Cataract surgery is usually recommended for people struggling with symptoms of cataracts in their vision. The procedure called cataract surgery involves making a small incision to correct the lens.
Although, there are a few other corrective measures for curing cataracts when the symptoms are still at the earliest stage. But your eye surgeon will suggest cataract surgery when the eye infection worsens.
Cataract surgery can help you experience clear vision when cataracts affect your vision, making it hard to walk, see, read, or recognize facial expressions. It is a procedure where the surgeon removes the cloudy lens, then replaces it with a new artificial lens. While cataracts surgery can help improve your eyes and vision, some patients may notice eye floaters in their vision afterward.
Sometimes, it is possible to experience some complications like floaters after cataract surgery. In addition, the inability to have perfect vision after cataract surgery often results from pre-existing lens infections. However, in rare cases, it may result from imperfections in the cataract surgeon’s practice – perhaps while making or fixing the tiny incision.
Whichever the cause may be, it is always good to contact your doctor when you cannot get the perfect vision of the cataract surgery as promised. Your doctor will perform another examination on your eyes and the lens and provide the appropriate curative response to correct the problem.
But what are the causes of floaters? Is there any way to prevent floaters after cataract surgery? Is it normal to experience floaters shortly after cataract surgery? Continue reading to know more about floaters, including if it is normal to have them after your cataract surgery.
WHAT ARE FLOATERS?
Have you seen a small dot or line moving across your lens when you look at something bright? This shape is a floater, something many people experience.
Floaters are dark shapes in your vision, looking like spots, threads, squiggly lines, or cobwebs. These shapes are small pieces of your vitreous, the substance filling the middle of the lens, which creates shadows on your retina. The shadows appearing at the back of the eye lens are the floaters you see in your normal vision.
Floaters may cause blurred vision problems and may also be why people don’t see clearly in bright lights. It may result in cloudy vision. All of those above are apparent symptoms of cataracts. However, you need your cataract surgeon to determine the best solution to the signs of eye infection.
Floaters disappear with time and do not require serious treatment. You develop more eye floaters with age as your vitreous and lens change. However, floaters can be a symptom of a severe problem.
Suddenly developing new floaters or having floaters after your cataract eye surgery an be a symptom of a severe eye condition.
ARE EYE FLOATERS NORMAL AFTER CATARACT SURGERY?
Eye floaters can be expected after cataract surgery.
You may have had floaters while the cataract formed, and cataract surgery allowed you to see these floaters easily because you can see better. These floaters may go away in a couple of weeks to months. If needed, your doctor can help manage floaters if they affect your vision or quality of life.
In other exceptional cases, floaters can mean you are experiencing some complications related to cataract surgery. The best thing to do when you notice floaters after your cataract surgery is to visit your eye doctor to check the operated eye for examination. They can determine the cause of the floaters and recommend your next steps.
WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF FLOATERS AFTER CATARACT SURGERY?
You are likely to develop floaters after cataract surgery. You may notice floaters after cataract surgery, including posterior vitreous detachment, pre-existing floaters, and retinal detachment.
Pre-existing Floaters
You may have had pre-existing floaters before your cataract surgery, but you couldn’t notice them because of cataracts. Cataract surgery helps you to experience clear vision, making these floaters easier to see and do other things perfectly.
Posterior Vitreous Detachment
PVD is where the vitreous pulls away from the retina. PVD typically happens with age as the lens goes through natural changes, resulting in the development of floaters in the eyes.
Cataract surgery involves making tiny incisions into the eyes and removing the lens, so there’s a risk of issues with the vitreous. In addition, the vitreous may shift during surgery, leading to PVD. Surgical procedures, complications during cataract surgery, and pre-existing eye conditions can increase the risk of Posterior vitreous detachment during cataract surgery.
Retinal Detachment
This eye complication occurs when the retina pulls away from the back of the lens. Retina detachment causes your retina to lose its supply of nutrients and oxygen from the blood vessels in the lens of your eye. If left untreated, it can result in permanent vision loss.
The research discovered that around 0.9% of patients experience this complication after cataract surgery. Retinal detachment is not like; ly to happen after cataract surgery. howver, it it happens, it may have serious consequences. Floaters can be a symptom of retina detachment, alongside flashes of light, blurry vision, and peripheral vision loss.
THE TREATMENT FLOATERS AFTER CATARACT SURGERY
The treatment of floaters depends on their cause. In your doctor’s office, you will have a complete check of your lens to determine the cause of your floaters, whether it is aging, a retinal problem, or another issue. After your surgeon diagnoses the problem, they can recommend a treatment plan.
Sometimes, your doctor may recommend eye drops to correct the infection during recovery time. In addition, based on the doctor’s prescription, you may wear glasses or contact lenses to correct your vision and prevent infection.
In case of serious complications, you may have to enroll for another manual cataract surgery permanent correction. Meanwhile, it is also essential to protect your lens from the sun during your recovery time because the ultraviolet rays from the sun can impose more damage on your lens.
Your doctor may recommend a protective shield like an eye patch, eye shield, or sunglasses with a new lens.
Signs of a Serious Postsurgical Problem
Floaters can signify a significant lens problem after cataract surgery, making it essential to visit your doctor. While floaters may be harmless, you should not assume there are no problems. Visiting your cataract surgeon can help determine if you need treatment.
Aside from floaters, you should visit your surgeon immediately if you experience the following symptoms of cataract surgery:
- Sudden flashes of bright light
- A gray shadow blocks parts of your vision
- A shadow in your peripheral vision
- Eye pain that won’t go away
- Red eyes
- Vision loss of any kind
Final Thoughts
You shouldn’t ignore floaters after cataract surgery as they may cause more severe eye complications to the affected eye.
While floaters can be expected after cataract surgery, they may mean you are experiencing a significant eye problem. Always visit your cataract surgeon if you notice floaters in your vision after cataract surgery.
Most patients keep up with their follow-up appointment to get appropriate treatment during their recovery period. However, that’s one of the reasons the recovery time varies from one patient to another. for some, it takes a few weeks, while it may take others about a month before their eye heals.
They can scan your eyes and recommend a treatment plan if necessary. Contact your eye doctor if you are experiencing floaters or have questions about cataract surgery.