Posterior Capsule Opacification

Posterior capsule opacification is a common clouding of the lens capsule that can occur months or years after cataract surgery, causing vision to become blurry again.

Common symptoms

Gradually blurred or hazy vision, glare, and reduced contrast, often described as feeling like the cataract has come back.

Description

After cataract surgery, the natural lens is replaced with an artificial lens that sits inside the thin membrane known as the lens capsule. Over time, cells left behind can grow on the back of this capsule and make it cloudy, which is why it is sometimes called a secondary cataract.

Posterior capsule opacification is not a new cataract and does not mean anything has gone wrong with the original surgery. It is one of the most common issues after cataract surgery and can affect one or both eyes, at different times.

Treatment is usually quick and painless using a laser procedure called YAG capsulotomy, performed in the clinic. The laser makes a small clear opening in the cloudy capsule, and vision typically improves within a day or two.