In a small percentage of patients, events occur which can lead to less than ideal results. Most of these events are known risks of the surgery itself and can occur even if the operation is performed well by an experienced surgeon. The occurrence of these events is often unpredictable. Patients should be aware of such possibilities when they decide to proceed with surgery. Some of the most common risks are reviewed in this article.
Patients usually receive topical antibiotic eye drops on the day of surgery.
The surface of the eye and the skin around the eye are disinfected with antiseptic compounds, and the patient's face except the eye is covered with sterile drapes. Sterile techniques are used for all instruments, similar to those used for all modern surgeries. After the surgery is completed, surgeons prescribe topical antibiotic eye drops. Nonetheless, even with these precautions, an intraocular infection, called endophthalmitis, occurs in approximately one out of 3,000 cases. Symptoms and signs of endophthalmitis include excessive eye redness, pain, light sensitivity, and worsening vision.