When is risk increased?
Some conditions or eye features increase risk:
- High myopia or high hyperopia
- Corneal damage (scar, dystrophy)
- A very hard lens nucleus (advanced, "white" cataract)
- Poor pupil dilation
- Pseudoexfoliation syndrome (weak lens-support system)
- Previous eye surgery
Serious complications (rare)
Acute eye infection — less than 1 in 1000. Requires urgent treatment.
Bleeding inside the eye during or after surgery.
Swelling of the cornea — usually transient, rarely persistent.
Swelling of the central retina — temporary blurry vision, treatable.
Usually temporary; sometimes short course of drops needed.
Tear in the lens capsule during surgery — sometimes a second procedure by a vitreoretinal surgeon is needed.
Milder complications
Occur a little more often and usually resolve spontaneously:
- Transient bruising of the white of the eye (small red patch)
- Delayed healing of the incision
- Allergic reaction to the drops
- Superficial inflammation of the ocular surface
- Temporary rise in eye pressure
- Minor corneal distortion (astigmatism)
Posterior capsule opacification (PCO)
In the months or years after surgery, the posterior lens capsule can become cloudy — known as after-cataract. This is not a complication of the operation itself and is easily treated with a short, painless laser treatment (YAG laser capsulotomy) at the practice. The treatment is largely reimbursed.
How do we minimise the risk?
- Extensive pre-operative work-up (biometry, OCT, topography, endothelial measurement)
- Sterile operating environment in a dedicated ophthalmology suite
- Modern phaco machines with low ultrasound energy
- Strict post-operative drop schedule
- Short-term check the day after surgery
During your pre-operative consultation Dr. Pinxten discusses all your questions about risk in detail and personally. You also receive a written information brochure.