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Risks and Consents
The Risks
Mr Ursell maintains a continuous audit of the success of cataract operations. This can be compared to the UK national average.
National average % achieving driving vision (6/12 ) or better.
|
Normal cases |
Patients with eye diseases* |
|
65% |
85% |
|
Normal Cases |
Patients with eye disease* |
| 2000 |
94% |
64% |
| 2001 |
98% |
87% |
| 2002 |
95% |
75% |
| 2003 |
94% |
77% |
| 2004 |
96% |
79% |
| 2005 |
95% |
78% |
| 2006 |
96% |
76% |
| 2007 |
94% |
92% |
| 2008 |
96% |
92% |
| 2009 |
97% |
93% |
* Glaucoma, Diabetes, Macular Degeneration, Amblyopia
Post-op refraction (difference from predicted)
|
+/-0.5 |
+/- 1D |
| 2003 |
51% |
89% |
| 2004 |
70% |
95% |
| 2005 |
71% |
94% |
| 2006 |
72% |
95% |
| 2007 |
77% |
98% |
| 2008 |
78% |
98% |
| 2009 |
80% |
98% |
Concurrent Surgery
|
Astigmatism Repair |
Vitrectomy |
Corneal Suture |
| 2003 |
11.6% |
0.5% |
3.8% |
| 2004 |
7.7% |
0.6% |
5.0% |
| 2005 |
10.5% |
0.7% |
3.0% |
| 2006 |
8.0% |
0.5% |
0% |
| 2007 |
5% |
1.3% |
1.5% |
| 2008 |
5% |
0% |
0% |
| 2009 |
4% |
0.6% |
0% |
Anaesthetic
|
SubTenon's |
GA |
Peribulbar |
Topical |
| 2003 |
90% |
10% |
0.5% |
0% |
| 2004 |
86% |
10% |
2% |
2% |
| 2005 |
89% |
9% |
0% |
2% |
| 2006 |
89% |
9% |
0% |
2% |
| 2007 |
9% |
6% |
0% |
85% |
| 2008 |
0% |
5% |
0% |
%95 |
| 2009 |
0% |
4% |
0% |
%96 |
Consents
The option of cataract removal has been offered to you as a means of improving your vision. The decision to operate and the timing are elective. The cataract is actually the lens within the eye which has become cloudy. After it is surgically removed, the cloudy human lens will be replaced with an intraocular lens 'implant'. The 'implant' is a small artificial lens which is permanently implanted into the eye during surgery. It does not require cleaning or removal (as with contact lenses). In addition, conventional glasses are usually prescribed to enhance the focus for certain distances.
Risks of Eye Surgery
As with any operation, there are risks to cataract surgery. Individuals may respond in a unique way to any medical treatment. Although improved modern techniques have greatly reduced their incidence, complications can and do occur. Fortunately, severe complications which can cause loss of vision, such as major internal bleeding or infection, are very rare at approximately 1 in 1,000 cases. Uncommon, but potential ocular complications may also include prolonged elevation of intraocular pressure, corneal clouding, retinal problems such as detachment, and chronic internal inflammation. All of these conditions may arise in an aging eye without surgery as well.
As with all types of surgery, there can be unpredictable complications of local or general anaesthesia, and adverse reactions to medications. It is even conceivable that health problems elsewhere -completely unrelated to surgery - can occur during or close to the time of surgery, simply because of your general state of health.
The purpose of this information is not to frighten or upset you. Rather, it is to ensure that the decision to undergo cataract surgery has been carefully thought out with regard to the benefits and risks. Fortunately, for most individuals, the chance of success with surgery is over 95%. Without surgery, the visual loss caused by a cataract cannot be restored, since the cataract will not spontaneously improve.
You will be required to sign a form giving consent to Mr Ursell to proceed with your operation.
Date of last modification: 24th November 2009
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