A: One percent of patients experience postoperative complications. Despite efforts to avoid such complications, the following may occur:

• Eye infection (1 in 10,000 cases), usually requires emergency surgery, additional antibiotics and may result in vision loss. Dr. Conlon has not had a case of an intraocular infection in over twenty years.
• Posterior ocular swelling (1 in 500 cases), is usually resolved with antibiotic drops.
• Failed removal of the crystalline lens after one operation (1 in 1,000 cases), thus necessitating a second operation.
• Retinal detachment, occurs when the thin tissue at the back of the eye pulls away from its normal position (1 in 1,000 cases). Requires surgical retinal reattachment.