Emergency Signs After Cataract Surgery

The vast majority of cataract surgeries proceed without any issues. However, it’s important that anyone due to undergo such an operation (and those close to them) know what cataract surgery emergency symptoms to look out for. 

From eye pain after surgery to vision loss complications, the following discusses signs that you should seek urgent medical help.

Cataract Surgery Emergency Symptoms: Everything You Need to Know

• Eye pain after surgery
• Vision loss complications
• Other reasons to seek emergency assistance

Eye pain after surgery

While every surgical procedure will undoubtedly have some mild post-op discomfort, this should be easily managed with pain relief. Severe pain, whether constant or intermittent, is not a normal feature during the recovery process.

Knowing what is considered “normal” discomfort or eye pain after surgery will help patients differentiate between this and a more serious problem. It’s usual for the eye to have symptoms of:

• Feeling a bit “gritty”.
• Watering.
• Be a little red.

However, severe pain is not normal and warrants emergency assessment. This may or may not be accompanied by:

• Swelling of the eyelids.
• Increasing redness in or around the eye.
• Sudden vision changes.
• Extreme sensitivity to light.
• Noticeable discharge from the eye (other than watering).

If any of these symptoms occur (with or without concurrent pain), you should contact your eye doctor or visit the nearest emergency room straight away. 

Vision loss complications

In addition to the above, various vision loss complications that also warrant immediate attention. These are:

• The sudden appearance of flashes of light or floaters.
• Seeing a “curtain” or shadow intruding into the vision from the top or corner of the eye.
• Increasingly blurred vision (getting worse over days, rather than improving).
• Increasing redness in or around the eye.

The first two can be signs of a detached retina. The second two could be a sign of infection or another issue. Whatever the underlying cause, it needs to be urgently checked out.

Other reasons to seek emergency assistance

There are also other, albeit rare, reasons that you should seek professional help straight away. These are:

• Excessive bleeding into the cornea. While it’s normal for a small amount of bleeding after surgery, excessive blood loss is not.
• A severe headache. While a mild, short-lived headache is a common postoperative symptom, one that’s very severe, perhaps of sudden onset, or a cluster headache, is not.
• You should also act if the eye appears to be improving and then takes a turn for the worse. This could be a sign of infection that needs to be treated as quickly as possible.

As with any operation where tissue trauma occurs, there is always a small element of risk. Modern cataract surgery is one of the safest procedures in the world, with millions of operations carried out in the US alone each year. However, being aware of what are rare, but potentially serious, symptoms is the key to seeking prompt treatment should they occur.

Your cataract surgeon should provide you with this information. However, if you’re at all unsure then be sure to ask. Make sure that the person who stays with you for a minimum of 24 hours after cataract surgery is also aware of what would be post-cataract surgery emergency symptoms. That way, if you’re feeling groggy or unsure whether something is serious, you’ll have a second opinion.

As in the case of all surgical recovery, you should err on the side of caution.  You’ll be provided with 24-hour contact details to speak to your surgeon or medical team. If you’re even the slightest bit worried, then be sure to get in touch.

From Cataract Surgery Emergency Symptoms to the Ultimate Pre- and Post-Care, Contact the WBEC Today

The West Boca Eye Center is led by one of the world’s leading cataract surgeons, Dr. Brent Bellotte. As a pivotal figure in the advancement of cataract treatment, he set up the clinic as a one-stop-shop for every element of visual health—with a true focus on cataract treatment and care.

Patients at the WBEC benefit from the ultimate medical knowledge—and that includes ensuring you’re fully informed of post-cataract surgery emergency symptoms and every other aspect surrounding their condition.

Discover more at https://www.westbocaeyecenter.com/