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Cloudy Vision After Cataract Surgery
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Cataract surgery is one of the most commonly performed surgical procedures, with over 3.8 million cataract surgeries performed each year in the U.S.1 It is also generally considered to be a safe procedure with a very high success rate. When patients do experience symptoms after cataract surgery, they are often easily addressed by their eye doctor.
If your vision becomes cloudy after you’ve had cataract surgery, you may think your cataract is coming back. Cloudy or blurry vision after cataract surgery can happen from what is known as a secondary cataract. Fortunately, the treatment is simple.2,3
A secondary cataract, or “after-cataract,” is a misnomer and not really a cataract at all. This issue occurs when an opaque film grows over the sac or membrane that holds your new lens in place. This can make your vision become cloudy or blurry again, mimicking the original symptoms of cataracts.
Up to half of all people or more will develop cloudy vision after cataract surgery.2,3 A secondary cataract, also called posterior capsular opacification (PCO), can happen months or years after you’ve had cataract surgery.2 PCO is the most common development after cataract surgery.4
Treatment for a secondary cataract is quick and painless.3 It is done in a procedure called YAG laser capsulotomy, and it is typically covered by insurance, including Medicare.5
At Gulfcoast Eye Care, Dr. Michael Manning uses a laser beam to make a small opening in the membrane that has the opaque film, in order to let light through. The procedure usually takes less than five minutes. You may see an improvement in your vision right away, or it may take a few days.2,3 The most common short-term side effect after this treatment includes noticing more floaters in one’s vision.
As leading providers of cataract surgery in the Tampa Bay and St. Petersburg area, we are experienced in treating posterior capsular opacification and correcting cloudy vision after cataract surgery. To learn more about how we can help improve your vision and to schedule a consultation, please contact Gulfcoast Eye Care today.
References:
1iData Research. Available at: https://idataresearch.com/over-3-8-million-cataract-surgeries-performed-every-year/ Accessed September 17, 2019.
2American Optometric Association. Cataract Surgery. Available at: https://www.aoa.org/patients-and-public/eye-and-vision-problems/glossary-of-eye-and-vision-conditions/cataract/cataract-surgery. Accessed September 14, 2019.
3National Eye Institute. Types of Cataract. Available at: https://nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/eye-conditions-and-diseases/cataracts/types-cataract. Accessed September 14, 2019.
4Wormstone IM, Wang L, Liu CS. Posterior capsule opacification. Exp Eye Res. 2009 Feb;88(2):257-69.
5McCune D. Medicare Enters the Era Of Presbyopia Lenses. Review of Ophthalmology. Available at: https://www.reviewofophthalmology.com/article/medicare-enters-the-era-of-presbyopia-lenses. Accessed September 14, 2019.
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