Accidents Happen: A Guide to Children's Emergencies

Most people who undergo cataract surgery do not have any complications. If you are facing cataract surgery, it is important that you know the signs of a possible complication. Here are three of the most common and what you can do about them.

Posterior Capsule Opacity

Posterior capsule opacity, or PCO, is one of the most commonly occurring complications. When the eye surgeon removes the cataract, there is a possibility that some of the cells from it will remain. If they have, your vision can become cloudy again.

Some people who have PCO experience vision that is worse than it was before the cataract occurred. If you experience haziness or cloudiness that seems to worsen after the surgery, contact your eye surgeon. 

The eye surgeon can perform laser surgery to remove the remaining cells. The surgery is usually done in the surgeon's office and only takes a few minutes. Following the surgery, you can return to your normal activities without restriction. Your vision should clear within a day or two of having surgery. 

Retinal Detachment

You could also experience retinal detachment following surgery. Retinal detachment happens when the tissue that is behind your retina detaches and fluid is allowed to get behind the area. Symptoms of this can include floaters and light flashes. 

The most important thing you can do if you notice any of these symptoms is to call your surgeon immediately. The surgeon will need to perform additional surgery to repair the detached retina. Without the surgery, you could possibly lose your vision. According to the National Eye Institute, 90 percent of people who undergo surgery to repair a damaged retina recover. 

Dislocated Intraocular Lenses

Another possible complication is dislocated intraocular lenses. In this instance, the lens that is implanted during the cataract surgery becomes displaced. As a result, you can experience double vision and a decrease in vision. 

Once you experience symptoms, notify your surgeon. The surgeon can re-center the displaced lens. It is important that you seek help immediately. If the lens if left in the wrong position for too long, when your eye begins to heal from the surgery, scarring can effectively hold the displaced lens in the wrong position. 

Cataract surgery is usually without risk, but it is important that you know the signs and symptoms of a problem. An eye surgeon like Atlantic Eye Consultant PC - Delianides Aris P MD will go over any other possible complications that you can experience that might specifically apply to your case.