What's the problems after cataract surgery?

[Moffit]

What's the problems after cataract surgery?

[Springbrook]

Because of faulty dietary and living habits, many people develop cataracts in their later years, as they develop other degenerative diseases for the same reasons. A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye that can progress to the point where light can no longer pass through the lens and the eye is totally blind. When the metabolism of the lens becomes faulty, the lens fibers can become swollen or distorted, and gaps filed with fluid and debris form among them. When these degenerative changes begin to cause the incoming light to scatter rather than be transmitted, the person is said to have a cataract. The only solution at present is the surgical removal of the lens and the use of Strong glasses, contact lenses or lens implants to compensate for the loss of the lens. Replacing the lens of the eye with an artificial lens risks infection or other complications, resulting in blindness. Throughout the world, the total number of people each year who find their vision impaired by cataracts probably runs into the millions. Both time and patience are required after surgery in order to adapt to the restored vision. If an artificial lens is not implanted, thick, heavy glasses must be worn to compensate for the lens that has been removed. Such glasses cause considerable distortion of the surrounding world, increased magnification of the image on the retina, decreased depth perception, and disturbances of the field of vision. Some people require many months to adapt to these effects and a few people never learn to tolerate them.

[Moffett]

Actually, there is a risk of developing posterior lens capsule opacification (PCO) following your cataract surgery. PCO is a complication that causes the back of the lens capsule to thicken which causes cloudy vision. If this happens you may need to have laser treatment to make vision clear again. PCO happens because more cells grow over the back of the capsule causing it to thicken. Thickening of the capsule means that light is less able to travel through to the retina at the back of your eye. Sight can become blurred or you may have problems with bright lights and glare. PCO causes problems with your sight which are very similar to the changes you may have had when your cataract first started to cause you problems. Usually, PCO can be treated quite simply. Using a laser, a doctor can make a hole in part of the back of your lens capsule so that the light can once again pass directly to the retina. For the vast majority of people this can improve vision. This procedure is called Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy. Nd:YAG is the type of laser used for this treatment. Sometimes this laser is also referred to as just 'YAG'.

[Springdale]

After cataract surgery you won't be able to drive. It's a good idea to make sure you have necessary help because your doctor may limit activities such as bending and lifting for a few days. You will feel itching and some mild discomfort after cataract surgery. You may also have temporary fluid discharge from your eye and be sensitive to light. Avoid rubbing or pressing on your eye. Try not to bend from the waist to pick up objects on the floor. Do not lift any heavy objects. During this healing time your eye health and vision need to be monitored. In many cases, your optometrist will co-manage your follow-up care with the doctor who did the cataract surgery. Typical follow-up visits would occur at: 1 day, 1 week, 3-4 weeks, 6-8 weeks and 6 months after surgery. Although your vision may be adequately corrected following cataract surgery, you will still need to have regular eye and vision exams to monitor your eye health and vision.

[Moffat]

Problems after surgery are rare, but they can occur. These problems can include infection, bleeding, inflammation such as pain, redness, swelling, loss of vision, double vision, and high or low eye pressure. With prompt medical attention, these problems can usually be treated successfully.Sometimes the eye tissue that encloses the IOL becomes cloudy and may blur vision. This condition is called an after-cataract. An after-cataract can develop months or years after cataract surgery.An after-cataract is treated with a laser. The doctor uses a laser to make a tiny hole in the eye tissue behind the lens to let light pass through. This outpatient procedure is called a YAG laser capsulotomy. It is painless and rarely results in increased eye pressure or other eye problems. As a precaution, the doctor may prescribe eyedrops to lower eye pressure before or after the procedure.