Cloudy Vision Developing After Cataract Surgery? You May Need a Posterior Capsulotomy.

Cataract surgery is one of the most common surgical procedures performed in the United States, and it has one of the highest success rates of any surgery. However, there are cases after cataract surgery where the patient is still experiencing cloudy vision. This may develop weeks or even months after successful surgery.

This cloudiness is not uncommon, and it can be corrected using a procedure called Posterior Capsulotomy.

The lens of your eye has a cellophane-like outer lining called the capsule. During cataract surgery, the natural lens in the eye is removed, but great care is taken to keep the capsule in place to hold the replacement artificial (intraocular) lens.

Sometimes after surgery, the posterior capsule (located behind the implanted intraocular lens) can become cloudy, causing some loss of vision. When this happens, your ophthalmologist performs a Posterior Capsulotomy to reduce the obstruction.

The procedure is often called a YAG Laser Treatment, after the name of the instrument used to perform it.  In the YAG treatment, a carefully aimed beam of light creates a tiny opening in the capsule, allowing light to enter the eye. This treatment usually results in an immediate and dramatic change in vision.

If you have cataract surgery, your physician will ask you to report any cloudiness or changes in vision that may occur afterwards. This is done because if a Posterior Capsulotomy becomes necessary later, the earlier you determine if the treatment will benefit you, the better your chances of restoring vision clarity.

And keep in mind that Posterior Capsulotomies are not uncommon; the cloudiness can be part of the body’s normal healing process.

Need to know more about cataracts and cataract surgery? Drs. Campbell, Cunningham, Taylor & Haun have performed thousands of cataract procedures, and offer the latest in premium cataract intraocular replacement lenses. To schedule an appointment, call 865-584-0905 or contact us here.