Cataract Surgery

What causes Cataract?

The most common cause of cataract is ageing.

The two preventable causes of cataract formation would be:

• Smoking
• UV radiation (sunlight) exposure

Cataract can also occur at a younger age if you:

• Have poorly controlled diabetes
• Take certain types of medication such as corticosteroid, etc.
• Are born with it (congenital) Experienced previous trauma to the eye

What are the risks of cataract surgery?

As with any surgery, cataract surgery poses risks such as infection and bleeding. Before cataract surgery, your ophthalmologist may ask you to temporarily stop taking certain medications that increase the risk of bleeding during surgery.

After cataract surgery, you must keep your eye clean, wash your hands before touching your eye, and use the prescribed medications to help minimise the risk of infection. Serious infection can result in loss of vision.

Possible complication during cataract surgery:

• Rupture of the lens capsule (“bag”) that supports the lens resulting in the implant being placed in the wrong position.

Possible complications soon after cataract surgery include:

• Infection (endophthalmitis)
• Inflammation
• Bleeding
• Retinal detachment
• High eye pressure for a few days
• Leaking wound which may require stitching
• Cloudiness of the cornea
• Swelling of the retina
• Sensitive to eye drops
• Displaced lens implant
• Droopy eyelids