How do you know if something is wrong after cataract surgery?

If there is progression to pain, decrease in vision, or any discharge from the eye, patients are advised to seek medical attention. A long-term consequence of cataract surgery is posterior capsular opacification (PCO). PCO is the most common complication of cataract surgery.

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Which symptoms are abnormal after cataract surgery?

Symptoms that cause concern
  • A sudden decrease in vision.
  • Redness in or around the eye that persists after two days.
  • Continued sensitivity to light.
  • Discharge from the eye.
  • Pain that continues.
  • Fever, nausea or vomiting.
  • Sudden increase in floaters, or flashing lights.

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When should I be concerned after cataract surgery?

When to call the doctor. If redness in the eye is accompanied by pain, light sensitivity and/or a change in vision, see your ophthalmologist right away.

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What happens if cataract surgery fails?

Cataract surgery removes the front part of the lens but leaves the back in place. That's where you may get a secondary cataract, also called posterior capsule opacification (PCO). When that happens, your vision may get cloudy again. It usually happens eventually after cataract surgery.

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What are the symptoms of inflammation after cataract surgery?

Patients can present with a variety of symptoms including:
  • Persistent redness of eye(s), characteristically noted at the limbus (circumlimbal)
  • Complaints of visual change (blurry vision)
  • Eye pain, more specific to acute anterior uveitis.
  • Photophobia.
  • Irritation.

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What would suggest something is wrong after cataract surgery?

28 related questions found

How to tell if you have an eye infection after cataract surgery?

I do not want to sound alarmist, but if you get any symptoms after cataract surgery, which include severe pain, rapid onset reduction of vision, progressive swelling or redness of the eye or smelly discharge from the eye after surgery, you should urgently see your ophthalmologist.

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What is the most serious complication of cataract surgery?

The most serious and dreaded risk, but fortunately rare (less than 1 per 1000 surgeries), is an infection inside the eye called endophthalmitis. To avoid this complication, antibiotic drops are started before surgery and continued afterward.

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What is not normal after cataract surgery?

Secondary complications can include: cystoid macular edema, retinal tears/detachment, glaucoma, corneal decompensation, endophthalmitis, retained lens material, prolonged postoperative inflammation, prolonged case time, and patient discomfort.

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Can my cataract surgery be redone?

Cataract surgery can be redone, most commonly after a problem occurs with the lens implant from the original procedure. Cataract surgery entails removing the natural lens material and replacing it with an artificial lens implant designed to match the patient's approximate prescription.

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What happens if lens moves after cataract surgery?

Displacement of the intraocular lens causes changes to vision and, if it falls into the vitreous cavity, it can produce traction due to the eye's own movement, resulting in retinal detachment and/or vitreous haemorrhage.

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What are the symptoms of dislocated intraocular lenses?

History, signs, and symptoms

Patients with a dislocated IOL may experience a decrease or change in vision, diplopia, and/or glare. Additionally, they may report ocular pain or headaches from intermittent angle-closure and/or inflammation. Some patients also report seeing the edge of the IOL.

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How long is the risk of infection after cataract surgery?

The critical period of therapy is just before surgery and until the wound no longer allows the ingress of organisms (probably 1 or 2 days after surgery in the vast majority of cases).

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What happens if I get water in my eye after cataract surgery?

Exposure to water can put your eyes at risk of infection or irritation until your eye has healed from surgery. “Give yourself at least one night of sleep before showering, and prevent the stream of water from hitting your eyes directly,” says Eghrari.

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Why hasn't my vision improved after cataract surgery?

If you've had cataract surgery and your vision is still blurry or hazy, you may have a common condition called posterior capsule opacification (PCO). PCO, also sometimes called a “secondary cataract”, occurs when the capsule that holds the IOL in place gets obstructed by epithelial cells from the lens.

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How long does it take for your vision to stabilize after cataract surgery with lens implant?

Depending on the IOL you choose for your cataract surgery, it may take three to six weeks before your vision fully stabilizes. You may find it especially difficult to adjust to monovision. Typically, cataract surgery is performed separately on each eye, about a week apart.

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Why is my vision blurry 2 weeks after cataract surgery?

Inflammation. Inflammation in the eye can happen after cataract surgery, but it is typically harmless. Any inflammation within the eye following cataract surgery is the body's natural response to having the eye's lens removed. This reaction causes blurry vision, but your eye doctor can prescribe medication to help.

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How long does it take for a lens implant to heal?

Try not to bend from the waist to pick up objects on the floor, as this can cause undue pressure to your eyes. Do not lift any heavy objects. Do not engage in any strenuous activity until your doctor says it is okay to do so. It will take about 8 weeks for your eye to heal.

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What percentage of people have complications after cataract surgery?

After cataract surgery, there is a chance that the intraocular lens that replaces the natural lens could shift or move. A rare complication, this happens in roughly 0.2 to 3 percent of all cataract surgeries, and frequency has decreased as lens designs improved over the years.

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What happens if you rub your eye 3 days after cataract surgery?

But you should especially refrain from rubbing your eyes after cataract surgery. The eye that you had surgery on will be very sensitive. Rubbing your eye could damage the fragile flap created during the procedure. Damaging this flap could lead to complications or other problems.

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What are the signs of an eye infection?

Signs of an Eye Infection
  • Pain in the eye.
  • A feeling that something is in the eye (foreign body sensation).
  • Increased sensitivity to light (photophobia).
  • Yellow, green, bloody, or watery discharge from the eye.
  • Increasing redness of the eye or eyelids.
  • A grey or white sore on the coloured part of the eye (iris).

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How do I know if my eye infection is serious?

If a person has signs of an eye infection, they should contact a doctor. Severe symptoms, such as extreme pain or a sudden loss of vision, require emergency medical care. Likewise, if symptoms of a stye, blepharitis, or conjunctivitis fail to improve with home care, people should see a doctor.

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Is it OK to watch TV after cataract surgery?

Several hours following the surgery, most patients are able to watch some television or look at a computer screen for a short period of time. It's important however that you don't over-exert your eyes during the first 24 hours post-surgery. You can expect to return to most normal activities during the first week.

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Is coffee OK after cataract surgery?

Sugar in your coffee and tea is okay, but no milk products. You Must Take usual morning medications, except for Insulin and other diabetic medication, prior to arrival at the surgery center. (Heart, High Blood Pressure, Chronic Pain, Seizure, or Tremors) Take with a sip of water only.

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What causes sharp eye pain after cataract surgery?

Although increased IOP after cataract surgery—especially in the immediate postoperative period—is a potential cause of pain, I have found that the most common cause of postoperative pain is drying of the ocular surface from the preservatives in perioperative drops, exposure during surgery, and wound creation.

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How do you check for lens dislocation?

During an eye examination, a physician looks for a lens that appears off-center. In obvious cases, this condition can be seen just by looking at the eye. Most often, however, the physician uses special drops to dilate the pupil of the eye to see the lens behind it more clearly.

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