What are the risks of surgery?

Again based on the UK National Audit Dataset of more than 55,000 cases the risks are as follows;

The risk of a complication during cataract surgery such as a tear of the lens capsule or loss of vitreous jelly was 1.9% nationally. At OCL, our cataract surgery complication rate is just 0.37% – well below the national average. 

• 1/10,000 risk of blindness.
• 1/1100 risk of a severe complication such as infection or internal bleeding that could permanently reduce vision.
• 1/100 risk of needing a second operation on the same eye to reposition or replace the lens.
• 1/10 chance of a membrane growing over the lens needing a simple laser procedure performed sometime after surgery (up to several years later).

Risk factors for complications are: increasing age, male gender, presence of glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, brunescent/white cataract, no fundal view/vitreous opacities, pseudo-exfoliation/phacodonesis, reducing pupil size, eye ball length of 26.0 mm or greater, the use of the alpha-blocker doxazosin, inability to lie flat and trainee surgeons performing operations.

The report concluded as follows; ‘Higher-risk cases can be predicted, thus better informing the consent process and allowing surgeons to take appropriate precautions.’

Getting the best results from your surgery

Cataract surgery is safe, has low complication rates and excellent visual outcomes. However, for any sort of elective surgery you need to minimise risk, and have the peace of mind of knowing that if a complication does happen you’ll be in the best hands to manage the complication and have 24 hour access to care.

Wherever you have your surgery, choose a consultant eye surgeon with experience of cataract surgery and other front of the eye surgeries. Check that they are fellows of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists and Royal College of Surgeons, and members of organisations such as the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons. Ask them what their complication rates are and what measures are in place should you be unlucky enough to have a complication.