Can Your Eyes Get Worse After Cataract Surgery?

Cataract surgery is generally very successful and, once you’ve recovered from the procedure, means you benefit from much-improved vision. There are, however, rare occasions where complications might occur. Most of these are short-lived and can easily be addressed by your cataract surgeon. The following discusses potential, but rare, post-surgery issues that would warrant further attention from your eye doctor.

Cataract Surgery: Possible complications

•     Rare complications
•     Very rare complications

Rare complications

While rare, these are the more common issues that might temporarily mean your vision becomes worse for a period after cataract surgery.

• Infection: This can cause excessive pain, reddening, and light sensitivity. An infection may need to be treated with antibiotics, so if you’re concerned you should contact your eye doctor.
• Inflammation: Cataract surgery is an invasive procedure, meaning it’s usual to get a little swelling and redness. It’s also possible for the cornea to swell, causing your vision to become a little hazy. In both cases, this is usually short-lived and improves over the days and weeks following surgery. If severe, your surgeon might prescribe eye drops.
• Floaters & flashes: The action of the surgery can cause small parts of the posterior vitreous to detach, causing floaters and flashes of light. While this is usually harmless and clears up on its own within a few months, it can mimic the more severe condition of retinal detachment. Because of this, you should inform your eye doctor if you notice this post-surgery.

Very rare complications

• Retinal detachment: This is a rare, but serious, complication. It happens when the retina pulls away from the back of the eye. Symptoms include seeing flashes of light, new floaters, and the appearance of a veiled curtain encroaching your vision from the side or the top. It’s a medical emergency, so you should seek immediate help.
• Fluid buildup: If a blood vessel in the eye leaks in the days after surgery it can cause fluid to collect within the eye and blur your vision. Such an occurrence is usually treated with eye drops or, if severe, a steroid injection or further surgery.
• Dislocated IOL: The IOL (intraocular lens) is what replaces the natural diseased lens in the surgical process. Very occasionally, this can move and cause double or blurred vision. It requires surgery to either reposition it or insert a new one.
• Secondary cataract: A rather inaccurate name for a complication known as Posterior Capsule Opacification. This happens because the capsule surrounding the lens is not removed during the surgical procedure. On occasion, this might become cloudy and cause symptoms similar to that of the original cataract. It’s easily treated with a procedure known as YAG laser capsulotomy that takes around 5 minutes to perform. It permanently eradicates the problem.

How to Reduce Risk of Complications

•     Partner with a specialist
•     How to find the best cataract surgeons in South Florida and beyond

Partner with a specialist

By far the ultimate way to drastically reduce the chances of post-surgery complications is to ensure the skill of your chosen surgeon. While this is, of course, true for anyone who needs cataract surgery, it’s even more important for those who suffer from other vision or health conditions.

How to find the best cataract surgeons in South Florida and beyond

A search for a subject matter expert often begins online. Entering best cataract surgeons in South Florida (or whatever area you’re looking for) is a good place to start. Once you’ve narrowed down a few possibilities, it’s time to do some research. Ask other people if they have any feedback, check Google and other online reviews, and—most importantly—speak to the eye doctors. Any great surgeon will be happy to answer all your questions and provide you with their track record and experience of treating others with similar conditions.

Looking for the Best Cataract Surgeons in South Florida? You need the WBEC

The WBEC (West Boca Eye Center) is one of the USA’s leading clinics for cataract surgery, laser vision correction, and all aspects of eye health. This academic-grade center of excellence is headed by respected ophthalmologist and cataract surgeon, Brent Bellotte MD. He leads a dedicated team of healthcare professionals and specialists that see people traveling from across the country to avail themselves of the center’s expertise.Visit https://westbocaeyecenter.com and get in contact today for the ultimate in diagnosis, management, and treatment for cataracts.