1

POSTOPERATIVE COMPLICATIONS
Cataract surgery through technically demanding excellent outcome, postoperative complications
are common. Early detection and treatment of postoperative complications gives good visual
prognosis. Proper preoperative evaluation with a good postoperative care prevents a patient from
going into catastrophic, vision-threatening complications.
Types of surgery:
1. ECCE Extra Capsular Cataract Extraction
2. SISCS Small Incision suture less Cataract Surgery
3. PHACO
Types of Surgeries
ECCE

Mild
Lid edema, SCH,
chemosis, SK,
epithelial and
endothelial damage

Moderate
Corneal edema, FM,
iritis, Hypheama,
Pupillary capture,
CME, PCO, residual
cortex

SISCS

Lid edema,
chemosis, SCH, SK,
epithelial defect

Corneal edema,
Iritis, FM,
hyphaema, papillary
capture, PCO,
Decentered IOL,
residual cortex,
CME

PHACO

Lid edema nd,

Severe
Hypopyon,
endophthalmitis,
DM stripping, iris
prolapse, papillary
block, Secondary
glaucoma, shallow
AC, broken sutures,
Toxic suture
syndrome, Suture
infiltration
Endophthalmitis,
DM stripping, iris
prolapse, papillary
block, secondary
glaucoma

Lid edema
Swelling of the lid is due to injury with instruments, iritis, or allergy. It is treated with antiinflammatory drugs, steroids. If allergy is the reason anti-histamine drugs are given.
Chemosis
Chemosis is congestion & collection of fluid in the conjunctiva.

Causes
a) Injury to the conjunctiva with instruments during surgery.
b) Prolonged massage in block room
c) Intraoperative sub conjunctival injection
d) Allergic to eye drops such as tropicamide, Lidocaine
e) Post operative Iritis & endophthalmitis.
Treatment
Chemosis absorbs spontaneously & some patients need anti-inflammatory drugs.
[Link]/ Brufen is given to relieve the pain
Sub conjunctival Haemorrhage (SCH)
It is a collection of blood beneath the conjunctiva. Injuries, Retrobulbar haemorrhage, Bleeding
disorders, Hypertensive, Uncontrolled cough are the causes for SCH. This is also absorbed
spontaneously within 2-3 weeks.
Corneal abnormalities
Corneal transparency is the one of the major factor for a good vision. After cataract surgery
cornea can lose its transparency for many reason. They are
a) Epithelial defect
Rupture of epithelium by instruments, swabs, pad, leads to epithelial defect. After retro
bulbar injection eye is opened for long time which may lead to epithelial defect. Patient has the
symptoms like pain, blurring vision & irritation. Discontinuation of epithelium seen through slit
lamp. Sometimes fluorescein staining is needed.
Treatment
Only antibiotic ointment with pad & bandage. Steroids may be stop for better healing.
b) Corneal edema
Prolonged irrigation & aspiration, trauma to endothelium, pre excisting corneal problem are
causes.
Signs:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Increased IOP>30 mm/hg

Treatment
1. Timolol eye drops & Tab. Diamox are given to reduce the IOP
2. Oral glycerol /IV mannitol given for uncontrolled increase in IOP

