HEMORRHAGE AFTER CATARACT EXTRACTION

Abstract

Postoperative hemorrhage following cataract extraction has long been recognized as one of the more common accidents that may disturb an otherwise uneventful convalescence. The reported incidence of its occurrence varies from 1 to 35 per cent, the extremes representing, perhaps, differences in technic and skill or, more probably, differences in the manner in which examinations were made and recorded. At the Institute of Ophthalmology it was felt that such hemorrhage was occurring with more than the usual frequency. Accordingly it was decided to investigate a series of consecutive cataract operations from a number of different aspects to determine (a) the true incidence of this complication and, (b) whether any contributing factor or factors could be discovered. If such factors could be discovered, more logical treatment or preventive measures could obviously be initiated. Four hundred and fifty-three cases were studied and the following points investigated: (1) incidence, (2) severity of hemorrhage,