17. Is it possible to lose my sight because of simple cataract surgery.


Cataract surgery is one of the most common operations in medicine and if all necessary precautions are taken, it is very safe.

The most serious complication that can occur in cataract surgery is endophthalmitis. This is an eye infection due to a microbe, usually of the type naturally located in the area of the eyelashes. If, for some reason, this microbe enters the eye and our immune system is insufficient to counteract it, it can cause major tissue destruction that can potentially lead even to loss of sight.

The symptoms of endophthalmitis appear between the third and the fifth day after surgery and include intense pain and reduced vision. The patient needs to immediately inform his doctor about  the appearance of such symptoms, since even the slightest delay can have dramatic consequences for his sight.

Treatment of this most serious complication is performed in a special centre by a specialised ophthalmologist  surgeon, with an operation called Pars Plana Vitrectomy.

Fortunately, enophthalmitis is an extremely rare occasion (1 in 10,000 cataract operations.) Still, it can occur and in this case the team that is treating you must have the ability, apart from your cataract removal, to deal with any serious complication.