3
3. Frequent use of steroids speed up recovery.
4. Hypertonic saline drops
5. Cycloplegic eye drops twice per day & steroids 2 hourly may reduce the iritis
Striate keratopathy
It may occur immediate post operative day & incidence is higher if the pre-existing corneal
dysfunction present. Its present as a localized stromal & epithelial edema especially seen in
superior half of the cornea indicates intraoperative trauma.
Causes
Operating trauma -Trauma to endothelium by instruments, IOL, Swabs, excessive irrigation
of balanced salt solution. This can be prevented by maintaining a deep AC by using the Air
bubble or visco elastic material. Tight suture is another reason for striate keratitis.
Management
In general it resolves 4 to 6 weeks after cataract surgery. As a rule if cornea periphery is
clear it resolved with time. In most of the cases 0.1 % of dexametyhasone sodium resolves it.
Corneal edema in periphery with 3 months usually it doesnt clear. Such patients require PKP.
Detachment of Descemets membrane
Descemets membrane is an elastic membrane & its loosely bound with the stroma & thus
allowing easy separation from stroma.
Causes
1. Enter in to the globe with inadequate incision
2. Faulty instrumentation
3. Fluid is injected between the DM & Stroma
Management
1. Small DM detachment is common & doesnt require active treatment.
2. Wider detachment needs to be treat early. If its diagnosed intra-operatively Air bubble
should leave in to the AC. This will helps to holding the DM to stroma.
3. If it is extensive then full thickness corneal suture is needed until the healing occurs.
4. It can be prevented by using proper instrument & putting adequate incision.
Endothelial damage
The corneas can decompensate if large amount of endothelial cells are damaged. In
Endothelial damage visual prognosis is low because endothelium cannot regrow.
Causes
1. Trauma with surgical instruments intra-operatively
2. Constant tough by vitreous or IOL post operatively.
3. Pre operative inflammatory condition.

Management
1. It can be prevent by maintains deep AC as far as possible.
2. Endothelial cell count should be documented for pre existing corneal problem & NS-4
cataract
3. PKP may be helpful in severe cases.
Depth abnormalities
The AC may become shallow or flat in any kind of IOL surgery for many reasons. It is an
absolute emergency in which treatment should consider immediately without delay. It
produces permanent damage like IOL touching the cornea, secondary glaucoma.
Following conditions are the reason for the flat AC.
Wound leak
The main reason for the wound leak are
a) Size of the section is larger than the normal
b) Loose suture or wound gap
c) Inadequate & improper suturing to the wound
d) External trauma after surgery even during suture removal
e) Too rapid absorption of suture in early post operative periods
Management
1. If wound is too large, proper resulting & AC reformation to be done. Wound leak can be
diagnosed by sidels test. Apply 2 drops 2% fluorescent solution over the section. If
wound leak is present fluorescent solution getting diluted at the site of leak. Often gentle
press to the globe is needed to confirm the site of leak.
2. Cyclopent eye drops is applied with pad & bandage.
3. Carbonic unhydrase inhibitor & beta-blockers may decrease the aqueous out flow
4. Avoiding the use of steroids enhance the spontaneous closure of wound.
Pupillary Block
It is an emergency condition. Pupil may block with many materials such as IOL, Vitreous, and
cortex. Pupillary block leads to rise in IOP & produce secondary glaucoma.
Causes
1. AC IOL without PI
2. Vitreous touching the pupil
3. IOL capture
Treatment
1. Inj. Mannitol 20% & Tab. Diamox are given to reduce IOP.
2. First YAG PI done for ACIOL. Still not respond surgical PI should be done.
3. IOL repositioning done for IOL capture.
Residual cortex

5
This is some amount of cortex material retain even after surgery. This is due to improper
aspiration of cortex material, PXF, small pupil, pc rent where the cortex could not remove
completely. Small residual cortex usually doesnt make cause problem unless they are touching
the endothelium or obstructing the AC angle. Small piece of cortex will get absorbed by using
steroids. Lot of cortex or cortex not getting absorbed need AC wash.
Hyphema
By definition it is a blood in the AC. Main source for hyphema is intraoperative injury to Iris.
Other reason for hyphema are iridodialysis bleeding disorders.
Treatment
1. Usually it resolves spontaneously.
2. Severe cases patient should be monitor carefully & Give the complete rest to the patient
3. Apply double pad & bandage.
4. Timolol, [Link] & Tab. Streptovit (Vit.C)
5. Recurrent bleeding with increased IOP needs hyperosmatic therapy & rarely AC wash.
Hypopyon
Pus in the AC is called hypopyon. This can be sterile or infectious condition.
Causes
1. Infection It may be pre operative or post operative
2. The incidence if hypopyon is high in complicated cataract, phacolytic or phacomorphic
glaucoma. First color of the hypopyon noted, if its yellow usually infectious condition.
Treatment
Color of the hypopyon is noted. If it is yellow most of the time infectious condition. First AC tab
should be taken to find out the organism which cause hypopyon. Antibiotic eye drops used
hourly & Cycloplegic eye drops used.
Iritis
Inflammation of the iris is called iritis.
Due to surgical trauma or using of toxic material irregular shape in IOL leads to Fibrin
formation. Such a cases Intensive therapy of steroids & antibiotics used. Dilation helps to break
the fibrin membrane.
1. AC cells & flares:
It can be recognized by slit Lamp. Cells & flares are graded to +1- +4. Presence of cells
& flares is the sign of intraocular inflammation. Steroid eye drops is used frequently
depending on the severity.
Fibrin membrane
It appear as a dense fibrin net in the papillary area. Prolonged irrigation with balance salt
solution & unsterile IOL are the causes for fibrin membrane formation. It gets absorbed by using
antibiotic & steroids hourly. If needed oral steroids to be given.
Iris prolapse
After cataract surgery iris may come out from the wound. Incidence of iris prolapse is more in

