What to expect after Cataract Surgery

In spite of the fact that cataract surgery is the most commonly performed surgery in the world, it is certainly not free from post surgery issues. The fact that 95% are successful still leaves a considerable amount of people in the unfortunate 5% . Out of those 'successful' operations 50% of patients will require further treatment, usually within 2 years.

Post op cataract surgery will require most patients to take antibiotic eye drops to avoid infection and steroid drops will be prescribed to minimize inflammation.

It is common for people to complain of floaters post op but the op itself does not cause the floaters as they were already there. The cataract was blocking the view of the floaters and therefore once the cataract is removed, the floaters can become evident. It is possible to surgically remove floaters but this author would recommend otherwise. For a very minor irritation, is surgery really worth the risk?

More serious than floaters, post op light flashes could be indicative of retinal detachment and retinal tear.

In certain cases, cataract patients should receive prior medical clearance from their medical doctors before surgery because cataract surgery can be associated with serious conditions such as stroke or heart problems.

The presence of glaucoma will not affect the success of cataract surgery and the surgery will not help with glaucoma.

I think most people understand that untreated cataracts can lead to blindness. Most cataracts develop slowly, but trauma (including LASIK surgery) can significantly speed up cataract progress. It is fair to say that the more mature the cataract, the more complicated the surgery could be and the greater the risk of post op complications. If you suspect you have cataracts, have it checked out sooner rather than later. Better still, use a super-antioxidant eye drop like Can-C to help prevent cataract formation in the first place.