​Does cataract surgery have complications?

Your vision is foggy and your doctor has recommended cataract surgery. You’re ready for it, but at the same time you’re nervous about getting surgery. Fortunately, cataract surgery enjoys an incredibly high success rate. At CEENTA, you would be in the safe, capable hands of one of nearly 30 cataract surgeons with decades of experience between them. However, there are a few instances where side effects may occur.

What is a cataract?

A cataract is when the natural lens in the eye becomes cloudy. Like having a foggy or cloudy camera lens, no images can be seen clearly.

Cataracts in their early stages can be treated by glasses. But if the cataract is cloudy enough where new glasses won’t help and your unable to perform your daily activities, cataract surgery may be the best treatment.

Are there any potential risks?

There are risks to any surgical procedure, including cataract surgery. These can include inflammation, infection, swelling of the eye, bleeding, and, in rare cases (1 in 10,000), unwanted images and loss of vision.

What are these unwanted images?

With any lens implant, there is a chance you could experience dysphotopsia, or unwanted images that appear in your vision. This can occur in 2-16 percent of patients, depending on the type of lens implant used.

Dysphotopsia can manifest in a number of ways, including glare, flicker/strobing of light, starburst or ring, double vision, or arc-shaped shadows.

Brighter images are known as positive dysphotopsia, while darker images are called negative dysphotopsia. These are caused by a combination of the highly polished lens surface and the acrylic material the lens implant is made of.

“Most patients find these unwanted images an acceptable compromise for overall seeing and functioning much better, as they are a fraction of what they may have experienced from the cataract itself,” CEENTA Ophthalmologist Kashyap Kansupada, MD, said.

In most cases, time is all that is needed for these unwanted images to fade. In others, nonsurgical treatments like eyedrops for dry eyes or eyelid inflammation can be effective. In 20 percent of patients, the pouch that holds the lens implant becomes cloudy and is cleared by a simple, painless, in-office laser procedure. In rare cases, replacing the lens implant might be necessary. A thorough discussion with your surgeons of the precise symptoms you may be having will help your surgeon provide the best, targeted solution.

While there is a chance you may experience some side effect from cataract surgery, it is far, far likelier that you will have a positive experience that greatly improves the quality of your life. If you have any questions or concerns about your procedure, don’t hesitate to talk to your CEENTA cataract surgeon.

This blog is for informational purposes only. For specific medical questions, please consult your doctor. Dr. Kansupada practices in our Belmont and Huntersville offices. To schedule a cataract consultation appointment, call 704-295-3000. You can also schedule an appointment online or through myCEENTAchart.