6
ECCE than phaco.
Causes
1.
2.
3.
4.

Inadequate or irregular suture,loose suture.

Treatment
1. Hourly antibiotic drops
2. Repositioning & resuturing done if iris prolapse within 24 hours.
3. Excision done if more than 1 day
Bullous Kertopathy
This is usually comes in late postoperative period. The causes are Pre existing endothelial
pathology, significant intraoperative endothelial damage, and chronic uveitis & in appropriate
IOL design. Clinically it is present as stromal & epithelial edema. Patient may manifest as
blurred vision early in the morning & improving later in the day. Chronic edema cause scarring.
It can be managed by drops & ointment. Some cases bandage contact lens may be fitted. PKP is
done for the cases, which are not responding to the other treatment.
[Link] touch syndrome & vitreous wick syndrome.
[Link] glaucoma:
a. Closed angle glaucoma:
Causes
1. Severe iritis
2. Pupillary block
3. Iris bombe & peripheral anterior synechiae
Treatment
1. Treat the causes like iritis
2. Anti-glaucomatous drug
3. Sometimes Trabeculectomy may required
Endophthalmitis
This is a visual threatening condition; delayed treatment would be cause severe visual loss.
Endophthalmitis can present as an acute form or chronic form. Patient has the symptoms of mild
to severe pain, redness, loss of vision, floaters, photophobiaECT. The hallmark
endophthalmitis is vitreous inflammation. Other findings are eyelid & periorbital edema,
chemosis, corneal edema, AC reaction, hypopyon; the causes are introduction of toxic material
into the eye. It can also spread through unsteriled material, Intra cameral injection, even it can
comes from the unsterile surgeon hand or assisting people.
Investigations
1. Vitreous culture is taken in a sterile condition. This is to identify the type of organism which
cause the endophthalmitis & also we can differentiate the sterile endophthalmitis from infectious
endophthalmitis.

7
2. Ultrasound to confirm the diagnosis. It has the characteristic like RCS (Retina, choroids &
sclera) Complex thickening, vitreous exudation.
Treatment
Immediate diagnosis & treatment may give the better visual prognosis. Antibiotic can give intra
vitreally. Intense therapy of antibiotics & steroids helpful to reduce the reaction of
endophthalmitis. Once the diagnosis is made refer the patient to retina specialist without delay.
Many cases require core vitrectomy.
Posterior capsular opacification (PCO)
This a late postoperative complication in which the white membrane formed behind the IOL.
This can be managed by YAG capsulotomy.
ystoid Macular Edema (CME)
This is the one of the visual affecting complication, it may occur early to late post op periods. It
present without anterior complication. Reason Some of the cases shown improvement. It can be
diagnosed by Fundus fluorescent angiography & optical coherence for CME after cataract
surgery is still unknown. But it is believed that increase perifovealor capillary abnormality. Now
they give the intra vitreal [Link]. The later one is preferable as it is a non-invasive
procedure.
C