The lens is a clear curved structure located in the eye, which bends to focus light on the retina. A cataract is an eye disorder in which some or all of the lens becomes cloudy, which obscures and blocks light from getting through the lens and hitting the retina. When cataracts become severe, one treatment option is surgical removal. There are multiple benefits of cataract surgery, but there is also the risk of surgical complications.
Retinal Detachment
Retinal detachment is a painless but serious complication of cataract surgery, in which the retina separates from the tissue that supports it. The principal sign of retinal detachment is the sudden onset of "floaters": specks that float through a person's field of vision. Alternatively, these floaters may look somewhat like a spider's web. The presence of some floaters is normal, but a sudden increase may be sign of retinal detachment. A person with retinal detachment may also see flashes of light.
Bleeding and Leaking of Vitreous Fluid
As with any other organ, blood vessels are attached to the eye to supply it with oxygen and nutrients. The blood vessels are attached to the tissue just beneath the retina. In addition, the eye is filled with a liquid called vitreous fluid. Merck Manuals, an online medical library, reports that cataract surgery may lead to tearing of the tissue beneath the retina, causing bleeding, as well as leakage of the vitreous fluid at the site of incision. Both bleeding and leakage of vitreous fluid may result in temporary or permanent impairment in vision.
Other Complications
MayoClinic.com and the National Eye Institute add that there is also the risk of other complications with cataract surgery. As with any surgery, there is a risk of infection and inflammation. Additional complications include swelling, glaucoma, and secondary cataract due to other causes or eye disorders.
