Cataract Surgery and Memory Loss

Question: Can Cataract Surgery bring on memory loss in older patients?

Answer: Modern Cataract Surgery is mostly performed using topical eye drops for anesthesia or local injection in some cases with a very rare need for general anesthesia. Most Cataract Surgeons do give the patient some mild calming or anti anxiety medication as well. Because the sedation and "numbing" effect of these medications is mild and short duration there is little if any risk to the patient of memory loss as might have been the case if prolonged general anesthesia were used. If the patient were already at risk for dementia related symptoms due to their overall health and the Cataract Surgery for some reason was particularly stressful it could perhaps cause a very temporary disorientation but this would be extremely rare.

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