Many cataract surgeons are reluctant to routinely perform cataract surgery on both eyes simultaneously. The risk of eye infection and other serious complications from cataract surgery is very low. However, if both eyes were to become infected or experience other serious complications at the same time, the results could be visually devastating for a period of time and perhaps even permanently. Also, performing cataract surgery on each eye on separate days allows the surgeon and patient to evaluate the visual outcome of the first surgery, which might influence choices made for the second surgery. For example, if a multifocal IOL or an accommodating IOL is chosen for the first eye to provide greater freedom from reading glasses after cataract surgery, should the same IOL design be used on the second eye? Or might a different type of IOL provide a better visual outcome based on the results of the first surgery?
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