, things can go wrong. In my case, the surgeon I …

Eye Advice 
I had new lenses put in 5 years ago in South Africa. Then one eye went all blurry. So the doctor from Durban fixed it up. Now it is all blurry again and …

Cataract surgey 
It's about 6 months since I had cataract surgery in both eyes. Since the surgery when I look into lights (especially at night) I see long streaks of lights …

Bump in Eye/Bad Eyelid After Cataract Surgery  
I had cataract surgery 7 months ago. My eye waters and feels like there is something in it. Sometimes my eye blinks real fast to the point where I have …

Wrong Lens - Can't see! 
I had a cataract removed recently and can't see clearly beyond 10 inches. What can be done?

Don't Wait Too Long for Cataract Surgery 
I almost waited too long to see my opthalmologist. The cataract was hard and calcified and thick. The doctors words were that it was the mother of all …

My pain disappointment after cataract surgery 4 months ago 
I had a cataract in my left eye. I was at the hospital in June this year having my eyes checked when it was noted I had a little bleed in that eye (I am …

My Recent Cataract Surgery 
I will try to be brief. The technician had trouble "measuring" my eye for the new lens. It was blamed on a pterygium. During the surgery I heard the doctor …

Cataract Surgery 
I had routine cataract surgery in my left eye. Apart from the discomfort you would expect, I had a deep throbbing in my eye, made worse just by moving …

My new corrective lens placed Jan 30, 2012 
1 - My cornea was scratched during the procedure 2 - this created double vision 3 - double vision continues 4 - ophthalmologist examines; says one …

Complication six weeks after cataract surgery 
I have done the cataract surgery six weeks ago. I still do not have good vision and the pressure in my eye sometimes is high. Maybe this is due to the …

My recent cataract surgery problems 
I have had both eyes cataracts removed -- the last one about a month ago. I have, according to opthamalogist, have excellent vision now, EXCEPT FOR …

Complication from Cataract Surgery 
One month after cataract surgery (Right Eye only), noticed that vision in that eye was becomming blurry. Two months later, noticed that when reading a …

Click here to write your own.

Shadows to the right 
I've had cataract surgery in my right eye about 6 months ago. I still have a curtain effect to the right edge of my eye. I've been back to the doctor …

Implants worsen Eyesight 
Had implants Sep. 2013, I had perfect clear vision so I thought, short lived. Yes the check ups are always "Your eyes look perfect, you are doing real …

Retinal reattachment surgery I had  Not rated yet
I badly delayed my cataract surgery even though they were fully mature and I could not see with my left eye. And finally when I decided to go in for a …

Blurry vision  Not rated yet
Had cataract surgery 2 years ago. Got premium lens in left eye, regular lens in right eye. Left eye is blurry and seems to be losing vision. Just for …

Problem with cataract surgery after 5 or 6 years Not rated yet
I had the cataract in my left eye removed in 2011 and the right eye in 2012. For a couple of years, I had no problems and my eyesight improved to the …

Discomfort After Cataract Surgery Not rated yet
Had surgery 10 days ago and had 2 follow ups with surgeon for annoying discomfort as if something is in my eye. He claims everything looks great but I'm …

Blood clot in eye after removal of Cataract floaters (pieces) Not rated yet
My son had laser-assisted cataract surgery and pieces of the cataract (causing floaters) fell behind the eye. 4 days later he needed another surgery to …

Mono vision cataract surgery Not rated yet
I had cataract surgery 15 months ago and chose monovision. My eyes always ache never a clear vision and feel like there is something in my eye. Advised …

Eye ball bump Not rated yet
I have a bump on the lower left eye ball that wasn't there before my cataract surgery. It is an annoyance as it feels like there is something in my eye. …

My cataract nightmare Not rated yet
I had my left cataract surgery in November 2016 and all seemed well until February. I noticed cloudy vision again it that eye. I contacted my surgeon who …

Toric intraocular lens Not rated yet
Had a toric lens implanted in left eye due to a cataract. I am very nearsighted. The lens rotated and vision was awful after the operation. Dr. Then re-operated …

Watery, glassy eyes Not rated yet
Had a toric lens implant in both eyes, a year and a half of each other. My eyesight did improve but my eyes are watery and look glassy. Do much other people …

Still having problems after cataract and capsolotomies  Not rated yet
I had cataract surgery in Nov 2016 - had laser capsulotomy procedure in March and April 2017. I find as the day progresses both eyes start getting blurry …

Post cataract surgery vision still poor. Not rated yet
I had left uncomplicated cataract surgery in January. Fitted with Toric Multifocal Sfony lens. Follow up 3 weeks later was told needed YAG Laser as posterior …

Tissue Breakage Not rated yet
My mother had a cataract surgery. Everything was fine until the day of follow-up where the doctor told that some tissue had ruptured from some kind of …

Patient Not rated yet
One and a half years ago I had to have cataract surgery. That was the last time I will ever see out of that eye again. The doctor said I had a mini-stroke. …

Cataract nightmare Not rated yet
I had cataract surgery 10/26/16. Dr replaced lens and said the cataract was brittle and pieces floated into my eye. A second surgery was 11/4/16 to remove …

Margaret Mcleod Not rated yet
First surgery was successful. Second one done 2 weeks later - surgeon said I had a hole where natural lens was. Have had cloudy vision hazy - it cleared …

