Undergoing cataract surgery means having your natural lens replaced with an artificial intraocular lens (IOL). There are various kinds of IOLs available and each comes with its own set of benefits and risks.

A 73-year-old patient presented to Wills Eye Hospital’s Neuro-ophthalmology Service with sudden headache and seizure symptoms, followed by neurological imaging to establish post-eclamptic encephalopathy syndrome as the diagnosis.

1. Pain

Cataract surgery entails extracting your natural lens that’s clouded over with cataracts and replacing it with an intraocular lens (IOL). Most patients report feeling quite comfortable post-operation; however, some may experience discomfort either on the surface of their eye or deeper within its structures. If vision loss accompanies pain in either case it should be taken seriously as an emergency situation and seek care immediately.

Eye pain that appears on the surface usually results from foreign objects or chemicals entering the eye, chemical burns or infections, chemical spillage into the eye or an infection infecting it, while pain deep in the eye typically manifests itself with throbbing or ache and could indicate more serious problems.

If you are experiencing eye discomfort, bring your drops with you for your 1-day post operative visit with Dr. Piemontesi’s office. Be sure to take one tablet of Acetazolamide 250mg orally prior to bedtime and upon waking the following morning.

Some patients who undergo cataract surgery will develop posterior capsule opacity, which is a cloudy membrane covering their eye. Through laser-based YAG capsulotomy, doctors can create an opening into this membrane by making small holes using this laser device. Unobstructed vision can often be restored almost instantaneously using this procedure; however, in certain instances the YAG procedure can also cause headaches in patients who have an existing history of migraines or other vascular conditions, such as reversible cerebrovascular constriction syndrome. Physicians should conduct an intensive investigation if patients present with visual loss and headache symptoms to gather clues to their diagnosis; including examination of their visual fields, pupils, fundus as well as conducting examinations to uncover potential diagnoses.

2. Light sensitivity

Cataracts cloud the natural lens of your eye, resulting in blurry vision and light glare. Cataract removal can be performed as an outpatient procedure in under an hour; first your ophthalmologist will administer drops to widen your pupil and then anesthetize the area in order to reduce discomfort; they may even provide you with a sedative medication in order to help relax you if necessary.

Light sensitivity after cataract surgery occurs when your cornea becomes sensitive to light after having been treated for cataracts. It’s important to visit our eye doctor near Monterey, CA if this problem exists as we will help identify the appropriate course of treatment.

Other symptoms associated with cornea sensitivity to light include glare, halos and ghosting. This usually happens in dim lighting environments and may make driving at night challenging – although over time this symptom should subside as your cornea adjusts to the new lens.

Blurry vision, halos and glare are caused by light scattering when passing through your cataractous lens. Its effect can be most evident under low light conditions like dusk or rainstorm. Although not painful, these symptoms can still be bothersome to some patients.

If you are experiencing pain, sensitivity to light, redness, itching or drainage from your eyes, it is wise to visit an ophthalmologist immediately. Such symptoms could indicate infection or another medical issue and should not be ignored as they could cause permanent loss of vision. Complications from modern cataract surgery rarely present themselves this way but it’s worth consulting an ophthalmologist just in case – most often these issues will disappear with time.

3. Foreign body sensation

Conjunctiva (the surface of the eye) serves as an entryway for particles in the air to land and can create an unpleasant foreign body sensation, similar to having something lodged between your eyelashes; discomfort usually goes away once this object has been eliminated from its path.

If the pain persists and there are signs of foreign bodies, it’s imperative that they get checked out right away. Foreign objects can cause corneal injuries or scarring which can lead to permanent vision loss – it is therefore imperative that any foreign objects that get into your eye be removed promptly to prevent future issues.

This is particularly applicable if you have recently received an intraocular multifocal lens implant; such lenses have been known to increase halos and glare. Eye drops and cool compresses are effective solutions for managing these symptoms.

Bromfenac Ophthalmic Solution 0.07% may also provide relief, helping reduce inflammation and discomfort as well as improving visual acuity following cataract surgery in some patients. Unfortunately, however, its sodium sulfite content could lead to allergic reactions in certain individuals.

If medications don’t alleviate your headache, your doctor may suggest inserting tear saving plugs. These sterile “corks” block the drainage of tears from the eye, helping build up tear volume by stopping drainage. Once these plugs have been put in, they should be monitored as per normal and then either placed lower, upper, or both puncta openings for response; once successful they will be swapped out with non-dissolvable plugs.

4. Redness

Optometric cataract surgery is generally safe, with very minimal risks or complications; however, redness in the eye is one such complication that may arise as a result. This occurs when vitreous fluid inside of an eye becomes inflamed due to an increase in inflammatory cells around a cataract; leading to purulent discharge from it that can cause intense discomfort as well as lead to loss of vision and pain.

Once treated with medications, eyes should return to normal within a few weeks. Lubricating eye drops may provide comfort and protection during this time. Sensitivity to light should decrease with continued usage over time.

Bleeding may occur after cataract surgery, though this should not be a major concern unless there is extensive blood loss. Retinal detachment, however, could potentially result in significant vision loss if severe; detachments can also be caused by swelling in either cornea or retina which results in flashes of light and floating particles appearing before them in your vision.

Infection – After cataract surgery, bacteria and other microorganisms can enter the eye through various routes – including intravitreal injection or blood stream infections. Endophthalmitis may result in irreparable vision loss; immediate medical attention must be sought in such an instance.

Inflammation – Cataract surgery cuts multiple connections between neurons and nerves over an area of cornea, potentially leading to discomfort for patients who already suffer from dry eyes. Your doctor may prescribe eyedrops as well as steroids or NSAIDs to control inflammation after cataract surgery in order to minimize risks such as glaucoma.

5. Flashing lights

At cataract surgery, eye doctors remove and replace natural lenses with artificial ones, which allow light to pass through to create a clear image of the world. Cataract surgery is generally safe and successful at improving visual acuity; however, complications may arise that are minor or temporary; lasting ones could even permanently impact vision; potential issues include worsening of vision, bleeding or infection.

A 53-year-old Filipina successfully underwent successful phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation three weeks apart using topical anesthesia, with her preoperative examination showing small bilateral optic discs with cup-to-disc ratios of 0.2 in her left eye and 0.3 in her right. On day one postoperatively both eyes achieved 20/20 vision.

The VA hospital evaluated this Veteran for headache disability, asserting that her condition began after service-connected cataract surgery. While this is a fairly typical claim among this population, the Board recognizes that other causes could also have contributed to headaches; however, evidence submitted indicates that this Veteran’s disability stems directly from cataract surgery and its residuals.

At cataract surgery, an eye doctor creates a small opening in the cornea (the clear front portion of the eye) using a specific self-sealing technique. Next, they use an applicator to fold and insert the lens. It may reduce need for glasses for distance vision as well as astigmatism correction; some lenses even reduce halos or glare by making pupil sizes smaller in order to prevent scattered light reaching retina.