10 Side Effects of Cataract Surgery With Solutions
Cataract surgery is a painless procedure that improves vision for people with different vision defects. Out of the millions of patients who have gone for the surgery this year, many patients developed severe complications. Post-surgery recovery is different from one patient to the other. While some experience a slight itching sensation that fades away a few days later, others may have to begin to nurse a more painful infection afterward.
In reality, cataract surgery can come with abnormalities. Here are ten of the several problems you might experience after cataract surgery. Meanwhile, this is not just a kist; you will also learn why they occur and how to cure them.
1. Blurry Vision
It is widespread to have a blurry or unclear vision in the days and sometimes even weeks after cataract removal. That is mainly caused by normal swelling in the eye, which occurs as a part of the procedure.
Solution
Anti-inflammatory eye drops prescribed by your doctor will help if you administer them as directed. After a few days of proper medication, the swelling will decrease, and your vision should clear up over a few days up to a week. Patients with cornea disease, such as Fuchs dystrophy, may take up to a month or more to get rid of the swelling and regain a better vision.
If the blurriness doesn’t subside after a few days, consult your ophthalmologist for proper examination. Other causes of continual blurry vision may include residual refractive error, dry eye, or Posterior capsule opacity (PCO). In this case, you may have to et a prescription glasses
2. Dry eye
After cataract surgery, most patients experience dryness in the eye. The reason is that the doctor will cut several nerves on the surface of your eye during an incision on your lens. These nerves are among the information loop that tells your eyes to produce more tears for lubrication. The nerves will heal in about three to four months, but before then, your vision will remain poor, and your eye will dry, consequently decreasing tear production. If you had already been diagnosed with a dry eye before your surgery, you might have been experiencing even more dryness afterward. Dry eyes can cause light sensitivity, discomfort, and blurry vision with frustrations.
Solution
If you struggle with a dry eye at a minor level, you may apply over-the-counter preservative-free artificial tears. They can help tremendously. After applying prescription drops, wait 5 minutes before using the tears. That would prevent the medicine from getting dilated.
3. Discomfort
Most times, people complain they feel like there’s something hard like sand in their eyes. In another instance, their eyes may begin to feel scratchy after cataract surgery. That sensation results from the small incision the doctor made during the surgery. With proper, you will recover within a week. However, If you have dry eye, the discomfort may last longer than four months. Some cataract patients need a stitch or suture in the eye during the surgery. You don’t have to fret. The only problem with this event is that you need to remove the suture after surgery.
4. Posterior capsule opacity (PCO)
Sometimes PCO causes blurry vision. This fair complication can occur weeks, months, or even years after cataract surgery. What happens when the membrane that holds your new intraocular lens in place becomes wrinkled and starts to cloud vision. PCO results from cells growing on the membrane over time, similar to scar tissue.
Solution
You can treat that condition with a safe and quick laser-assisted procedure known as a YAG laser capsulotomy. Your surgeon will form an opening in the cloudy capsule, allowing more light to pass through for better vision. The procedure takes 10 minutes and does not require an incision.
5. Glare, halos, and unwanted images
Many patients experience unwanted visual images after cataract surgery. Halos, glare, and streaks of light can be examples of unwanted visual images. They usually occur at night or in dim lighting to make walking difficult for you after the day. They are also more familiar with multifocal lenses. These effects can be more noticeable comparing surgery on the first to the second eye.
Solution
If you can cure these problems but glare and halos continue, your ophthalmologist may recommend drops at night to lessen the unwanted images.
6. Light sensitivity
After cataract surgery, you are expected to experience a little bit of light sensitivity due to dryness in the eye. However, if your eyes reflexively squint or close when exposed to light, it could be a sure signal of inflammation in the eye.
Solution
Your doctor may prescribe asteroid drop to help heal the infection. At times, you need to wear UV-protective sunglasses for some months until it goes away. It is often caused by a “rebound” as you taper off your anti-inflammatory drops.
7. Nausea or disorientation
Feeling nauseated after cataract surgery is an after-effect of IV anesthesia, a drug used for sedation before the surgery. It’s normal to have lingering nausea for some days postoperatively.
Solution
Re-hydrating with many fluids and eating a meal after getting home should help.
Elevated pressure or ocular hypertension can also cause an irritating feeling of throwing up. Your ophthalmologist needs to check your ocular pressure after surgery and offer treatment accordingly.
8. Bloodshot or red eye
A red or bloodshot eye after cataract surgery is prevalent. It is usually caused by inflammation, a broken blood vessel, or a subconjunctival hemorrhage. That can create a scary-looking red spot on the eye, but it is generally harmless and heals automatically. It occurs in people who have had laser cataract surgery, which involves suctioning the eye. It may be three weeks before your body reabsorbs the blood and the spot disappears completely.
9. Floaters or flashes of lights
You can experience small dots in your field of vision after cataract surgery. These care for the shadows of those small clumps of the vitreous gel that fills your eye. They are not severe and tend to float out of the way independently.
Solution
If you experience floaters, call your ophthalmologist immediately.
10. Droopy eyelid
Droopy eyelid results from ptosis and is pretty common after cataract surgery. It occurs in people whose eyelids swell postoperatively. It is likely initiated by the speculum, one of your surgeon’s tools to pull back your lids to keep your eye accessible for the procedure.
Solution
If a droopy eyelid lasts longer than six months, you may need fresh cataract surgery to fix it.
Final Words
Cataract surgery remains a reliable, effective corrective measure to eliminate minor and severe eye infections and restore vision to its initial perfect state. Meanwhile, the result may come with some risks if there are complications in the health of the patent’s eye and even the entire body. It is best to book a visit with your doctor for critical examination before cataract surgery to avoid the above-listed adverse effects afterwards.