Cataract surgery is one of the most common and successful eye procedures performed today. It restores clear vision for millions of people each year. And once a cataract is removed, it can’t return.
However, there’s a condition that can cause vision to become cloudy again, which sometimes leads people to believe their cataract has come back.
Our team at Marano Eye Care, a division of Ophthalmology New Jersey, can clear up some of the confusion about whether cataracts can return.
If you’ve had or are contemplating surgery, you likely know by now that cataracts occur when the natural lens of your eye becomes cloudy, usually due to aging. This cloudiness blocks light and makes it difficult to see clearly.
During cataract surgery, your ophthalmologist removes the cloudy lens and replaces it with a clear, artificial lens called an intraocular lens (IOL). Since the natural lens is permanently replaced, a cataract itself can’t grow back.
Months or even years after surgery, some patients experience blurred or hazy vision that feels similar to having cataracts again. This is usually caused by a condition called posterior capsule opacification (PCO), often referred to as a secondary cataract.
During cataract surgery, your surgeon leaves the thin, transparent membrane (posterior lens capsule) that holds your new lens in place. Over time, this capsule can become cloudy due to cell growth.
When this happens, light can’t pass through the lens as clearly, making your vision appear foggy again. Thus, while the cataract hasn’t returned, you may be experiencing some of the same symptoms.
The good news is that PCO is quick and easy to fix with a procedure called laser capsulotomy. It’s painless, takes only a few minutes, and doesn’t require any incisions or downtime.
The laser creates a small opening in the cloudy capsule, allowing light to pass through clearly again. Most patients notice an immediate improvement in vision.
While PCO can’t always be prevented, newer lens technologies and surgical techniques have reduced how often it occurs.
The Marano Eye Care team recommends that you have regular eye exams after cataract surgery to help your ophthalmologist monitor your eye health and detect any changes early.
If you’re noticing blurred or foggy vision, whether you’ve had cataract surgery or not, don’t wait. We can help.
Schedule an appointment at Marano Eye Care in Denville, Livingston, or Newark, New Jersey, today.
