Modern cataract surgery usually refers to cataract ultrasound emulsification plus IOL implantation, after which patients usually get good vision recovery! I often hear patients say that some people have recurred after cataract surgery at a certain time after the surgery, so can cataracts really recur? Is this statement correct?
In fact, the original cloudy crystal has been removed after cataract surgery, and usually an IOL has been implanted in the eye, so in a strict sense, cataracts will not recur. The reason why this happens in some patients is that the posterior capsule of these patients has become cloudy, which is also called posterior cataract in medical terms. This posterior capsule clouding is the result of the proliferation of crystalline epithelial cells that remain in the posterior capsule or equatorial part of the lens. This condition varies from person to person. It occurs in almost 100% of children after surgery due to their greater ability to repair and proliferate on their own. Younger patients will also have a higher incidence. The incidence of postoperative cataracts in the elderly is about 3-10%. It usually occurs a few weeks to a few years after surgery, on average six months to a year after surgery, and the patient’s self-conscious symptom is a renewed loss of vision.
So, what should I do when this happens? This suggests that patients should not ignore cataract surgery for a long time, but should review it regularly, so that if it is detected in time, it can be treated and handled in time. In general, if the thickening of the posterior capsule is not very strong, it can be treated by laser. The laser is used to make a laser hole in the posterior capsule to allow light to enter the eye. If the thickening of the posterior capsule is too significant to be opened with the laser, surgery is required to cut the posterior capsule. Due to the small size of children, some congenital children are unable to express themselves with words like adults, and sometimes they are not reviewed for a long time, so when they are found, the posterior capsule clouding is already very thick and even seriously affects the development of the child, therefore, it is suggested that the families of these children should give more attention to the child so that the best time for treatment is not missed.