Can cataracts recur after surgery? Many patients ask this question when they come to the clinic. The answer is yes: no. Cataracts are caused by a clouding of the otherwise clear lens of the human eye, which prevents light from entering the eye, resulting in vision loss and, in severe cases, blindness. Cataract surgery removes the cloudy lens and replaces it with an artificial lens in the lens capsule.
But some people do lose their vision again after cataract surgery, how does this happen? This is because there is a clouding of the posterior capsule. So, older people ask, what is the posterior capsule? If it is easily clouded, why is it not removed during surgery? The posterior capsule is the outermost layer of the cataract that must be left intact during surgery and is used to support the IOL.
These two pictures show the IOL implanted in the capsular bag In this case, don’t be afraid, the treatment is very simple. The YAG laser is used to knock off the central part of the cloudy posterior capsule so that light can enter the eye and vision can be restored. The laser can be done on an outpatient basis without hospitalization, in a few minutes, without the slightest pain, and safely, at a cost of about $200 to $300.
The chances of posterior capsular opacification vary greatly among patients of different ages. Children will develop posterior capsular clouding after congenital cataract surgery in almost 100% of cases due to their greater ability to proliferate on their own. Younger patients will also have a higher incidence. The incidence in older patients is about 3-10% after surgery.
It should be reminded that if you experience vision loss after cataract surgery, you should first go to the hospital promptly to make a definite diagnosis. There are many causes of vision loss. The eye is a complex organ that is prone to various eye diseases, and the elderly, like other organs in the body, are extremely susceptible to diseases due to their age, with various types of fundus diseases occurring most often in the elderly. If one is suffering from fundus disease, further treatment is needed and must not be delayed.
This reminds us that we should not ignore it for a long time after cataract surgery, and we should review it regularly to detect and treat the problem in time.