Distorted vision after cateract surgery Not rated yet
After cateract surgery my vision was completely blurry. When it cleared up a little my vision was distorted. Is it possible I got the wrong toric lens? …

Johnson Not rated yet
Had my cataract removed three months ago my vision is worse and have pains in my face.

cataract surgery one year ago. Not rated yet
I had a cataract removed almost a year ago and am very disappointed with the results. I was told I would only need 2.5D reading glasses but I am back to …

Cataract removal and resulting vision Not rated yet
I went to get new glasses and was told "Cataract surgery is in my future". Since I am already 62, I decided to have the surgery done now. Two weeks ago …

My recent cataract surgery Not rated yet
I underwent cataract surgery two months ago. The surgery went well. The ophthalmologist used laser and implanted a Toric lens in my left eye. I went …

Ms.  Not rated yet
I have had cataract surgery on both eyes but on my left eye 6 months later I got something in my eye that moves when I look a certain way I can see it …

Good sight, poor sight Not rated yet
I had double cataract surgery 10 days ago. The left eye has shown steady recovery & is now close to 20/20 distant vision. The right eye was blurry from …

Click here to write your own.

Eyesight terrible after cataract surgery Not rated yet
I have previous retinal detachment and had cataract surgery in this eye 4 weeks ago. Saw eye surgeon two weeks ago and she claimed vision was 20/40...20/60 …

Could see better before cataract surgery Not rated yet
I was having trouble with bright lights when driving at night and was diagnosed with cataracts. I had cataract surgery on both eyes and was told by the …

Sinus headache, facial pain, from Ilevro Not rated yet
11 days after cataract surgery right eye, toric and distance correcting implant lens, vision is great. Above and below right eye only, headache, sinus …

Vaseline like floaters! Not rated yet
I have huge floaters, after lens replacement. About 10 months later, no improvement. Could this have been caused by working out too soon after surgery? …

Eye fiber  Not rated yet
i had cataract surgery a couple years ago. Then I had to have laser surgery to remove a halo glare around lights. Now I've had surgery again for what they …

Cornea scratched during cataract operation  Not rated yet
Cornea was scratched during the cataract operation, at the time severe bruising all down the side of face to and including the neck. Problems with grittiness …

High Expectations for Clear Vision Not rated yet
I have had anterior chronic uveitis in both eyes for numerous years. Recently had cataract surgery and a limbal relaxing incision for astigmatism reduction …

My recent left eye cataract surgery complication Not rated yet
The cataract surgery I had a year and a half ago caused my left eye to have permanent "ghost images". The real image has to its upper right a dim, grey …

Problems After Cataract Surgery Not rated yet
I had a Tecnis IOL implanted during cataract surgery 2 months ago. I now have opacity, which I have been assured can be corrected. My main problem is …

Secondary lens implant surgery Not rated yet
I am 48 yrs old and 1 week ago had secondary lens implant surgery due to cataract surgery (with no implant) at age 13. I was born with uveitis and due …

Worse eyesight after cataract surgery Not rated yet
Three months ago I had the surgery. Got new glasses after 6 weeks. Now again I need new glasses, as my vision has deteriated. Don't know why, but I am …

Clear lens extraction Not rated yet
2 months ago I had clear lens extraction (CLE) done on both of my eyes. Before CLE I had -10.00 vision. After CLE, I noticed that my vision was still blurred …

Day after cataract vision 20/30 then one month later dropped to 20/50 Not rated yet
I am a 64 year old female. I had cataract surgery on my right eye. The day after surgery my vision was 20/30. Shortly after surgery, I noticed shadows …

My recent sight-restoring surgery Not rated yet
I have had both right and left eye cataracts removed within the last few months. The surgery went well in both cases, the first one being done with a local …

Suzanne Nagasaka Not rated yet
I had surgery in November 2012 to remove cataract and put in a multifocal lens. The surgery went well and my vision long distance is good, but recently …

Bubble in the eye Not rated yet
I had cataract surgery 5 months ago and still have a bubble in my eye that causes constant blurring. The doctor says that part of the implant is above …

Pennpaws Not rated yet
I recently had a cataract removed and a toric implant for an astigmatism put in. I experienced a lot of pain during the procedure off and on. I believe …

My recent IOL replacement  Not rated yet
I have recently had one eye operated and had a replacement lens fitted. At first I was very pleased with the results as my vision for reading and working …

Sometimes things do not go right Not rated yet
In January 2011 I had a retinal detachment of the right eye. It occurred on the 4th of that month and by the 6th, I was in hospital for the first of four …

Totally not what I expected Not rated yet
I had cataract removal 1 year ago. In both eyes, lenses were implanted. I had nothing but trouble from pain, extremely blurred vision, and flashing in …

Aug 2011 Cataract Surgery  Not rated yet
The first few weeks of recovery was great. Then the vision was worse than before the cataract was removed. The doctor had never prescribed antibiotics; …

Cataract Surgery Complications Not rated yet
In December of 2010 I had my right eye lens removed and replaced with a Restore multifocal lens. In March 2011, I had the left eye's lens replaced with …

Click here to write your own.



Return to: Cataract Surgery

Return to: Vision & Eye Health

© Copyright 2010 - 2018. All rights reserved. No reproduction allowed without permission. www.vision-and-eye-health.com Privacy Policy | Legal Disclaimer | Adsense Policy | Site Index

SEARCH THIS SITE

Custom Search


Vision and Eye Health



BOOKS YOU MIGHT LIKE