For most people, cataract surgery will most likely go smoothly. You end up with better eyesight and recover without any long term problems. But like any surgery, there are risks, especially if you have other eye problems or a serious medical condition.

So it helps to know what might be wrong. You can keep a close eye on any symptoms and call your doctor if anything goes wrong.

5 Complications of Cataract Surgery

Here are 5 complications of cataract surgery that may occur:

1. Infection

Germs that get into your eye during surgery can cause an infection. You may feel sensitive to light or experience pain, redness, and vision problems.

Infections after cataract surgery are rare, but if you do develop them, you'll get an antibiotic shot into your eye. In some cases, your doctor also removes the vitreous, the clear gel in the center of the eye, to stop the infection from spreading.

2. Inflammation

Slight swelling and redness after cataract surgery is normal. If you have more than usual, you will get eye drops or other medicine to treat it.

3. Retinal detachment

The retina is at the far back of your eye, its job is to sense light and send messages to the brain. After surgery, you have a slightly higher chance of developing a retinal detachment.

This is an emergency that can cause vision loss. See your eye doctor right away if you:

• Feels like there is a curtain covering part of the eye.
• Have new floating spots in your vision.
• Seeing flashes of light.

4. Bleeding

This is rare, but during surgery, the blood vessels that supply the retina may start to bleed for no reason. A little blood is fine, but larger amounts can cause vision loss.

After cataract surgery, blood can collect between the cornea and iris, the colored part of your eye, and block your vision. Eye drops can help, and you should rest in bed with your head held high.

If blood isn't flowing or is causing too much pressure in your eye, you may need surgery.

5. Dysphotopsia

This causes you to see visual effects, and there are two types:

• Negative, which gives you a curved shadow at the edges of your vision
• Positive, which you see as halos, star explosions, flashes, or streaks of light

Some doctors don't analyze the cause, and it often goes away on its own. It's more likely to persist when it's kind of negative. You can try eye drops or even glasses with thick rims to make the shadows less visible.

If it lasts for months, your doctor may suggest another cataract surgery. You might get a new lens or try a second lens over the first. Consult immediately at JEC.