| Just recently, a friend of mine from the church | | | | the retina. Sometimes, after surgery, this part |
| we both go to, had cataract surgery. He told me | | | | becomes inflamed, which results in a blurring of |
| that after he was done, he saw better than he | | | | vision. A test is then given to determine the |
| had ever seen since he was a kid. You had to see | | | | extent of the swelling. In some cases, steroids |
| the look of joy all over his face. Yes, cataract | | | | need to be injected into the area itself in order to |
| surgery, especially with today's modern methods, | | | | bring down the swelling, which is always a risk in |
| is a great thing. However, there are still risks | | | | itself. |
| involved in having this kind of surgery. This article | | | | Another uncommon risk of cataract surgery is |
| is simply meant to point them out so that you | | | | retinal detachment. What happens occasionally |
| can make an informed decision about whether or | | | | during surgery is that fluid seeps through a tear in |
| not this is something that you want to consider | | | | the retina. When this happens, the retina detaches |
| having. | | | | from the back of the eye. Patients who are |
| First, let me give you the good news. About 98% | | | | nearsighted have more of a chance of retinal |
| of the people who have cataract surgery have | | | | detachment than other patients. This occurs in |
| wonderful outcomes and vision that is greatly | | | | about one half of one percent of all surgeries. |
| improved. This is a significant figure and a | | | | The most serious complication from cataract |
| testament as to how far we have come with this | | | | surgery is choroidal hemorrhage. The choroid is a |
| procedure. Still, there is that 2% that we need to | | | | web of blood vessels that supplies that retina with |
| be concerned with and what can go wrong in | | | | blood. Sometimes, during surgery, the choroid will |
| those cases. | | | | bleed. This is mostly common in patients with high |
| One of the most common risks of cataract | | | | blood pressure and glaucoma. If the bleeding is |
| surgery is Endophthalmitis, which is an infection | | | | restricted to a small area, then patients usually |
| inside the eye. To help prevent this from | | | | recover without much visual loss. However, in the |
| happening, antibiotic eye drops are administered | | | | most severe cases, patients can end up having |
| on the day of the surgery. In most cases, this | | | | complete loss of vision. |
| procedure is all that is needed, but in some cases | | | | The most dangerous risks of cataract surgery |
| infection will occur. The statistics for post | | | | are fortunately very rare because of today's |
| operative infection are 1 in 3000 surgeries. | | | | technology. Still, it is important that you are aware |
| A less common risk of cataract surgery is cystoid | | | | of them. |
| macular edema. The macula is the central part of | | | | After all, you only get one pair of eyes. |