Complications of Cataract Surgery

Cataract extraction and intraocular lens implantation has been reported to be the safest operation performed on any part of the human body; however, serious complications occasionally occur. The techniques of vitreous surgery which were first developed to repair damage caused by severe diabetes can be utilized to repair unusual complications of cataract surgery. An example of this type of complication would be rupture of a weak lens capsule which allows a fragment of the cataract to fall back into the vitreous cavity or onto the surface of the retina. If this occurs, the safest means of removing the intravitreal cataract fragment is with vitreous surgery. Surgery is usually postponed until the eye is no longer inflamed although some factors, such as increased intraocular pressure, necessitate more prompt surgery. Rarely, an intraocular lens implant can become dislocated into the vitreous cavity and this can also be repaired by vitreous surgery techniques. Other complications include cystoid macular edema which can be managed with Diamox, subtenons' steroids and occasionally vitreous surgery. With a Choroidal/Expulsive Hemorrhage you need to wait for the blood to liquify then perform vitreous surgery.

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