The capsule stays behind
In cataract surgery the cloudy lens is removed and the IOL is placed in your original lens capsule, sometimes called the bag.
Secondary cataract
(PCO)
Cloudy again does not mean the cataract is back
If your sight turns hazy again after cataract surgery, the cause is usually posterior capsule opacification (PCO), often called a secondary cataract. It is not a new cataract.
It is treated with a short outpatient laser procedure that fits around daily life.
Why
Why it happens
Cells regrow on its back wall
Over time, cells left on the back of the capsule can multiply and spread. They form a cloudy membrane behind the IOL, and vision blurs much as it did before surgery.
When
How common, and when
PCO develops in about 10 to 20% of patients after cataract surgery, on average within 3 to 4 years. The range is wide: it can begin as early as 3 to 4 months after surgery, or several years later.
- Vision turns cloudy or blurry after it had cleared.
- The change appears months or years after the operation.
- A cloudy membrane has formed behind the artificial lens.
Treatment
The laser procedure
The laser makes an opening in the cloudy membrane so light can pass through again, restoring the vision you had after surgery.
Pupil dilation
Drops widen your pupil so the opacified capsule can be confirmed.
Numbing drops
Anesthetic eye drops reduce discomfort.
Laser opening
The laser opens the cloudy membrane to let light through.
Before & After
What the laser changes
Afterwards
After the laser
Once the capsule has been opened by laser, the clouding usually does not come back in that eye, though every eye is checked at follow-up. Everyday eye care still matters, and the before-and-after guide covers it.
For how the first operation works, see symptoms and causes; for the lenses, see the IOL guide. If your vision is clouding again, contact us.
FAQ
About secondary cataract
What is a secondary cataract?
Cells left on the back of the lens capsule grow into a cloudy membrane behind the artificial lens, and vision becomes hazy again, much like the original cataract.
How often does PCO happen?
In about 10 to 20% of patients, on average within 3 to 4 years. It may appear as early as 3 to 4 months or several years after surgery.
How is it treated?
With a simple outpatient laser procedure. After dilating and numbing drops, the laser opens the cloudy membrane so light can pass through.
Can it come back after the laser?
In most eyes the opening made by the laser stays clear, so the clouding usually does not return. Your follow-up visits confirm how your eye is doing.
