Guide To Cataract Surgery

Posterior Capsule Opacification

The most common complication that follows cataract surgery is posterior capsule opacification. This complication may be referred to as a secondary cataract. However, this is not the case. After surgery, the patient's vision should be clear. Unfortunately, this complication changes that. It causes the posterior part of the lens capsule to become hazy. The reason that this happens is that leftover cells grow over the back of the capsule. This growth thickens the capsule and makes it become cloudy. This will happen over time and results in blurry vision. Some patients may have issues with glare and bright lights.

In most cases, posterior capsule opacification occurs in a few months or years after patients receive cataract surgery. Certain patients are more likely to experience this complication. Younger patients are more likely to develop it. In addition, eye inflammation and conditions such as retinitis pigmentosa also increase an individual's risk. However, even without risk factors, posterior capsule opacification is common. It occurs in approximately twenty percent of all patients who receive cataract surgery. Thankfully, laser treatment can cure this complication.

Keep reading to learn about the recovery process next.